Bird Feeders | Your Bird Feeder

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird-Final Leg For The 2010 Migration

May 092010

Have the ruby-throated hummingbirds reached your area yet? Check out the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Spring 2010 Migration Map to see!

After their long journey from southern Mexico or western Panama the hummers have made their way up through the mid and eastern parts of the United States and into Canada. They have been spotted on the eastern side of Quebec, near Toronto and Ottawa and some have continued as far north as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Did you know that most hummingbirds will migrate to the same spot every spring?

I have to tell you that the first ruby-throated hummer of the season I saw was on April 30th, precisely the same day that I saw him last year. Maybe, I was looking harder that day, too!

Here are two more interesting facts about hummingbirds:
1. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are 3 – 3 3/4 inches long with a wingspan of 4 – 4 3/4 inches.
2. Hummingbirds are very intelligent. From one year to the next they can remember places and individual people (How do they know that?).

I hope you have your hummingbird feeder cleaned, filled and out for the hummers. After their long spring journey back to their favorite spot they will certainly need the nourishment.

Visit my other posts for more information on Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Spring 2010 North American Migration and Prepare Your Hummingbird Feeder For The Ruby Throated Hummingbird

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2010 Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Migration Update

Hummingbird Feeder No Responses »

Mar 272010

The ruby-throated hummingbirds have made their way into the mid-section of the United States. They were first spotted in the states in February around the panhandle of Florida and eastern Texas. Some of them will make their way as far north as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Labrador and west as far as Minnesota into Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. Check out the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Spring 2010 Migration Map. You can see that they are as far north as the Kentucky/Indiana Border and as far northeast as Virginia.

One thing that I have found interesting this year is that the ruby-throated hummingbirds are migrating farther west into areas of central Texas. It will be fun to see exactly how far west they will venture.

In early spring, a fascinating event to watch is the ruby-throated hummingbirds migration route around the Allegheny Mountains. You will notice the vacant areas in southwestern Virginia, eastern West Virginia, north-central Pennsylvania and western Maryland as they seem to avoid the Allegheny Mountains. It usually takes a week or two for them to fill in this region. See if you notice this happening this year.

Here are two interesting facts about the ruby-throated hummingbird that you can use to impress everyone at your next party:
1. The hummingbird’s heart rate can get up to 1260 beats per minute.
2. The hummingbird has the largest brain, percentage wise in relationship to total body weight-4.2% of all birds

Keep an eye out for your first ruby-throated hummingbird this spring. Your hummingbird feeder should be out and ready. They will soon be reaching your area if they haven’t already. The ruby-throated hummingbirds will appreciate the nourishment after their long trip from Mexico or Panama.

Visit my other posts for more information on Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Spring 2010 North American Migration and Prepare Your Hummingbird Feeder For The Ruby Throated Hummingbird

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Easy Steps to Choosing the Right Bird Watching Binoculars

Bird Watching Binoculars 2 Responses »

Dec 142009

The most important piece of equipment for every bird watcher is a good pair of bird watching binoculars. Whether you are watching birds at your bird feeder or hiking along a trail, here are a few things to consider when purchasing bird watching binoculars.

The main components of bird watching binoculars are the following: the eyepieces (the end that goes up to the eye), the objective lens (the larger end of the glasses), the prisms (the glass inside the binoculars that receives the light) and the focus wheel (usually between the eyepieces).

Bird watching binoculars come with many different numbers attached to them. But, what do all these numbers (i.e. 7×35, 8×42, 10×50) mean? It’s not as complicated as it sounds. The first number (i.e. 7, 8, 10) in the group of numbers is the magnification. All that means is the objects that you are viewing through your bird watching binoculars will be 7x closer, 8x closer, or 10x closer. The choice is yours. For example, you have a pair of 8×42 bird watching binoculars and a bird is perched in a tree 80 feet away. The object will appear 8 times closer (80/8=10ft.). So, it will look like the object is only 10 ft. away from you. Picking the right magnification depends on the way that you will be using your binoculars for birding, but remember that the higher the magnification the steadier you need to hold the binoculars.

