Ultimate Guide to Bird Feeders and Feeding

Pileated Woodpeckers!

2009-06-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this beauty! My friends Toni and Mark Parr are lucky enough to have a pair of this spectacular woodpecker visiting their feeders just north of Cincinnati. Above, you can see the male enjoying some suet. I have been thinking quite a lot about Pileated Woodpeckers lately and these photos finally provided the inspiration I needed to write a bit about them. Here in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, the Pileated Woodpecker is scarce and very locally distributed. In Lucas County, there are a few pairs in Oak Openings, a pair at Secor Metropark and there have been scattered reports of others here and there. Pileateds had been virtually absent from Northwest Ohio for 20+ years before Matt Anderson verified one in Oak Openings in 2001. Today, they no longer warrant “rare” bird status here in the Toledo area but are always a highlight of any day trip.

Here is the female. I have heard that the Pileated Woodpecker is slowly expanding (repopulating) its range across the eastern U.S. Perhaps the gradual increase here is linked to that and there is nothing more to it. However, I think there may be some other factor involved, and that is the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer. I am not positive when the first confirmed EAB was found here, but it seems like it was right around the time we started encountering Pileateds again. Today, you can’t find a living ash tree anywhere in Northwest Ohio. The state and others would have cut down every single dead tree in the area if they hadn’t run out of money. This would have been a travesty since the dead trees have provided tremendous resources for woodpeckers of all species. Not only do the dead ashes provide potential nesting cavities but also food sources. So, I’m not sure there really is a correlation between the Emerald Ash Borer and the return of Pileated Woodpeckers but it’s just a hunch I have.

Here in Northwest Ohio, the Pileated seems to be pretty much limited to the larger forest tracts (of which there are very few), and within those tracts they can be devilishly difficult to find unless you know where a nest hole is. I know of no Pileated Woodpeckers visiting feeders here in Northwest Ohio in recent history. Down south, and even in southern Ohio, the Pileated Woodpecker seems to have more relaxed requirements. As evidenced by Toni and Mark’s photos here, they are also a feeder bird. Toni mentioned to me that they typically see them at the feeders during the nesting season only. Do others have this same experience? I have to consider this a bit to try to determine why this would be.

The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America (maybe someday I will write about my thoughts on the Ivory-billed) and if you have them visiting your feeders, consider yourself very lucky!

Summertime Feeding

2009-06-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

People will frequently ask me if they should feed the birds during the summer months. The answer is YES! The summer months provide a terrific opportunity to supplement wild birds’ diets as well as to see some great interactions between adults and young birds. From a survival standpoint, feeding birds in the summer is not as crucial as during the cold months but to me, feeding the birds is really about enjoying the experience of watching them. Advances have been made in some of the types of feed that we used to feed exclusively in the winter – suet, for example. The vast majority of the commercially made suet cakes are suitable for temperatures well into the 80s (F), so we can even feed suet over the summer in most parts of the country.

Typically, we see a decrease in feeder traffic the first two weeks of June. This is because parents are busy with their rearing duties back at the nest. Soon though, after the season’s first brood fledges, we can expect more visitors in the form of the young birds that will now find your feeders. It’s always pretty satisfying to see a young-of-the-year at the feeders with its parents.

In my own yard here in southern Michigan, hummingbirds are about my favorite summer visitors though this year I have been treated to Pine Siskins which is a rare summer treat. Hummingbird feeders are so easy to maintain and remain mess free throughout the season. I could watch the Ruby-throateds for hours though in my open oak woods, they aren’t the most abundant visitor. I think I have one male and one female but they come every single day.

I did have a very unusual summertime visitor yesterday, though it did not come to my feeders. A singing male Eastern Bluebird visited the yard for several hours. I typically get this species as a flyover during migration and/or occasionally a mid winter visitor. I have no idea where this bird is nesting but the habitat is far from ideal. No complaints of course!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2009-05-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

It's not too late to get a gift for that special mom or grandma in your life. There are thousands of nature gifts in my online store which you can visit by following the link in the upper right corner of this blog. Does mom like birds? Here are some ideas:

-Hummingbird feeder
-Oriole feeder
-Goldfinch feeder
-Decorative bird houses
-Purple Martin house (email me if you are considering a martin house. I want to make sure you have a good spot to put the house)
-Bluebird boxes
-Books, books, books

Or, how about letting her choose something with a gift card? We offer them in $25 or $100 amounts. Just type in "gift card" in the search box once you are linked into the nature mall and you will be all set!

