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From Fall of 2006…
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Pileated Woodpeckers are uncommon residents of Kansas City's heavier wooded area.
Photo by Jeff Janney |
 Do we have any of those huge Pileated Woodpeckers in our area?
 Yes. It is surprising to many to find out that we do have Pileated Woodpeckers in our area. The photo to the right was taken by one of our customers who lives in Parkville near Park University. Pileateds are in and around anywhere there are large enough tracks of timber. I have most often seen them in Swope Park, Burr Oak Wood in Blue Springs, Weston Bend State Park and scattered other site around town. Learn their song, it will help you find them.
When will my birds be back?
This is a question I feel I need to answer annually. Each fall as nature’s bounty ripens (berries, grass seeds, acorns, rag weed, etc.), birds and all wildlife are blessed with more food than they know what to do with. Bird feeders on the other hand, slow down to a crawl. There is nothing wrong, the birds haven’t abandoned us, it only seems that way. When temperatures drop and we get a good frost, they will be back. Is your feeder station ready?
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker on an Aspects’ Peanut Silo ($24.99) with a Tube Top ($14.99) |
I have the smallest bird I have ever seen eating on my suet. It seems to move around a lot, any idea what it is?
I think the bird in question is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. They are tiny birds and I like to call them pinballs as they seem to be in constant motion. Kinglets are rather round in shape and khaki colored. Their bold eye ring and wing bars are obvious but their ruby-crown spot is only visible when they are agitated or “flirting.”
What is the best way to keep the seed in my feeders dry?
Some feeders are better at keeping seed dry but my favorite add on is a Tube Top from Aspects’. Now available it three sizes, the tube tops fit perfectly on any of Aspects’ tube style feeders and will work on many other brands as well.
Why do the starlings have white spots on them now?
Just as goldfinches aren't very “gold” right now, certain birds molt into a more winter friendly plumage to help ensure survival. Starlings have just molted into their “basic” plumage which features whitish feather tips that give the appearance of spots. When spring comes around the spots will be gone leaving the sleek, iridescent look that we are all familiar with. What you may find surprising is that starlings do not go through a molt in the spring, the whitish feather tips wear down over winter and eventually are worn away. |
From Summer of 2006…
Have there been more Indigo Buntings than usual around this summer?
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Indigo Bunting on a BirdQuest Spiral Finch feeder.
photo courtesy of
Mike Scrutchfield |
There really have been. We always get calls about the little bright blue birds at peoples’ feeders in the spring but hardly ever during the rest of the summer. This year we have received lots of calls about indigos at peoples’ feeders all summer long. What is even more surprising to me is that most of the reports have been of them feeding with goldfinches at nyjer feeders. In the spring we primarily see them eating millet, sunflower or sunflower chips. Who knows, perhaps this the start of a new wonderfully beautiful bird enhancing our summer feeding stations.
As hot and dry as this summer season has been, do you think bluebirds will try to nest three times like they normally do?
This is a good question. I would bet that they will. They may not lay as many eggs as normal but I would think they will still attempt a third nest. Weather conditions change so quickly here in the Midwest and a couple of days of cooler weather and rain can change nesting conditions drastically.
How do I keep the ants and bees out of my hummingbird feeders?
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| Erva SB2D Raccoon & Squirrel Baffle |
These are two of the most frequently asked questions each summer. Ants are easy. We sell the fantastic little Nectar Protector from Songbird Essentials. This device, when filled with water, keeps the ants from ever getting to your nectar feeders. It is simple, inexpensive and truly does the job. Bees on the other hand are a very difficult task indeed. Most anything we do to discourage bees will affect the hummingbirds. A suggestion we came across recently had to do with the saucer type hummingbird feeders like the Aspects’ Hummzinger and Droll Yankee. It has been recommended not to fill those types of feeder past half full. The hummingbird’s long tongue can easily reach the nectar but bees have trouble with it. The anti-bee tips that come with certain feeders have been effective for many customers while others have found them disappointing.
Is there anything I can do to keep the raccoons out of my feeders?
