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Showing posts with label Bird Basics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bird Basics. Show all posts

What will happen to my birds when I move?

I found your blog while I was searching for advice about mourning doves. I'm moving to a new place and I have several pairs of doves at my current home. How do I stop feeding them? I'm really worried about what will happen to them when I leave.

A lot of people like the mournful coo the Mourning Dove’s common name reflects. However despite their sad song and fragile look, the Mourning Dove is a swift, direct flier whose wings often whistle as they cut through the air at a high speed.

They are the most abundant and widespread native bird in North America helped by the human-induced changes to the landscape. And if the feeder is empty they’ll look for other sources. Studies show that the birds you see in your yard only eat about 20% of their meals at feeders.

Birds are survivors and won't starve when you move. They usually follow a circuit each day, visiting a number of feeding areas. If there is no food in your area, you will just be left off their foraging circuit.

Doves aren't picky eaters. There are lots of natural sources of food like nut or berry bushes and native weed and flowers seeds that stand through the winter. These provide food for a lot of birds.

You could also leave a bag a seed for the new owners of your home to continue feeding if you like. We have several new customers that begin feeding because the previous homeowner has left the bird feeding set up for them to feed their birds.

Related Articles:
- Why is the Dove a Symbol of Peace? http://bit.ly/wMKEKF
- How Do You Keep Doves From Dominating a Feeder? http://bit.ly/zDAwR2
- How Mourning Doves defend their nests http://bit.ly/LiE7TH
- Do Birds Sip or Slurp? http://bit.ly/N6syCY 
- Mourning Dove nesting facts and figures http://goo.gl/Bs78pj
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How to store bird seed

We feed the birds, black sunflower seeds, and I keep it in a metal garbage can outside near the feeder.  But it seems to collect moisture on the bottom then making it moldy, and I have tried a plastic pail inside the garbage can and eventually that gets moisture on the bottom. Is there a better contained to store the seed in? ~ Sioux City, IA

Sometimes it’s better to buy smaller quantities of bird seed more often than to attempt to store very large amounts. Birds know the difference between fresh seed and older, stale or moldy seed! Fresh seed has higher oil content and is much more nutritious for the birds. Birds are very efficient foragers and like to make every calorie count especially in the winter.

Under optimal conditions, in a cool, dry place, out of the sun, bird seed can be kept for up to three months. One excellent way to store bird seed is to leave it in the original bag and put it in the freezer. Suet and seed kept in the freezer can be kept up to 6 months.

If don’t have freezer space, Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing has galvanized steel containers with locking lids to keep out water and unwanted guests. If the container is kept outside in the winter it will keep out moisture from the air and also keep out the drying sunlight. I always leave the seed in their original bags so you are never dumping old seed on top of new.

These few steps when storing bird seed and suet will extend the shelf life of the food and also attract more birds!

Related articles:
- What is No-Mess Bird Seed?: http://bit.ly/pl516I
- What birds like peanuts?: http://bit.ly/qKbHT0
- Seed Storage Cans and WBU Seed Scoops: http://bit.ly/q6th9R
- Do I need to clean my bird feeder?: http://bit.ly/nYKz40
- The best bird feeders at Wild Birds Unlimited: http://bit.ly/pv36W6
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How to Keep Birds Healthy

There are several things you can do in your yard to ensure the health of your backyard birds.

A guide to healthy bird feeding
Follow these guidelines to help your birds stay safe and healthy:

• Provide multiple feeding stations in different areas of your yard. When birds crowd at feeders they can become stressed and more vulnerable to disease.
• Clean your feeders frequently.
• Keep seed fresh and dry.
• Regularly clean the area underneath your feeders. Ask us for tidy feeding solutions.
• Place feeders 10 to 12 feet from bushes so cats and other predators can't surprise birds at the feeders.
• Provide fresh water and clean your bird bath regularly.
• Always wash your hands after filling or cleaning your feeders.

If you love watching birds, then you want to make sure they return to your yard again and again! If they find a relatively safe habitat with fresh food and water, chances are they will come back - frequently.

