Hate ants in your Hummingbird feeder?

If you have a problem with ants getting into your Hummingbird feeder, try using the Ant Moat! The Ant Moat is a small plastic cup that fits between your hanger and the feeder. Fill the cup with water or petroleum jelly and it will stop the ants from getting to your Hummingbird feeder.

Click here for more information!

Turn every tree into a bird feeder!

Introducing Jim's Birdacious Bark Butter - Now Every Tree is a Birdfeeder ®

No bird food attracts more species of birds than Jim's Birdacious® Bark Butter®. Created by Jim Carpenter, founder of Wild Birds Unlimited, Bark Butter is a spreadable suet that can be easily smeared on tree bark or a Bark Butter Feeder to attract birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, catbirds, cardinals, mockingbirds, wrens, woodpeckers, towhees, Brown Creepers, grosbeaks, robins and more. This exclusive food option is made from suet, peanut butter and corn for a high energy treat your birds will love.

Jim has released his creation and made it available to the public! Stop by your local Wild Birds Unlimited store and pick up a tub of your own.

Click here for more information!

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Please let me know if there are certain topics or questions you would like for me to feature and I'll do my best to address them!


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Cleaning seed feeders

Spring is here and it is time to get your feeders ready for the busy Spring and Summer bird season!
Decomposing and moldy seeds and hulls that accumulate on the feeder trays can make your birds sick. In addition to bird droppings on and around the feeders can spread infectious bird diseases. Experts say that you should clean your feeder every other week and more often in with heavy usage or in wet weather (which increases the mold problem). To clean your feeder, was it thoroughly in hot soapy water. If there have been reports of salmonella in your area, or you have notices sick birds, soak your feeder in one part bleach to nine parts of water. Make sure to rinse well to remove the bleach. Make sure the feeder is completely dry before filling it up again.

You also need to clean up the area below the feeders to remove the build up of hulls, uneaten seeds and other waste. Not only is this unhealthy for your birds, but it can cause you a rodent problem.

Happy feeding!

Sparrow-Resistant Bluebird House

Many people attempt to attract Bluebirds to their yard by hanging a birdhouse for them. So many times Sparrows end up moving in before the Bluebirds get a chance to find your new birdhouse. Doctors Foster and Smith feature a new bird house that is “Sparrow resistant.”

The bird house features;

Unique design welcomes bluebirds, discourages unwanted sparrow guests

Front panel latch opening enables easy observation and cleaning

1" eastern white pine construction optimizes insulation and strength

Approved by the North American Bluebird Society, this bluebird house is designed to deter sparrows. Some studies have shown that bluebirds prefer a slot entrance to the standard circular hole entrance and sparrows prefer the opposite. Also, sparrows tend to avoid shallow homes so the Sparrow-Resistant Bluebird House was constructed to be only 5" deep and includes a wooden insert to adjust the depth to a mere 3-1/2". Sparrows will avoid this depth, but bluebirds will still occupy the house. Front panel has latch opening for easy cleaning. Handcrafted from 1" eastern white pine for insulation and durability. House is rough-sawn to give fledglings a foothold when they are ready to climb out of the nest. Ventilation slits located at the top of the sides help prevent overheating and holes in the four bottom corners provide drainage. Floor is also recessed to keep inside dry. Mounting hardware not included (2/1-1/2" wood screws recommended). 5-3/4" x 8" x 10" high.

Click here for more information!

Red Cross Animal Lifesaver Award

Willie, a Quaker parrot, is the first bird to win the American Red Cross Animal Lifesaver Award. Willie alerted his owner to a choking toddler by squawking, “Momma, baby. Momma, baby.” when 2 year old Hannah was choking on a Pop Tart. The owner, Megan Howard, performed the Heimlich just in time as Hannah’s lips and face were turning blue. Megan knew there was an emergency as Willie is normally a quiet bird. Megan notes that Willie started to screaming and flapping his wings. There was panic in his voice like she had never heard before from Willie. Megan is Hannah’s babysitter not mother. Needless to say, Hannah’s mother is grateful to both Willie and Megan.

Red Cross spokesman, Jim Rettew, stated, "Obviously, Willie played a very important role in saving a little girl's life. This was not just a bird chirping for his food. He saw that there was an emergency and used exemplary behavior to notify the babysitter that the child was choking."

Usually dogs are recognized by the American Red Cross with the Animal Lifesaver Award. The Denver chapter of the American Red Cross had nominated Willie for the award.

Double Mesh Bird Feeder

Up to 30 birds at a time can eat at the two perch rings of this feeder, the "double-size" version of our regular mesh feeder. It holds over 6 pounds of sunflower seed and looks great sporting the Birds & Blooms logo. The 100% steel construction is squirrel-damage-resistant, and the mesh design keeps it cleaner than other types of feeders to protect birds from disease. No assembly required.

Click here to find out more!

Tree Face Bird Feeder

In minutes, you can give a tree a new complexion and give the birds a real treat with this polyresin "face." Just hang the three pieces on nails (not included) and pour your own birdseed into the mouth. Eyes are each 2-1/4"L x 3-1/4"W and the mouth is 13-1/2"L x 6-3/4"W.

Then sit back and enjoy watching your birds eat from the Tree Face.

Click here to find out more!

