How much Wood would Woodpecker Peck?

So yesterday, I had Mrs. Red-Bellied Woodpecker visiting my feeder.  This after I spotted a Hairy Woodpecker on my feeder the day before.  A first for me to see.  So while I'm looking through my super powerful binoculars, I see a little White-Breasted Nuthatch on the tree behind my garden and just up the trunk from him was a downy woodpecker.  What the what?  Craziness.  It doesn't take much to make a bird nerd happy, just some mad woodpecker action!  Here's a little Downy from the fall.

Hummingbird haven

Bees do it.

Bears do it.

People do it and

birds do it.

No, I'm not talking about that, dirty birds! I'm talking about stuffing your face!

So it's that time of year again. Not back to school time, but put on winter fat time. We wait until Thanksgiving, but the hummingbirds are doing it now. They are trying to double their body weight for their long journey south across the Gulf of Mexico to migrate and winter over in Central America.

So PLEASE don't take down those feeders, you won't be keeping them here, only to suffer from a frost and die. You will actually be doing them a disservice if you take down your feeders because now is the time they really need that easy food source. Besides, they migrate based on length of day, not on temperatures or availability of food.

Since males lose half their body weight during mating season, they are trying to compensate right now by "carb-loading" at your feeders and the remaining blooms of summer.

Also, the babies are out and about now and moms will try to coax them to the feeders eventually, first showing them the flowers as food sources and then on to the easy nectar in your feeders.

Don't hastily pull up those petunias, million bells and other flowers to replace them with ineffective mums just yet. They need all they can get.

Just imagine if you have to make a road trip on an empty stomach or run a marathon with no breakfast. What if there were no McDonald's on the way to grandma's?

You'd be pretty steamed if one day you went to the fridge for a slice of apple pie only to find somebody had thrown it away, wouldn't you?

Just think about that before you try to take down those feeders.

Been a Long Time!

It's been a while, mostly due to problems logging on to my account since the change to gmail supported logging in. I don't know if that's proper grammar for tech-talk, but it was the best I could do!

I'm happy to have finally worked though the bugs and can waxwing poetic again about birds. Oops, a little birdnerd humor there!

Last baby bird season was kind of a bust for several reasons. First of all, we were undergoing some serious construction so we could not repair the camera birdhouse. As we speak, it is empty, even though the blues built a nest, but apprently did not have successful egg laying.

Next, I put up several houses in the neighborhood to start my very own bluebird trail! I had to rally for volunteers to agree to have them on their property, but due to a delay in the newsletter going out (it was not sent out until middle of April I think), I got them up late. I had made a pretty convincing flyer (IMHO) including a picture I took of Lloyd, the very fertile male in my yard. I had six takers and added one to an existing post at the end of our street (it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?) and two houses in one yard. So a total of 8 houses have gone up and I am very exited about it!

I had a busy summer and unfortunately was under the weather for much of it so I couldn't do as much monitoring as I would have liked.

This year is pretty good so far, but a bit of a mixed bag. I am sure some of it is weather related and I think some of it is the result of some new parents in the neighborhood.

The good news is that our blues built a nest in a previously never occupied house in our yard and had six successful fledglings! The bad news is I didn't get any footage, but I am happy they all made it out!

More news soon and some fun sightings, neighborhood inhabitants, and some helpful information related to other critters not of the winged variety.

I'll also try to post some fun bird video!

It's like Thunder, Lightning......

Okay, okay, bad disco song reference, but "Knock on Wood" is one of my favorites and certainly that line is appropriate considering the recent events.


Sincere apologies for being absent for so long, but there has been a lot of recent activity. The saddest and most frustrating news is that the Bluebird cam got hit when our house was recently struck by lightning. It's been a nightmare logistically for us. I am glad that the blues weren't in the house or affected. They seem to be carrying on as usual, probably happy for their new-found privacy!!

I know that Sylvia and Lloyd had completed the nest and I know she is incubating based on their activities, so that's consoling.

There's quite a bit of other activity considering the recent cold snap with temperatures in the freezing to below freezing range.

• The Goldfinches are all dressed out in their mating plumage.
• I thought I had a pair of House Finches building a nest, but it appears that there is a courting conflict going on.
• "Snowflake", my near-albino Tufted Titmouse is still around.
• Chickadees seem to be building in yet another house I have hung.
• The Tree Swallows are still buzzing around my other two boxes, but I have yet to see any construction. They're usually late and a bit messy anyway (their the "creative ones" in the bird world. I can relate!)

Some of the tender flowering plants have been hurt by the cold snap, so that might affect food sources and insect quantities. The daffodils had a short run, as did the hyacinth, the wisteria and some tulips. I am worried about peonies and some cherries and other fruit bearing trees and shrubs, but everything else seems to be fairing well.

