We now stock MatMates and Yard DeSigns from Magnet Works. You can buy a yard stake or floor mat (tray) and then add your choice from a number of inserts. This allows you to change the look of your sign or mat as the seasons change. We currently have a number of holiday themed inserts along with some that would work all year long. We will refresh our stock of inserts as the seasons change so there will always be something new to choose from.
We are offering a monthly special on both lines. Buy either a yard stake or tray and receive 50% your first insert.
Winter
survival is everything for wild birds. The search for food starts at
dawn and continues until dusk. Birds also require fresh water, shelter
from the elements and protection from predators. Research shows that
birds get 25% of their food from human sources. Here are some tips on how to handle bird feeders through the
winter:
Proper coverage of feeding ports,
perches and trays so seed does not become buried in snow is very
important. Fly-through feeders are a good choice for winter bird
feeding.
Location! Placement of bird feeders in a
protected area will insure that the birds have coverage from the storm.
It also makes it easier to watch your favorite backyard birds from
inside!
Use feeders that hold a higher capacity
of seed as they don't need to be refilled as quickly. Keep in mind that
moisture can cause molded seed and that platform feeders should be
emptied and refilled daily to prevent mildew and spoilage.
Keep them clean. Natural food sources
are scarcer in the winter and feeders will have more visitors. Properly
cleaning and sterilizing can minimize mold, mildew and diseases.
For more information on how to help out the backyard birds in your area, visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website (www.birds.cornell.edu) or come in to The Wild Bird and let us answer your birding questions.
The
club meeting will begin at 9am but Nancy and I will begin our
presentation around 10:45am. I have been told that the public is
welcome to attend. We hope to see you there.
Nancy called me over to look out the kitchen window this morning to look at a bird she didn't recognize. I wasn't sure of the identification at first but then noticed the it's obvious and unique feature. We had a Red Crossbill on our seed feeder! It was the first time we had ever seen one much less sighting it in our own backyard.
Nancy and I gave a basic bird feeding presentation yesterday morning to a very welcoming Kingston Garden Club. We would like to thank all the members for making us feel welcome and for showing great interest in learning about making their yards more bird friendly.
By the end of the year, Seattle may have its first and only official wildlife sanctuary in a park.
City officials have begun steps to designate Kiwanis Ravine, a steep,
wooded 16-acre city park on the north side of Magnolia Hill east of
Discover Park, as a sanctuary for nesting herons that are already
well-known there.
A deep-voiced black-capped chickadee may wonder why other birds ignore
it, but there could be a good reason behind the snub, according to
University of Alberta research that studied how the bird responds to
calls.
Dr. Chris Sturdy, a U of A psychology professor, and Dr. Isabelle
Charrier, a post-doctoral fellow in Sturdy's lab, modified the
black-capped chickadee calls, played those sounds back to the bird and
observed how it reacted. They found that the chickadee relies on several
acoustic features including pitch, order of the notes and rhythm of the
call. It also rejected the calls of the control bird, the gray-crowned
rosy finch, in favour of its own species. The findings are published in
the current edition of the journal Behavioural Processes.
From our friends at the National Wildlife Federation...
Bully birds such as blue jays and European starlings are a nuisance, but
you can take some simple steps to prevent them from dominating
feeders—and allow less aggressive birds to enjoy your hospitality.
Here’s how:
Click here for the rest of the article>>>> Bully Birds
