Home › Archives for August 2013

Black-and-white Warbler makes a visit

Black-and-white Warblers look similar to nuthatches at first glance. When I spotted him in the viburnum bush he was feeding on insects moving up, down, and along branches in every direction. On second glance I could see that this bird looked a little smaller and more delicate than a White-breasted Nuthatch. Black-and-white...
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The Birdwatchers fall and winter checklist

I hope everyone enjoys this upcoming Labor Day Weekend. I usually take advantage of the extra day to do some fall cleaning in the yard. I want the birds that winter in Michigan to find a refuge in my backyard during the harsh winter months. I prepared a checklist to help you make sure your yard is ready too.Preparing...
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Photo Share: Handsome Hawk

Hello, I enjoy following your posts on Facebook, thought I would send this to you for your Friday Photo Share.  My husband took this a couple of weeks ago.  I believe this is a red tailed hawk.  It was just sitting on our deck. Thank you for sharing your photo! If anyone else would like to share a photograph...
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The benefits of putting up birdhouses in the fall

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 I live in San Antonio, Tx. and I have purchased a Chickadee Nesting Box and wanted to know if this would be a good time to attach it to a tree? Thanks for all the great information.It's never too late or too early to put up a bird house....
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Trumpet Vine: Hummingbird flower

Witches Fingers, that’s what we used to call the Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) as kids. We would pluck the flowers and put them on the tips of our fingers and run around, point at people and give a creepy laugh. Of course today I like the flowers because they attract hummingbirds and the dense foliage...
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When to take hummingbird feeders down and many other FAQ

I am seeing some really fat hummingbirds and some really skinny hummingbirds. They can’t be pregnant this late in the fall. Is one just lazy? They are different colors too. How many hummingbirds do we have in Michigan? Am I supposed to take the feeder down soon? ~ Lansing Ruby-throated maleThank you for your questions!...
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How to keep the bees and wasps off hummingbird feeders

The only sure defense against bees and wasps is to deny them any access to the nectar. I have replaced all my hummingbird feeders gradually with the problem free Wild Birds Unlimited saucer style feeders. The bees don’t like the saucer style because the nectar is down low, there is no leaking or dripping, they have a built...
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Migration of turkey vultures

If you ever drive on the highways, you’ll see at one time or another, big dark birds circling high on the air thermals. They are probably Turkey Vultures, Cathartes aura. Feeding mainly on dead animals, vultures aren’t common backyard birds. Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4...
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A closer look at different territorial behavior among the birds

Why do I only have one or two cardinals at a time at the feeder and like a dozen finches visiting at once? ~ LansingThat is an excellent observation. It has a lot to do with food availability and guarding nesting territories.  A “territory” can be defined as any defended area, even if it's just during nesting. Defending...
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Photo Share: 6 great iPhotos of birds feeding

Fun with summer birds:Please choose whichever photo you'd like to use.  AnneI like them all! Thank you for sharing your photos. If anyone else would like to share a photograph of nature send it to bloubird@gmail.com and I'll put it on the Friday Photo posts....
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American Goldfinches with their winter colored feathers

A charm of finches chatting at the feeders is a welcome sight!Our bright yellow and black goldfinches are attacking the feeders now with little babies in tow. Soon they will be sporting their duller olive green winter wardrobe (see photo). Goldfinches are found year-round at Michigan bird feeders, but sometimes people...
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Mosquito hawks

Dragonflies are fierce looking flying insects that are among the most beneficial of wetland insects. Often called "mosquito hawks," they feed on mosquitoes, midges,  flies, bees, ants, wasps and other small insects. Dragonflies use their great speed and agility, plus excellent eyesight, to capture their prey in the...
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West Nile in Michigan

I remember most of the Blue Jays getting devastated by West Nile virus a few years back. I am now seeing more Blue Jays this year, but also WNV is back in the news. Are the current crop of Jays more resistant to WNV now, or did they get their numbers up and will be affected in the same way again by the virus?!? ~ DennisWest...
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There’s more to a jay than any other creature

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Dove chases and social displays

My husband and I have been wondering this question.. Why do mourning doves chase each other? For example, I can have a row of doves sitting on my fence, one goes down to feed and then another promptly follows and chases the other away with no intention of feeding. I believe it has to do with hierarchy but don't know for...
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Chipping Sparrow Juvenile with adult male

Male Chipping SparrowSometimes juvenile brown birds are hard to identify at the bird feeder. Luckily babies can be very vocal. Recently I was carrying seed out to a car at the Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing store and heard a loud, rapid see-see-see-see. I sawone bird chasing another and knew they were Chipping Sparrows....
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Photo Share: Fabulous bird close-ups

Photos from my office window feeder and 2 home birds, all in East Lansing within last month.  Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;...
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