WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

New Facebook Page

2009-10-19T15:38:00.002-05:00

Hi all - we are going to be using Facebook from now on to communicate birding news and education. You can find us at http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Wausau-WI/Wild-Birds-Unlimited-Wausau/139975349471

Please become a fan on that page as we will no longer be updating this blog. Facebook gives us a greater amount of flexibility in regards to posting video's and pictures.

Please follow us there!

Junco's - here comes the snow!

2009-10-12T12:45:00.005-05:00

I had my first group of junco's below my feeding station on Saturday morning. It's good to see these cute little sparrows but it also means winter is on it's way.

Other sparrows to watch for are Fox, White-throated and White-crowned on the ground below the feeders. Try your identifcation skills and guess which bird is which.

1) Fox Sparrow 2) White-throated Sparrow 3) White-crowned Sparrow 4) Dark-eyed Junco

First Report of Dark-eyed Junco!

2009-09-25T10:31:00.002-05:00

We don't really want to think about winter already but the first Dark-eyed Junco report came in this morning. They are ground feeders so watch the ground for these cute little sparrows.

Here are some fun facts about the "Snow Birds".

- The Dark-eyed Junco is currently divided into six distinct populations that include the following: Oregon, Pink-sided, White-winged, Slate-colored, Gray-headed, and Red-backed Juncos. There are an additional 12 subspecies divided among these populations.
- The Dark-eyed Junco has been documented to produce hybrids with White-throated Sparrows.
- Dark-eyed Juncos are often called “Snowbirds,” possibly due to the fact that many people believe their return from their northern breeding grounds foretells the return of cold and snowy weather. Another possible source of the nickname may be the white belly plumage and slate-colored back of the junco which has been described as “leaden skies above, snow below.”
- Juncos spend the entire winter in flocks averaging in size from six to thirty or more birds.
- Dark-eyed Juncos tend to return to the same area each winter. Chances are that you have many of the same birds at your feeder this winter that you had in previous years.
- Visiting flocks of juncos will usually stay within an area of about ten acres during their entire winter stay.
- To avoid the competition, many female juncos migrate earlier and go farther south than most of the males. In Michigan only 20% of the wintering juncos are females, whereas in Alabama 72% were found to be female.
- Male juncos tend to spend the winter farther north in order to shorten their spring migration and thus gain the advantage of arriving first at prime breeding territories.
- When migrating, female juncos move south before the males do, and adult females leave before the young females.
- Juncos migrate at night at very low altitudes and are susceptible to collisions with communication towers and other structures.
- Each winter flock of juncos has a dominance hierarchy with adult males at the top, then juvenile males, adult females and young females at the bottom. You can often observe individuals challenging the status of others with aggressive displays of lunges and tail flicking.
- While almost all Slate-colored Juncos in the eastern portion of North America migrate, a population of juncos in the Appalachian Mountains is residential, remaining in the same area year-round.
- While the southward migration of Slate-colored Juncos is complete by early December, there is some evidence that indicates that harsh winter weather may spur some juncos to move further south at anytime during the winter.
- Juncos have over 30% more feathers (by weight) in the winter than they do in summer.
- Juncos prefer to roost in evergreens at night but will also use tall grasses and brush piles. They return to the same roost location repeatedly and will share it with other flock mates, but they do not huddle together.
- The name junco is derived from the Latin word for the “rush” plant found in wetlands.
- Partners in Flight currently estimates the North American population of Dark-eyed Juncos at approximately 260 million, second only to the American Robin in overall population size in North America. A separate research paper estimates that the junco population could actually be as high as 630 million.
- According to Project Feeder Watch, juncos are sighted at more feeding areas across North America than any other bird. Over 80% of those responding report juncos at their feeders.
- A study in New Hampshire on the foraging habitats of the Slate-colored Juncos found that they spent over 65% their time on the ground, 20% in shrubs, 16% in saplings or low trees. They were never observed in the canopy of large trees.
- Juncos, along with some other members of the sparrow family, practice an interesting foraging method called “riding.” They fly up to a seed cluster on the top of a grass stem and “ride” it to the ground where they pick off the seeds while standing on it.
- Juncos are known to burrow through snow in search of seeds that have been covered over.
- On an annual basis, a junco’s diet is made up of approximately three parts seeds to one part insects. During the nesting period, the percent of insects can increase up to 50-60% of their diet.
- You may not like these weeds in your yard, but the seeds of chickweed, ragweed, knotweed, pigweed, lamb’s quarters and crabgrass are some of the main natural seed sources used by juncos.
- You can attract juncos to your yard by feeding a seed blend containing millet and hulled sunflower seeds.
- Male juncos return and reclaim the same breeding territory year after year.
- Juncos typically have two broods per year with the female building her nest on or near the ground and laying three to five eggs. The male does not incubate the eggs but does deliver food to the young and helps the female to defend against predators. The young leave the nest in 9-12 days.
- Studies have shown that Dark-eyed Junco’s nests are the victim of predators between 20-80% of the time. Rodents such as chipmunks and deer mice are probably the major predators on the eggs of juncos.
- The longevity records for juncos are:
- White-winged – 7 ½ years
- Slate-colored - 11 years, 4 months
- Oregon - 9 years, 9 months
- Gray-headed - 10 years, 8 months

Molting Birds Need Both Protein and Fat

2009-09-21T14:26:00.002-05:00

Most backyard feeder birds molt from July-September although some may molt through December. Have you noticed that the male American Goldfinches are looking a bit raggedy?

Molting is the process by which a bird replaces its feathers. Every molting bird needs extra proteins to grow strong feathers for proper flight and effective insulation and needs extra fats for energy to grow feathers and provide proper coloration to best attract a mate. If they lack these proper nutrients, it could be a difficult winter and a lonely spring!

Feathers are over 90% protein, primarily keratins. A birds's feathers contain 25% of the total protein found within its entire body.

Birds will eat more of their daily diet and/or seek out foods high in protein and fat to satisfy the extra energy requirements and the needed building blocks to grow feathers.

Here is some of the nutritional information on foods:
Peanuts - 90 protein calories
Nyger - 84 protein calories
Choice Blend - 71 protein calories
Sunflower chips - 70 protein calories
No-mess Blend - 68 protein calories
Supreme Blend - 68 protein calories
(per 100 grams, 3.5 oz. or about 1/2 cup)

Sunflower Chips - 429 fat calories
Peanuts - 412 fat calories
No-mess Blend - 351 fat calories
Choice Blend - 350 fat calories
Nyger - 342 fat calories
Supreme Blend - 332 fat calories
(per 100 grams, 3.5 oz. or about 1/2 cup)

Birds To Watch for In September

2009-09-18T16:59:00.006-05:00

Don't ignore that flock of LBJ's (little brown jobs) you see near the feeders or in the neighborhood. House Sparrows don't flock up to migrate as they stay in the area all winter.

Be on the lookout for the White-crowned Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow. These sparrows are full of personality and are fun to watch. They love millet, corn, nyger, cracked corn and are most often seen on the ground - they are considered ground feeders.

Song Sparrow is first picture followed by Chipping, White-crowned and last but not least, White-throated!

Hope to see you at 8:30 here at the store tomorrow. We'll travel up to Rib Mountain for a hawk watch! For more information, e-mail me at wbuwausau@gmail.com

Will Leaving My Hummingbird Feeder Up Prevent Them From Leaving?

