Home › Archives for December 2012

Attracting winter bluebirds

I'm still feeding my bluebirds. When do they migrate south? ~ Bath, MIEastern Bluebirds can stay in mid-Michigan year round. Bluebirds usually gather in the woods after their nesting season is done. There they forage for fruits, nuts, and berries from shrubs, trees, and vines. Flocks can be as large as 100 but...
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Male birds can't fool their mates for long

New research reveals that some male birds use their song to dupe females they have just met into thinking they are in excellent physical condition. Singing is a test of a bird's condition because it uses a lot of energy.Researchers at the University of Exeter studied zebra finches to establish how trustworthy birdsong...
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Why juncos are called snowbirds

Image via Wikipedia• Dark-eyed Juncos are often called “Snowbirds,” possibly due to the fact that they are more likely to visit feeding stations during snowy periods. Many people also believe their return from their northern breeding grounds foretells the return of cold and snowy weather. Another possible source of...
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Why Bird Feeders Must Be Cleaned

When was the last time you cleaned your feeders? Like most people, birds don't like to eat off of a dirty plate. It's recommended that you clean your bird feeders at least once a month. And this winter it is especially important to maintain a clean feeding station. Canada’s natural seed crops were horrible this...
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Photo Share: Falling snow

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Save your Christmas tree for the birds

"Life is a series of little deaths out of which life always returns." ~ Charles Feidelson, Jr.Last week was the Winter Solstice, the day the Earth's Northern Hemisphere has the shortest day, and longest night, and the sun's daily maximum position in the sky is the lowest. The birds might consider it the beginning of...
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Nature up Close: A look at different bird beaks

The bird's beak or bill is a remarkably useful instrument that comes in all shapes and sizes. The bill shows various adaptations for methods of feeding.Birds with all-purpose bills have general sort of diet using a bill that can cut, crush, rip, and open just about anything.Some other examples are short thin bills for...
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Day of Peace

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Closer look at birds that fly south and those that are migrating north

I’m excited about seeing all these new finches from Canada this winter! I’m keeping my feeders full so I can watch all the activity. Will they stay around because they have such a good thing down here or will they leave in the spring? What a wonderful question! I wrote earlier about how this was going to be a good...
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Bird of the Week: Small gray and white bird with tuft

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  DescriptionTufted titmice are 15 to 17 cm long and have wingspans of 23 to 28 cm. Both males and females have white undersides, gray backs, rusty-brown sides, pointed crests on their heads, and large dark eyes.BehaviorTufted titmice are active birds often seen flitting about...
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Bird at Play

We know crows are very intelligent birds and they often exhibit playful behavior. But have you ever seen one sledding in the snow? The accompanying video shows a hooded crowin Russia sliding down a snowy roof on a jar lid.It is a remarkable demonstration of deliberate play by a bird. The crow uses a found object, searches...
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Photo Share: Coot, Egret, Heron

Joshua Chrisman (Creator and Admin of Michigan's Wildlife on www.facebook.com/MichigansWildlife) sent us lots of  of lovely pictures that he took this year. Most of the pictures are taken around the Greenville, Grand Rapids, Stanton, and Saginaw areas. Some are also taken in the Upper Peninsula. I will be posting...
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Brighten your winter garden with a touch of copper

Wild Birds Unlimited Copper Top Series has arrived! These unique yet functional copper topped bird feeders or bird houses add a touch of elegance to your garden.Made in the USA, these well designed feeders have curved sides to view birds easily, heavy plexi-glass lens to view the seed level, comfortable perching areas...
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Nature up Close: Winter Solstice

The tip of Earth's axis causes the northern hemisphere in winter to face away from the sun and toward it in summer. Credit: NASAIs anyone else tired of it being dark at 4pm? Don’t worry, the winter solstice is this week and for everyone in the northern hemisphere that means the days will start to get longer. The first...
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Winter approaches and birds abound

Mid-Michigan is lucky enough to see lots of birds during the long cold winter months. I’ve listed some of the most common birds you’ll see and the food they like at feeders.1. House Sparrow- White Proso Millet, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips 2. Black-capped Chickadee- Shelled peanuts, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower...
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Fun Facts on Woodpeckers

A Pileated Woodpecker "drums" on hollow trees with its bill in order to claim territory. A group of pileated woodpeckers are collectively known as a "crown" of woodpeckers. Beetle larvae make up about one-third of the Pileated Woodpecker’s natural diet. Ants are the next most important food item. The barbed tip of a woodpecker’s...
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How to pronounce Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatusOrder: PICIFORMES Family: Woodpeckers (Picidae)The Pileated Woodpecker is Michgan's largest woodpecker at sixteen and a half inches in length and a wingspan up to 30 inches. Its size, sleek black back and wings, offset by a red crest, are obvious field marks. The males have a characteristic...
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Top 5 fantasy bird pick

Which 5 birds would make your day perfect if you saw them in your garden? Thank you for your thoughtful question. I like all the birds that visit regularly and I am thankful they like what I have to offer in the way of food and habitat. We are lucky in mid-Michigan to have an amazing diversity of wild bird species. Some...
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Photo Share: Trumpeter Swans with Cygnets

The Trumpeter Swan was hunted nearly to extinction for its meat and feathers in the early 20th century. This magnificent bird measures in at 5-6 feet long and is the world's largest species of waterfowl. The name trumpeter refers to the bird's loud, bugling voice that is produced when air is forced through their long neck.Joshua...
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How to choose the best bird feeder for the beginner birdwatcher

My niece and her new husband are moving in to their first house and I want to give them a bird feeder. What would you recommend for a family just starting the bird feeding hobby. I want a good quality feeder that won't fall apart in 3 months but nothing big. ~ Holt, MIThe Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) East Lansing, Michigan...
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Why green, red, and white are Christmas colors

Have you ever wondered why the colors green, red, and white trigger thoughts of Christmas? For me, December means the bright red Northern Cardinals sitting in a white snowy evergreen “chip, chip, chipping” away. Green, red, and white are some of the most common colors that stand out in nature during the winter. In fact,...
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Species of Pigeons

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