May 03

Competitive Birding for Conservation

By Brian Cunningham Big Day, Birds, Events, Warblers Leave a Comment »
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John Schaust, Chief Naturalist Wild Birds Unlimited

John Schaust, Chief Naturalist Wild Birds Unlimited

Brian Cunningham, Product and Hobby Education Manager Wild Birds Unlimited

Brian Cunningham, Product and Hobby Education Manager Wild Birds Unlimited

Rob Ripma, Wild Birds Unlimited Sales Associate, Nuttybirder.com Author and Blogger

Rob Ripma, Wild Birds Unlimited Sales Associate, Nuttybirder.com Author and Blogger

119 species in 2011

143 species in 2012

300 species in 2013?

Team Wild Birds Unlimited is participating again in our local Audubon’s Birdathon. We found 119 species in a single day two years ago, 143 last year and hope to find close to 175 this year.

Recently, a Birdathon team from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology made North American history with 294 species recorded in a single day on April 25, 2013 in Texas. With around 400 bird species found in Indiana in a calendar year, Team Wild Birds Unlimited could only dream of that kind of number.

But, it’s not just about the number of species seen for a Birdathon team. It’s about bird conservation.

Birding teams do these Big Day Birdathon events to raise funds for much-needed bird conservation and education. Funds pledged this year for our Wild Birds Unlimited Team go toward bird habitat protection, research and education; particularly for the beautiful and vulnerable Cerulean Warbler. Check out the projects or make a pledge by clicking the links.

Will we surpass 150 species this year? 175? Follow our Big Day Birdathon progress on May 16 via the Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc. Facebook page. We’ll start the day at 3:00 a.m. EDT and will post updates throughout the day.

Make a financial pledge, wish us luck and follow our progress!

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May 22

Warbler Magic

By John Schaust Big Day, Bird ID, Birding, Birds, Events, Warblers Leave a Comment »
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Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

He must have had a strong premonition!

A few weeks ago (May 3) my colleague Brian posted a blog entitled, “Competitive Birding for Conservation.” He wrote about Team WBU’s upcoming Birdathon with high hopes and expectations and he questioned if we could surpass a total of 150 birds.

The reality is that we tallied exactly 150 birds! He must be psychic!

The Birdathon was a tough 24 hours of hardcore birding filled with exciting discoveries of uncommon birds and heartbreaking misses of some common ones.

But one of the constants throughout the day was the quest to count as many of the 40 potential species of warblers that can be found in Indiana during spring migration. While some warblers nest in the state, most of them are just passing through. So, you always revere every sighting of these colorful songsters.

We ended the day with 23 warbler species…not as many as we had hoped to find; but, enough to make for some exciting birding.

Warblers are truly the door prize for bird watchers! And while these insect-eating birds are not typically attracted to seed feeders, they can be attracted to your back yard with suet products, mealworms and/or water.

It is truly a magical moment when you glance outside and see your first Townsend’s warbler visiting the suet feeder or a Pine Warbler munching down on mealworms. And I don’t think I have to be psychic to assume that Brian would agree that attracting them to feeders is a whole lot easier than spending 24 hours chasing them all around the state!

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Jan 10

Finch ID – Take a Closer Look

By Brian Cunningham Bird ID, Birds, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Purple Finch Leave a Comment »
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Take a closer look at that finch on your feeder. Are you sure it’s what you thought?

Distinguishing between House, Purple and Cassin’s Finches can be a bit tricky. But, there are clues to help make positive identifications much simpler.

First of all, determine which finches are in your area. Click the bird names below to see range maps.

Second, check out the coloration and/or face patterns.

You can tell the male finches apart mostly by body coloration.

Male House Finch
Red to orange (and sometimes yellow) coloration
Coloration most brilliant on the forehead
Brown cheek patch, back and wings (no red)

Male Purple Finch
Coloration looking like the bird was dipped head first into raspberry jam or red wine
Reddish on cheek, back and wings

Male Cassin’s Finch
Bright red crown – contrasts with lighter red face and chin
Whitish eye ring

You can tell the female finches apart mostly by face coloration.