This is a battle we fight constantly and reports are that raccoon numbers are very high this year. There are several things to try. If you are feeding from your deck, you pretty much have to take you feeders in at night. With any luck, you can get them to move along. If you are feeding from a pole system in your yard the solution is to add a raccoon baffle to your setup. This is not to be confused with a squirrel baffle. Squirrel baffles are too small to keep adult raccoons out. If they are bothering your suet feeders, give C&S’s Hot Pepper Delight a try. The birds don’t mind but furry animals find it a little too hot to handle. |
From Spring of 2006…
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Young Purple Martins
photo courtesy of Jim Andrews |
Is it OK to lower my martin house and clean out sparrows’ nests while the martins have eggs?
Yes. In fact it is encouraged. It has been proven that martins are more successful if you continue to keep sparrows out during their nesting. This is only possible if you have a pole or box that can easily be lowered and raised. Special care should be given to returning the box to the same position it was facing. A sharpie marker works well to give you an alignment guide at the junction of pole sections.
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Female Hummingbird on a
Holland Hill Window Feeder. |
Should I add anything to my hummingbird nectar to make it better?
I am always conservative when it comes to this topic. Birds get less than 15% of their daily diets from your bird feeders. Hummingbirds are constantly eating from flowers and grabbing an insect here and there. They will get diversity in their diet from nature’s offering, your feeders are a great source of quick energy, so stick with a mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Never use honey and don’t add the red food color (hummingbirds see the feeder, not the nectar so they have no idea what color it is anyway).
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Male Bluebird
photo courtesy of Suzanne King |
Where are my goldfinches that I had all winter?
I’m one of those who had good numbers of goldfinches all winter only to see them disappear the first of April. You can bet that the answer lies in natural food availability. I have been out birding a little lately and have seen lots of goldfinches hanging out high up in oak trees feeding on catkins. Birds have to take advantage of natural food when it is available and during this time of year, oaks are in full “bloom”. Don’t take in the nyjer yet, they will be back soon and should hang around the feeders well into June.
Why can’t I get bluebirds to nest in my yard?
There are lots of possible answers to this question, but one that we recently spoke with a customer about was the use of “chemicals” in her yard. She appeared to be doing everything right but did admit that they had a lawn service. She admitted that they treated for grubs and worms to keep the moles out. Bluebirds like most birds require access to lots of insects to raise their hungry young. Resist the use of any pesticides if you want to make your yard truly bird friendly. |
From Winter of 2006…
I love chickadees. What is the best food and feeder for them?
Chickadees are probably the boldest little birds I know. They will eat a wide variety of seeds and are best known for zipping in grabbing a seed and darting off to eat it. A successful combination I have found at my house is the Clinger’s Only Feeder from Songbird Essentials and a bag of Woodpecker, Nuthatch & Chickadee Food from Wild Delight.
Clinger’s Only $12.99
5lb Bag of Woodpecker, Nuthatch & Chickadee Food $7.99
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Why has my peanut feeder been so slow this winter?
The mild conditions combined with a huge acorn and walnut crop this year have really impacted the activity of most peanut feeders. As “natural” nut supplies diminish you should see an increase in activity at your peanut feeders.
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Duncraft’s Squirrel Selective works great against blackbirds too.
$64.99
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Isn’t it about time for the blackbirds to show up? What can I do to battle them?
While many of the Common Grackle and Red-winged Blackbirds never left this winter, larger hordes will return in late February or so. The two most proven methods are feeding safflower seed or using caged feeders. The cages do need to be far enough away from the tube to keep them from reaching in. Duncraft and Vari-Craft both make good ones.
What is the latest on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker?
A couple of weeks ago, John and I got to meet Bobby Harrison who was one of the first to see the bird in Arkansas. His story was captivating. This year’s search is underway with much the same results. Individuals have caught glimpses of “a bird” but no concrete photos or videos yet. I am sure you have read that there are doubters out there who want better physical proof. Hopefully that will happen soon.
I don’t always remember to fill my bird bath as often as I should. Are there any alternatives?
 I really like the new recirculating, self-filling and mostly self-cleaning BirdSpa from Quiba. It has a biological pre-filter for beneficial nitrifying bacteria to colonize and naturally breakdown bird waste and other organic contaminants. It really is a cool new devise. The bubbling action attracts birds as well as keeps mosquitos from being able to lay their eggs in the water. The self-refilling feature doesn’t have to be hooked up but really works well and makes for very low maintenance. |
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