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White-breasted
Nuthatch
Photo by Mary Nemecek |
 What
kind of affect do you think this cool, wet summer will have
on the birds?
 This
could take a whole page, but in short I think most birds
fared very well this summer. I know most of my bluebird
people reported 4 successful nestings where they generally
are lucky to raise many young ones in the third attempt.
Much like last year, there is a bountiful supply of berries
and acorns this year and that also bodes well for many birds
this winter. On the negative side, I always worry about
ground nesting birds like quail and prairie chickens. It is
tough for the little ones to survive when it is so wet.
Can I use an extension cord with my bird bath de-icer?
Yes.
I have been using an extension cord (generally a 50 ft. one)
with my de-icers for 15 years and have never had a problem
with them. I do have to get a little creative with my lawn
chair placement to keep my chew happy Black Lab from getting
to it. The most important safety precaution is to make sure
it is plugged into a groundfault outlet.
Will my birds freeze to something metal if they bathe in the
winter?
In the 25 years of working with birds on a professional and
personal level, I have never seen or even read any
documentation of a bird becoming stuck to any surface
because of water on its feet freezing. If you look at a
bird’s feet closely, you will notice they are covered in
scales which shed water very rapidly. Birds must bathe, even
in winter, to maintain healthy feathers.
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Northern Cardinal
love sunflower and safflower Photo by Pat
White |
My
dad is convinced the cheap bag of bird seed he gets at the
grocery store is perfectly fine for his birds. He is on a
limited budget, what can I tell him?
Plain
and simple, it really is expectations. The “cheap” birdseed
blends are filled with fillers like milo, cracked corn,
wheat, sticks, stems, rocks and who knows what else. If he
is OK with feeding hordes of House Sparrows, grackle and
Mourning Doves then the cheap mixes are probably fine. If he
wants to attract cardinals, chickadees, flickers and other
beautiful birds then he will do far better with quality
seed. A 50lb bag of Black Oil Sunflower (the favorite seed
of more birds than any other) is $15.99. I can’t imagine a
bag of the “cheep” seed costing much less. If he does want
to feed the sparrows and doves, he is better just buying a
bag of White Proso Millet ($13.99 for 50 lb) and spreading
in on the ground and leaving the feeders for the sunflower
and better birds. The proof is in the results. Give this a
try and see what happens. |
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FROM SPRING 2008…
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Early Spring Male
American Goldfinch
Photo by Teresa Havens |
Where did my goldfinches go this spring?
Goldfinches are resident birds that come and go from feeders primarily with wild food availability. In the early spring, one of the first wild seeds available are the dandelions. Soon to follow are the oaks, maples and other trees. Last year most of that food crop was killed by the “Easter Freeze” so goldfinches were plentiful at the feeders right through spring. Don’t fear, they will be back on and off through till July when they start nesting.
How do I keep the birds from building a nest on my porch light?
Each spring we deal with the issue of birds building nest were they are just not wanted. Two things to remember; once birds have laid their eggs, you can’t touch their nest (except European Starlings and House Sparrows) and birds are best discouraged with visual deterents. While not guaranteed, a toy snake draped across or tacked up close to the area where they are trying to build is enough to get them to abandon that nest site. We also have Scare Tape that can be suspended in the area and some have had luck with hanging old CDs from the ceiling. They will find a new place to nest.
Is there anything I can place out that will help the hummingbirds with their nesting?
Hummingbirds build their nest primarily from spider webs, moss and plant down. Songbird Station now has a new nesting helper that contains materials they can use as nest liner.
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Cedar Waxwings eating berries from a dish
photo courtesy of Diana |
Has everyone been seeing lots of different birds at their oriole feeders this year?
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Summer Tanager photo courtesy of Rick Jordahl |
Definitely. We have had loads of reports this spring of “never seen before” birds feeding on oranges and especiallly jelly. Aside from the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, we have had the semi-regular Grey Catbirds, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, House Finches, Northern Cardinals, Cedar Waxwings, and Northern Mockingbirds. We’ve had reports of American Goldfinch, Scarlet Tanagers, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager (very rare in MO) and Tennessee Warblers feeding as well. Call or e-mail us if you have any species that we can add to the list. |
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FROM WINTER 2008…
I haven’t seen nearly as many robins or bluebirds this winter. Where are they?
Robin and bluebirds are both dependent on fruit during the winter months. The Easter freeze this past spring really took it’s toll on fruiting plants. My guess is that both of these species as well as waxwings have had to move around a lot this winter to find suitable supplies of berries to survive.
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Cedar Waxwing eating fresh berries
Photo by Patti Nance |
I have had a neighborhood cat killing the birds in my backyard. What can I do?
If you are a regular reader, you know we talk about this issue from time to time. It seems that this winter, we have really received a lot of call about cats. I am a firm believer in keeping cats indoors. There isn't enough space here to go into details but let’s just say it is better for the cats and far better for birds. If you have a free roaming cat, I encourage you to talk to the owner or call animal control. In most municipalities there are leash laws that apply to cats (though rarely enforced). In the meantime, to protect the birds at your feeders, it is best to keep as much seed off of the ground as possible. Use trays and bird seed blocks. While we generally recommend keeping your feeders close to cover so birds can quickly fly to safety, these areas usually help cats to ambush birds.
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| The floating Bird Raft fits bird baths of most sizes and keeps a consistent shallow depth of water. |
Why can’t I get anything to use my birdbath?