The second number attached to that group of numbers on your bird watching binoculars is the objective lens diameter. The objective lens is the far lens or larger lens on the binoculars. The objective lens diameter is the size in millimeters (i.e. 35, 42, 50) of the lens. This just simply means that a larger objective lens will let more light into the binoculars. The more light that enters the objective lens, the better the details and the brighter the image. If you are planning to use your bird watching binoculars more towards dusk or in the dark then the 50mm lens will be a better choice.

Bird watching binoculars have one of two types of prism designs. The two types are porro and roof prism systems. The porro prism system has a z-shaped optic path. What does this mean to you? Bird watching binoculars employing this system are bigger, bulkier and heavier, probably not a choice if you do alot of walking and hiking to watch birds. On the other hand, a couple of advantages of the porro prism is that they will have a wider field of view and they will cost less.

The roof prism system uses prisms that overlap closely, resulting in a slimmer and more compact shape. This makes the roof prism binoculars more lightweight. The drawback with the roof prism is that the field of view will be narrower and they are a more expensive bird watching binocular.

Another very important feature to consider when purchasing bird watching binoculars is the ease of focusing the binoculars. With birds constantly in motion, look for a pair of bird watching binoculars that has a quick and sharp focus wheel. Look for the focus mechanism on the binoculars to focus from far to close in one or less revolution. You want your binoculars to feel comfortable in your hands.

Remember, it is an individual preference and you should buy the best bird watching binoculars that you can afford.

Click The Three Models You Need To Check Out to see a review of binoculars that I recommend.

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Learn How A Bird Bath Fountain Can Bring Birds To Your Yard

Bird Bath Fountain 2 Responses »

Dec 132009

Setting up a bird bath fountain is an easy way to attract birds to your yard. The seeds that your bird feeder contains will only attract certain birds. By adding a bird bath fountain to your backyard you will draw additional species of birds. You will be seeing 2 to 3 times more birds in your yard.

Water is essential to birds. They need water to drink and they also love to play in the water. Watching birds at the bird bath fountain will provide you with entertainment as you watch the birds splashing in it. A bird bath fountain, with the sound of moving water, will attract plenty of birds.

Still water bird baths can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Running water from misters, drippers or waterfalls in the bird bath fountain alleviates that problem.

A bird bath fountain can be operated by either electric or solar power. A solar powered bird bath fountain doesn’t require any additional plumbing or electrical wiring. It costs nothing to run, but does require placement in a sunny location.

Bird bath fountains are constructed out of many different materials: mosaic tiles, concrete, stone, cement, copper, glass, marble, resin, brass or other metals.

The design of a bird bath fountain can be very elaborate and will make a statement in your garden habitat. Conversely, there are bird bath fountains made to blend into the natural landscape.

There should be a rim that is easy for birds to grip so that it can act as a perch. The bowl should have a depth of 2-3 inches. If you have a deeper bowl, placing small pebbles in the bottom will decrease the depth. A textured surface will keep the birds from slipping.

There are a variety of different types of bird baths: deck mount, hanging, tiered and pedestal.

The deck mount is simple to install and is ideal for apartment dwellers or those who don’t have a large yard. The drawback to a deck mount bird bath is that it is easy prey for cats. If there are cats in the area you may want to think twice about selecting this style.
The hanging bird bath can be hung from trees, overhangs or awnings. The downside to the hanging bird bath is that the birds can get it to swing and swish the water right out. This may have you filling the bird bath more often than you would like.
A waterfall bird bath fountain is tiered. This style allows the birds to take a shower under the falling water.
A very popular and versatile choice is the pedestal bird bath fountain. This is a preferred bird bath because it can be placed in any area of your yard.

Many of the different types of bird bath fountains incorporate misters and drippers in the bird bath. Hummingbirds and warblers love to fly through the misters.

