Tag: Jane’s birds
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ARE YOU READY FOR THE ORIOLES?
Are you ready? After spending the late fall and winter months in southern Mexico and as far south as Columbia, the Orioles are on their way back! So far this month they have been spotted in Arkansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Illinois and northern Michigan. You know what that means… we can expect them to grace our…
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Squirrel Proof Feeders
Thank you for all the wonderful feedback and questions following my recent appearance on Charlie Dobbin’s Gardening Show, on Zoomer Radio. I received quite a few messages about my squirrel proof feeder comments, so I thought it would be helpful to expand on my comments with a few more details. Yes I have found that…
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LET’S DO A LITTLE EXTRA FOR OUR BIRDS
The weather this winter has certainly been anything but normal. You may have noticed that some of our early migrators were even earlier than usual. I had my first red-winged blackbird on February 19th! Last year I didn’t see, or hear them until March 6th. The grackles and cowbirds arrived shortly after. Some Robins will…
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Ruby-throated Hummingbirds – Eggs to Fledglings
During the month of August you may be seeing more hummingbirds in your gardens and at your feeders. You might enjoy some fun facts about their development from eggs to fledglings. Something to think about as you watch them flit through your yard. I hope you found these facts interesting! Enjoy watching these little…
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TIPS TO HELP BIRDS DURING MIGRATION
The month of September brings our attention to many species of birds migrating to their winter destinations. Raptors, shorebirds, waterfowl, and the many songbirds including warblers, thrushes, some sparrows, finches, and of course the orioles and hummingbirds will all be on the move. Birds of prey, swallows, finches and hummingbirds are diurnal migrators, meaning they…
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CHIPMUNK TRIVIA
If you have a bird feeder you’ve likely observed these little creatures scurrying beneath the feeder collecting seeds and nuts. In today’s blog I thought I’d share some interesting facts about chipmunks. A group of chipmunks is called a scurry. There are 25 species of chipmunks. Twenty-four of them reside throughout North America from Canada…
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HOW LONG ARE FLEDGLINGS DEPENDENT ON PARENTS
We will soon see baby birds (also called fledglings) appear with their parents at our bird feeders. Have you ever wondered how long the young are dependent on their parents after leaving the nest? After doing a little research, I’ve put together a list of common birds we see in our yards and gardens, and…
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TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SUMMER BACKYARD BIRDING
Now that warmer weather is finally here, I would like to offer some tips on making your yard an inviting haven for our songbirds. The most important things to start with are clean feeders and bird baths. Bird feeders and baths can be cleaned with one part bleach or vinegar to 9 parts hot water.…
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Migration is Underway!
Have you heard your first red-winged blackbird yet? Conk-la-reee… a sure sign that spring is truly on its way. I always look forward to the return of the red-wings. However, that also means that the grackles will be close behind. I know from listening to your questions over the years that there are some birds…
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TURNING YOUR BACKYARD INTO A WINTER BIRD HAVEN
Exciting News! Beginning on December 31, we will be starting our Backyard Winter Birdscape Contest. This contest will run until March 14th. We’re not looking for a perfectly staged space with expensive and beautiful feeders, we’re looking for practical items you have put in your yards to help birds stay healthy throughout the winter months. …