Happy Mother's Day!

Who Likes Rose-breasted Grosbeaks?

2009-05-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Perhaps a better question is who DOESN’T like Rose-breasted Grosbeaks?! In the Great Lakes region, including Michigan and Ohio, attracting Rose-breasted Grosbeaks to your yard is pretty easy – at least during the month of May. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are a sizable songbird and they like a roomy perch. So, hopper-style feeders (especially those with trays or platforms attached), platform feeders or tray feeders are the feeder of choice. If you already have one of these, then you are already in business. If you are handy, then building one is an option – platform and tray feeders are especially convenient for the do-it-yourselfer. If you need to purchase one, I can recommend something basic yet effective and affordable from Songbird Essentials. That is, their large hopper feeder. Woodlink sells a 3-in-1 platform feeder that would be an excellent choice as well, either hanging or mounted on a post. You can find both of these feeders by following the link to my store in the upper right corner and typing these in the search box. There are some other good choices as well. If you need help deciding which is best, just contact me and I will help you. If all you have are tube feeders on shepherd hooks, you can add a seed tray to the bottom and that will create a larger perching area that the grosbeaks will utilize.

Now that you have your feeder or feeders in place, it is time to re-think your seed offering. Most of you offer some type of wild bird mix, or straight black oilers. For Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, you will need to offer safflower. Saffflower seed isn’t the cheapest in the world, but for most of us, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak visits only as a migrant so we only need to buy enough to get us through the month of May or so. It is without debate that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks prefer safflower far and away to any other seed. Other birds will eat safflower, especially Tufted Titmice and Northern Cardinals but maybe that isn’t quite good enough for you. Interestingly, I have started to mix safflower with sunflower hearts in my hopper feeder and have really liked the results. I have had Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at my feeder every day for the last week, and the sunflower chips attract Red-bellied Woodpeckers (I think they prefer the chips to any seed OR suet), Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, White-breasted Nuthatches and Black-capped Chickadees. I get many fewer House Finches, which seem to prefer black oilers, and have even had some migrant Purple Finches stop in for a treat.

I have extolled the virtues of safflower seed and how it attracts the grosbeaks for years. I always enjoy it when I hear back from someone who makes the change and is successful in attracting the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. My friends Mark and Sherry Plessner from Toledo did this very thing a few weeks ago and were quickly rewarded. Find a brief write-up of their experience here.
Above is a photo that my friend Becky Cullen took recently of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak eating safflower at her feeders.

More on Orioles

2009-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

I live in southern Michigan and I had my first oriole of the year on Sunday, April 26th. This was a Baltimore Oriole and was a beautiful adult male. Unfortunately, it never visited my oriole feeder, or the orange halves I put out. I have also added grape jelly to my arsenal for attracting orioles though I have not had much success with it over the years. An Eastern Bluebird visited the oriole feeder all afternoon on Sunday, and it seemed to be enjoying the jelly, so I am happy I had it out.

Orchard Oriole has also arrived at this latitude, though I haven't encountered one yet. It is a hair early yet for Orchard Orioles (pictured below), but we have experienced sustained winds out of the southwest and as a result, some species are ahead of schedule.

Remember, orioles are treetop dwellers for the most part. If you become familiar with their loud, flute-like song and notes then you will see many more. They also "chatter" quite a lot, especially right after a burst of song. Googling "oriole song recordings" should get you where you want to go if you are interested in learning their vocalizations. Orchard Orioles sound different and I think of their song like a cross between a Baltimore Oriole and a Purple Finch.

Grab your binoculars and scan the treetops. You just may be rewarded with seeing a black-and-orange beauty!!

