Simple Seed Strategies

With so many types of seed and seed mixes available, it can be confusing knowing which seeds (or peanuts!) to offer in your feeders. Here's a quick rundown on your backyard birds' preferences:

• Millet: Small seeds that are round and range in color from golden tan to reddish brown. White proso millet helps attract birds to a new feeder since it is more visible. Attracts buntings, doves, finches, juncos, pheasants, quail, siskins, native sparrows, towhees, thrushes, Carolina wrens. Even bluebirds and robins will eat millet when food is scarce in winter.
  
• Milo: Hard, round, reddish seeds that only a few birds favor. When there are other seeds available in a feeder, birds will discard the milo or ignore it completely. Milo is found in inexpensive seed mixes because it is cheap and relatively big which makes it a popular filler. Attracts doves, pheasants, quail, wild turkeys.
  
• Safflower: Small, plump white seeds. Popular seed for discouraging jays and squirrels from feeders because of the bitter taste. Buy safflower to add to your current mix or use it alone. Attracts cardinals, chickadees.
  
• Striped Sunflower: Larger and thicker-shelled than black-oil sunflower. Frequently found in seed mixes, striped sunflower is a favorite food item for large-billed birds capable of cracking the shells. Attracts cardinals, jays (squirrels, chipmunks!).
  
• Black Oil Sunflower: Small black seed with a thin shell, it is the most common type of seed offered at feeders in North America. High in energy, it is the preferred food item for a wide variety of birds. Attracts cardinals, chickadees, finches, sparrows, grosbeaks, titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, jays and many, many more!
  
• Nyjer/Thistle: Tiny, thin black seeds. Nyjer is costlier by the pound than most other seeds but a little goes a long way. Offer in feeders specifically made for nyjer to prevent the tiny seeds from spilling out onto the ground. Nyjer is heat treated to prevent pesky weeds from growing under feeders. Attracts goldfinches, house finches, purple finches, pine siskins.
  
• Peanuts: Shelled peanuts are a popular addition to any feeding station. Attracts chickadees, jays, juncos, nuthatches, sparrows, titmice, woodpeckers. In-shell peanuts are a favorite for jays and, of course, squirrels!
  

Knowing which seed or seeds a particular species likes is only half the battle.... you also have to make sure you are offering it in the proper feeder for the species!

Mealworms

Offer something new to your backyard birds.

Mealworms are enjoyed by:

· American Robins
· Blackbirds
· Blue Jays
· Bluebirds
· Brown Creepers
· Brown Thrashers
· Cardinals
· Carolina Wrens
· Catbirds
· Chickadees
· Chipping Sparrows
· Downy Woodpeckers
· Field Sparrows
· Finches
· Grackles
· Grosbeaks
· Hairy Woodpeckers
· Indigo Buntings
· Juncos
· Kinglets
· Mockingbirds
· Nuthatches
· Orioles
· Red-bellied Woodpeckers
· Rufus-sided Towhees
· Song Sparrows
· Tanagers
· Vireos
· Warblers
· … And many more!

We even have a customer that feeds them to her chickens!

Hummingbird Migration

For some parts of the USA, it's time to say goodbye to your backyard Hummingbirds. Can you believe it's time for their migration already?! It's a very important time to keep your feeders clean and full of nectar to help them on their way. Migrating hummingbirds will stop in and refuel and a hummingbird that is getting ready to start his/her journey will double their body weight in preparation for the long flight to Mexico or Central America.

The migration is triggered by a hormonal change so there is no need to stop feeding them to make them migrate, they know when to go! Just make sure you help them by providing an ample supply of feeders and nectar.

Black-Oil Sunflower Seed Basics

"Much smaller than traditional gray-striped sunflower, black-oil sunflower has a thin, papery shell that yields to the smaller bills of sparrows, juncos and even goldfinches. It's a much better value, because 70% of each seed is meat, compared to 57% for striped sunflower seed. Black-oil sunflower is the heart of any feeding program, for it is accepted by the greatest variety of birds."
--- From the Bird Watcher's Digest Booklet Enjoying Bird Feeding More.

Find this informative book and more by visiting Wild Class Nature Center!

Squirrels...what good are they?