Tips of the moment:

1. Keep those feeders full! The birds are feeding like crazy because it's mating season and it's been cold.
2. Watch for fun and interesting mating behavior. Many birds will feed potential mates. I caught my finches doing this. The deal isn't sealed yet, Mr. House Finch!!!
3. Don't forget to provide clean water!
4. Clean your feeders when you fill them.

That's all for now. Hope this is helpful and feel free to post questions or comments!

Feeding the Birds: Just the FACTS!!!

Okay, there are plenty of myths out there surrounding bird feeding. From taking down your feeder for migrating birds to throwing out stale bread, there is a lot of contradictory information to sift through.

Here is a quick run-down that I hope will help. As I am preparing for my photo show, I had to do this in a rush, but I will certainly be back soon with more!!!!

Once you start you should continue! Birds won’t starve in the winter, but they do get used to a certain area and will move on if food gets scarce.
Feed the birds all year for the best results.
Provide several types of feeders for the best variety and so birds don’t feel crowded.
Provide food, shelter and water
Keep feeders and houses clean! If you can’t clean them when you fill them, then don’t feed them.
Practice predator control.
Keep a bird journal.
Provide a variety of food:

v Millet
v Black-oil or striped sunflower seeds (hulled or not)
v Cracked Corn
v Nyjer (Thistle)
v Suet
v Nuts
v Mealworms


Other tips and resources:

Ø Birds like running water and clean birdbaths.
Ø Cavity nesting space is at a premium so putting up a box is a great family activity and helps your chances of attracting birds.
Ø Don’t feed last year’s feed. Seeds spoil and attract bugs, etc. Keep in a dry, sealed container and replace if it’s been around since last winter.
Ø There are better options than stale bread and it attracts other critters.
Ø Move your feeders around to discourage pests, disease, parasites and general mess.
Ø If large pests are a problem, don’t fill your feeders all the way. Provide food for the bigger critters in other areas of your yard.
Ø Add some natural materials nearby for comfort, perching, preening and shelter. I leave my hibiscus trees by the feeders so they have a place to hang out in. I also have a large crepe myrtle by the deck and arbor vitae along the deck.
Ø Don’t throw away your Christmas tree and garden cuttings. These make great habitats and provide nesting material in the spring.
Ø Use native plants, trees and shrubs. Plant winter resistant berry-bearing trees and shrubs.
Ø Let your flowers go to seed for food supplies in the fall and winter.
Ø Provide nesting material with the exception of dryer lint and other chemically treated materials.
Ø Location is often the key to placing feeders and nest boxes. Just like us, they are looking for an ideal environment.
Ø Turn to reputable sources such as the Audubon Society and Cornell Ornithology lab.
Ø My blog uses these as resources to dispel common bird myths and misconceptions.

Second Time's a Charm

As the "winter" continues, the Bluebirds have been consistently visiting the feeder. They have also fed on the seed feeders on desperate days or when the weather has gotten cold or inclement. I only use the hulled seeds now, so these are easy for them to eat. I also have noticed the Tufted Titmice and Carolina Wrens visiting the mealworm feeder.

A couple of observations I have made involve bathing and family. On exceptionally sunny days, even when the temperature is low, the bluebirds splash around in one of the three birdbaths I have. One is heated and they finally discovered that one.

I have also noticed that the number of bluebirds at the feeder and lined up on my roof is always five, leading me to believe that they are hanging out with their kids from the second brood. This is consistent with studies I have read about their flocking habits. It seems that the first set is on their own and the second set is allowed to stick around. The parents are also very tolerant of their presence and the children make way for the parents anytime they assert themselves where the feeder is concerned.

It makes one wonder why the first brood is cast off so hastily and the second one gets to hang nearby. It will be interesting to see what happens in the Spring. I now have there boxes in my yard and one in the field across the street. Last year, Tree Swallows took to the one at the back of my yard and the one across the street. Those two are recycled plastic and have nice plexi viewing panels on the side. They are by Rubicon and they can be found at bestnest.com. I also have a plain bluebird spec house attached to the deck as an experiment to see if anyone is bold enough to use it.

New Programs on the way!

I have some exciting news for the Naturalist program and all you local birders!!!!

I am having an exhibition of some of my nature photographs, including many local and exotic birds on JANUARY 27th!!!

From 6:30 until 9:30p.m., they will be on display for enjoyment and purchase. I have never done anything like this, but I am really excited! The following week is my "Bird Nerd 101" class and then I have a bluebird building class soon after that! Pretty exciting stuff!!

Feel free to ask me any questions or post for details or clarifications on anything!

Hope to see you there!