2009-09-14T10:24:00.003-05:00

The short answer is no. The hummingbirds instinct to migrate is much stronger than the need to stay and use your feeder.

I leave my feeders up until early to mid-October. Those birds that were born late in the season or are lagging behind due to illness or an injury really benefit from easy access to food and it could mean the difference between life and death for them.

During the weekend, I didn't see any birds near the feeders but when I woke up this morning, sure enough there were two birds getting an early morning snack. Made my day knowning that I helped them out a little bit.

Orioles are the same - leaving food out for them will not prevent them from leaving and may actually help them on their long journey.

You Are A Birder If...............

2009-09-10T09:12:00.003-05:00

Someone yells "Duck!", and you look up and shout "Where?"

Your kids are named Buteo and Accipiter.

Your spouse says, "Its either me or the birds," and you have to think about it.

You pay a neighborhood kid $20 to roll on a roadkill, and lay still while you search the sky for vultures.

You try to talk your kid into going to college in Belize so that you have an excuse to go and bird there.

After finding a second Boreal Owl, you refer to it as a trash bird.

You get up earlier on weekends to go birding than you do during the week to go to work.

Clouds take on the shape of birds, and you can distinguish male from female, and adult from immature plumage.

You are sure that in Heaven there are six months of May and six months of September.

A machine squeaks at work and you describe it to maintenance as sounding like a Black-and-white Warbler.

Your children have not had new shoes in two years but you own a Swarovski.

You spend fifteen minutes preparing dinner for your family, and thirty minutes mixing and placing seed for your birds.

You consider your car, computer, and most other possessions as birding accessories or gear.

When it comes to birds you regularly, walk the very thin line between courage and plain old stupidity

You spent most of the day on Saturday, after getting up at 4 AM and making a five-hour drive, in near-zero degree weather in snow and sleet with wet feet and inadequate clothing looking for an unusual bird, and then say "Yes" on Monday morning when someone at work asks you if you had a good weekend.

You often call your four children by each other's names but you never miss-identify Lesser or Greater Yellowlegs.

After a six inch snowfall, you won't shovel out the driveway, or the front steps, or the sidewalk, or the back steps, but you shovel off half the patio in your bathrobe and boots in subzero windchill to spread seed on the cleared space because your juncos are hungry

The most prevalent feature of your wardrobe is bird tee shirts

News that a species has split (and you have already seen both forms!) is cause for a three-day drunk.

You keep a list of birds seen out the bathroom window while on the toilet.

You have a trip list from your honeymoon.

You have a list of lists.

When you stay at a Bed and Breakfast you don’t stay long enough to eat

You have a callous on your finger from the focus knob.

You go to the beach only during nor'easters or after strong cold fronts

You welcome the prospect of below-zero temperatures and piles of snow on the theory that it will drive northern species farther south. So, when everyone else huddles indoors you head out looking for Snowy Owls, Crossbills, and Redpolls.

You travel to a foreign country and the only words you learned to speak are names of birds.

Your idea of a great vacation is to travel to Brownsville to spend a day at the dump.

Your vacation of a lifetime is spent at a place called Attu.

You spend your time on a Caribbean cruise looking for pelagic birds.

You spend your anniversary checking the ice flows in Churchill for gulls.

When shopping for new clothes you check the pockets are big enough to hold a field guide.

The Rare Bird Hot Line is number one on your speed dial.

Only a fellow birder can decipher the license plate on your car.

You know the difference between a pelagic and a passerine.

When you talk about the World Series you're not talking sports.

You own more optics than a college observatory.

You know how to pronounce Pyrrhuloxia and Phainopepla.

When someone says there is more to life than birding, you question their sanity.

You only win Final Jeopardy when the category is birds.

Last but not least, you know you are a birder when you did not laugh at any of these because they are true.

What Happens To Those Old Birds and Blooms Magazines?

2009-09-08T10:21:00.001-05:00

We donate them to senior living facilities. We have some on hand right now so if you know of a facility that would like them, let us know!

We Won and We Are So Honored!

2009-09-03T10:39:00.003-05:00

Thank you for voting our store Best New Store of 2009 in the City Pages annual survey!! Our customers are the BEST!! Pick up your copy of this guide today - for locations, click here.

Our popular Central Region Summer Blend is on sale until September 19th and won't be back till next summer! Black Oil Sunflower, safflower, suet pellets, sunflower chips, peanuts and tree nuts (pistachios, almonds, brazil nuts) make this blend a favorite of all of our backyard seed eating birds!

Stop in labor day weekend and receive a free 2 lb. bag!

Warblers At Blue Gill Bay Park!

2009-09-01T17:37:00.007-05:00

Mary Backus, vice president of the Wausau Bird Club visited Blue Gill Bay park in search of migrating warblers and she saw Common Yellowthroats, Tennessee and the beautiful Black-throated Blue. If you get a chance try and go see this bird in particular as it is a bit rare in Marathon County.

Picture on top is Tennessee Warbler, then the Common Yellowthroat and last but not least by any means the Black-throated Blue.

State of the Birds

2009-08-29T16:38:00.005-05:00

Here is a link to a video and the full report of the state of the birds. Birds are an important part of our environment. The bad news is that we have many species in trouble.

The good news is that we have the ability to reverse many of the ill effects such as habitat loss. Read the report to learn more about what you can do to help.

Will Thistle Seed Grow Thistle's In My Yard?

2009-08-28T11:16:00.002-05:00

Niger or Nijer is

- The yellow flowering crop of "Guizotia abyssinica"

- A feed favored by finches for its size and high oil content

- An oilseed crop that is cultivated in Ethiopia, India, Myanmar and Nepal.

- The average plant height is four feet but can be up to seven feet.

- It is traditionally harvested while the buds are still yellow, then stacked to dry.

- The seeds, loosely held in the flower head, are black, club-shaped and narrowly long.

- It is the only major wild bird feed ingredient imported from overseas as we here in the US don't have the climate to grow it.

- In 1985, the US Department of Agriculture ruled heat treatment as a "condition of entry."

- In 1997, treatment temperature was set at 250 deg. for 15 minutes to devitalize all weed seeds that may be present.

- It has been marketed as bird seed for about 40 years.

Guizotia abyssinica is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed.

Its cultivation originated in the Ethiopian highlands, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia.

Common names include niger and nyjer.

The seed is sold as bird seed as it is a favorite of finches, especially goldfinches.

Nyjer® is NOT:

- A pink to purple flowering plant of the thistle species

- A perennial or biennial noxious weed

- An aggressive, opportunistic thistle strain from Europe, Africa or Asia

It is not Thistle

Watch For This Bird!!

2009-08-24T14:20:00.002-05:00

This bird is a Tufted Titmouse and it is a much sought after bird. We do have them in Marathon County but sightings are far and few between. There has been a report of one in the Schofield flowage area of Wausau. That's east of Grand Ave. but
north of the small flowage dam. If you are lucky enough to see this bird, please let me know ASAP and if you can, get a snapshot!!

What's That Bird At My Feeder?

2009-08-21T09:47:00.002-05:00

I've been getting at least one phone call each day asking what kind of bird this is. I personally have at least 10 that I know of visiting my feeders and making quite a rukous.

This is an adolescent Rose-breasted Grosbeak!! These are beautiful birds that are full of character.

