The Wild Bird

The Effort-Less Bird Feeder by Zenith Innovations

Scott — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:19:00 GMT

The Wild Bird now sells the new Effort-Less Bird Feeder. This feederis very easy to use and has some incredible features. It comes withits own pole & stand, includes an anti-squirrel baffle, is easy tofill and is great for patios and decks.

THE EFFORT-LESS BIRDFEEDER was developed to give you years ofeffortless wild bird feeding enjoyment. The feeder slides up and downthe center pole eliminating the drudgery associated with re-filling andcleaning your bird feeder. No more reaching. No more bending. Much morefun.

Features:

Easy Re-filling & Cleaning
Squirrel Guard
Free Standing Base
Upper & Lower Feed Trays
Funnel Feature
Feed Tube
Easy to Keep Clean

Specs:

Assembled Height Approx. 80"
20" Base Diameter
30 lbs. Base Sand Capacity
8.25" Upper Feed Tray Diam.
16.75" Lower Feed Tray Diam.
16.00" Squirrel Guard Diam.
11.5 lbs. Weight (without sand)
10 cups Feed Tube Seed Capacity
1" Pole Diameter
Commercial grade, U.V. stabilized Resin Components
Stainless steel Hardware
Five Year Warranty

Contest: A Murder of Crows and Other Spooky Bird Tales

Scott — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:34:00 GMT

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is having a Halloween themed contest this month. Click the link below to view the flyer.

Murder of Crows and Other Spooky Bird Tales

Birding Basics Classes in Seattle's Seward Park

Scott — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:50:00 GMT

Seward Park Audubon staff will be offering Birding Basics classes from Oct through May.

Join Seward Park Audubon staff, volunteers, and local experts in identifying the many birds that call Seward Park and Lake Washington home. While each outing will vary in route walked and in birds observed, we'll always go over binocular and spotting scope use, field guides, bird behavior, and bird identification techniques...and hopefully spot some great birds, too!

Click for more info >>>>>>>>> http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/2009-September/072810.html

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge BirdFest and Bluegrass Festival

Scott — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:15:00 GMT

From Their Press Release...

BirdFest and Bluegrass 2009

A celebration of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Guided bird, plant, and history walks, kayak
tours, bluegrass music, a salmon bake and storytelling. Fun for birders, musicians, historians and families.
Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th all day.
In Ridgefield, WA, just 25 minutes north of downtown Portland. I-5 to exit 14 follow the signs. Park your
car once and ride an eco-shuttle to experience it all. Come see the beauty and explore the rich cultural
history of the refuge. Adults and children can participate in so many free activities while enjoying the
sights and sounds of fall migration. Archeologist led demonstrations and walks will follow in the footsteps
of Native Americans and Lewis and Clark to a replica of a Cathlapotle (Cath-lah-poh-tl) plank house, hand
built using ancient techniques and tools. Sunday afternoon a traditional Salmon bake will be held at the
plankhouse. The Bald Eagle is the featured bird and will be the focus of many of the expert guided walks
and presentations. The refuge is home to many nesting pairs of these soaring beauties. Free children
activities include Audubon guided bird walks, Oregon Zoo “Wildlife Live” show, raptor displays, craft
stations, storytelling and much, much more. When you get tired of looking up head to the Birders
Marketplace with great buys on, garden items, pottery, art, photography birdhouses, clothes and books.
Fly the coop and try something new, see the refuge from the water on a guided kayak/paddle tour.
(Reservations required ,children twelve and under are free, with an adult in a double kayak)
Spectacular sunrise and sunset tours to view Sandhill Cranes flying in to a traditional roost, a rare
opportunity to visit a closed area of the refuge, are offered on a limited basis, reservations and fees
are required.
14 Bluegrass bands will play from 11:00am to 9:00 pm in downtown Ridgefield on Saturday only. All
venues are within walking distance of each other, $10.00 gets you in all shows (children 12 and under
are free) Bring your string instrument along, jamming is encouraged and workshops will be offered.
All these activities might make a stomach grumble, food booths will be serving tasty treats to keep you
playing all day. Proceeds from Birdfest and Bluegrass go to the Friend of the Ridgefield National Wildlife
Refuge to support programs on the refuge. For more information go to www.ridgefieldfriends.org

West Sound Wildlife Shelter Hosting Basic Wildlife Rehab Class

Scott — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:30:00 GMT

I poached the following directly from an email I received from the WSWS. I hope they don't mind!