Source: Educational Resources-Keeping Birds Healthy
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Common Michigan birds I can see at my seed feeder in the winter

I can’t remember a time I wasn't fascinated by birds in my yard. I love to feed them so I can bring my wild beauties up close to observe.

This fall I've been asked several times when the birds will leave and when the seed feeders should be taken in for the winter. Some of these people were new to mid-Michigan and some were just new to the bird feeding hobby.

It's an excellent question and I'm pleased to respond that if you keep your feeders clean and feed the proper food, you will have a lot of bird activity year-round!

I’ve listed some of the most common birds you’ll see in mid-Michigan and the food they like at feeders.

1. Northern Cardinal - Sunflower seed, Safflower, Peanuts, White Proso Millet
2. American Goldfinch - Nyjer Thistle, Sunflower Seeds
3. House Finch - Safflower, Nyjer Thistle, Sunflower Chips, Oil Sunflower Seed
4. House Sparrow - White Proso Millet, Oil Sunflower seed, Sunflower Chips
5. Dark-eyed Junco - White Proso Millet, Sunflower seed, Nyjer Thistle
6. Mourning Dove - Sunflower seed, Peanuts, Safflower, White Proso Millet, Nyjer
7. Tufted Titmouse - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Safflower, Suet, Mealworms
8. Black-capped Chickadee - Nuts, Sunflower, Safflower, Nyjer Thistle, Suet, Mealworms
9. Carolina Wren - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Safflower, Suet, Mealworms
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Safflower, Suet, Mealworms
11. White-breasted Nuthatch - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Safflower, Suet, Mealworms
12. Downy Woodpecker - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Safflower, Suet, Mealworms
13. Blue Jay - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Suet
14. Red-bellied Woodpecker - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Safflower, Suet, Mealworms
15. Northern Flicker - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Safflower, Suet, Mealworms
16. European Starling - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Suet, Mealworms
17. Cedar Waxwing - Mealworms, Suet Nuggets, Berries and Wild Fruit
18. Eastern Bluebird - Shelled peanuts, Suet, Suet Nuggets, Mealworms
19. American Robin - Shelled peanuts, Suet, Suet Nuggets, Mealworms
20. American Crow - Peanuts, Sunflower seed, Suet
21. Cooper’s Hawk - Songbirds, Squirrels, Suet

Of course there are a lot more birds in Michigan during the winter and they don't just eat from feeders, but this gives you a start. For more information we have Birds of Michigan Field Guides or you can visit our online Bird Guide to identify birds at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/.

Related Articles:

- 10 Winter Finches in Michigan: http://bit.ly/oL3iCF
- Birds of Michigan Field Guide http://bit.ly/pXv5ZN
- What’s the best suet for Michigan wild birds? http://bit.ly/nImz5g
- How to have more colorful birds at your feeder http://bit.ly/qizlNh
- How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter Birdwatching http://bit.ly/q93Men
- What is the best bird feeder? http://bit.ly/qVr7i8
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How to make handmade bird treats

My little helper.
While you are enjoying the many tasty treats that abound this holiday season, don't forget to share some goodies with the birds. Decorating a tree for our feathered friends and other wildlife is an activity the whole family can enjoy.
 
One of my favorite crafts is a pinecone dipped in birdseed. They are so much fun to make I thought I'd share my secret recipe. So if there are any little hands out there that need to be kept busy over the holiday break, this is a fun and easy project.

Pinecone Treats for the Birds

What you need:
¼ cup powdered unflavored gelatin
2 cups water
12 medium pinecones
2 cups WBU No-Mess blend bird seed
Raffia to hang

Place water in a glass bowl that is big enough to dip in a pinecone. Heat the water in the microwave for 50 seconds. The water should only be warm, but this should be supervised by an adult.

1. Pour the powdered gelatin in the water and stir until it is dissolved.
2. Dip the pinecone into the gelatin water
3. Roll pinecone in a bowl of bird seed.
4. Set the dipped pinecone on wax paper and let it dry for a couple hours.
5. Once it’s dry, tie a raffia ribbon around the cone, hang on a tree outside and watch all the birds flock.
6. Or place the pinecone in a cellophane bag and you have the perfect party favor for your guests to take home.