Here are some fun facts about these birds:
- The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak shares incubation duties with the female and is known to even sing while sitting on the nest.
- The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is beneficial to farmers, consuming many potato beetles and weed seeds.
- The Rose-breasted Grosbeak will breed with the Black-headed Grosbeak in areas where their ranges overlap.
- Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are known for singing on moonlit nights, sometimes all night, but never very loudly.
- The nests of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are commonly parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird, possibly due to the singing done by both the male and female as they construct the nest.
- Rose-breasted Grosbeaks’ preferred feeder items are sunflower, safflower and peanuts.
- The nests of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak are so thinly constructed that eggs often can be seen through the nest from below.
- The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak shares equally in incubating eggs and feeding young, despite having a much showier plumage than their respective females.
- The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have unusual diets for birds with such a big seed-eating beak. Throughout most of the year, over half of their diet is made up of insects. Their huge beaks allows them to eat large grasshoppers, crickets and other insects that have tough exoskeletons.

You can offer Rose-breasted Grosbeaks suet, millet sprays, black oil sunflower seed, sunflower chips and fruit. I hope you enjoy them!

Help!! There's a Hawk In My Yard!!

2009-08-19T08:36:00.001-05:00

I was watching the birds last night when WHAM!, a mourning dove bounces off the window. After I make sure the dove has flown away, I look up and see a beautiful Cooper's Hawk sitting on top of my fly-through feeder. He was a little perturbed that the Mourning Dove escaped him but not too worried. There is a lot of wildlife to choose from in our yard. I watched him straighten his feathers, look around, (silence in the yard), and then fly off. I'm sure it had nothing to do with me smashed against the window yelling, "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!"

Native American folklore says: "If a hawk appears to you, then right now a clue about the magic of life is being presented. This magic can imbue you with the power to overcome a currently stressful or difficult situation."

I like that thought. If you feed birds long enough, a Hawk will likely show up sooner or later. Sometimes the hawk perches for a while. It is on those occasions that the phone at Wild Birds Unlimited starts ringing: "How can I get rid of this thing? It's killing my birds!" Of course that is what certain kinds of hawks do.

The most common neighborhood hawks in the northwoods are the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks. They are usually woodland hunters, and with their habitat shrinking more sitings have been reported at well-stocked feeding stations. Hawks have to eat too, and whether they are hunting around your feeder or off in the woods, they are going to catch about the same amount of prey each day. Consider yourself lucky that you have a front row seat to one of nature's more dramatic dances.

However, most people do not put up feeders with the intention of attracting hawks. They want Cardinals and Chickadees and Goldfinches. Having a hawk blast through, scattering the birds and perhaps carting one off, is not the experience most bird watchers want.

Some steps to take if you have hawks in your yard:

First and foremost, federal and state laws prohibit the capture, killing, or possession of hawks and owls. Raptors at bird feeding stations are a problem only when they perch nearby all day. The birds return as soon as the Hawk flys away. So rather than get upset, enjoy a close-up look at these magnificent birds while they are in your yard.
Place your feeders where there is ample natural protection. Evergreen shrubs and trees can provide an easy escape for the birds. If there is none available, consider planting a few varieties.
Lastly, acknowledge that a few birds and squirrels will be caught by Hawks at your feeders. This is part of the cycle. Raptors play an important role in controlling the populations. Also keep in mind; songbirds are difficult for hawks to catch. Few are caught by birds of prey.
Ultimately, the only thing you can do when a hawk comes to dinner is wait it out. Most hawks that settle in at feeders do so for two or three weeks and then they are off again to different territory. The presence of hawks at your feeders should in no way cause you to discontinue feeding birds. Just take a few simple steps to protect them and enjoy a season of bird feeding.

What's Your Favorite Bird??

2009-08-18T09:58:00.003-05:00

I am often asked what my favorite bird is. My favorite bird is the one I'm looking at, photographing, talking about or learning about at any given moment. Every species has unique behaviors and qualities that I appreciate (yes even the pesky starlings and House Sparrows).

Today my favorite bird is the Cedar Waxwing. I've been waiting for them to visit my yard for years. I see them around the store daily now but no luck at home until........ last night!!

Birders tend to develop heightened senses of sight and sound. Any small movement or bird-like sound catches our attention. I took a walk past our pond last night and heard the familiar soft high-pitched, hissy whistle of waxwings. There they were perched in a willow bush only six feet away from me.

They are beautiful and voracious eaters of berries. Often where you see one waxwing, you can be sure there are more nearby. They LOVE pool parties so make sure you have at least one nice big birdbath with a dripper/mister.

To learn more about the Cedar Waxwing, click here.

2009-08-13T10:08:00.004-05:00

Hard to believe that it's mid-August already. Where did the summer go? Now's the time to wacth those hummingbird feeders a little closer. You never know who may show up.

Illinois documented their first Green Violet-ear Hummingbird on Monday (in St. Clair Co., southeast of St. Louis.)

A Rufous Hummingbird has been sighted in Bayfield County in northern Wisconsin...

Two years ago, a Green-breasted Mango hummingbird was visiting a hummingbird feeder in Beloit Wisconsin.

It pays to watch those feeders!! If you see a species other than the Ruby-throated, please let us know ASAP and be sure to get pictures!

How did the Northern Cardinal get its name?

2009-08-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

That’s an interesting story…

In 1758 the Cardinal was one of the many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature, in the genus Loxia cardinalis. Loxia is derived the Greek loxos which means crosswise. Based on appearance, Linnaeus thought the Cardinal was related to the Red Crossbill.

However taxonomists found the two species were not closely related. Subsequently in 1838, it was changed to the genus Cardinalis and given the scientific name Cardinalis virginianus, which means "Virginia Cardinal" because there were a lot of Cardinals in Virginia. Then in 1918, the scientific name was changed to Richmondena cardinalis to honor Charles Wallace Richmond, an American ornithologist. But in 1983 that was changed again, to Cardinalis cardinalis and the common name was also changed to "Northern Cardinal.”

There are actually several bird species in the world with the name Cardinal. The term "Northern" in the common name refers to its range, as it is the only cardinal found in the Northern Hemisphere.
.
And the “Cardinal” name was derived from the vivid red plumage of the male, which resembles the robes of the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.

Whatever the name, Cardinals are beautiful birds that are a favorite to watch at mid-Wisconsin feeders.

Do Bird Bath Water Wigglers Really Work?

2009-07-31T08:16:00.003-05:00

I’ve seen the Water Wiggler advertised in my birding magazines. Do they really work?
It depends on what you mean by “work.” The Water Wiggler’s unique agitator action creates continuous ripples in the bath water, preventing mosquitoes from laying eggs. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, and the larvae hatch in 2 to 3 days. The Water Wiggler effectively creates surface water movement so mosquitoes can’t lay their eggs, braking the breeding cycle.

Moving water also attracts more birds because the rippling motion catches their eye and they can hear the tiny splashes.

It operates silently on two D-cell batteries for up to two months of continual use. We recommend Lithium batteries for up to six months of continual use. Just place in bird bath and go; no wiring and no plumbing.

Wild Birds Unlimited in Rib Mountain sells the Aurora Water Wiggler which will light up at dusk and slowly shift through the color spectrum. A sensor on the underside turns the unit on at dusk. The lights will shut off after three hours and come back on the following evening. Stop in for a demonstration!

Where Did All of My Tree Swallows Go?