Bird Migration

According to the Audubon Society study, as the average temperatures in the U.S. rises, birds are staying more northward than previously in the winter seasons. The researchers believe that this is evidence that climate change is having an affect beyond the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

More than half the U.S. bird species are spending winters farther north than they did 40 years ago and the average temperature rose about 5 degrees Fahrenheit during that time frame.

The Audubon Society will consider other factors when continuing their research such as habitat loss, insect spawning patterns, and changes in vegetation. Yet, their belief is that climate change is the most reasonable explanation for so many species of birds shifting northward in the U.S. during the last 40 years.

Spring Migration

As we get closer to Spring it is time to start thinking about the migration of birds. It’s time to start thinking about cleaning up the bird houses, feeders and bird baths. It is time to get ready to treat migrating birds to a treat at your house as they travel through your area. It’s time to get out the camera to take a picture of birds you don’t normally have in your area.

eNature.com has a Spring Migration map that tells you what birds to expect and when. Click here to find out more about Spring Migration.

Favorite Pet Photo Contest

Could your pet be the winner of the Favorite Pet Photo Contest? Send us your favorite pet photo for your chance to win the Favorite Pet Photo contest. The pictures can be cute, funny, dressed up or your pet just being themselves!

Click here for contest details.

Homemade Suet

Birder's Delight (Nut 'n Apple Cake)

1/2 pound of suet

2 cups bread crumbs

1 cup unsalted nuts

3 chopped apples

1 cup raisins

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup of cornmeal

1/2 cup white or whole wheat flour

1 cup of smooth or creamy peanut butter

1 cup wild bird seed

Mix all ingredients, adding enough suet as required to hold the 'cakes' together.
Shape into balls or press into pine cones.
Freeze and use as needed.

Finch Feeder

The Kaytee Finch Station 2 makes attracting and feeding finches easier than ever as they adore soft mesh socks and prefer them over traditional tube feeders. The unique, Squiggle Sock design provides more surface area that enables finches to perch wherever they want, and allows for numerous birds to eat at one time. The weather-resistant dome reservoir which holds extra seed, automatically keeps the sock filled longer. Each feeder comes with one sock for initial use and one for replacement. Feeder holds 3.5 lbs. of food. Mesh socks are refillable and measure 18”.

I use this Finch Feeder and the birds love it! I have counted more than 25 birds on the feeder at one time. Also works great for kitty TV if you put it close to a window.

Bird Baths

Birds are more attracted by moving water than a stagnant birdbath. To get moving water, try the Water Wiggler! It keeps water moving 24 hours a day, up to 2 months on two D batteries. This also prevents mosquitoes from laying their eggs in your bird bath!

For your winter bird bath, try a Heated Bird Bath with the Water Wiggler and your feathered friends will love to drink and bath at your house.

Peanut Butter Tree

It is the perfect time to make a peanut butter tree to feed all your feathered friends during the winter.

Take a dead piece of untreated wood, cedar works great, and drill 3/8 inch holes in the wood. You can either hang it from a tree or sink it into the ground. However, hanging it from a tree offers the birds more protection while feeding. Simply fill the holes with peanut butter and watch how happy your bird friends are!

Expandable Rainbow Finch Feeder

Within a day of hanging this feeder you’ll see finches begin to appear, and soon, every one of its 18 perches will have a hungry bird on it, with more sitting nearby waiting their turn! Fully expanded, the feeder is 38 inches long, and holds over 2 pounds of thistle. It attaches easily with a stainless steel hanging wire, which is included. The expandable Rainbow Finch Feeder comes in 3 sections and can be adjusted to your liking up to 38 inches.

Click here to find out more!

YouPet.com

Do you love talking about your pets and sharing photos? Do you want to go to “A place where pets rule?” Then you might want to check out You Pet!

You can get and share information on dogs, cats, horses, fish, birds and more.

Click here to check out You Pet!

Home-made Bird Balls

Give your feathered friends a treat that the kids can help you make!

1 pound of lard

1 jar of peanut butter

5 cups corn meal

6 cups oats

2 cups sunflower seeds

2 cups raisins

Mix everything together (this will be nice and messy, so get the kids to help!). Roll into about 5 or 6 small balls. Roll balls in sunflower seeds and raisins. Place the balls in a bird feeder and watch your feathered friends enjoy their snack. You can also put some netting round the balls to make it easier to hang.

Provide fresh water for your birds

No more dirty water for your feathered friends! This waterer releases the water slowly, keeping it fresh and debris-free in its 100-oz plastic dome. Four drinking pools double as baths. Can be mounted on a 4" x 4" post or chain-hung (post and chain not included). Unscrews from base for easy filling and cleaning. 12-1/2"D x 13"H.

Click here for more information on the bird waterer.

When to take your Hummingbird feeder down

Hummingbirds will not delay their migration if a feeder is present. Prior to migration the Hummingbirds need to feed up for the energy migration is going to take out of them. But, to answer the question of when to take your Hummingbird feeder down can be difficult to give one blanket answer, because it depends on where you live. Hummingbirds migrate from the North to the South. The farther North you are, the earlier you can take it down. However, the farther South you are, you will want to leave the feeder up to accommodate Hummingbirds on their migration path. The best rule of thumb is take the feeder down when all of the Hummingbirds have left and more are not coming your way. If you live in the South where the Hummingbirds migrate, lucky you, you will not need to take your feeder down at all.

We would love to have you post what state you live in and when the Hummingbirds leave your area.