Squirrels play a tremendous role in the reforestation effort; burying seeds and nuts that are later forgotten and sprouting new tree seedlings in the spring. They’re also fun to watch; delighting us with their acrobatic feats and whimsical behavior. Actually, it’s more like a love-hate-love relationship. For some more hate than love but you have to admit they are entertaining.

Squirrels will go to great lengths to get to food in your bird feeders or anywhere else. They walk tight ropes, using their tails for balance. They can jump five to ten feet horizontally and three to four feet vertically. By nature they have to gnaw continually to keep their teeth short and sharp. If they didn’t, their teeth would grow up to six inches during their lifetime. That gnawing sometimes comes at the expense of your bird feeder as they chew their way to your expensive birdseed.

So how do you keep these bushy tailed acrobats from devouring your birdseed and feeders?

Try offering their favorite foods in their own feeder, away from your bird feeding station. Squirrels are opportunistic and will readily accept an easy meal. Some squirrel favorites are corn, peanuts, peanut butter, sunflower seeds and fruit.

A baffle placed above your feeder or on a mounting -pole or post can deter them too. Make sure the baffle is made from metal flashing, polycarbonate plastic or PVC to keep squirrels from getting a grip with their sharp claws and teeth. Remember, squirrels can jump great distances, so keep your feeding station at least 8 feet, preferably 10-12 feet from any trees or structures that can give them a platform to jump from.

There are many birdfeeders on the market that prevent squirrels from getting at the feed through the use of weighted perches, twirling devices, cages or other means. These are effective most of the time. However, there seems to always be one that can perform super squirrel feats and defeat the system.

Hot pepper or capsaicin treated seed is effective most of the time. It has the same effect on squirrels that it has on us and the birds don’t seem to mind the fiery powder. However, if squirrels are really hungry in the winter or early spring, they may still eat the treated seed.

Some squirrel facts: Squirrels do not hibernate in the winter, though they may be less active if the weather is severe. They live from two to six years in the wild spending their entire life within three to five acres. Their natural predators include humans, coyotes, foxes, dogs, cats, hawks and owls.

To learn more about squirrels and their antics, we recommend reading:

“Squirrel Proofing Your Home & Garden” by Rhonda Massingham Hart
“Enjoying Squirrels More (or Less!)” by Howard Youth, Published by Bird Watcher’s Digest
“Squirrel Wars” by George H Harrison

Wonderful World of Peanuts

Peanuts are becoming increasingly popular in backyard feeders! There are a number of birds that will be attracted to your feeding station with the addition of peanuts. Whole peanuts, peanut pieces, and peanut butter can be offered in a variety of ways. There are feeders specifically made for peanuts and peanut butter, your birds can hardly wait! Birds will also appreciate peanut flavored suet cakes and nuggets.

Here's a list of birds that are attracted to peanuts and/or peanut butter:

• Woodpeckers
• Jays
• Crows
• Magpies
• Nutcrackers
• Titmice
• Chickadees
• Nuthatches
• Wrens
• Creepers
• Towhees
• Juncos
• Finches
• Siskins

Keep in mind that the Squirrels in your yard will go to great lengths to get their little hands on some peanuts, too! Whether you love them or hate them, there are feeders available to offer peanuts to the squirrels. Squirrel feeders might offer some distraction to keep squirrels away from your other feeders. Adding pole baffles and squirrel guards to your bird feeding station will help, too.

Attracting Birds

Attracting a specific bird to your yard requires research and a lot of patience. Some things to keep in mind:

• Make sure the bird can be found in your region.
  
• Find out what types of feed they like: seed, fruit, nectar, mealworms, suet, etc.
  
• Use the correct type of feeder. Some birds cannot use perches, they prefer a platform or a feeder they can cling to.
  
• Provide a birdhouse specific to their needs: dimensions, entry hole size, mounted or hanging, etc.
  
• Water features (birdbaths or a small pond) are always a great way to attract birds.
  
• Planting trees, shrubs or flowers can be helpful. They will provide shelter, food and nesting materials. They also attract insects that many birds like to eat!

Backyard Birding Survey Results

Thank you to all of our Backyard Birding Survey participants!

Of those surveyed...

• 78% have five or more bird feeders in their yards!
  
• 100% offer suet to their backyard birds!
  
• 22% offer mealworms!
  