2009-07-27T09:23:00.000-05:00

Where did my Tree Swallows go?

I liked watching the swallows’ acrobatics in the sky as they’d dart, swoop and snatch bugs in mid air. I put up two of your Wild Birds Unlimited birdhouses 30 feet apart because you said that way I might get both a bluebird and a swallow. I did! The bluebirds are almost done with their second nesting. The swallows only nested once and then a chickadee moved in. I haven’t seen the swallows since. Did I do something wrong?

Not at all, it sounds like you had a very successful nesting season. Tree Swallows are typically single-brooded, although they may attempt a second nest if the first fails. After nesting they gather in wetlands where they build their reserves by feeding on insects to prepare for their journey south. Most leave Wisconsin by mid-August. They migrate in loose flocks by day and gather in large groups to roost at night. With the first signs of autumn, they migrate until they reach their wintering grounds which stretch from North Carolina, the Gulf Coast, and Southern California to Cuba and Guatemala.

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Order: PASSERIFORMES Family: Swallows (Hirundinidae)

Description: Tree swallows have iridescent greenish-blue on their head, shoulders and back, and a white underside. They have a short black beak and dark brown feet. Young tree swallows look similar to adults, but they are brownish above instead of greenish blue.

General: Tree Swallows arrive in mid-Michigan in March. They prefer open areas in the sun, pastures, fields and golf courses and nest in natural tree cavities, or man-made nest boxes, including those built for bluebirds. The bluebird and swallow are both native species and both desirable birds to have in your yard. One proven technique that allows both songbirds to nest together successfully is to set up pairs of boxes, no more than 10-20 feet apart. Since Tree Swallows will not allow another pair of swallows to nest within 20', the second box is free for bluebird use and the two species can co-exist, after some initial squabbling to sort out who gets which box.

Behavior: Tree swallows do not spend much time on the ground. They can often be seen perching in long rows on wires. They also spend much of their time in flight.To bathe, swallows swoop down over a body of water and lightly brush the water. To eat swallows catch mostly winged insects while in flight, but can forage on the ground for insects, spiders, seeds, and berries. A group of tree swallows are known collectively as a "stand" of swallows.

How Do Squirrel Proof Feeders Work?

2009-07-21T08:08:00.002-05:00

Most birds have hollow bones with internal struts that make them very strong. (Exceptions include swimming birds, like loons, which have solid bones to help them dive up to 150’ for food.)

Birds also have a smaller total number of bones than mammals. This is because many of their bones have fused together, making the skeleton more rigid. Birds do have more neck vertebrae than many other animals to help them groom their feathers. But overall it takes over 65 chubby chickadees to equal the weight of one medium squirrel.

Weight activated squirrel proof feeders close off the feeding ports when a squirrel tries to get at the food.

To see a video of our most popular model - click here

This particular feeder is factory set to close at 4 oz but it is fully adjustable. Here are the weights of some of our feathered friends.

Suet In July and Hummingbirds

2009-07-15T08:56:00.002-05:00

I've been hearing from many customers that say that they only feed suet in the winter. These folks are missing out on quite a show! Many adult birds bring in the babies to eat suet. You won't want to miss out on the woodpeckers, nuthatches etc. loudly calling their young to the suet feeder.

Use no-melt doughs in warm weather as our doughs maintain their integrity to 135 degrees!

Offer a variety of suet flavors. Robins and mockingbirds love the berry suets. Make sure the ingredients in your suet or suet dough are all natural with no dyes or preservatives.

July is the time to add more hummingbird feeders to keep up with the increased activity. The fledglings will be visiting as well as adults!

Display your hummingbird feeders near a window or patio so you can easily view these little birds. Birds and Blooms is one of my favorite magazines and the recent issue provides a tip - hang a banana peel near your hummingbird feeder and the hummingbirds will eat the fruit flies!!

Stellers In Washington State

2009-07-10T10:25:00.004-05:00

Well, our annual franchise meeting in Washington was great. We got to bird, see Mt. Rainier and network with a lot of other store owners and order some great new product which we'll be bringing in over the next few months.

We already have the new EZ Vanes weather vane that is made in the USA. You can mount these in your garden, on your roof or even on your deck! Same price no matter which mounting variation you choose.

Rocky and I got to see our first Stellers Jay and one of our pictures was a big surprise. The jay appears to be levitating! It's all about when you press the button!

Our first anniversary celebration is coming up quickly. REGI will be here with some special feathered guests and we'll have lots of giveaways, cake and sale specials. Stay tuned!

Where are the Hummingbirds?

2009-07-06T07:58:00.003-05:00

The female hummingbird is responsible for nest building, egg laying and raising the youngsters while dad busily defends his territory. The activity at the feeders will pick up soon as the babies will be fledging. Be sure to keep the nectar fresh. During hot weather, clean the feeder and change the nectar every couple of days. In cooler weather, 4-5 days between cleanings.

Here are some fun facts about the Ruby-throated Hummingbird:
Cool Facts
•The Ruby-throated Hummingbird beats its wings about 53 times a second.
•The extremely short legs of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird prevent it from walking or hopping. The best it can do is shuffle along a perch. Nevertheless, it scratches its head and neck by raising its foot up and over its wing.
•Scientists place hummingbirds and swifts in the same taxonomic order, the Apodiformes. The name means “without feet,” which is certainly how these birds look most of the time.
•The Ruby-throated Hummingbird does not show a strong preference for any particular color of feeder. Instead, it prefers specific feeder locations.
•Ruby-throated Hummingbirds prefer to feed on red or orange flowers. Like many birds, they have good color vision and can see into the ultraviolet spectrum, which humans can’t see.
•Ruby-throated Hummingbirds normally place their nest on a branch of a deciduous or coniferous tree; however, these birds are accustomed to human habitation and have been known to nest on loops of chain, wire, and extension cords.
•Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are eastern North America’s only breeding hummingbird. But in terms of area, this species occupies the largest breeding range of any North American hummingbird.
•Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds don’t stick around long. Pairs are together long enough for courtship and mating – just a matter of days to weeks. Then he’s off on his own, and may begin migration by early August.
•The oldest known Ruby-throated Hummingbird was 9 years 1 month old.

Lost Your Goldfinches??

2009-07-04T09:31:00.002-05:00

It's not uncommon to hear customers state that they've "lost their goldfinches". Upon inquiry, we usually find that their seed is old. Hot weather spoils seed faster and the seed in the feeder may have been out for more than a few weeks or the main stash of seed may have been sitting in a storage bin in the heat or simply gotten old and stale. Once customers toss out the old seed and fill the feeder with fresh, the finches usually return.

The hot weather is coming, even though it doesn't seem like it. It's a great time to get a birdbath in place. Lots of babies coming in and you can attract birds that may not visit your feeders such as tanagers - they love to bathe and drink fresh water!

What's Going On At The Feeders?

2009-06-26T21:15:00.004-05:00

Oriole kids should be starting to show up at the grape jelly, nectar feeders. What a great time to feed the birds! The babies are so much fun to watch.

Where are your hummingbirds? Nesting!! It won't be long before they and the kids are visiting the feeders more frequently. Have any of you found a nest yet? I have yet to see one in nature. I have received pictures but never seen one in person.