Additional Treat Ideas
Other decorations that can be strung and placed on trees include popcorn, fresh cranberries, thick fresh orange slices, peanuts in the shell, dried apples or dried figs. You can also string rice cakes, crab apples, baby dried corn bundles, or grapes.

Natural rough brown string, ribbon and raffia can be used for hanging the decorations. The birds will use this material for nesting in the spring.

For more easy recipes to decorate a tree for the birds go to: http://www.wbu.com/education/brochures/DecorateATree.pdf

 Related Articles:
- What birds like peanuts? http://bit.ly/sOmvEe
- Let's all share Nature's bounty http://bit.ly/tgPkrv
- Decorate a Tree for Your Birds http://bit.ly/t3QtGV
- Filling Up on Fatty Foods http://bit.ly/tUElnw
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Why Birds Preen

With the bird bath right in front of the Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing, MI store I get to watch a lot of birds take baths and then preen themselves. When birds use their bill to smooth or condition their feathers it is called preening. Well conditioned feathers help protect the birds against the harsh elements.

All birds have feathers and most birds have one main molt a year. It takes a lot of energy to grow feathers so birds have to maintain their feathers carefully for a year until they go through another molt.

A typical wing feather has a central shaft with the softer vanes on each side. These vanes consist of a series of parallel branches called barbs. Then extending from the barbs are a series of short branchlets called barbules. These barbules have minute hooks that lock together. As a result, this complex design creates a strong but light structure that repels water, insulates, and provides an aerodynamic shape.

With their beak, birds realign the barbs correctly, remove any dirt or parasites and sometimes apply preen oil. Most birds have a preen gland or uropygial gland at the base of the tail. The science is still unclear why birds apply the gland's oil to the feathers. It could be a conditioner, a repellant, or contain an odor to attract mates.

Birds can spend hours a day preening to keep their feathers in top condition. Watching a bird bending and stretching to reach all their feathers can be fun to watch but I also remember that feather maintenance is essential for their survival.

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How to choose the best bird feeders for winter

If you haven't done it already, in mid Michigan it is safe to take down all your hummingbird and oriole feeders in November. Clean them first before you store them away. I soak the feeders for about 5 minutes in a Scoot, active enzyme cleaner. You can also use a one part vinegar to nine parts water solution to clean all of your feeders. Rinse your feeders thoroughly and put them in a special place you'll remember next spring.

Tips on how to choose the best feeders for winter:
  1. Any feeder you choose should be easy to fill and easy to clean.
  2. Look for quality. Most Wild Birds Unlimited feeders come with a Lifetime Warranty.
  3. Determine what birds you want to attract. There are certain feeders that are made for specific birds (i.e. finch feeder).
  4. Decide where you are going to put the feeder. Is it going to hang in a tree, on an Advanced Pole System, on a window, or off a deck? The best place to put a feeder is where you can view it easily.
  5. Look for a feeder you don't have to fill every day. Large capacity feeders like the Quick Clean Big Tube, Squirrel Buster Plus, and the Ranchette Retreat Hopper will all stay filled for at least a week. And our most popular winter feeders are the ones that hold our seed cylinders. I used to call it the lazy man feeder until someone took offence. For people that aren't able to get out to fill feeders often during our harsh Michigan winters this feeder is ideal. Depending on bird activity in your yard, a 2lb cylinder can last weeks and a 4.5lb cylinder can last up to a couple months. That's almost the whole winter and it attracts the best birds!
Tips on how to winterize feeders I already have:
  1. Weather Guards are designed to keep snow and rain from spoiling your seed in the tube. It's a clear plastic dome that slips on top of most tube feeders. It will not deter birds from feeding, in fact, many enjoy feeding under the shelter and out of the wet weather. It has a lifetime guarantee and is made in the USA.
  2. Trays not only catch seed falling from feeders but they also makes it more comfortable for ground feeding birds to eat at an elevated level where we can observe them. Attach a tidy tray to your seed tube or Catch-a-Seed trays with hopper bird feeders.
  3. Feeder Fresh can be added to the seed when you fill a feeder. It absorbs moisture and is safe for birds. Made from non-toxic absorbent sand, Feeder Fresh keeps the seed and feeder dry, preventing molds from forming, and thus reduces the chance of Aflatoxin and other mycotoxins.
Wild Birds Unlimited doesn’t just sell the best bird feeders and bird food. We also give you accurate information about our local birds. If you have specific questions, don't be afraid to ask. We are Your Backyard Bird feeding Specialist®, here to help bring you, and nature together.
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Have you ever heard of a wedge of geese?