Holy Orioles! How to Attract Orioles

2009-03-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Most springs, I get at least one person who calls me and asks "Do we have Baltimore Orioles around here?!" Invariably, they have seen one (usually an adult male that really catches their eye) and are sincerely amazed that this flaming ball of orange and black graced their day. Most non-birders never think of a non-baseball oriole and assume they are probably a pretty rare bird. In reality, the Baltimore Oriole is a common bird over much of its range in the eastern U.S, bordering on abundant! Their clear, melodious whistles are especially common in large trees bordering wetlands - streams, lakes, marshes, ponds. In migration, which covers most of April and May, they turn up anywhere, including suburban backyards.

The Orchard Oriole is the other common eastern Oriole, and while more somberly attired than its cousin, the Orchard Oriole is beautiful in its own right; at least the adult males! Their deep chestnut and black is absolutely stunning, if a bit hard to see at times. Though the Orchard Oriole's habitat requirements are a bit more specialized, they are still fairly widespread in migration and also will visit backyards, especially in the country. The Orchard Oriole is one of my favorite neotropical migrants! (The Orchard Oriole pictured above is copyrighted to my friend Laura Stiefel, and is posted here with her permission.)

Attracting orioles to your yard is a very simple proposition. They are attracted to orange slices and nectar feeders. Some have success with putting out grape jelly, but I have not had much success with that over the years. I go with a double-pronged approach, and that is, I slice up oranges and impale the orange halves on sticks/twigs in bushes that I can easily see from my window. The fruit side should be "up" so the orioles can easily get at the nectar. I also put out a commercial oriole feeder, which has worked very well for me also. I live in southern Michigan, and during May, it is not uncommon to see 3 or 4 Baltimore Orioles on my nectar feeder at once!

The nectar is easy to make on your own, so you should not have to purchase any commercially made mix. Simply mix 3 parts water to 1 part sugar, boil, let cool, and fill the feeder. It is a bit sweeter than hummingbird nectar, and sometimes you will find the orioles visiting your hummingbird feeders (and vice versa), but once they get a taste of the sweeter oriole nectar, they will stay put.

Aspects makes a good oriole feeder. You can find it by following the Online Birders' Mall in the upper right hand corner of this blog and doing a search on "Aspects" or "Oriole". There apparently isn't a good way to link directly there from here (!)

Hooray for Updates!

2009-03-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been entirely too long - between my job, family, my other blog and a new website project I have been wrestling with, the updates on this blog have slowed to a snail's pace. Well, it's time to get back in the swing, and what better way than to discuss the impending arrival of neotropical migrants.

Over the next several weeks, I will not only expand my views on attracting woodpeckers, goldfinches and more wonderful visitors that are easily attracted to different seeds and suet but also fill you in on the SINGLE BEST WAY TO ATTRACT BIRDS OF ANY SPECIES TO YOUR YARD, whether they are seed-eaters are not.

There have been a lot of inquiries lately on the timing of hummingbirds, and when you should put hummingbird feeders out. Here is a quick and easy guide for you if you are considering when you should have those hummingbird feeders out:

Gulf Coast - NOW
Mid-south - NOW
Ohio Valley - April 10-15
Great Lakes - April 20
Points North - May 1

This is just a general guide. If you live in Michigan and you want to put up a hummingbird feeder in April, then it won't hurt anything and if you happen to get an early one before May, then good for you. But most of your action will happen from mid-May onward if you are in Michigan, for example.

Remember, 4 parts water to 1 part sugar, and keep those hummingbird feeders clean!

----

NEXT UPDATE: HOW TO ATTRACT BALTIMORE ORIOLES!!

Attracting Hummingbirds

2009-02-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

Wow, it’s only February 25th and I have hummingbirds on my mind already. As we get closer to April, I will definitely give more time to these little marvels as they are one of my favorite families of birds.

Here in the eastern U.S., we can reasonably expect just one species of hummingbirds to commonly visit our backyards. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird spends the breeding season pretty much throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada and wisely winters in much warmer climes, mostly Central America and Mexico. In Ohio, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds turn up along the Ohio River counties the first week of April and are fairly widespread, even in the northern tier of counties by the end of the month. They spend about 5 or 6 months in their breeding range, normally departing Ohio by mid-October. Occasionally they will stay later and any hummingbird in November or December should be closely scrutinized for the possibility of being something else.

The adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a blazing, iridescent red throat (gorget) that often simply appears dark if the lighting isn’t just right. Its back is a dull metallic green, with a grayish chest and belly. There is usually a small white spot visible behind the eye and the tail is black. The female is mostly similar to the male, save for the all-important ruby throat. One should not always assume that any hummingbird seen in the east is a Ruby-throated, but that is a conversation for another day.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are just one of over 330 species of hummingbirds worldwide. The hummingbird family is restricted to the new world, and most of them in the tropics at all elevations. Some of the best names in the entire animal kingdom belong to hummingbirds; mangos, starthroats, sabrewings, emeralds and sunbeams are all types of exotic hummingbirds. A trip to the eastern slope of the Andes in South America could net the intrepid birder scores of different hummingbird species.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is an incredible flyer, not only able to hover and maneuver at will, but also migrate long distances. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds routinely fly over the Gulf of Mexico in going to and from their wintering grounds.

Fortunately for us, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is one of the easiest birds to attract! They are most abundant at woodland edges, especially near water, but the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is found virtually everywhere and even if you do not have them breeding nearby, you surely can attract them during migration in the spring and the fall.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will eat insects (some studies show they eat primarily insects), but we think of them mostly as nectar feeders. That is, they extract the nectar from a wide range of flowers and in fact help pollinate in a similar fashion as bees. There are a variety of flowers you can plant that will attract hummingbirds, and many of these are red. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are without question attracted to the color red, and if you wear a bright red hat in the summer, you may find Ruby-throated Hummingbirds buzzing around to check you out! Good plantings for attracting Ruby-throated Hummingbirds include columbine, honeysuckle, trumpet vines, butterfly weed, bee balm and more.

Maybe the best and easiest way to attract hummingbirds is simply hanging a hummingbird feeder! There are many good hummingbird feeders available on the market, and most of them are very effective. Some of the more decorative hummingbird feeders may be attractive but less effective. My recommendation would be to go with a standard plastic hummingbird feeder with a red top or with red plastic flowers. I will have some specific recommendations as to which hummingbird feeders are the best as we get deeper into March, or please contact me if you have specific questions on this. Some will have ant traps and bee guards, which can be useful, if not entirely foolproof in protecting your hummingbird feeder from these opportunists.

Once you have your hummingbird feeder, it is best to hang them from a shepherd’s hook in an area of your yard that is easy for you to see. I usually recommend placing your hummingbird feeder near some plantings that are attractive to hummingbirds but this certainly isn’t a necessity. If you have specific questions about your layout and the ideal placement of your hummingbird feeder, please feel free to contact me via this blog.

Of course, you have to put something IN your hummingbird feeder, which is very easy. Making your own hummingbird nectar is as simple as combining 1 part sugar with 4 parts water. Distill the mixture by heating and stirring. Once the hummingbird food is clear to the eye, let it cool by putting it in the refrigerator or letting it sit out for sufficient time that it cools down to room temperature. Fill your hummingbird feeder, hang it outside, wait and watch! Any excess sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or 10 days. There is commercial hummingbird mix available, but it does NOT give you an advantage over your homemade hummingbird food and it will save you money to make your own. It is important to keep fresh sugar water in your hummingbird feeder. In cooler temperatures, it is fine to change the water once a week but when it is the heat of the summer and the temperatures routinely reach the mid 80s (F), you will want to refresh the water every 3 or 4 days. Even if you are not seeing hummingbirds, it is critical to keep the nectar fresh because a hummingbird will not drink rotten nectar – at least not for long. This is the most important part of maintaining your hummingbird feeder and you should not underestimate its importance not only in attracting and keeping hummingbirds, but also for the health of the bird!

Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is one of the more rewarding and enjoyable experiences in all of birdwatching. Hopefully this post will encourage you to attract hummingbirds to your yard if you aren’t doing so already! I don’t have any good photos of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in my collection, so here are some links you may also find of interest.

http://www.hummingbirds.net/rubythroated.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=BD0119

The Cooper's Hawk: A Welcome Visitor

2009-02-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this bird at your feeders? This is a picture of an immature Cooper's Hawk, taken by Becky Cullen in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Cooper's Hawk is one of three accipiter species in the United States - larger than a Sharp-shinned Hawk and smaller than the rare Northern Goshawk, the Cooper's Hawk is at home in suburban settings, often nesting next to houses or other buildings. Relatively short winged and long tailed, the Cooper's Hawk is a skilled flying machine that often preys on smaller birds. It stands to reason then that the Cooper's Hawk will often actively hunt feeding stations. It is hard to appreciate the beauty, speed, agility and power of the Cooper's Hawk if it just picked off your lone Common Redpoll or Red-breasted Nuthatch from your feeder. However, the Cooper's Hawk does not discriminate when it comes to choosing its meals, and is simply looking to survive. I don't know that I have ever read that Cooper's Hawks are crepuscular, but it seems that I see them more during the dawn and dusk hours or dreary days with diminished light. I am not sure if there have been formal studies on the intelligence of the Cooper's Hawk, but my own observations support the theory that this species has above average I.Q. There is no question in my mind that the Cooper's Hawk "hides" behind things - trees for sure but also man-made structures like garages and rooftops prior to launching into its attack flight. I have heard they have been known to drown their prey and a friend of mine, Becky Cullen has made some really interesting observations of fledgling Cooper's Hawks in play behavior (Becky, if you are reading, perhaps you can share your experience? Post a comment and I will be happy to publish it). The bottom line is, if you see a Cooper's Hawk in your yard or neighborhood, you should not try discourage it; rather, sit back and appreciate all of the great things the Cooper's Hawk has to offer, and if it happens to eat a bird at your bird feeders, then just hope it is a House Sparrow or starling instead of a redpoll or nuthatch!

Attracting Woodpeckers

2009-02-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

Attracting woodpeckers to your bird feeders is a fairly straight-forward proposition. If you are in the East, then there are three species that are commonly attracted to feeding stations. These are the abundant Downy Woodpecker, its larger look-a-like the Hairy Woodpecker, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker. The other four expected woodpeckers (Pileated, Red-headed, Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker) are also occasional visitors to feeding stations, but generally much less so than the other three.

How do you attract woodpeckers? Simply offer suet! There are a number of effective suet feeders available commercially, including "cages" in which you can put suet cakes and also "log" feeders that are short logs with large holes drilled in it. You can still use suet cakes with the log feeders, it's just you will have to smash the suet into the holes, which is a bit messier than the cage variety. The upside to the log feeder is that in my experience, they are a bit more effective.

Woodpeckers will also eat a variety of seeds and especially enjoy peanut pieces and other nuts and dried fruits. There is a "woodpecker mix" commercially available in some retail stores and it is composed of a variety of cracked nuts including peanuts, walnuts and also some dried fruit. The nice thing about suet is that it is virtually mess-free.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is arguably the most spectacular of the three common feeder visitors and one of the most commonly misidentified birds. Many people mistakenly call it a "Red-headed Woodpecker", which is fitting since it has a bright red mohawk for a "haircut". Its red belly is only noticed by careful observers and usually when it is quite close. The real Red-headed Woodpecker has red covering its entire head and neck. While maybe not as striking as the Red-headed Woodpecker, the Red-bellied Woodpecker's black and white zebra striping on its back, reddish belly and bright red on the top of its head make it pretty easy on the eyes. This species likes suet as well, but has a particular taste for sunflower hearts as well.

If you have Pileated Woodpeckers visiting your feeders, then congratulations! I would be happy to post any of your pictures of Pileated Woodpeckers at feeders right here if you send them.

Identifying the 7 woodpeckers of the east may seem daunting, but it is actually pretty simple, especially if you have the right field guide. If you enjoy looking at birds at your feeders and do not have a field guide, then I would recommend picking one up today! But be careful, because you may get hooked. I would recommend Kenn Kaufman's field guide and it is available at most retail bookstores or online book retailer like Borders.com.

More on woodpeckers later, as they are a real favorite!

Blue Jay: Friend or Foe?