The West Sound Wildlife Shelter will be hosting the Basic Wildlife Rehab Class taught by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council on Bainbridge Island August 22 & 23. For more information visit the IWRC web site.

This is an introductory course for beginning wildlife rehabilitators, or novice and experienced rehabilitators seeking formal education.

Lecture topics include: introduction to wildlife rehabilitation, basic anatomy and physiology, calculating drug dosages, handling and physical restraint, thermoregulation, stress, basic shock cycle, initial care and physical examination, nutrition and associated diseases, standards for housing, zoonoses, euthanasia criteria, and release criteria.

Lab topics include gavage (tube-feeding), physical restraint, intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, physical exams, limb immobilization, and weighing. Lab procedures are performed on cadavers.

Fee: Member: 125.00
Non-member: 159.00

Spaces are limited, so sign up soon!

Vortex Fury Binocular Specials Begin July 1!

Scott — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:19:00 GMT

Vortex is announcing a $50.00 rebate on their very popular line of 32mm and 42mm Fury Binoculars. This is your chance to get a deal on a pair of binoculars that were already offered at a great price. Now is the perfect time to get that 32mm pair of binoculars that you have been thinking about. The 32mm is a nice size for travel but is also bright and sharp enough to be your everyday "go to" binos.

Free Gift With Any Optics Purchase!

Scott — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:40:00 GMT

I have recently received a few items at a nice discount that I would like to pass on to my customers. So, I want to offer a free gift with the purchase of any spotting scope or pair of binoculars. The gifts are valued between $9.99 and around $99.99 and will be given out based on the value of the item purchased. This offer is valid while supplies last and may end at any time.

Shop here in order to earn your free gift>>>> The Wild Bird E-Store

Training Crows to Use a Vending Machine

Scott — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:36:00 GMT

The Wild Bird Will Be at EcoFest - May 2, 2009

Scott — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:02:00 GMT

The Wild Bird will once again have a booth at Stillwaters Environmental Education Center's EcoFest. This year we will be handing out free bird feeders as well as bird friendly coffee freshly roasted while you watch. We hope to see you there!

View Larger Map

Peregrine, Goshawk and Golden Eagle Videos From The BBC

Scott — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:09:00 GMT

The BBC has released some pretty neat video. They mounted micro-cameras on the backs of the birds and recorded some great in-flight images. Give them a view by following the links below.

Golden Eagle

Peregrine Falcon and Goshawk

I May Be A Bit Of A Geek

Scott — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:17:00 GMT

I left the house on this fine sunny morning and found myself coming to a stop just off the porch and looking up. I could hear a bunch of birds but didn't see anything. All of a sudden several birds flew in and landed on a utility wire above my head. I focused my aging eyes and saw that they were Violet-Green Swallows... very vocal Violet-Green Swallows. There were a bunch of them and they were flying all around the house. This isn't really a new thing as they show up every year. However, this was the first I had seen them in 2009. So what did I do? I got into my truck and powered up my iPod Touch. I knew I could pick up our wifi from the driveway so I sent an email to my wife who was actually only about 50' away sitting in her home office. For some reason I decided it would be easier to send an email then to open the front door and yell "swallows!" up the stairs.

Geek or No Geek?

Prairie Appreciation Day at Glacial Heritage Preserve - May 9, 2009

Scott — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:47:00 GMT

The Black River-Mima Prairie Glacial Heritage Preserve, known as Glacial Heritage, is an excellent example of the Puget Prairie ecosystem which greeted the settlers of the 1800’s. Only 2.6% of this type ecosystem still exists. Thurston County Parks and Recreation Department was fortunate to acquire this unique property. With the exception of Thurston County Parks sponsored events, the park is closed to public use. Arrangements may be made in advance to access this site for educational or environmental activities. Requests should be made by contacting the Parks Department.

Prairie Appreciation Day is apparently the only day of the year when the Glacial Heritage Preserve is open to the general public. From their website, activities include...

Wildflower Walks
Gardening With Native Plants
Ethnobotany
Birds Of The Prairie
Prairie Insects
Prairie Pollinators
Prairie Vertebrates
Geology Of The Prairies (Mystery Of The Mima Mounds)
Prairie Restoration Efforts
Scotch Broom Pull
Hay Ride
Self-Guided Natural History Walk

Mr. Bird, that's the name, that name again is Mr. Bird

Scott — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:51:00 GMT

The WildBird Feast 72oz cylinder has a center hole and slides onto the EZ Feeder.