A Canada Goose flying at Burnaby Lake Regional...Image via WikipediaA wedge of cheese? No you read that right, a wedge of geese.

A large number of Canada Geese just flew very low over the store. Besides hearing the loud honking I was also amazed as an enormous V-shaped shadow moved across the Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing parking lot. Did you know that a flock of flying geese is called a “wedge” of geese and a “gaggle” of geese when they are in the water?

A lot of bird flocks have specific group names. Why the need to name flocks of birds anything besides “flock”? I suppose because it was fun for bird watchers to observe birds and come up with a descriptive name for each species. For instance, a group of owls seem to look smart with their large round eyes like they are wearing spectacles and are therefore called a "wisdom" of owls. And nuthatches gather nuts and seeds, jam them into tree bark and so their group is collectively known as a "jar" of nuthatches.

So what are some other collective nouns for our backyard birds?
• A "Vatican" of cardinals
• A "blight" or "subdivision" of sparrows
• A "flight" of doves
• A "party" or "scold" of jays
• A "charm" of goldfinches
• A "banditry" of chickadees
• A "descent" or "drumming" of woodpeckers
• A “murder” or "cauldron" of crows
• A "worm" of robins
• A "constellation", "murmuration", or "vulgarity" of starlings

Related Articles:
- Why do geese fly in a V formation? http://goo.gl/IOzGHP
- Nature up Close: A look at different bird beaks http://goo.gl/v5RojO
- Cardinal Gathering http://goo.gl/pgpAQY
- Bird Guilds: How different birds band together to survive http://goo.gl/LrY3ML
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Best place to put bird feeders

Hello, you've been so helpful with all of my questions! We've just moved our feeders around for winter viewing. How long before the cardinals figure out the new configuration. ~ Pewamo, MI

Where to Place Feeders
The number one rule in feeder location is to place it where you can watch the birds easily. Try to find a place that's sheltered from the wind and away from cats and other predators. And then you'll just have to wait for the cardinals to get in the habit of visiting the new feeder locations. They can be stubborn but eventually become comfortable at the new location.

How Birds Find The Feeder
Birds are amazing creatures and can find new feeders several different ways just like humans find restaurants. Everyone has a friend that likes to tell you about the new "hot spot." Some birds fly in flocks and may send out a scout bird to forage for new feeding sites.

Or if you see a line around the block for a restaurant, you may get in line yourself to check out the food. Some solitary birds see a lot of birds at a feeder and go see what all the fuss is about.

What if you see the "Golden Arches" on the way home from work? You know what's inside. Most birds find their food by sight. Some birds already eat at the neighbor's house and may see your familiar feeders on the way home.

How Long Does It Take
It may be a matter of hours before birds discover new feeders or a matter of weeks. The variation depends on habitat, number of nearby feeders, and the kinds of birds in the area. Chickadees, and House Sparrows are especially quick to locate new feeders. Also if you switch feeders the birds may be cautious to try that feeder. To encourage the birds to use new feeders tempt them with scattered seeds on the ground.

Advanced Pole System
Wild Birds Unlimited patented Advanced Pole System (APS) is comprised of interchangeable hardware pieces, that lets you add or subtract bird feeders, birdhouses and other bird feeding accessories. It gives you the ability to create and customize your bird feeding station with over 3,000 combinations.

Related Articles:
- Product Highlight: Advanced Pole System http://bit.ly/uKRdrZ 
- How to hang feeders from trees http://bit.ly/suV4Z5
- How to Protect My Bluebird House pole: http://bit.ly/vcPUb7
- Last Minute Gifts for Birdwatchers http://bit.ly/tMBYOf
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Bluebirds and Robins can overwinter in mid-Michigan

Hello, I was surprised to see a flock of robins on the park lawn today. Will they leave soon? I also heard some bluebirds on a trail walk. What's going on? When do they migrate? ~  Holt, MI

Some America Robins migrate but if you look at the range map you’ll see that there are winter populations of robins in most states year round. Robins are surprisingly hardy birds, capable of surviving temperatures well below zero. But that doesn’t mean sightings are common.