• 56% feed and/or house Bluebirds!
  
• 33% maintain a Purple Martin House or Colony.
  
• 78% feed the squirrels, too!
  
• 89% plant flowers, trees or shrubs to attract a wider variety of birds to their yards!

Watch for another survey coming soon!

Attracting Bluebirds

If you live near farmland or open space, you may have bluebirds nearby! There are 3 species of Bluebirds in North America and the names describe which regions they inhabit: Eastern, Western and Mountain Bluebirds. Here are a few simple things you can do to attract Bluebirds to your property:

• Provide proper housing specifically made for the Bluebirds in your region.
• Every time you mow your lawn you are creating ideal foraging grounds for breeding birds. Shorter vegetation will make the grasshoppers, crickets and other insects more visible to the Bluebirds.
• Put up foraging perches made from garden stakes or dead tree limbs throughout your property. Bluebirds generally forage along the edges of forests or shrubbery where they can perch and spot the insects on the ground. The foraging perches will provide the Bluebirds with new feeding areas throughout the open space in your yard.
• Providing water no more than 2 inches deep will give Bluebirds a place to bathe. Enhance the water's attractiveness by surrounding the bath with tree branches and placing flat rocks in the water. Adding a Dripper will make your water feature irresistible!
• Provide fruiting plants or trees including sumac, flowering dogwood, multiflora rose hips, Viburnum species, Japanese honeysuckle and greenbrier.
• Use a Bluebird Feeder. Try providing crumbled suet, mealworms, Dogwood berries and chopped, soaked raisins. Bluebird feeders are designed to keep mockingbirds and starlings out and only allow Bluebirds in to feed.

Find many more great tips and information in the Bird Watcher's Digest booklet Enjoying Bluebirds More or in the Stokes Bluebird Book. See our entire selection of Bluebird Products by clicking here!

Let us know what works for you by posting your tips in the Wild Class Blog. We would love to hear your stories!

Hummingbirds

What’s another name for “a sugar-powered insect eating machine”? If you answered a Hummingbird, you’re right!

Hummingbirds get the energy they need to maintain their astonishing metabolism primarily from the nectar in flowers and the sugar water they find in backyard feeders. Additionally, hummingbirds also consume large amounts of insects for protein, vitamins and minerals that are an essential part of their diet. The female spends most of her time catching small insects and spiders to provide the large amounts of protein, not sugar, needed for her chicks’ growth.

In addition to the 20-plus species of hummingbirds that occur in North America north of Mexico, there are 328 other species of hummingbirds in the Western Hemisphere. The only hummingbird to occur east of the Mississippi River is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. When they begin migrating northward for the summer, they can be spotted in backyards as early as late February in the southern United States and April in the northern states. Fall departure for southward migration typically occurs between July and November. In coastal California, Oregon, Washington and Vancouver Island the Anna’s Hummingbird does not migrate at all and year round birds mean year round feeding!

Putting up a nectar feeder can help attract these tiny iridescent birds to your backyard. A new feeder may be found sooner if it is hung over or near a garden of plants popular with hummingbirds. Some common flowers that attract hummingbirds in all regions include: Bee balm, Bergamot, Canna lily, Columbine, Daylily, Coralbells, Pineapple sage, Red salvia and Zinnia. The use of pesticides around hummingbird plants should be avoided. Hummingbirds might directly ingest pesticides sprayed onto flowers, which could sicken or kill the birds.

If the sugar solution in your feeder ever becomes cloudy, it has spoiled and should be discarded. During the hot summer months sugar water can spoil in as little as two days. Nectar feeders should be cleaned every time the feeder is refilled. Discard any leftover sugar water and flush the feeder and all parts with hot water. Do not use soap, hummingbirds do not like the taste it leaves behind. If you have used soap in the past, that’s OK, you can easily remedy the situation by rinsing the feeder with bleach and thoroughly rinsing all parts with clean water. Bleach can also be used to remove black mold. A brush should be used to clean the feeder and nectar ports of any mold, dirt or debris.

Wild Class carries a variety of nectar feeders, cleaning accessories and informational books about hummingbirds. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email sales@wild-class.com or post your questions or comments on the Wild Class Blog. We’re here to help you be successful with all of your backyard birding endeavors.