Mr. Bird EZ Feeder

I have recently begun selling several Mr. Bird products here at The Wild Bird. I first ran into Mr. Bird at the 2008 Bird Watch America show in Atlanta. My initial impression was "who needs another seed block" so I didn't pay them much attention. Fortunately late last year I became disappointed enough in a product line I was currently carrying that I decided to call Mr. Bird and place an order. I started off small just to get a feel for what they had to offer. Ever since, I have had a hard time keeping their seed blocks and cylinders on the shelves. They are such great quality and priced comparable to similar products that use lesser ingredients.

So, give Mr. Bird a try if you are in the market for a long lasting feeder that minimizes seed that falls to the ground.

Audio Recording Workshop to be Held at UW

Scott — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:05:00 GMT

Instructors from the University of WA, Bats NW and Naturesound.org will be leading a nature sound recording workshop this May.

This year Naturesound.Org and the University of Washington will be teaching state-of-the-art techniques for recording the sounds of wildlife. Participants will learn through daily field recording sessions and lecture/discussions.

When: May 15th through May 17th 2009
Where: Urban Horticultural Center at University of Washington.
Workshop Fee: $85 (includes tuition, class materials, snacks)

Our Suet Is Safe!

Scott — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:50:00 GMT

Here at The Wild Bird I sell suet manufactured by Pine Tree Farms, Wildlife Sciences, C&S and Bird's Choice. All of my suet suppliers have recently released statements verifying that their products do not use any peanuts or peanut paste from Peanut Corporation of America. So far, Scott's Inc. is the only company I've heard of that has suet affected by the peanut recall.

Save $100 on Vortex 8x42 & 10x42 Razor Binoculars

Scott — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:42:00 GMT

Vortex is offering a $100 rebate on its 8x42 and 10x42 binoculars between March 1 and October 31, 2009. This is your chance to get an amazing pair of binos at an even better price. The rebate will make your price $649.99 with free shipping (WA residents will be charged sales tax).

Puget Sound Gull Workshop - March 28, 2009

Scott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:46:00 GMT

March 28, 2009

Slater Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma

Dr. Dennis Paulson, Instructor

9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Did you know they are not all just “seagulls?” There are actually 10 species of gulls that occur regularly in and around Puget Sound, and the goal of this workshop is that you will come away with some knowledge of the lives and times of these species and how to distinguish them from one another. These birds are our constant companions at the waterside, and you owe it to yourself to know more about them.

The workshop will consist of a half-day classroom session discussing the identification and natural history of the gulls that occur regularly in the Sound. We will look at both photos and specimens to learn how to identify them, and the lecture will fill you in on when and where to expect to see them as well as interesting aspects of their natural history.

The instructor will be Dr. Dennis Paulson, Director Emeritus, Slater Museum and teacher extraordinaire. Dennis has been learning and teaching about the birds of this region for 40 years. This is truly an opportunity not to be missed.

Prerequisite: A real interest in learning about gulls.

The cost of the workshop is $35.00 ($20.00 for students and seniors 65 or over).

To register, send your name(s), address, daytime phone number, and email address with a check made out to Slater Museum to:

Carol Curtin

University of Puget Sound

Biology Department

1500 No. Warner #1088

Tacoma, WA 98416

Your enrollment will be confirmed by email as soon as your check is received and will include driving directions to the Museum. If the class is full when your check arrives, you will be notified and given the option of being put on a waitlist (your check will be returned if you do not get into the workshop). If there is enough interest we will hold a second workshop in April.