After nesting season has ended, they usually form large nomadic groups that roost at night in the woods. Their diet changes from mostly worms and insects to fruit, nuts and berries. I’ve seen them devouring our crab apples, Mountain Ash tree berries, and sometimes under my feeders looking for nuts. They also appreciate open water in the winter. If you have a pond or heated birdbath they may show up for afternoon drinks.

The Eastern Bluebirds also gathers in large family flocks at the end of nesting season and live more in the woods. They forage on fruit, nuts, and berries. If you have fruiting trees or bluebird feeders and a reliable source of water, you may host the bluebirds year-round.

We often think of migration as birds traveling thousands of miles south to winter in a tropical climate. There are also partial migrants, meaning only part of the population migrates annually. American Robins can become nomadic. During heavy snowstorms they may move further south to find food only to move back when the weather clears.

Or the bluebirds that nested in Canada may skip over Michigan to winter in the southern states, but in southern and mid-Michigan, many bluebirds may just remain year-round residents. Scientists think it’s due to genetics whether they want to fly south or winter over. Some birds are compelled to move south and others are not. They all gather in huge family groups in the fall however to increase their survival through the winter.

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Chickadees don’t leave home without their caps

I came across your site on the internet. Do you know if all species of chickadee's have a cap on their head?  Thanks, Rose

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Yes caps are an essential part of the chickadee wardrobe. All chickadees are diminutive in size, ranging from 4.5 inches (Carolina Chickadees) to 5.5 inches (Boreal Chickadees). They all have a small, sharp beak, a dark crown and bib, whitish cheeks, gray or brownish back, and off-white belly with a variable amount of color on their flanks.

If you go to http://www.allaboutbirds.org, you can browse for birds by taxonomic order. Chickadees are Perching Birds (PASSERIFORMES) under Chickadees and Titmice (PARIDAE). In North America we have seven chickadees with brown or black caps.
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- Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
- Mountain Chickadee, Poecile gambeli
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Poecile rufescens
- Boreal Chickadee, Poecile hudsonicus
- Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis
- Grey-headed Chickadee, Poecile cinctus
- Mexican Chickadee, Poecile sclateri

Willow Tit
Scattered across Europe and Asia there are an additional 8 species of birds in the genus Poecile. They are called tits,the Old English name for the bird and they also all have the dark caps.
.
- Sombre Tit, Poecile lugubris
- Caspian Tit, Poecile hyrcanus
- Marsh Tit, Poecile palustris
- Willow Tit, Poecile montanus
- Black-bibbed Tit, Poecile hypermelaenus
- Songar Tit, Poecile songarus
- White-browed Tit, Poecile superciliosus
- Père David's Tit, Poecile davidi

That was a lovely question.
Thanks so much for the reply!! I am a 3&4 grade teacher and that is a question that one of my students ask in class one day. : )

Related Articles:
- Where Do Birds Go At Night? http://goo.gl/bEl3h 
- Quiz on Chickadees http://goo.gl/0cI03 
- Bird Guilds: How different birds band together to survive http://goo.gl/jAtN5 
- Fun Facts about the different Chickadees in North America http://bit.ly/zIDkCi 
- Not a Shy Bird: How the Black-capped Chickadee Communicates http://goo.gl/1rlnh
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Should I change my birdseed blend in the fall?

I am a lifetime backyard bird feeding enthusiast. I follow you on Facebook and have found your blog posts to be very helpful. I finally convinced myself to leave the tried and true supreme blend to try your no-mess blend after you kept writing so much about it. Now I’ve been using no-mess since last spring and it’s like how could I have used anything else. I get more birds, fill the feeders less often and have no mess on the ground! Please tell me this blend is also OK to feed in the winter. ~ Laingsburg, MI

The Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing No-Mess Blend is perfect for winter bird feeding. Our unique No-Mess Blend bird seed features seeds that have had their shells removed so only the meat of the seed is left.

