Home › Archives for May 2010

How Many Species of Hummingbirds are There in Michigan?

Do we only have the one kind of hummingbird in Michigan? Tom~ Albion, MIActually five species of hummingbirds have been sighted in Michigan. The most common hummingbird at Michigan feeders and gardens from April until October is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Ruby-throated get their name from the male's ruby-red feathers...
Category ›

War Pigeon Remembered

Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contribution they have made in securing our Nation's freedom, we should honor them especially on Memorial Day.As...
Category ›

An Ugly Duckling?

The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen portrayed a cygnet to be ugly compared to little ducklings. That's hard to believe with this little guy..The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is native to much of Europe and Asia and was introduced to eastern North America in the mid-1800s to adorn estates and city parks..They can be...
Category ›

One Hot Cardinal!

We’ve had a couple days without rain in mid-Michigan but now it’s full sun and hot! An open mouth is one sign that a bird might be overheating and working to lower its body temperature.Birds lack sweat glands, so they pant like dogs instead of sweat like people. By opening its mouth a bird increases the airflow and causes...
Category ›

A Bird Feeder Made From Human Ash.

Artist Nadine Jarvis uses human ash and bird food to make a bird feeder. The person is reincarnated through the life of the bird.The Bird Feeders are available in two constructions: one being a solid casting of bird food, beeswax and ashes, and the other, rotationally molded with the ashes held inside. Over time birds...
Category ›

Insight into the Flight of Butterflies

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; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in;...
Category › ,

Hey Baby, Baby: Red Admiral Butterfly Finds a Girlfriend

Hey, I was just in your store and bought that beautiful red ceramic birdbath. Before I had a chance to fill it up this wonderful butterfly descended. Now I'm wondering if I should just leave the bath empty? What do you think? Do you know what you call these butterflies? Thanks, ConnieIt looks like you have attracted a...
Category › ,

Fledglings Find Their Way

I was watching a baby robin running around and now it's sitting on a short fence. It looks like it's way too young to be off the nest. Is there anything I should do?"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkIt sounds like your little robin is coming right along. .When American Robins first leave the...
Category ›

How do I get rid of mold in my hummingbird feeder?

Yikes mold is very bad in hummingbird feeders. Remember to change the nectar in your feeder every 2-4 days, regardless of whether the nectar has been used. In this hot, humid weather you might even have to change the nectar every other day.I find the more often I change the nectar the easier it is to maintain the feeder....
Category ›

How Do Cowbirds Learn to Sing?

The Brown-Headed Cowbird is common throughout North America. The male brown-headed cowbird is glossy black with a contrasting dark brown head, while the females are dull grayish brown. A female cowbird can have several mates but instead of nesting, will lay her eggs in the nests of other bird species which foster the babies.Studies...
Category ›

Warbler Week

Blackpoll Warblers arrived on Monday this week and I was able to get a picture of both a male and female. Male blackpolls (top photo) are one of those species that look extremely different in spring and fall. He is beautifully adorned with an extensive black cap and black streaking on its breast in spring but after molting...
Category ›

Is it too late to put up a birdhouse?

It's never too late to put up nest boxes! Bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds typically have more than one brood per season and can switch to a new site for their second or third brood. .Or if their first nesting is unsuccessful, perhaps due to predators, the birds may look for a better nest box..You can put houses...
Category ›

Amazing Vocals of the Barred Owl

Could you please tell me what type of owl is this? I saw it while mushroom hunting. Thanks,--Bryon Kavanagh Lansing, MII’m glad you had a camera. You’ve captured a very nice picture of a Barred Owl (Strix varia). This owl resides all over the entire state of Michigan, but its numbers are declining in the Lower Peninsula...
Category ›

Common Bird House Problems

How to Keep Sparrows out of my Wren/Chickadee HouseHouse Sparrows prefer a 1 ½ inch entrance hole. If you purchased a house with a larger hole or it has been expanded by squirrels or other birds, we have metal portal protectors. Wild Birds Unlimited’s round 1-1/8" and 1-1/4" metal portals are suitable for the chickadee...
Category ›

Photo of a Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is the largest heron in North America..In flight the Great Blue folds its neck back over its shoulders in an S-shape, unlike cranes' which stretch out their ne...
Category ›

There are Ducks Nesting in My Tree!

Hello, I have a large old maple in front of my apartment. I have seen a duck enter what must be a hollow about 10 feet above street level. I found it is a wood duck. Now I’m wondering how these little lives will climb out of this nest? The ground is all cement, and the street is very busy is on the south of tree. How will...
Category ›

Basic Instinct: Cardinal Feeds Goldfish

My nephew asked why the Robins throw worms in the pond. I know the fish enjoy them and it did remind me of the old photo by Paul Lemmons.Birds' parental instincts kick in at the sight of small open mouths eliciting an inborn response to feed. The photo shows a Northern Cardinal delivering worms to a goldfish at the edge...
Category ›

What Bird Feeders Do You Have?

Oh, I have a lot of feeders. Too many to list. I love the birds and as birdwatchers know, this is one of the busiest times at the feeders! Momma birds are trying to feed their babies as well as themselves while staying warm and dry.It's almost impossible for me to keep my feeders full in the spring. That’s why my favorite...
Category ›

Why are Baby Birds Bigger than Parent Birds?

I know the statistics show Americans have become larger over the years. So as I watch the Starlings feeding huge babies, I’m wondering if birds are getting bigger too?What a good question? As most dinosaurs would tell us (if they weren’t extinct), there is evidence that being big can be bad for surviving. Being small has...
Category ›

Banding Demonstration

I enjoyed 4 days of banding this week. On Monday 40 delightful people from the Nauset Newcomers Walking Group joined me for a banding demonstration. Many were thrilled to be able to hold and release birds they could see up close. The highlight of the morning was a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the last bird of...
Category ›

What Do I Feed Baby Killdeer?

I have baby Killdeer in my yard. What do they eat? The parents are scrabbling around in the grass. Is there anything I can give them to feed the babies?Killdeer Charadrius vociferous are ground-nesting birds that are famous for hiding their nests right out in the open with no nesting materials. They rely on “help my wing...
Category ›

Have you seen this bird?

Barry County is one of the few refuges that remain for the Cerulean Warbler. These birds require connected forests greater than 2,000 acres in size. Lack of suitable habitat is the reason the Cerulean Warbler is the fastest-declining songbird species in North America. Only about 1,000 birds are found in Michigan each year.Cerulean...
Category › ,

Spring Fairy Hunt

"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. .And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl.".~James Matthew Barrie (Peter, in Peter...
Category ›

Help! My Bluebirds Left

Bluebird had been coming to eat (mealworms) I was gone for a couple of days and after returning I began putting the worms out again, but haven't seen a bluebird since. The Eastern Towhee and Carolina Wren, also mocking birds have been trying to get to the worms, but I have chased them away whenever I see them. I try to...
Category ›
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)