Where are Purple Martins Now? Do you still have any hanging around your nesting houses? If you do you probably live up north as they are already starting to congregate in large groups called roosts, in the more southern states. By up north I mean places such as Erie, Pennsylvania, where the Purple Martin Conservation […]
When Do Hummingbirds Migrate South?
When Do Hummingbirds Migrate South? Are you getting a lot of hummingbirds at your feeders now? We are here in Kentucky. In fact my husband and I are filling up our feeders every day now. We don’t mind because it is that time of year when the adults as well as the young […]
Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Yard
It always fascinates me how people can put their trash cans out the evening before pick up and have open lids with obvious food containers sticking out of them. Every time I see this I tell my husband, “raccoons will be very happy tonight.” Then the next morning you see the garbage can tipped over […]
House Wren Nesting Habits
Probably one of the most vocal birds this time of year is the House Wren. From sun up to sun down I can hear this little, plain brown wren (4.3 to 5 inches) calling repeatedly. It is loud enough that I can hear it through my closed windows with the air conditioning running too. This […]
Top 10 Flowers That Attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Who doesn’t love seeing those beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds flying and zipping around in our backyard garden? They are such a lovely sight to see and if at all possible it is something that we want to enjoy as long as possible. It actually is pretty easy to keep butterflies and hummingbirds around longer if […]
Water IS For The Birds!
Water is for the birds! Why? Because just like humans they need water to be able to survive. You see birds need fresh, clean water for drinking purposes. They do get moisture from the food that they eat but then they also lose water from their system through their droppings and through respiration (i.e. breathing). […]
Do Birds Eat Butterflies?
Do birds eat butterflies? I know it can be hard to digest (no pun intended) but there are some birds that will eat butterflies. It is not something that people like to hear or see for that matter but it does happen. Birds need to eat too as it is all part of the food […]
When Do Baby Birds Leave the Nest? Precocial vs. Altricial
Altricial Birds When do baby birds leave the nest (fledge)? Not all baby birds leave the nest in the same time frame. Some birds such as woodpeckers and songbirds (i.e. cardinals, chickadees, titmice, wrens, orioles, grosbeaks) are born with their eyes closed, are bald, completely helpless, and are totally dependent on their parents to keep […]
What Is A Fledgling?
What is a fledgling? A fledgling is a baby bird that has left its nest but is still being cared for by its parents. They have all of their feathers but they are not fully grown (i.e. short wings and tail) . You have probably seen plenty of fledglings this spring/summer already in your yard. […]
Identifying Bird Eggs Is Easy
Have you ever come across a a bird egg on the ground or in a nest and wondered what kind of bird laid that egg? It can be a real puzzler especially if you do not see any bird activity nearby. Here’s the good news…identifying bird eggs is easy if you know what […]