The first ingredient is Sunflower Seeds without the shell, the favorite of the seed eating birds like the cardinals, finches and doves. The second ingredient is diced peanuts. This attracts all the bug eating birds like the chickadees, jays, nuthatches, woodpeckers and titmice. The third ingredient is hulled white proso millet. This attracts your juncos and other ground feeding birds.

Our No-Mess blend is made to best meet the nutritional needs of our mid-Michigan birds. We do not include filler grains like oats, wheat, milo or “grain products” that decrease the price per pound of a mix, but the birds ignore. Because there is no wasted seed, our blends actually end up costing less to use while attracting more of the birds that you want to watch.

The National Wildlife Federation did a 2005–2008 study on which foods attract the most birds and keep them the healthiest. They found:

1. Birds require foods with high nutritional content, especially protein and fat.
A bird’s diet must fuel a metabolism that can require up to a whopping 10,000 calories a day (equivalent to a human consuming 155,000 calories). A bird’s inner furnace burns especially hot during flight, the breeding season and on the coldest days.

This means birds must make highly efficient choices about what they eat. A backyard feeder is an especially efficient place to forage because it mimics what scientists call a “resource patch,” a cluster of food much like a fruit-laden apple tree.

But don’t worry that birds will become too dependent on your feeders. Evolutionary pressures encourage birds to continuously sample a wide variety of foods because any bird that becomes dependent on a single patch or type of food will perish if it runs out.

2. Birds must have high-quality food.
Birds are remarkably proficient at assessing potential food items for nutritional content and quality. Fresh sunflower seed, peanuts, white proso millet, safflower, Nyjer thistle seed and high quality suets are some of the best choices. Low-quality foods are discarded on the ground and may be avoided.

3. Birds choose seeds that are easily handled and digested.
The study emphasizes that for birds, eating is not only about nutrition but about consuming a lot of food very quickly while avoiding predators. This makes the easy to eat, already shelled no-mess blend, very attractive to the birds.

No shells on the seeds makes the no-mess blend attractive to me, since there's no debris or weeds on the ground to clean up. Pound for pound, this blend offers the best value because you do not pay for the shells and the birds eat everything.

Related Articles:
- Common winter birds in Michigan and their food preference: http://bit.ly/yp9YQA
- How to choose the best suet cake http://bit.ly/xATYPQ
- How to have more colorful birds at your feeder http://bit.ly/qizlNh
- How to winterize your bird feeding station http://bit.ly/xucuF8   
- Why do Birds Scatter Seeds from Feeders? http://bit.ly/vZ6gzM
- Choosing a seed blend to feed wild birds http://goo.gl/5FpPr7
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Fall birds in Michigan

What birds am I supposed to be looking for right now at the feeders? ~ Haslett, Michigan

Michigan is one of the prettiest states in Autumn and we’re also lucky to have lots of birds passing through right now. In the fall there are a lot of migrating warblers. Many warblers are a dull yellow or olive green but you can recognize them almost immediately as new visitors by their small size and movements. Most like to flick their wings like they have a nervous tick, to stir up bugs for a snack. They might also visit your suet feeders.

Kinglets are also around in the beginning of October. About the size of my thumb, they have a very high-pitched buzzy song. I usually hear them in the pines before I catch them doing their dance in the trees to scare up bugs.

A few hummingbirds are still around. This time of year we also receive a lot of phone calls at the Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing store from people that want to know when they should take down their hummingbird feeders. In mid-Michigan, you can leave your hummingbird feeder up until mid-October. The rule of thumb is if you haven't seen a hummingbird for two weeks in the fall it's safe to take your feeder down.

And when you see the White Crowned and White-throated sparrows, you know snow is just around the corner. These native sparrows show up in mid-Michigan right before the first snow in the fall. They can be spotted hanging around for a couple weeks before they continue to their wintering grounds in the eastern states below Michigan and in small numbers in southwestern states.

I’ve already seen the red-breasted nuthatch. He’s often seen at the suet, nut and sunflower feeders from September until next May. The nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers have started forming their winter flocks and are looking for feeders that they can frequent. You may have notice that the cardinals, sparrows, starlings, and finches are also flocking and staking out the best winter territories.

