• Bird Accessories,  Specialty Bird Foods,  Uncategorized

    Ducks and Meal Worms?

    February 11, 2010 /

    While walking the dog at a local park last week I decided to feed the ducks as the weather was blustery cold. I know they’re sick of bread because that’s what everyone feeds them. Some cracked corn borrowed from the squirrels would work, but it seemed they need a little something with more substance. Suet? nah…might not be so good for them. I decided to borrow from the bluebird stash and grabbed some meal worms. The ducks loved them! It might be their favorite as I don’t believe any other duck feeder uses them at this park.

    Meal worms were the trick that got bluebirds nesting in my yard last spring. With two successful broods I realized I was going to be buying worms as a staple now. The heated baths is what keeps them during freezing winter temperatures.

    Easy to keep – the meal worms live in a container in the fridge with some wheat bran for bedding. What I failed to realize is your supposed to feed the worms too! With a horse, a dog, and five cats I’m thinking: feed the meal worms??????

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  • Bird Accessories,  Bird Feeders,  Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders

    The Great Backyard Bird Count Info

    February 9, 2010 /

    Project FeederWatch Electronic Newsletter

    February 8, 2010
    If you are counting for Project FeederWatch from February 12 through 15, your counts can do double duty if you enter the same tallies into the web site for the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).
    It’s a step well worth taking to make sure the GBBC database includes your information and collects as many observations as possible. After you enter your checklists on the GBBC website, take a few moments to explore reports coming in from across the continent and upload images for the photo contest. Tweet about the birds you’re seeing and  by including the #gbbc hashtag, your comments will appear in the Twitter widget on the GBBC home page. Just by participating in the GBBC you’ll be entered into a drawing for great prizes. The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with new Canadian partner, Bird Studies Canada and sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited
    The rules for counting for the GBBC are a little different than for FeederWatch. For the GBBC you can report any birds you see at your wild bird feeders, even those birds flying overhead that don’t count for FeederWatch. You can also submit a separate checklist for each locale on every day that you count.

    Join the Great Backyard Bird Count this year and Count for Fun, Count for the Future!

    Evening Grosbeak by Ted Schroeder, 2009 GBBC.
    * * * * * *

    Project FeederWatch Contact Information

    For US participants:
    Cornell Lab of Ornithology
    Project FeederWatch
    159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
    (607) 254-2427
    [email protected]
    http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw

    For Canadian participants:
    Bird Studies Canada/Etudes d’Oiseaux Canada P.O. Box 160 Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0
    (519) 586-3531
    [email protected]
    Toll Free: 1-888-448-BIRD (2473)
    http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/pfw.html
    Project FeederWatch is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.

    The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit organization supported by friends and members. Our mission is to interpret and conserve the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Watch our video about how you can join us as a “force for nature!”
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  • Bird Accessories,  Bird Feeder Pole,  Uncategorized

    A Bird Feeder Pole with Built In Baffle

    February 2, 2010 /

    bird feeder poleThere are standard bird feeder poles found at garden centers and discount stores, you know the metal ones with ground stakes? They have an arm or two for hanging feeders or flower baskets, sometimes four arms. The problem with these poles when using bird feeders is squirrels…they shimmy right on up and raid the feeder!

    This deluxe bird feeder pole actually has a built in squirrel baffle. 3 stainless steel springs enable the baffle to free float up and down and side to side. Squirrels cannot get past; guaranteed! It assembles in minutes without tools, and accommodates up to 8 feeders. Hang a bird bath, nesting material, flowers, suet, peanuts, and nectar feeders for hummingbirds and orioles. The choices are endless to create a birding oasis!

    Don’t let squirrels ruin your backyard birding experience. You can stop them dead in their tracks with the Squirrel Stopper Bird Feeder Pole.

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