Look for an open spot to locate your bird bath fountain. You want the birds to feel safe so make sure that cats don’t have easy access to the area.

In hot weather you should clean your bird bath fountain daily. In cooler weather it should be cleaned every few days. Remember, that a bird bath heater should be installed to keep the water from freezing in the winter. With proper maintenance your bird bath fountain will last for many years.

The perfect bird bath fountain, as recommended by birding enthusiasts, is one with moving water, functional perches, a textured surface and one that is solar powered. You will appreciate the beauty it brings to your garden bird feeder habitat. The birds will love your bird bath fountain. Just sit back and enjoy the view!

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Planning Your First Garden Bird Feeder

Garden Bird Feeder 26 Responses »

Nov 142009

You’re dreaming of starting your first garden bird feeder. You are looking forward to sitting back and enjoying all the beautiful birds that will be attracted to your garden bird feeder. You’re picturing all the beautiful blossoms that the birds will be enjoying. It’s the perfect time of the year to plan a beautiful garden bird feeder. You don’t need a large yard to set-up a beautiful and decorative garden bird feeder. The following facts will leave you with a bird-friendly yard and a natural setting that will be as pleasing to you as it will be for the wild birds.

Establish a bird sanctuary in an area that allows a safe landing site for the birds. Allocate a spot for your garden bird feeder near trees or shrubs. Remember, the landscaping doesn’t have to be elaborate. You may already have a place that has shrubs and trees that you can expand on. Birds will use the trees and shrubs for protection from predators. The trees and shrubs will supply the birds with a range of nesting material and nesting sites. Grow a variety of trees and plants that will yield year round food like berries and seeds that will ripen at different times throughout the year. Allow a portion of your manicured grass to grow higher by your garden bird feeder. The higher grass areas provide the birds with an assortment of insects.

A variety of plants will supply the best benefits for the birds. Consider adding native and summer fruiting plants close to your garden bird feeder. The food produced by these plants will be well suited for the wild birds that live around you. Birds feed on a variety of insects that are found on the plants. Flowering plants produce seeds which is a favorite food source for finches, sparrows and other songbirds. Wild birds come for the seeds more than the blossoms. Remove plants in your garden bird feeder that are not supplying food in favor of plants that do.

Planting flowers is an easy way to attract wild birds to your garden bird feeder. Birds are attracted to your garden bird feeder by numerous types of flowers. Plant flowers that are native to your area. Hummingbirds will be drawn to the garden bird feeder by red flowers. Other birds will come to your garden bird feeder for sunflowers, daisies, zinnias and any other flowers with seeds. This is why it is so important not to cut them down when they are done blooming, it’s the seeds that the birds love.

Actually, you can double the number of wild birds attracted to your garden bird feeder by supplying an adjacent water source. A water source will even increase the number of different species of wild birds that will be stopping by for a drink. All species of wild birds will stop at your water station. Otherwise, you would miss the wild birds that are not attracted to the food source that your garden bird feeder is furnishing. A bird bath is one of the easiest ways to entice more wild birds. The bird bath needs to be cleaned and filled with fresh water frequently. Remember, in the winter, the wild birds look for open sources of water. By installing a heater in your bird bath you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of wild birds flocking to your garden bird feeder in the cold months. If you are creating a natural bird sanctuary you could consider incorporating a small pond as your water source in your garden bird feeder.

This sounds like there is so much to do, but don’t be overwhelmed with it. Start with trees, shrubs and plants that your yard already provides. Plan the gradual transition of your garden bird feeder over several planting seasons. It will give you something to look forward to every winter. Plan and plant only the space that you will be able to easily take care of at your garden bird feeder.

You will find pleasure in the success of your garden bird feeder knowing that you have built a natural habitat and are helping to protect the environment. Your careful planning of your garden bird feeder will have you enjoying the sights and sounds of the sweet songbirds. They will enjoy their new habitat and will depend on it in all seasons to come.

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