Female House Finch
Basic brown and white streaked bird

Female Purple Finch
Bright white eyebrow and mustache stripe bordering a brown cheek patch

Female Cassin’s Finch
Faint white eyebrow and mustache stripe bordering a brown cheek patch

Check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s helpful web page on Tricky Bird IDs for more tips on the difference between House, Purple and Cassin’s Finches.

Take a closer look. Which finches are at your feeders?

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Nov 21

Out of Town Guests

By Brian Cunningham Bird ID, Bird Irruption, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, Red-Breasted Nuthatch Leave a Comment »
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Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pine Siskin (Left), American Goldfinch (Right). Photo courtesy of Nancy Castillo.

Purple Finch, male

The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest single travel day of the year, for people; but, what about birds? This year there are many out of town birds that are enjoying being backyard guests.

It’s already been an exciting season of new birds at feeders and more backyards are being visited every week. Check out the information below on the more irregular guests showing up at feeders.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (eBird location map)
With southward movement that began in mid-summer, they are being seen in all provinces and lower 48 states. Watch for them at feeders. They prefer seed blends with sunflower, peanuts and tree nuts and they like suet products.

Pine Siskin (eBird location map)
These opportunistic nomads are still moving into many areas. Watch for them at feeders; especially visiting with goldfinches. They prefer Nyjer and sunflower chips. Click here for identification clues to quickly determine if there are any Pine Siskin on your feeders.

Purple Finch (eBird location map)
Expect strong southward movement this year. Be aware that their numbers have been declining in recent decades. Watch for them at feeders. They prefer Nyjer and sunflower. Click here for identification clues to quickly determine which finches are on your feeders: House Finch, Purple Finch or Cassin’s Finch.

What out of town guest birds are entertaining you?

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Oct 31

Happy Owloween

By Brian Cunningham Bird Calls & Songs, Bird ID, Birds, Owls Leave a Comment »
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Barred Owl,

Owls at Halloween seem to conjure up thoughts of spookiness. They’ve been used in countless stories to help set the scene of many an eerie, dark night. Even an old southern legend states that if you hear a Great Horned Owl’s call coming from your left side it is forecasting bad luck for you.

How do you think they received such a reputation?

Is it because you don’t hear them coming? Owls’ feathers are especially soft and muffle wind noise. The special comb-like fringes on the leading edge of their wings channels air, allowing soundless flight.

Is it because you can’t sneak up on owls? Their heads can turn around over 270º, allowing them to look almost directly behind themselves.

Is it because their hearing is impeccable? Their ears are located asymmetrically on their head, with the right ear being higher than the left ear. Each ear hears the same sound with a slight difference, creating a form of audible “depth perception” which can be used to track the location and movements of their prey; even in near- to total-darkness.

Is it because they’re awake while we’re asleep? Owls can fly and hunt during the daytime as well as at night. However most of them are best adapted for nocturnal hunting.

Is it because their gaze seems to pierce your soul? Owls’ eyes are unique among birds being located on the front of the head, instead of the side. This not only gives them a very human appearance; but, also enables them to match our level of depth perception.

Whatever you think of owls, I hope you can enjoy them for the amazingly adaptive birds that they are.

Interested in learning more about owls? Click the link for our partner’s site, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to learn more about the typical owls in your area.

You can also download owl sounds in time for Halloween through their site by clicking here. This is perfect for using as ringtones on a phone.

Have a safe and happy Owloween!

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Oct 24

Goldfinch or Siskin?

By Brian Cunningham American Goldfinches, Bird ID, Bird Irruption, Birds, Pine Siskin, Winter Finch Irruption Leave a Comment »
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Every few years there is an irruption of Pine Siskin out of the Northern Boreal Forests due to a lack of natural foods. This winter is shaping up to be a great year to see Pine Siskin at backyard feeders.