2009-02-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

Growing up, I remember my parents always telling me how "bad" Blue Jays were. They were "mean" they said, always picking on other birds at the feeders and driving them away. They said that Blue Jays were aggressive and we should discourage them from coming around. I have little doubt that many others still feel this way. The fact is, Blue Jays are bold but NOT overly aggressive. Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals and even Pine Siskins will drive away a visiting Blue Jay.

When is the last time you looked closely at a Blue Jay? I mean, really looked at one. Their wild combination of bright blues, gray, lavender and black defies description. If Blue Jays were a rare bird across their range, they would be one of the most wanted birds in the entire country, if not the world.

And what about their behavior? Inquisitive and intelligent just like all corvids, they "talk" to each other with soft call notes, mob and harass predators and are master mimics to boot.

In my view, the Blue Jay is the single most under-rated and under-appreciated bird in all of Eastern North America!

Now that I have sold you on all of the great qualities of the Blue Jay, how do you attract them? Peanuts!!! They are suckers for whole peanuts still in the shell. Spread some out on your platform or fly-through feeder and the Blue Jays will be your friend for life. They will eat other things you put out for them as well, including black oiler sunflower seeds, cracked corn and suet but they all pale in comparison to their lust for whole peanuts.

The Blue Jay: Friend Indeed!!!!

All photos by Becky Cullen

A Quick List!

2009-02-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

If you are reading this blog, you LOVE feeding birds and you love looking at birds. Whether you are a beginner or an old veteran, watching your feeders is almost always rewarding! I watched my feeders for awhile today here in Temperance, MI. How does your list from today stack up to mine?

1. Mourning Dove
2. Blue Jay
3. Northern Cardinal
4. Dark-eyed Junco
5. House Finch
6. House Sparrow
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. Tufted Titmouse
9. White-breasted Nuthatch
10. Downy Woodpecker
11. American Goldfinch
12. Red-bellied Woodpecker
13. Pine Siskin

I would say this is an average winter day for me. I missed Red-breasted Nuthatch and Hairy Woodpecker, which are generally here every day. I also had a couple of Brown Creepers and a Golden-crowned Kinglet among others in the yard, but not at the feeders.

Still hoping for a Common Redpoll this year - I had almost 200 at my feeders last year!!

Just a "Sparrow"?

2009-01-30T15:35:00.000-08:00

Many backyard birdwatchers, especially beginners, are guilty of assuming everything that is hopping around at the bottom of your bird feeders is "just another sparrow". There may be House Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows and Song Sparrows (along with juncos of course) are all pretty common feeder visitors across their winter ranges. But how often do you really LOOK at the sparrows? After all, they are mostly drab and brown and quite frankly aren't very enigmatic like a Blue Jay or a nuthatch. Why would you look at them? Well, because there may be a different one, that's why! Of course we can dream of an exotic vagrant like a Harris's Sparrow (or even better, a Golden-crowned Sparrow) but a Harris's should stand out like a sore thumb. Rare birds (or at least unexpected birds) are a topic for another day. What about a species that is common, seen in numbers by experienced birders but probably not seen too often by beginners? Enter the White-throated Sparrow. The White-throated Sparrow is an unassuming character, especially in the winter when its muted tones blend in so well with the brown shrubbery it likes to frequent. They have a white throat, which isn't always that obvious, but are probably best known for their song which they rarely give in the winter. My friend Kenn Kaufman says they say "Ohhhh, sweet Kimberly, Kimberly Kimberly". Nice.

The trick to finding unusual, rare or otherwise different species is simple - look for them! Don't assume every sparrow is the same. Take the time and effort to look through your binoculars and pay close attention to your friends that are visiting your bird feeders.

Have a look below at a couple of White-throated Sparrow photos taken by Becky Cullen.

Snowstorms Mean More Birds at Your Bird Feeders!

2009-01-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

We had about 6 or 7 inches of snow last night, and as expected, activity at the bird feeders increased. I hung around home for awhile this morning waiting out rush hour and watched the feeders. There was nothing terribly unusual, but I did have my season-high feeder count for Pine Siskins at 25+. This number pales in comparison to what others are getting at their feeders, but they are still are fun to watch. The Pine Siskin is a scrappy sort and they are constantly squabbling with each other and the goldfinches. Although I expected to see a Common Redpoll today, that species was a no show.