The goldfinches will be nesting in July/August. They are one of the last birds to nest. One theory is in this way, they avoid the onslaught of Cow Birds laying their eggs in their nests. The young golfinches are really fun to watch - sitting on the feeder perches and systems flapping those wings and mouths wide open waiting for mom and dad to deliver a free meal.

With the hot weather, it's a great time to get a bird bath out if you haven't done so already. American Goldfinches drink a lot of water as seed is the main staple of their diet. They will appreciate the source of water you provide!!
Happy birding!

How Important are Snags to Wildlife?

2009-06-22T09:38:00.003-05:00

What's a snag? A snag is a standing dead or dying tree. Wildlife use snags and downed logs for nesting, roosting, foraging, perching and territorial displays. The following is a list of snag-dependent wildlife. If you can, please leave those snags for all of our bird, reptile and mammal friends.

Table 4.3 Snag-Dependent Wildlife

Cavity-excavating birds
Common flicker
Downy woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker
Red-bellied woodpecker
Red-headed woodpecker
Yellow-bellied sapsucker

Raptors
American kestrel
Bald eagle
Barn owl
Barred owl
Merlin
Osprey
Red-tailed hawk
Saw-shet owl
Eastern screech owl

Open-farm and meadow birds
Bewick's wren
Eastern bluebird
Tree swallow

Residential-area birds
Chimmney swift
House wren
Purple martin

Water Birds
Belted kingfisher
Black-crowned night heron
Bufflehead
Common goldeneye
Common merganser
Common or great egret
Double-crested cormorant
Great blue heron
Hooded merganser
Wood duck

Woodland birds
Black-capped chickadee
Brown creeper
Carolina wren
Great-crested flycatcher
Prothonotary warbler
Red-breasted nuthatch
Tufted titmouse
Turkey vulture
White-breasted nuthatch
Winter wren

Reptiles and amphibians
Most salamanders
Treefrogs

Mammals

Big brown bat
Bobcat
Deer mouse
Eastern chipmunk
Eastern pipistrelle bat
Fox squirrel
Gray fox
Gray squirrel
Hoary bat
Little brown bat
Mink
Opossum
Raccoon
Red squirrel
Red bat
Silver-haired bat
Southern flying squirrel
White-footed mouse

Mosquito Season is Here - What To Do To Reduce Numbers

2009-06-15T09:31:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again when mosquito's become Wisconsin's state bird. Here are a few tips to help reduce their breeding success in your yard.

1. Stagnant water located in birdbaths should be changed every other day. A Water Wiggler and/or Dripper/Mister will keep that water moving. Mosquito's lay their eggs in stagnant water.

2. Yard waste, such as lawn cuttings and raked leaves, which are present in gutters or storm drains, prevent water from flowing and harbour perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

3. Low-lying depressions in lawn areas where water can collect should be filled in.

4. Leaves and twigs can block roof gutters and eaves troughs and prevent proper water drainage.

5. Compost should be turned over frequently and areas of organic matter, which provide a food source for mosquito larvae, should be collected and recycled immediately.

6. Stagnant water of any kind is a breeding area for mosquitoes. Be sure you walk around your yard and make sure stagnant water is eliminated.

7. Open or broken window screens and attic vents offer perfect avenues for mosquitoes to make their way into your home. Window screens should fit snugly into the frame, vents should remain closed and for further prevention, windows should also be shut during the hours of dusk and dawn.

8. Pool covers can collect water and should be emptied right away. Wading pools need to also be turned over when they are not in use.

9. Toys and other objects around the yard should be placed in an area where they won't collect rainwater.

10. Mosquitoes are often attracted to containers of standing water in wheelbarrows or tires that are left outside. To avoid this, drill holes in the bottom of containers to allow water to flow out or turn over those items that are not in use.

11. Leaky faucets should be closed tightly as water build-up can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Water For Birds In June

2009-06-12T08:49:00.003-05:00

We aren't the only ones that flock to the water in summer - the birds do too! By providing a source of water, you have the best chances of increasing the variety of beautiful summer birds visiting your yard. All birds need water even though they won't visit your seed, fruit or nectar.

Sandi and John were excited to see a Cape May Warbler visiting their bird bath. What a treat!

You can place dead tree branches in the ground next to your bath which will provide perches for the birds to view the bath (to make sure it's safe) and on which to groom themselves after bathing. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a family of Eastern Bluebirds or Cedar Waxwings having a pool party!

Birds are especially attracted to the sound of water - add a dripper/mister or rock waterfall to your birdbath and you will probably notice a lot more activity at the bath!

Babies, Babies, Babies

2009-06-10T10:56:00.002-05:00

Spring migration is over and your birds are settling in to raise their families.

Over the next few months, watch for baby birds at your feeder. You'll have to watch real close as some of these fledglings are already the same size as their parents. How can you tell they are a fledgling? Their coloring will not be the same as the adults and most importantly, by their behavior. They will often beg their parents for food by flapping their wings frantically and sqawking with beaks wide open. I witnessed a young very impatient Downy Woodpecker clinging on to the suet feeder waiting for mom or dad to give it a free meal.

The American Goldfinch is the last to nest - they usually won't start the process until July or August so the fun isn't nearly over yet!! It's never too late to put out a nestbox as numerous species nest more than once. Eastern Bluebirds, for example, generally have at least two broods and sometimes even three!
Happy birding!

Is it Too Late to Put Up a Hummingbird Feeder?

2009-06-09T08:08:00.000-05:00

While the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds have settled into their territories to nest by now, every bird is always foraging and may appreciate a new reliable backup feeder. You may also notice in late June newly fledged hummers have to check out everything to see if it's food, so you may catch them with new feeders.

Then starting in the middle of July males begin to wander widely, and some are already heading south. So, before you know it you'll have hungry southbound migrants to feed! Migration continues through the middle of October so there are plenty of opportunities to see hummers feeding. The migration south is a more leisurely trip than the race north. So you may see these new hummers at your feeder for a couple weeks before they catch a good wind to move further south.

Mockingbird vs. Eagle Slide Show

2009-06-08T09:13:00.002-05:00

Mockingbird vs. Eagle Slide Show

The Virginian-Pilot© May 31, 2009
While covering the recent LPGA golf tournament in Williamsburg, Virginian-Pilot photographer L. Todd Spencer encountered a mockingbird sparring with an immature bald eagle at the 18th hole. Click HERE to view a slide show in which Todd describes the display of undeterred persistence and nonchalant resistance.

Do Other Animals Have Feathers?

2009-06-06T09:36:00.001-05:00

Do other animals have feathers?

No, the biggest difference between birds and other animals is that birds have feathers. Every bird has feathers and everything that has feathers is a bird. A Whistling Swan, in winter has the most with about 20,000 individual feathers. And the fewest feathers? That distinction goes to the Ruby-throated Hummingbird with about 940.

How do You Become A Birdwatcher?

2009-06-05T08:24:00.002-05:00

How do you become a birdwatcher?

I enjoy watching the birds as I have my morning coffee. How do I learn more about the hobby? R.

Who Bird Watches?
History shows humans have long been fascinated with birds. There are nearly 10,000 known species that now inhabit the earth and can be seen anywhere in the world including your own backyard.

What is Bird Watching?
Bird watching begins simply by observing birds. Gradually you can begin learning their names, identifying their markings, observing their activities, songs, behavior, and habitats.