Often feeding with American Goldfinches, siskin are quite attracted to finch feeders that offer Nyjer®. They can also be seen eating sunflower chips from other feeders and, as finches do, drinking from birdbaths.

Pine Siskin, at first glance, are often assumed to be American Goldfinches when visiting feeders in winter. And for good reason. They are the same size and have similar winter color patterns. However, take a closer look and you can tell them apart. Here are some identification clues for quickly telling if there are any Pine Siskin on your feeder.

Pine Siskin

  • Heavily streaked head and body
  • Yellow or buff in the wing bars, wings, and base of tail
  • Thinner, more sharply pointed bill than goldfinch

American Goldfinch

  • No streaking
  • White or buff in the wing bars
  • White rump or base of tail

Check out the photo below. Can you spot any Pine Siskin?

American Goldfinch (top left)
Pine Siskin (lower three perches)

Top photo: Pine Siskin (left), American Goldfinch (right)
Photos by Nancy Castillo (co-owner Saratoga Springs, NY WBU store)

Click here to see where Pine Siskin are being spotted this season via eBird.org. It is an interactive map where you can zoom in, change dates and more.

Do you have Pine Siskin at your feeders?

 

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Sep 26

The Rusty Upside Down Bird

By Brian Cunningham Birding, Birds, Migration, Red-Breasted Nuthatch 1 Comment »
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Red-breasted Nuthatch

Recently, I was birding in Sapsucker Woods at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Which, by the way, was totally cool! There was a nasally “yank” call from high in an oak tree that caught my attention. It was higher-pitched than the call of the White-breasted Nuthatch that I often hear.

It was a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

It is a colorful bird that is best characterized by its posture; often seen upside down. Nuthatches are known for hanging upside down, sideways and right side up while looking into tree trunk crevices and under branches for small insects, insect eggs and other tasty morsels.

They can be enticed to visit feeders when they are in the area. They prefer blends with sunflower seeds, peanuts and tree nuts. They also really like suet products like Naturally Nuts and Bark Butter Bits.

The best part is; they may be in your area. Red-breasted Nuthatches are on the move. They are “irrupting” southward this winter in search of more abundant food sources. Check out an interactive map from eBird.org to see where they have been spotted recently.

Have you seen any Red-breasted Nuthatches?

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Aug 16

Feather ID

By Brian Cunningham Bird ID, Birds, Red-bellied Woodpecker Leave a Comment »
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Ever find a feather on the ground and wonder what bird dropped it and why?

Right now is prime feather-finding season. Birds are dropping old feathers as they replace them with a whole new set; a process called molting. Feathers can be found in your yard, fields, woods or anywhere birds are found.

I recently went camping with some extended family. A younger cousin and I love the outdoors and we have lots of fun investigating and discovering nature together.

We found a feather while on a hike that was too cool to pass up. So we picked it up, snapped a picture (above) and began the investigative questions.

? What does it look like – length (3 inches), shape (slightly curved), colors (black and white), color pattern (kind of mottled, kind of spotted)
? What part of the bird did it come from – wing (yes), body, tail
? Where did we find it – habitat (woods), state (Indiana), season (summer)

All these clues are important to help in the identification process to quickly narrow down the possible birds from which it fell.

Just using an iPhone app right there on the trail, we were able to quickly narrow down the options to a woodpecker. A good field guide book works well too.

We then did a more detailed search using a book called, “Bird Feathers” by Scott & McFarland. Also, there is a new on-line tool from the US Fish & Wildlife Service that is very helpful, The Feather Atlas.

USFWS Photo

We had a lot of fun investigating and then discovering the feather was from the wing of a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Have you ever found a feather you wanted to ID? Which bird did it come from?