This is a very active time. Birds that come to the feeders right now are hungry, so it's nice to make sure your bird food provides the highest quality calories. And don't forget to keep the birdbath and other water sources filled with fresh, clean water, because all birds need to drink.

Related Articles: 
- The best time put up your bird feeders http://goo.gl/ptA09X
- Keep your feeders clean http://goo.gl/UGfVGT
- Michigan warblers begin migrating http://goo.gl/37QhV
- Warblers in Michigan http://goo.gl/WMMGs
- Choosing a seed blend to feed wild birds http://goo.gl/vsBxVs
- What’s the best suet for Michigan wild birds? http://bit.ly/rTCbHB
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Predicting the bird watching season

siskins and goldfinches at nyjer feeder
We’ve had a pretty good fall so far for the birds. There have been lots of natural food sources and the weather has been very nice. Canada’s natural seed crops were also very good this year. Last year Canada’s seed crops were horrible and we had a lot of “new” birds migrating further south than normal to visit our mid-Michigan bird feeders.

Every year ornithologist Ron Pittaway analyzes the cone and berry crops of the boreal forest to predict if certain birds will irrupt into the northern U.S. or remain further north. A bird irruption is an irregular migration of a large number of birds to areas where they aren’t found typically, motivated usually by the search for food. This year Ron Pittaway's 2013-2014 Winter Finch Forecast predicts several bird species will stay in Canada for the whole winter.

That means we will probably see fewer Pine Siskins and redpolls at the finch feeders. You can read the full 2013-2014 Winter Finch Forecast at: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/wf1314/.

However we will still get our regular winter birds like the Dark-eyed Juncos and Red-breasted Nuthatches. And the Farmer’s Almanac says that Michigan is going to have a biting cold and snowy winter. That means that the birds that stay with us, like the chickadees, doves, sparrows, jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches and cardinals all might hit the feeders hard when their natural resources are covered by snow. See the full Farmer's Almanac report: http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/2013/08/25/2014-us-winter-forecast/ 

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Fall Bird Watching Basics

Often, people think of feeding birds in the winter when their natural food supplies are scarce. But many birds also visit feeders during their spring and fall migrations and during summer while they are nesting, so you may enjoy keeping feeders up all through the year, offering different types of foods during different seasons.

To keep birds visiting your yard year-round:

Choose the best food
For seed eating birds in Michigan, studies indicate that Black-Oil Sunflower, Fine and Medium Sunflower Chips, Peanuts, White Proso Millet, Safflower, and Nyjer® Thistle are among the most preferred seed types. At the East Lansing Wild Birds Unlimited store, customers’ and birds’ preference by far is WBU No-Mess Blend. Read more. 

Choose the best bath
Water is one of the most important necessities that birds need year-round. Baths not only provide clean water to quench thirst, baths also help birds maintain their feathers. A good part of a bird's day is spent just cleaning and grooming their feathers by bathing, scratching, and preening. It’s so important that it is often the first place parent birds bring their newly fledged babies. Read more. 

Choose the best birdfeeder
There are a lot of feeders to choose from. With over 30 years of research and experience, Wild Birds Unlimited® is proud to offer you the highest-quality birdfeeders and birdfeeding equipment on the market today.
1. Any feeder you choose should be easy to fill and easy to clean.
2. Look for quality. Most Wild Birds Unlimited feeders come with a Lifetime Warranty.
3. Determine what birds you want to attract. There are certain feeders that are made for specific birds (i.e. finch feeder, hummingbird feeder).
4. Decide where you are going to put the feeder. Is it going to hang in a tree, on an Advanced Pole System, on a window, or off a deck? The best place to put a feeder is where you can view it easily.
Read more. 
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Choosing the best bird shelters
People provide bird houses or “nest boxes” because in nature most of these birds use tree hollows or old woodpeckers’ nests. But today we are quick to remove dead and decaying trees with holes because they could become dangerous and fall in storms. So we help Mother Nature by providing alternate homes. Some benefits of putting up birdhouses in the fall:
1. Birds will have plenty of time to locate them before the breeding season.
2. The houses will be well weathered by spring.
3. Some birds will use nest boxes as roosting sites in the winter. Read more. 
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Why are the birds so hungry in the fall?