Why bird watch?
Birds can be an indication of overall environmental health. If you’re interested in the environment, paying attention to birds can give you insight into many aspects of nature. Also, with our busy lifestyles, we often forget to slow down and enjoy the surroundings. Bird watching gives you the chance to escape and relax.

How do I start?
To invite more birds to your yard you can set up a birdfeeder, birdbath, or birdhouse. I especially like my window feeders so I can really see the birds up close! Wild Birds Unlimited has several styles. I fill it with our No-mess blend so of course there will be no mess below the feeder.

This may be as far as you want to go in bird watching. Or as the birds become more familiar to you at the feeder you can look up their names in a book or field guide, investigate using binoculars, join the local Audubon Society, or join the Wausau Bird Club. There are no set rules to bird watching.

Wisconsin has over 300 species of birds. A few of the most common birds seen at a seed feeders in Central Wisconsin are the Cardinal, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, European Starling, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, and Mourning Dove.

Bird watching is a wonderful hobby for people of all ages. It can be enjoyed almost anywhere at any moment of the day. All in all, bird watching is relaxing, fun, and educational. If you have any specific questions I can answer them in the blog or you can come into our Wild Birds Unlimited shops for more ideas or help.

2009-06-03T17:10:00.000-05:00

What is white proso millet?

White proso millet is a small, round, cream colored seed about the size of the head of a pin. A lot of ground-feeding birds like millet. It’s a major ingredient in many wild bird seed mixes and desirable to many species of birds like doves, sparrows, towhees, quail, bobwhite, tanagers, painted and Indigo buntings.

Most seed eating birds prefer black oil sunflower seeds but cardinals, goldfinches, purple finches and pine siskins, eat white proso millet if their seed of choice is not available.

The following shows the results of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service studies on food preferences of birds:
Sunflower seed:
a) black oil - superior to other foods for most seed eating species
b) black-striped - most species will eat but only Tufted Titmouse and Blue Jays prefer
White Proso Millet - preferred food of juncos, Mourning Doves and sparrows
Red Proso Millet - can be used as a substitute for white proso; however, not as preferred.
Golden (German) Millet - least preferred of the millets
Milo (sorghum) - generally unattractive to all species.
Cracked Corn - eaten about one-third as often as white proso millet.
Safflower seed - considered acceptable to most species except blackbirds and starlings.
Canary seed - less attractive than white proso millet
Rape seed (canola seed) - least attractive feed in the study
Wheat – unattractive to most species
Flax seed - almost completely ignored
Oats - only starlings found hulled oats highly attractive
Peanut pieces - attractive to numerous species
Niger Thistle Seed - not related to weed thistles. Highly used by finches.

We have tons of fresh seed delivered every week to our two Wild Birds Unlimited store in Wausau, WI. 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.

How Will The Birds Find My New Feeders?

2009-05-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

How will the birds find my new feeders?

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 alot 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. Some birds already eat at the neighbor's house and may see your familiar feeders on the way home.

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.

Is it Too Late to Put Up a Nest Box?

2009-05-19T10:20:00.001-05:00

Is it too late to put up a nest box?

It's absolutely not 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 up year round, actually. Some birds will use nest boxes as roosting sites in the winter. So you may have missed the first batch, but are just in time for the second or third!

2009-05-17T10:50:00.003-05:00

The baby bird dilemma

If you find a baby bird that is too young to fly, put it back in the nest. The mother will appreciate the help.

However, if you find a baby bird that is old enough to fly, but isn't, chances are it is learning. If you look, you will see the mother nearby. Leave these older birds alone and let them learn to fly undisturbed.

If you're not sure call for help before you do anything. REGI (Raptor Education Group) in Antigo is a certified rehabber - if you aren't sure, call them and they can assist you.

Hummingbirds, Orioles and Indigo Buntings

2009-05-02T12:27:00.002-05:00

The first hummingbird report of the season came in yesterday morning from a very excited customer. He lives in Kronenwetter.

Oriole reports have been coming in for nearly a week and we've gotten three reports of Indigo Buntings.

My bluebirds have finally chosen a nestbox and when I took out their morning ration of mealworms I checked the box and the nest is done! No eggs yet but I'm sure it is only a matter of time.

I saw my first Green Heron of the year in back of the store yesterday and I had a Fox Sparrow on the ground below the feeders for the first time. Had three flickers in one of the trees to the south of the store and the very next day I thought they had returned as I could hear them and when I went out there, a starling was the one mimicking them! Great time of year!!

Orioles, hummingbirds and Indigo Buntings - Oh, my!!

2009-04-27T10:14:00.000-05:00

Well - it's time to get those oriole and hummingbird feeders all ready to go. Wautoma reported a hummingbird and orioles have been sighted in various locations in southern Wisconsin. I put my feeders out this morning. It may be a bit before I get any takers but I don't want to miss out on any of the show this spring. It's been a long, long winter!

Grosbeaks have been sighted at numerous feeding stations around Wausau and the first Indigo Bunting has been sighted this morning at a feeding station in Walworth County. Won't be long before we have these beauties at our feeders!

We have a pond on our property that we dug when we built the house seven years ago. We don't use chemicals to manage nor do we fertilize our lawn so that we don't affect the natural balance of the pond life and fauna. Spring is my favorite time to watch for migrants coming through and of course the resident mallards love to visit each morning. So far this year we had a pair of Common Mergansers, a Bufflehead, a pair of Wood ducks and this morning we had three pair of Blue-winged Teal!! They landed around 5:00 this morning before I could see them but that familiar peeping sound tipped me off. I checked at first light and sure enough!!

It was really cool to see the mallard next to them as it really highlights the size difference. Alone, the teals look mallard sized but put them next to the mallard and boy do they shrink!

If you would like to see what they look like, click here.

Happy birding everyone and let me know what you're seeing!!

Vote for REGI!

2009-04-24T17:39:00.001-05:00

REGI was recently nominated for an Office Technology Make over put on by EO Johnson and WSAW Channel 7 news.

Go to this link to vote! Voting is from April 23 to May 5th. http://www.eojohnson.com/meet_finalists_and_vote

How to Vote:
You must create a one day user name with EO Johnson to vote. This allows only 1 vote per email address. Once you create this log in to your email and cast your vote.

Why Vote?
This is an amazing opportunity for REGI! As you know everything we do is for the birds. This often puts other business necessities like office equipment at the bottom of the list. This makeover would allow REGI to receive a professional copy machine, printer, electronic filing system, and much more. A top of the line office printer would allow REGI to turn our annual newsletter into a quarterly newsletter! Plus cutting cost of having all of our printing done in house. The electronic filing system would allow all the medical information we collect on our birds to be organized data. Imagine with a click of a button being able to see what the top 3 injuries of all Bald Eagles emitted to REGI in the last 10 years is. We have all this important medical information on paper, in boxes but to to have that data in a computer system will make it more meaningful and easier to access. These are just a few example of how this makeover would help REGI. Please take the time to vote!

2009-04-21T13:56:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we received a report that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been seen near Kohler Andrae State Park in Sheboygan. Rest assured we'll be seeing them soon!!

The grosbeak's song is like that of the robin, only as sung by an opera singer! It's song has also been described as a robin on steriods. There's no mistaking this beautiful bird at your feeders.

You can offer them Premium Black Oil sunflower seeds in hopper or tray type feeders. They also love fruit!! You can offer them strawberries, apples, oranges, blueberries and grapes!!

Good luck and let me know if you see one!