The “fine print” on possessing feathers:
We recommend taking pictures or making drawings of feathers then leave them where you found them. As is stated on The Feather Atlas home page, “The possession of feathers and other parts from [Migratory Bird Treaty Act]-protected birds without permission is prohibited.” Click The Feather Atlas link to learn more.

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Aug 03

Get the Most Out of Summer Camping Trips

By Margaret Collins Birds, Common Nighthawks, Great Horned Owl, Hummingbirds, Pathways for Kids Leave a Comment »
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Summer is a popular time for outdoor family reunions, camping trips or sleep away camp for the kids. However, much of the fun in hiking and spending time outside is having encounters with animals in their natural environment.

“There are several easy things campers and hikers can do to get the most out of their outdoor experience,” said Jim Carpenter, CEO and founder of Wild Birds Unlimited. “Some tips are fairly intuitive, such as being quiet on the trail, so as not to scare away animals you are hoping to view. Other tips are very important, but less well known, such as the fact that feathers and nests are all federally protected and not to be collected.”

Carpenter offers the following 10 camping/outdoor tips to make sure people can observe the most wildlife:

1. Bring binoculars for kids and adults.
2. Turn binoculars into a magnifying glass by reversing the end you look through; it works great for looking closely at flowers, butterflies, insects and more.
3. Watch for birds actively feeding early in the morning.
4. Late-risers can still see birds but may have to be more observant as the birds sing less often as the morning progresses.
5. At night, listen for owls calling to each other.
6. Listen for Great Horned Owls calling a five-note hoot that can be interpreted as “who’s awake, me too.”
7. Listen for nighthawks in the evening sky—a nighthawk’s call sounds like a “pee-ernt.”
8. Set out a hummingbird feeder while camping and watch to see who shows up to investigate—don’t use a yellow feeder, though, as you’ll probably attract bees, not birds. Hummingbirds like the color red.
9. Use the simple ratio of ¼ cup of sugar to one cup of water (a one-to-four ratio) for hummingbird nectar.
10. Bird and other wildlife identification guides show you how to look for wildlife; what kinds of behaviors to look for; and what habitats to look in to be able to identify what you see.

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Jul 11

A Perfect Day

By Brian Cunningham Bird ID, Birding, Birds, Blue Grobeak, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting, Mississippi Kite, Northern Parula, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Leave a Comment »
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Red-cockaded Woodpeckers

After a quick hour of travel to Webb Wildlife Management Area with a bus-load of Wild Birds Unlimited store owners, we step off the bus to low humidity and 82° F. There are no bugs. Is this really the South in summer?

We begin meandering down the gravel lane with clear views through the pine stands on either side of us.

The first bird calling is the Bachmann’s Sparrow. Do you hear its whistle-note followed by a trill reminiscent of a towhee? Look, here it is in the spotting scope.

Do you hear the Northern Bobwhite’s calling to each other? “Bob, bob, WHITE”

Wow! Our target bird for the day! See the woodpeckers with the big white patches on their cheeks? Those are Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. There are three of them at eye-level flaking bark off the pines to find insects. (pictured above)

Just down the lane is a Blue Grosbeak in the grass. What a view!

There’s an Eastern Bluebird perched on the nest box.

On the utility wire above is another “blue” bird, the Indigo Bunting, singing “fire, fire, where, where, here, here, see it see it.”

Oh, look, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird is chasing the Indigo.

Someone found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest. Look in the scope. You can see the babies’ heads pop up when mom and dad come in with caterpillars.

Listen! Do you hear the squeak-toy call of the Brown-headed Nuthatch? There they are. I see them; a foraging family group.

Do you see the Northern Parula? Its throat and chest are yellow but so is its lower bill. See how brilliant the yellow is in the sunlight?

Here comes another group of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. There are five this time.

Too bad we didn’t see the Mississippi Kites. Oh, wait, there’s one!

What a perfect day for bird watching!

Have you ever had a perfect day outdoors?

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