All About Bats

One of the best indicators of a healthy environment in your own backyard is the presence of bats. 70% of all bat species are insectivores, including the majority of North American bats. Attracting bats to your backyard can help control the pests that plague you during the spring and summer months. A single small bat can capture 1200 mosquitoes an hour! They will also seek out beetles, moths and leafhoppers.

Erecting a bat house is one way to help attract bats to your yard. Bat houses can be placed on a tree, pole or building and should be mounted at least 15 – 20 feet high. Two bat houses placed back to back on a pole provide the greatest chance of attracting bats. You can put up a new bat house anytime of year, however, houses put up in early spring have the best chance of occupancy during their first summer. Inspecting your bat house can help determine if it is being occupied. This can be accomplished by shining a strong flashlight up into the house to look for bats. This should only be done once a week since frequent disturbances will cause the colony to abandon a roosting site. Another way to see if bats are present is to watch the house around sunset. Bats will begin leaving the house half an hour before sunset to forage for insects.

To encourage bats to visit your yard and occupy the new homes you have provided for them, try planting flowers that release scent at night, such as evening primrose, nicotiana and sweet rocket. These plants will attract night-flying insects, such as moths, that feed on nectar. Herbs such as lemon balm, chives, mint and borage also attract night-flying insects. One of the best attractants for bats is water. Having a body of water on your property, even a small man-made pond, is vital for most insects to reproduce. Bats naturally forage over ponds, streams and rivers and will eat the insects as they emerge from the water.

It is important to consider providing chemical free habitats for bats to occupy. Since bats consume mass quantities of insects, it’s best not to use pesticides, herbicides, or other toxic chemicals in your yard. These substances can cause bats (and insect-eating birds) to become ill or die after ingesting insects that have been sprayed by pollutants.

Wild Class offers a variety of quality Bat Homes and you can learn more by reading the Bird Watcher’s Digest booklet Understanding Bats.

Wild Class and 'American Forests'

In an effort to contribute to the protection of wildlife and our natural resources, Wild Class is proud to announce our partnership with the American Forests’ Global ReLeaf tree-planting campaign.

To show our appreciation for the wonderful gifts nature provides, Wild Class will plant one tree, through American Forests, with the purchase of every wildlife house, feeder, birdbath and other select items. We want to give back to the environment so future generations can enjoy and appreciate nature as much as we do.

American Forests is a non-profit conservation organization that plants trees in an effort to reforest areas destroyed by disease, wildfire, hurricanes, tornadoes, flood and man. Learn more about American Forests and their conservation efforts at http://www.americanforests.org/ .

Backyard Birding Survey

Take a moment and fill out our brief Backyard Birding Survey. All answers are anonymous and you will receive a coupon for 20% off an order placed in April when you complete the survey.

We will post the results when this fun survey is finished, so check back soon. Thanks for participating!

Click here to get started:

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB226BRRCU3AZ

Feeding Suet to Wild Birds

Suet is a welcome addition to any feeding station and will attract a greater variety of birds to your backyard. Birds have a high metabolic rate and suet is the most concentrated source of energy you can offer. Suet has traditionally been presented during cold months when the insects birds are accustomed to eating are not very plentiful. However, suet can be offered year-round. The birds that visit your suet feeder will reward you by eating the insects in your garden during spring and summer!

Common birds that eat suet include:

Wrens
Woodpeckers
Chickadees
Mockingbirds
Titmice
Northern Flickers
Warblers
Nuthatches
Robins
Starlings
and even Bluebirds!

Suet is most commonly offered in wire cages but can also be offered crumbled on a platform feeder or smeared on the bark of a tree. Since most of the birds that eat suet cling to trees looking for insects, it is a good idea to hang your feeder close to a tree’s trunk about 5 or 6 feet from the ground. If you need to deter Starlings from eating an entire cake of suet in one setting, try our Upside Down Suet Feeder. Clinging birds are generally not bothered by having to feed upside down but the Starlings sure don’t like it!

Wild Class offers several types of suet feeders and suet cakes to delight your suet-seeking birds!

Please share your pictures and stories about wild bird feeding, we would love to hear about them!

Favorite time of the year

This is my favorite time of year! I can finally venture back outside to start getting the yard cleaned up. The birds are singing and the Robins are back.