BEWARE: If you come into the store, you might catch it!!

2009-04-14T08:26:00.003-05:00

It's been going around for a few weeks now. People come in and I've actually watched them pass it to unsuspecting customers that were just casually shopping! I don't know the scientific name for it, but I call it hummingbird fever.

I'm afraid I have it too, so beware when you come into the store.

Hummingbirds are affectionately referred to as Nature’s Jewels because of their iridescent qualities and beauty. The Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder allows you to bring these beautiful birds up close for viewing. The bright red cover will attract hummingbirds. Once there, the HighView™ perch invites them to rest comfortably as they drink from any of three feeding ports while also offering an unobstructed view of the birds. You can use this feeder with or without the ant moat to block crawling insects. Features a generous 8 oz. capacity, sturdy polycarbonate construction, a suction cup mounted bracket, a lifetime guarantee and is made in the U.S.A!!

The only known cure for hummingbird fever is to be able to sit back and watch these captivating and charismatic creatures that have such an incredible drive.
Let me know when you site the first hummingbird in your area!

My Bluebirds Are Back

2009-04-09T09:22:00.003-05:00

Well - after a brief visit by a male Eastern Bluebird a couple of Saturday's ago, a pair have now been checking out the nest boxes for the last three days. I have three foods out for them. Mealworms (their favorites), Bark Butter and Egg Essentials suet pellets. They are rewarding me with their happy warbles every morning.

I was out standing on my deck at about 5:00 this morning and what a chorus so early in the morning! Robins were sounding warning calls already (I think she's already built a nest in our woodshed as she did last year), Woodcock was buzzing. Amazing that they are so active so early!

On the way to pick up my son from work, I saw 30 turkeys out in a farmer's pasture and 4 tom's putting on quite a show! Tails all spread out and doing their "look at how handsome I am" dance.

Mr and Mrs Mallard were in the pond again - 4th day in a row. With no-one home during the day and no dogs to pester them, I'm sure they are finding our pond a welcome home albeit temporary.

What are you seeing??

Yellow-rumped Warblers on the Way and Tundra Swans at Lake Wausau

2009-04-01T09:51:00.004-05:00

A Yellow-rumped Warbler, or butter butt as they are affectionately known as has been sighted in Dane County. Can't wait till those little birds make their grand return to Wausau. I had a large flock polishing off cake after cake of suet last spring so I'm stocking up on Bark Butter, suet and suet pellets!

Dan Belter, president of the Wausau Bird Club went out birding yesterday and here is what he reports seeing:
From 6:45 to 7:00 p.m. this evening I was at Radtke Point Park on Lake
Wausau. Present were 85 Tundra Swans and my first of the year COMMON
LOON. Also present were several species of diver ducks.

85 Tundra Swans!! It sure is worth packing up your binocs and taking a drive over to Radtke.

Where Did All The Feeder Birds Go and Tundra Swans Sighted!

2009-03-24T09:45:00.001-05:00

The activity at your feeders has like mine, significantly diminished over the last week or so. This is normal. The majority of the Pine Siskins and the Common Redpolls have returned to their breeding grounds in Canada. Sure will miss them! Don't worry though, soon to come are scads of American Goldfinches, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, House Finches, Purple Finches and our favorite Indigo Bunting.

Dan Belter, president of the Wausau Bird Club stopped by D.C. Everest park and here's his bird sighting report: "As soon as I pulled into the parking lot I could see out on the lake ice, next to the open water, large "white" lumps packed in a group. I knew right away these were Tundra Swans and when I raised my binoculars, there they were, about 50 of them. Other new arrivals for me were; Canvasback (6) and Red-breasted Mergansers (2). Waterfowl variety is increasing, and will continue to do
so as the lake opens up more."

If you have time, grab your binocs - the spring show is underway!! If you have questions or are wondering where the park is, you can e-mail me at wbuwausau@gmail.com

Eaglets at Norfolk Botanical Gardens Have Hatched!

2009-03-23T10:39:00.004-05:00

Wow - it's been incredible to watch the adults shift and move on the nest and now to see them feed the babies. There are now two and hopefully the third will hatch shortly.

The parents are so careful when they are moving around in the nest. Hard to believe those little fluff balls can become such an awesome bird!!

http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html

More Signs of Spring

2009-03-16T17:09:00.002-05:00

I saw a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds yesterday and today I had no less than five calling away in the back of the store.

The robin I saw in the yard yesterday was out there today singing away - a great way to start out my morning!

No sign of any bluebirds near the nest boxes yet. Last year I didn't see them until April 11th so I'm hoping it will be earlier this year.

Are you seeing anything different at your feeders or out on the road?

Dan Belter, president of the Wausau Bird Club informed us of the presence of the Peregrine Falcon out near the Weston power plant. Sure hope they have a successful brood this year!

American Robins and Eastern Bluebird!!

2009-03-14T15:27:00.002-05:00

Well, the sure signs of spring are popping up all over. Customers are beginning to see lots of American Robins (watch the crabapple and mountain ash trees) and the first report of an Eastern Bluebird came in today.

The bluebird was a male and was sighted near Wausau West highschool. Start watching the power lines for them and if you fed them and/or provided nestboxes last year, watch for them!

That Time Of Year Again - Responsible Bird Feeding

2009-03-06T12:34:00.002-06:00

Are You A "Responsible" Birdfeeder?

If you enjoy feeding and watching your backyard birds, then you probably want to do as much as you can to practice your hobby safely and ensure the birds’ overall health and well-being. Just as people can catch colds or other illnesses from people who are sick, birds that feed at crowded or dirty feeders have the potential to develop diseases that are harmful to them.

While the incidence of birds falling ill from feeders is small compared to other natural hazards birds face, there are things you can do to help your birds stay healthy:

1. Provide multiple feeding stations in different areas of your yard to disperse bird activity. Crowding at the feeder - which is a more common occurrence in winter months - can cause stress that may make birds more vulnerable to disease.
2. Clean your feeders more frequently and keep areas under and around the feeders clean.
3. Keep seed clean and dry and watch that it doesn't get moldy. Offer only fresh seed.
4. Dry rake or use other methods to keep the area around your feeder clean.
5. Provide seeds from a feeder rather than broadcasting/scattering seed on the ground.
6. If possible, move your feeding stations periodically, so there will be less concentration of bird droppings.
7. If you find a dead bird near the feeder that has not been killed by a predator, disinfect the feeders with a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water.
8. Always wash your hands after filling or cleaning your feeders.
9. Place birdfeeders in locations that do not provide hiding places for cats and other predators to wait to ambush the feeder. Birdfeeders should be placed at least 10' to 12' from low shrubs or bushes that provide cover.
Thanks for your help in keeping our feathered friends healthy and safe!

Selfish Plug

2009-03-04T09:59:00.003-06:00

Hello everyone,
We're having our annual birdfeeder sale here in the store from March 6-16. We send out flyers to our customers unfortunately, the printer goofed and sent out the Oakdale, New York flyer instead stating that the sale goes all month long. So sorry for the inconvenience.

Here is the commercial that is slated to start running tomorrow on channel 9. If you'd like to get the sale prices before it starts, just mention that you saw my blog and I'll honor those prices!

How many broods does average backyard bird have?

2009-02-25T08:08:00.000-06:00

How many broods does the average backyard bird have?

The number of times a bird nests in one season varies from one bird species to another, and sometimes from one locale to another.