As many of you have noticed, birds have been attacking the feeders like there is no tomorrow. And there won't be if they don't bulk up now to prepare for a harsh Michigan winter or a long journey south. Birds change into a “superbird” state when their internal clock is triggered by shorter days and cooler weather at the end of summer.

Right now a bird needs to increase its fat reserves by as much as 1-10% per day. This feeding frenzy is called hyperphagia. In human terms, this would mean I would have to gain 12 pounds per day. That gives "eats like a bird" a whole new meaning. But remember that their fat increase is vital for the extreme energy required to survive the coming months.

Keeping your feeders filled with high energy, high fat foods can provide your birds with the critical nutrition they need to survive. High on the list of best choices to meet this nutritional need is suet.

Seeds also provide fats, but in varying degrees. High on the list are peanuts, which provide 412 fat calories per 100 grams. Other high fat seeds include sunflower chips (429 fat calories per 100 grams) and nyjer (thistle) seed (342 fat calories).

Wild Birds Unlimited is dedicated to offering fresh, top-quality seed. Our no-waste bird seed blends are made from 100% edible seed and have been exclusively formulated for the feeding preferences of our local birds. No cereal fillers—just fresh, high-quality seed your birds will love.
 
Our most popular Wild Birds Unlimited seed blends are No Mess and Choice Blend because they are filled with many of these high fat seeds and nuts making them ideal foods, along with suet, to offer your birds this fall.

Source:
Zoological Society of Milwaukee Bird Migration Facts by Kerry Scanlan, Vicki Piaskowski, Michelle Jacobi and Steve Mahler 

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How to stop sparrows from taking over the feeders

I have fed birds for many years.  However, when I moved to Charlotte and began feeding once again, the sparrows took over the feeder, ate all the food.  Once in a great while, a gold finch would stop by, when it was empty.  Reluctantly, I stopped feeding.  Am wondering if you have any suggestions.  BTW - I have a squirrel proof feeder...

The closer you are to the city the more House Sparrows you are likely to have in your yard. The number one way to limit their numbers at the feeder is to not feed millet. Millet is their favorite seed and common in most seed blends. If you switch over to straight safflower seed you will decrease their activity at the feeders.

Saffloweris a white seed savored by Cardinals, House Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, and more. Blackbirds, starlings, squirrels, and sparrows avoid safflower. When you start feeding safflower there will be a dramatic drop in the number of birds at the feeder but then different birds will appear gradually.
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Also suetsattract a lot of bug eating birds like chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches. It’s important to buy suet without seed in it that the sparrows can pick out. Our Wild Birds Unlimited Peanut Butter Suet contains just suet and peanuts, no seed, or we have just the straight beef suet for only woodpeckers.
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Sometimes sparrows avoid Nyjerthistle feeders too. Goldfinches can eat upside down comfortably and the upside down finch feeder we sell is popular for people that are overrun with sparrows or house finches. The feeding port is below the perch and the goldfinches have to hang by their toes to reach the seed.

I’ve also had a lot of luck with the Seed Cylinders. Sparrows will work to get seed from the cylinders but they take a long time to whittle it down and that gives the other birds a chance to feed also.

Finally a couple good things about sparrows: even though they eat a lot and visit in huge flocks they also eat a lot of bugs while raising their young. Any yard with sparrows won’t have problems with mosquitoes. And they also make so much noise in the fall that the migrating birds often stop in yards with a lot of sparrow activity because they know it is a safe pit stop for birds on their way south. Keep your eyes open for migrating warbles, native sparrows, flycatchers, larks and swallows.

Related Articles:
- When House Sparrows were brought to America http://goo.gl/Py0RET
- What birds like Safflower seed? http://goo.gl/cbFrAO
- How to Attract Goldfinches http://goo.gl/xpjV1W
- Benefits of Seed Cylinders http://goo.gl/5gtq7p
- Warblers make visits http://goo.gl/8M2ZC8
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