There are generally two major issues that plague birdbaths. First is their distance from cover. Just as with feeders, a birdbath that is too far from escape cover will make birds feel vulnerable. By far, the most common problem is that the birdbath in question is too deep. Birds need shallow water and most “bowls” don’t have shallow areas. We recommend placing rocks in a bath to give different depths of water but now we have a new option. The Bird Raft ™ is designed to fit in water features to create a shallow bird bath that can change with the feature’s depth.
When do the grackle return?
While we have a few grackle around here all winter, most do migrate further south. We tend to start seeing them in larger numbers in early March. When battling these pests your two greatest tools are safflower and the grackles’ size. Grackle in particular seem to really dislike Safflower and good caged feeders are wide enough to keep them away from the seed. Though they sometimes figure them out, weighted feeders like the Squirrel Buster Plus can be effective against them as well. Don’t forget, while most of us find them to be a pest, they are a native species thus protected by law. |
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2 0 0 8…find out the answers!
2 0 0 7…find out the answers!
Fall of 2007
Where do our hummingbirds go in winter?
Could I have seen a Red-breasted Nuthatch already?
I’ve seen a hawk hanging around my feeder. Is that why I have fewer birds right now?
I live in an apartment and my feeders can’t make a big mess. What seed do you recommend? |
Summer of 2007
Why have the squirrels been so bad at the feeders this summer?
My bluebirds started nesting so late this year, do you think they will try a third nesting?
How long will my orioles and hummingbirds stick around?
I saw a cute cat shaped bird feeder at another store. Why don’t you carry those?
I’ve notice bird seed prices have gone up. Why? |
Spring of 2007
What affect will the April “Freeze” have on our birds??
The male cardinal has started banging at my window again. Is there anything new to keep him from waking us up at sunrise?
If I cut back feeding during the summer, what feeders should I leave out? |
Winter of 2007
Ever since the cold weather settled in, the starlings are driving me crazy. What can I do?
I had a raccoon get into my bluebird house last year. What can I do to protect them?
When do I stop feeding suet?
Is it too late to put out a heated bird bath?
When will the Birding Software you sell be available for my Apple? |
2 0 0 6…find out the answers!
Fall of 2006
Do we have any of those huge Pileated Woodpeckers in our area?
When will my birds be back?
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?
What is the best way to keep the seed in my feeders dry?
Why do the starlings have white spots on them now? |
Summer of 2006
Have there been more Indigo Buntings than usual around this summer?
As hot and dry as this summer season has been, do you think bluebirds will try to nest three times like they normally do?
How do I keep the ants and bees out of my hummingbird feeders?
Is there anything I can do to keep the raccoons out of my feeders? |
Spring of 2006
Is it OK to lower my martin house and clean out sparrows’ nests while the martins have eggs?
Should I add anything to my hummingbird nectar to make it better?
Where are my goldfinches that I had all winter?
Why can’t I get bluebirds to nest in my yard? |
Winter of 2006
I love chickadees. What is the best food and feeder for them?
Why has my peanut feeder been so slow this winter?
Isn’t it about time for the blackbirds to show up? What can I do to battle them?
What is the latest on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker?
I don’t always remember to fill my bird bath as often as I should. Are there any alternatives? |
2 0 0 5…find out the answers!
Fall of 2005
Where have all of my birds been?
Is there anything new in the battle against squirrels?
Is there a difference in suets?
I have been hearing a lot about the Bird Flu. Should I stop feeding birds? |
Summer of 2005
How do I attract Gray Catbirds?
Would it do me any good to put up a Purple Martin house this late?
Some of the bird names in my field guide are wrong. Who decides on bird names and why do they change them?
Should I store my birdseed inside or outside? |
Spring of 2005
Do you ever hear from Dale of the old Dale’s For The Birds store?
What is your favorite bird song CD?
I know that orioles like grape jelly. What other birds can I expect to see feeding from it?
How many times do birds nest during a year?
How often should I change my hummingbird nectar? |
Winter of 2005
I hear the cage feeders are great at keeping out squirrels and starlings. Is there a way to easily make a cage feeder out of one of my tube feeders I already have?
I have seen a hawk hanging around my backyard. What kind is it and what can I do to protect my birds?
I have so many house finches at my feeders, my goldfinches can’t seem to get a turn at the feeders. What can I do?
I love Blue Jays. What should I be feeding them? |
2 0 0 4…find out the answers!
Fall of 2004
I heard that this could be a severe winter. What can I do to help the birds?
I love Snowy Owls but have never seen one. Do we ever get them here in Missouri?
My parents have been feeding birds for years and seem to have everything. Is there a “new” feeder you would recommend?
I saw the Shade Grown Coffee display in your store the other day. Do birds eat coffee? |
Summer of 2004
I get so frustrated by the grackles flinging all of the bird seed out of my feeders. Why do they do this and how can I stop it?
The bees are running off my orioles and hummingbirds, what can I do? |
Spring of 2004
Last spring I had a cardinal repeatedly banging into one of my windows. What is that all about and will he return?
I found a baby bird in my yard. What should I do?
Where do Hummingbirds nest?
I never got orioles to come to my feeder last year. What can I do different? |
Winter of 2004
Where are all of the birds this winter?
When is the best time to try feeding mealworms?
What was the flicker you had pictured in the last issue eating?
How can birds walk around or stand in the icy cold water? |
2 0 0 3…find out the answers!
Fall of 2003
When will my finches come back?
How can I keep birds from striking my windows?
What are the best binoculars for my kids?
I have been seeing lots of bluebirds lately. Don't they leave? |
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