Downy woodpeckers in the north have only one brood, but in the south they may have two.

Cardinals can have as many as four broods between March and August, with the male helping to care for the first one while the female incubates the eggs of the next one.

Other members of the finch family, such as the goldfinch, house finch and grosbeaks may only have one brood.

Bluebirds and robins usually have two broods.

Results of Field Trip on Saturday to the Nicolet National Forest

2009-02-23T15:29:00.000-06:00

The field trip to the Nicolet National Forest (Forest County) and other surrounding areas was held Saturday by the Wausau Bird Club and Wildbirds Unlimited. Some Highlights on the field trip included Black-backed Woodpecker (pictured above), Bohemian Waxwing, Evening Grosbeaks, and White-winged Crossbills.

A group of 4 birders left Wausau at 6:30 a.m. and made our way up to Three Lakes to pick up 6 other birders and then made our way into the national forest. But first on the drive up to Three Lakes, the group sighted a road killed Gray Wolf along the shoulder of Hwy 51 just south of the first Tomahawk exit. We turned around and went back to see if the wolf had any kind of ear tag or other banding, but didn't see any.

After picking up the rest of the group in Three Lakes, we drove some back roads in Three Lakes and picked up Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls , and White-winged Crossbills in residential yards. Then it was off into the national forest. After making several stops (picking up more WW Crossbills and redpolls), we made our way to the Pine River crossing on forest road 2182 to try our luck at seeing the previously reported BB Woodpecker. After a few minutes we saw a female Black-backed Woodpecker working on a tamarack. We had great looks at this bird and it was a life bird for several in the group. After this spot, we made our way up to Alvin where we had great looks at a flock of around 20 Evening Grosbeaks. These were also a life bird for several birders in our group. There were also a nice group of Blue Jays present in Alvin too.
After eating lunch in Eagle River, we drove around some of the city streets there to look in crabapple trees for waxwings and possibly Pine Grosbeaks. Just north of the bridge that crosses the Wisconsin River, we spotted a flock of around 30 Cedar Waxwings on the south side of the river. Scanning through the flock, we picked out a single Bohemian Waxwing mixed in among them.

After birding the Eagle River area we returned to the national forest in hopes of adding Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse, plus a few other species on our wish list, but were unsuccessful at doing so.

All in all, it was a good day of birding and I'm sure if we had a few more hours of day light we would have added some more wish list birds to our daily total. Our next field trip will be on March 21st. We will meet in the parking lot of Wild Birds Unlimited at dusk and head for the Nine-mile Recreation area in search of owls!

BALTIMORE ORIOLES AND RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS

The migration maps for the Baltimore Oriole and Ruby-throated Hummingbird are all set to go. The hummingbirds are usually first seen entering the extreme southern states around March 1st and appear here in central Wisconsin in late April/early May along with the Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings. We are watching the maps and will keep you posted so that you can get ready in time for their arrival.
Watch future e-mails and our website for ways to attract these birds to your yard.

Would you like to get a little oriole fix to chase away those winter blues? Click on the link to see a video put together by fellow store owner Gregory who visits the home of one of his good customers and films her orioles eating mealworms.

Baltimore Oriole's Eating Mealworms

Great Backyard Bird Count - preliminary results

2009-02-18T17:41:00.000-06:00

Results To Date of Great Backyard Bird Count (you have until March 1st to get your counts in!)
Well, so far we submitted more checklists than last year for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Last year 18 checklists were submitted as compared to 35 for this year. Keep in mind that participants have until March 1st to enter their checklists. Wausau is tied with Oshkosh for 5th place for the most checklists submitted. Madison, Marshfield, Milwaukee and Rhinelander are ahead of us. So far, in Wisconsin, the Canada Goose has the highest count at 22,394 followed by the Pine Siskin (no big surprise!) at15,715; American Goldfinch at13,080 and the Common Redpoll at 10,145 (no big surprise there either!).

Last year the Dark-eyed Junco was number one followed by the American Goldfinch. Many of us are commentingon the lack of junco's this year so it looks like the GBBC supports that so far. Only a couple thousand redpolls were counted last year and only a few hundred siskins!! We really had a great winter this year for finches. They puton quite a show. Thanks to all of you for participating this year and I'm looking forward to increasing those checklist numbers for Wausau next year!!

If you would like to check out this years' results, click here.

2009-02-11T09:44:00.000-06:00

Now that we're experiencing nicer weather (thank goodness!!) it's a great time to get out to the feeders and clean up the proverbial "winter mess". It will be easier to clean up all of the debris from below the feeders before all of the snow melts. Using a shovel to remove those layers of debris along with the snow will be much healthier for the birds than waiting until it dries to rake it away. The debris can become breeding grounds for bacteria and birds are very sucesptible to disease that are caused by this bacteria.We've been enjoying quite a show this winter and now it's time for us pay them back by making sure our feeding areas and feeders are clean and ready for this springs' performance!The Great Backyard Bird Count starts on Friday! Now's your chance to be a citizen scientist. Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards—whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away. Additional online resources include tips to help identify birds, a photo gallery, and special materials for educators.
The data these “citizen scientists” collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years. In 2008, participants submitted more than 85,000 checklists. Let's get Wausau on the map in a big way this year!

Now that we're experiencing nicer weather (thank goodness!!) it's a great time to get out to the feeders and clean up the proverbial "winter mess". It will be easier to clean up all of the debris from below the feeders before all of the snow melts. Using a shovel to remove those layers of debris along with the snow will be much healthier for the birds than waiting until it dries to rake it away. The debris can become breeding grounds for bacteria and birds are very sucesptible to disease that are caused by this bacteria.We've been enjoying quite a show this winter and now it's time for us pay them back by making sure our feeding areas and feeders are clean and ready for this springs' performance!The Great Backyard Bird Count starts on Friday! Now's your chance to be a citizen scientist. Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards—whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away. Additional online resources include tips to help identify birds, a photo gallery, and special materials for educators.
The data these “citizen scientists” collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years. In 2008, participants submitted more than 85,000 checklists. Let's get Wausau on the map in a big way this year!

Activity At Feeders

2009-02-05T18:22:00.000-06:00

Been lots of activity at the feeders. Nyger is disappearing fast with all three of the finches wolfing it down. American Goldfinches, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins. Those darn Mourning Doves are using my heated birdbath as a spa - who poops in their own spa?

A customer sent me this picture of a Pileated right on the feeding system he has on his deck. Incredible that he gets this bird so close!! I think I'll get a nice old dead tree and put it on my deck and see if that works. Wouldn't look as nice as this system though!

Mention this blog when you come in to the store and receive a 2 lb bag of the freshest bird food in town, FREE!

If you have pictures - please share!

Wild Birds Unlimited - Wausau Introduction

2009-02-02T11:52:00.000-06:00

I've been blogging on our local newspaper website but the functions are a bit limited so I'll give it a shot here.

I own the Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in Wausau located across the street from Walmart in Rib Mountain. I'm obsessed with birding - both out in the field and watching the feeders. I not only watch the feeders at home but I have a few at the store that I watch when I'm not with customers.

Birds at the feeders? At home: Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco's, American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Common Redpolls, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. At the store: American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls. I was being marauded by European Starlings so we only have Nyger tube feeders at the store. Limits the species but at least those pesky starlings are gone. What are you seeing at your feeders?