The Pine Siskins seem to prefer the thistle sock over the thistle tube feeder, and there were as many as 15 on a single sock this morning. Make sure your thistle is fresh as sometimes it can get moldy or dry and it is not the easiest thing to detect. If you have had thistle feeders up for over two weeks with no action, you will want to pick up some fresh. Again, I recommend Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) for their bird seed. They have good seed turnover (always fresh), and are good at answering questions as well.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch: Little Dynamo

2009-01-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

If you like to feed birds and have bird feeders in your yard, then having the Red-breasted Nuthatch pay you a visit is sure to be a highlight of your season. Not only is the Red-breasted Nuthatch a fine bird to look at, but it has one of the biggest personalities in the entire bird world. Fearless of people, this species will regularly get within inches of a person who happens to be filling their bird feeder. If this has happened to you, it undoubtedly surprised you the first time as it did with me. This situation creates a perfect opportunity to "hand tame" your new found friend. Instead of filling your bird feeder, put a handful of seed into your palm, hold it away from your body and stand as still as possible. The Red-breasted Nuthatch will not hesitate to land on your arm, head and eventually hand as it scarfs down some of the seed you have provided. If a Black-capped Chickadee or two are around, they would be likely to join the party.

Red-breasted Nuthatches live in the north woods, preferring conifer stands for nesting. Even in winter, pines, spruces and other evergreens are their preferred cover. They irrupt southward in varying numbers year to year and depending on your latitude they can range from being quite scarce to abundant.

On a recent day of birding in Northwest Ohio's Oak Openings Metropark, I tallied 74 Red-breasted Nuthatches, all within the confines of the north side of the park. This was a high count for such a small area, and boy was it fun! Red-breasted Nuthatches will often remain silent in the tops of conifers, so drawing them out requires a bit of patience sometimes, and a good screech-owl imitation. They are drawn to the sounds of screech-owls readily, and before you know it, you may be surrounded by several of these tiny birds. Red-breasted Nuthatches have a very nasal "pihnt" call and once they get started with it, it is difficult to stop them.

Fortunately for all of the backyard birdwatchers out there, this species can be attracted to our yards. While the Red-breasted Nuthatch will eat sunflower seeds and suet, its favorite "seeds" are actually peanut pieces. Whether you place the peanut pieces on the landing area of a platform style or hopper style bird feeder or offer them in a specialized peanut feeder, your Red-breasted Nuthatches (and titmice) will be very grateful! They feed on peanut pieces with gusto, and I can definitely recommend adding these to your backyard buffet. I find that Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) has excellent quality seed, and visiting your local WBU shop to pick some up is a fine idea.

If you have any photos of Red-breasted Nuthatches or would like to share a story about the Red-breasted Nuthatch, please post a comment!

Red-breasted Nuthatch at Peanut Feeder by Becky Cullen

The Inaugural Post - PINE SISKINS

2009-01-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog about feeding birds! Watching birds is a wonderful hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and ability. There are MANY great things about birding and birdwatching, and we will explore those on a regular basis here on Ultimate Guide. This blog can't be (and won't be) limited to simply feeding birds, but it will certainly be a theme. Feeding birds is hugely popular across this country and beyond and we actually have some control over what species we attract to our yards for easy viewing. Incredible species like Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinches and even hummingbirds and orioles are all regularly drawn into our backyards with various feeders.

We are experiencing a massive irruption of Pine Siskins into the lower Great Lakes region this season, and this nifty northern finch loves to visit bird feeders, lucky for us! They often associate with American Goldfinches and also have some of the same food preferences. Without question, the Pine Siskin's favorite food is THISTLE (sometimes called "nyjer"), and if you do not own a thistle feeder, I would recommend purchasing one (or more). Goldfinches and Pine Siskins often travel in flocks, sometimes numbering dozens of individuals. If you have lots of goldfinches already coming to your feeders, be sure to look carefully at each one, because often a siskin or two can go unnoticed.

Pine Siskins have a unique, buzzy song and they are typically very vocal as well. Congratulations if you have PINE SISKINS visiting your feeders this winter, and if not - keep your eyes peeled!!

Pine Siskin on Thistle Feeder by Becky Cullen