Archive | January 2024

BLOGGER SHARES DIY SEED FEEDER TIP

Jan31

      One of our fellow bloggers saw this tip and shared it with me regarding how to make an inexpensive seed feeder.  It was such a neat idea I thought I would share idea with you.

Anonymous wrote…

    “Bird watching is a pastime of mine, but I don’t love going out and buying new suet feeders.  They’re not expensive but still, I like to DIY them by using peanut butter or coconut butter as an adhesive to stick the birdseed on a paper towel roll.”

BACKYARD SECRET – THEODORE ROOSEVELT WATCHED BIRDS ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE

Jan28

      As remarkable as it may seem, during his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt kept a list of the birds he saw and/or heard on the grounds of the White Hose.  His list contained the names of 91 species of birds, including a pair of redheaded woodpeckers. 

       Can you say you have seen so many species in your yard?

A BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER VISITS ENGLAND

Jan24

       Recently a blogger reported finding a black and white warbler on Liverpool Street in London.  Our fellow blogger was curious as to how rare this sighting was, and what the bird might eat.

       It is possible to see a black and white warbler in Georgia throughout much of the year.  During the Georgia Breeding Bird Atlas Project, black and white warbler breeding was documented throughout the northern half of the state.  Some nesting was also found below the Fall Line.

       The bird breeds throughout eastern North America and a wide swath of Canada.  The birds’ winter in the Southeast as far south as Central America, and the northern portions of South America and the Caribbean.

       However, on rare occasions, black and warblers miraculously show up in Western Europe. The species has been seen at least 14 times in England.  Some British ornithologists suggest that these oceanic flights to England are aided by fast-moving Atlantic storms.

       As it turns out, other North America Warblers, such as the blackburnian, Cape May, magnolia and Canada, have also successfully navigated the long journey across “The Pond.” 

       As you might expect, when one appears it creates quite a stir in the birding world and birders (sometimes called twitchers) flock to see the bird.

 

BLUE JAY TOOK ITS FONDNESS FOR SUNFLOWER SEEDS TO THE EXTREME

Jan21

       My cousin called to tell me what happened recently while he was enjoying looking out his kitchen window at scores of birds feeding on white millet and black oil sunflower seeds. With the temperature outside well below freezing and another cold night ahead, the birds seemed to be in a feeding frenzy. 

       When a blue jay dropped in to join the gathering, its size, and icy blue feathers caught my cousin’s eye.  What happened next was something he will never forget.  As he watched, the blue jay began picking up sunflower seed after sunflower seed.  He was so astonished how quickly each seed was plucked from the ground and disappeared into the bird’s mouth. This prompted him to count each seed that the bird devoured.  When the jay finally stopped eating, it had gobbled down 30 sunflower seeds.  Talk about eating its share at a backyard seed buffet!  My cousin was left utterly flabbergasted at what he just witnessed.

       After I hung up the phone, I decided to see if I could find if such a feeding binge is unusual.  What I learned astounded me.  According to one reference I located, someone saw a blue jay gobble up 100 sunflower seeds before deciding it had eaten enough.  

       Now I have to figure out how I can diplomatically explain to my cousin that his blue jay’s feeding prowess pales in comparison to another unknown blue jay that set the bar so high. You have to wonder if any jay has or will top it?

      

EATING TO STAY WARM ON FRIGID NIGHTS

Jan17

       Last night when the temperature dipped to 14º F, I knew the birds in my backyards were facing a life and death struggle to survive the cold weather.  For example, the tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees that frequent my feeders throughout the day had to burn far more body fat than normal just to keep from freezing to death.  This meant these small birds could have easily lost 70-75% of their stored body fat between sunset and dawn.     

      To ensure that they had enough stored fat in their bodies to meet this challenge the birds, they could have eaten some 20% more fat-laden foods before sunset than they do when temperatures are higher.   This helps explain why we see them visiting our suet and black oil sunflower seed feeders more often when the weather turns cold. 

WAXMYRTLE – GREAT FOR WILDLIFE AND BIRDS TOO

Jan14

      The southern waxmyrtle (Morella cerifera) is a great evergreen shrub or small tree for Georgia backyards.  The plant is attractive and provides food and cover for birds and other wildlife.

       Since this Georgia native grows 3-5  feet a year and can reach a height of 15 feet or more, it can be used to create an ideal natural privacy fence.  If you use it for this purpose, place the transplants 4-5 feet part at least 5 feet from your property line.

       The shrub’s thick foliage creates super nesting sites for birds as well as a place to escape severe weather and predators.

       Female plants produce  1/8” purplish berries that at least 42 species of birds eat.  Some of the birds that dine on waxmyrtle berries are gray catbirds, eastern bluebirds, ruby-crowned kinglets, eastern towhees and the yellow-rumped warblers.  In fact, before the bird’s name was changed, it was known as the myrtle warbler because it eats lots of waxmyrtle berries in the winter.

       Keep in mind only female plants produce the berries. Consequently, if you want your waxmyrtles to produce berries for birds, you must plant at least one male plant.  One male will pollinate all of the female plants within a 40-foot radius.  The problem is most of the plants you purchase will be females.  As such, make sure the folks that sell you your waxmyrtles are supplying you at with at least one male.

       I hope you will give waxmyrtle a try.  It will grow in a wide range of soil types, requires little maintenance and is attractive. What more can you ask?

BACKYARD SECRET – THE RUFOUS IS THE MOST COMMON HUMMINGBIRD DURING THE WINTER IN GEORGIA

Jan10

      The most common hummingbird in Georgia during the winter months is the rufous.  The rufous also has the distinction of breeding farther north than any other hummingbird.  This feisty hummingbird nests as far north as southeastern Alaska.

WHITE MILLET—BIRDS LOVE IT

Jan7

        The two seeds my wife and I feature at the Johnson Homestead bird feeding stations are black oil sunflower seed and white millet.  Although I have often touted the virtues of back oil sunflower seeds, I have not spent as much time praising white millet.

       White millet seeds are round and yellowish white. While we most often either scatter it on the ground or place it on bird tables, we also feed it in hopper feeders. Since birds such as chipping sparrows and cardinals are not reluctant to feed from elevated feeders, some ground feeding birds such song, fox, and white-throated sparrows, eastern towhees, mourning doves, and  dark-eyed juncos seem to prefer to eat on the ground.

       One thing we love about this seed is that it does not produce piles of seed hulls that accumulate below sunflower seed feeders.  Birds that feed on white millet leave behind a miniscule amount of hulls.

       While significant amounts of white millet seeds are a major ingredient in premium birdseed mixes, we prefer to buy bags of white millet. We buy white millet in 50-pound bags and store it in a metal garbage can.  Purchasing the seed in bulk is far more economical than buying in smaller bags.

       Finding white millet can sometimes be a problem.  It is rarely available at big box stores. However, you can locate it in stores that specialize in bird supplies.  We have also found that, while many stores deal in livestock feed may not have it in stock; they are often willing to order it for you.

       I hope you will try feeding white millet. It cuts down on the amount of wasted seed that often accumulates beneath feeders stocked with mixed seed.  In addition, you will find it attracts a surprising variety of birds.

      

      

BACKYARD SECRET – AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES HAVE BIG APPETITES IN WINTER

Jan3

       Like many birds, American goldfinches have huge appetites during the winter.  During this harsh season these small birds average consuming upwards of 35 percent of their body weight in food each day. 

       I guess that is one reason why they eat so many black oil sunflower and nyger seeds at our feeders.