More Info on the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count

Scott — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:11:00 GMT

 MARK YOUR 
CALENDARS!
12th Annual Great 
Backyard Bird Count 
February 13 – 16, 
2009
COUNT FOR FUN! COUNT FOR THE 
FUTURE!
Dear Great Backyard Bird Count 
participant,
The twelfth 
annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is fast approaching–February 13 is less 
than a month away! Plan to join tens of thousands of other bird watchers across 
North America as we tally the birds over these 
four days. Count on your own or with family, friends, and neighbors to make this 
the biggest, best GBBC ever!
If you know someone who might be 
interested in joining the GBBC for the first time, please pass along our 
website: www.birdcount.org!
New and 
Updated Features
* Think 
you’ve got “Eagle Eyes”? As you countdown to GBBC weekend, test your bird 
watching skills through our interactive game.  Click here to 
play this year’s 
Eagle Eyes. Be sure to forward the link to a friend!
* Great prizes! 
 Everyone who submits a bird checklist during the GBBC is 
automatically entered in our drawing for bird-related items donated by Wild 
Birds Unlimited, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Droll Yankees. 
Visit http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/2009prizes 
to see the selection.
* GBBC events are taking place around 
the continent. Discover what's going on in your area on the GBBC website’s Local 
Events page: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/events. 
If you’re hosting an event, email Pat Leonard at pel27@cornell.edu and we will post 
information.
* If you have young people at home, 
consider decorating a tree with treats for birds. Download a brochure with 
recipes for making feeders and treats for the birds from GBBC sponsor Wild Birds 
Unlimited: http://www.wbu.com/education/decorateatree.html 
Why Your Participation 
Matters
We have the opportunity to gather 
real data from people like you to help us understand where the birds are and how 
their populations are changing over time. Last year, participants counted over 
nine million birds and reported 12 species never before reported during the 
GBBC! Let’s see how many we can count this year, and find out together how bird 
populations may be changing.
If you have 
any questions, please contact us at citizenscience@audubon.org or cornellbirds@cornell.edu. Remember, 
count for fun, count for the future!  We can’t wait to see what you 
discover this year.  
Sincerely,
Janis 
Dickinson, Director of Citizen Science, Cornell 
Lab of Ornithology
Rob Fergus, Senior Scientist, National 
Audubon Society

Bill Thompson, III gives his Top 10 Foods for Winter Bird Feeding

Scott — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:19:00 GMT

Bill Thompson, III is the editor over at Bird Watcher's Digest. I had the chance to hear Bill speak a little over a year ago and found him to be quite funny and extremely knowledgeable. Bill has several Top Ten lists on the BWD website and I thought the following one may be of interest to anyone who is new to bird feeding. So, without further ado, here is Bill's Top 10 Foods for Winter Bird Feeding...

10. Black-oil sunflower seed. This seed is the hamburger of the bird world. Almost any bird that will visit a bird feeder will eat black-oil sunflower. Birds that can't crack the seeds themselves will scour the ground under the feeders, picking up bits and pieces. Bird feeding in North America took a major leap forward when black-oil sunflower became widely available in the early 1980s. Why do birds prefer it? The outer shell of a black-oil sunflower seed is thinner and easier to crack. The kernel inside the shell is larger than the kernel inside a white-or gray-striped sunflower seed, so birds get more food per seed from black-oil. This last fact also makes black-oil a better value for you, the seed buyer. Striped sunflower is still fine (evening grosbeaks may even prefer it slightly), but black-oil is better.

9. Peanuts. Peanuts--de-shelled, dry-roasted, and unsalted--are a fairly recent trend in bird feeding, at least in North America. In Europe, feeding peanuts has been popular for a long time. Peanut manufacturers and processors have now identified the bird-feeding market as a good place to get rid of the peanuts that are broken or otherwise unfit for human consumption. Ask your feed/seed retailer about peanut bits or rejects. Several major feeder manufacturers now produce sturdy, efficient tube-shaped peanut feeders. Woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice will readily visit a feeder for this high-protein, high-energy food. Even cardinals and finches will eat peanuts.

You can read the entire list here>>>>>>Bill's Top 10 Foods for Winter Bird Feeding

Olympic BirdFest - 2009

Scott — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:21:00 GMT

Olympic BirdFest 2009

Come Bird With Us.

Sequim, Washington, April 3-5, 2009

Grab your binoculars and join the Olympic BirdFest 2009 celebration at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, April 3-5, 2009.

The stage is set…quiet bays and estuaries, sandy beaches, a five-mile-long sand spit, and a protected island bird sanctuary on the Strait of Juan de Fuca; wetlands, tide pools, rainforests, and lush river valleys. The players are ready … Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklets, Harlequin Ducks, Black Oystercatchers, Peregrine Falcons, and Pygmy owls will be sporting their finest spring plumage for this celebration. Enjoy guided birding trips, boat tours; and a traditional salmon bake at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center.

Come bird with us and experience with others the spectacular landscapes of the Olympic Peninsula …you just might go home with a new bird for your life list! Check out the offerings by going online (http://www.olympicbirdfest.org),or calling for a brochure.

Also this year! Follow your BirdFest weekend with a three-day, two night birding cruise of the spectacular San Juan Islands on April 5-7, 2009. Visit San Juan and Sucia Islands, and more. Stay at the historic Roche Harbor Resort. Get program information and registration forms online at: http://www.olympicbirdfest.org.

Or contact us by phone, at 360-681-4076,

E-mail us at info@olympicbirdfest.org ,

Or write to us at:

Dungeness River Audubon Center

P.O. Box 2450

Sequim, WA 98382