eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

Back on Jan. 28th (it was 10 degrees outside) we floated a "rough design" for a modest birdhouse for the Spring. It was to be nothing special - just large enough for a bluebird or smaller. Well, time has passed and the birdhouse has "taken wing"! Let's take a look at the build process, what we finally got, and see if the birds like it...

To get started, the wife and I had to deal with frozen ground and scrap lumber. Ya' takes what ya' gets. The photo below shows some surplus wood and a printout of the January 28th post.



Given those materials, we got started. We stayed with the plans for the most part, and pieced together a small house with a 4" X 4" inside floor plan. The hope was to house a titmouse, nuthatch, or chickadee family. The picture below shows the work coming together.



Because the domicile was being made from scrap, the roof was spliced together using waterproof glue.



To safeguard the birds, a left-over piece of aluminum diamond plate was fashioned into a squirrel guard.



The final creation is shown below, complete with a pressure treated 4 X 4.



We used the technique for mounting the birdhouse in that old post, "Hanging/Mounting Your New Feeder, (Part 2)". And voila!



So that's the easy part... The tough part is convincing birds to actually live in the thing... Often, it will take a season or more for the human "scent" to wear off before a bird will set foot in a house. This time, we got lucky. Within just a couple of hours we had prospective tenants!



See you by the feeders and the house!

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 3:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The start of this post initially dealt with traditional bird identification methods. Research on the Internet changed that approach. Let’s take a look at various Internet resources that may be used to ID birds.

• Obviously, there are blogs such as this one (eBirdseed.com's blog (or http://www.ebirdseed.com/blog/)) that are more than helpful in "naming that bird" (Remember, a simple click on the "Comments" button below will yield very timely info from all of us here at eBirdseed.com.) To find other blogs, google on "bird blog" (without the quotes). Be prepared to hold your hat regarding the number of bird blogs available.
• The number of bird forums is likewise breathtaking. Predictably, a simple google on "bird forum" (again without the quotes) yields great results.
• But there's a new player in town... That of the photo posting site. Take a look at Flickr.com's Bird Identification Help Group.

And there are very few requirements for access to all of these free resources. Typically, you'll need to register (though there is no sign-in required for the eBirdseed.com blog), but that's about it. All folks ask is that you keep it friendly, rated "G", and provide as much information about the mystery bird as you can, including a photo (when at all possible), and the location and date of the sighting.

This is probably the only post we'll enter in this blog that won't have at least one picture. The reason being is that we hope readers will take the time to check out the sites above. You won't be disappointed.

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

P.S. For what it's worth, the wife and I post on several forums, (she's an admin on one), and we've never seen a legitimate question go unanswered.

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Greetings to the Earth Ornithological Commission,

Rumor has it that it's a rainy March day down there on Cape Cod terra firma. (At least it's better than last year - 2056 was a snow bear!) But up here in the Lunar Post II we suffer thru a slightly more diverse "climate"... Temps run 220R to 650R (that's -230F to 200F for you carbon dateables). The moonscape never changes, though the earthrise is always stunning. Still, there are obviously no birds, and that's a hole. (BTW, for the family friend... Please relay to "Grandpa Gordon" that his ancient pink flamingo lawn ornament plunked askew in gray lunar dust beams the Sea Tranquility!)

Anyway, this is our third rotation, and we'll be back soon. 'Til then, the perfunctory "Future Bird DNA Project" aka the ("Aves Genesis Project") summary follows. Please pass amongst appropriately. (Also pass along that the idea of team isolation as a conduit to creative thinking knarls!)

Here's some history and how it bears upon these current lunar "revelations" (pun intended).

• Way back in 1996, humans cloned the first mammal, a sheep named "Dolly". (BTW... Dolly was cloned from a mammary cell from the six-year-old "identical-to-be twin". Dolly was named after the old country western singer Dolly Parton. Think about it...) But that was a watershed moment in that it marked the first time humans actually messed with the stuff of genetics on the "Big Scale". They almost got it right, except that the cells used to clone Dolly were six years old, and Dolly was born genetically six years old. Doh! But we got around that; we learned.
• In 2003, the human genome project was complete. In the 25 years that followed, the genome maps for a full two thirds of the birds made extinct by the hand of humans were recreated. Ditto for other long-gone creatures.
• In 2028 (thanks to the brilliance of genetic engineers and advanced genetics technology), a woolly mammoth was successfully cloned. And then the race was on to resurrect every modern critter species ever reduced to dust! For the sake of this report, a full 100 extinct bird species have been reborn. There were "Doh!s" to be sure. (My fave was the dodo we rebuilt in the image presented by Roelant Savery (see below)... Remember? The bird we rebuilt with two left feet, and all it could do was walk in right-hand circles! What a riot!) But we did get that straight too. Now the dodos flourish.
  
  

And that's where the history lesson ends, and the summary of this report really begins. Because we had some or all of their DNA, we've "gene-patched" and "gene-spliced" and cloned 100 species of birds that we wiped out long ago. But another 50 species remain in genetic obscurity. We have paintings of them. We have descriptions, specs, scientific classifications... But we don't have any of their DNA. And that's the crux of the proposed "Aves Genesis Project".

Should humans rebuild bird species from scratch, just like God?

It is our unanimous opinion that humans need to undo the damage that they've done. Yes, there will be more "Doh!s" (To borrow from that ancient comic Woody Allen, we may indeed try to build a bird and end up creating something with the "body of a crab and the head of a social worker".) But in the long run (as Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) notes in that classic movie Jurassic Park) "Life finds a way."

See you by the passenger pigeon feeders,

CapeCodAlan iii

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 4:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi all,

Recent events (the tragedies on Mt. Hood, and now the missing boy scout) prompted this post...

Many of you are serious birders who take to the wilderness for that "special sighting". Cool. But you still need to be prepared for the accidental fall, getting lost, a sudden change in weather, etc... Read that "You're in deep trouble!"

So, the following general advice is from someone who's spent tens of thousands of hours in the great outdoors, in conditions that vary from -15F to 115F (and a good chunk of that was at night).

Onward...

In general, there are the big five "Make or Breaks" to survival. (Remember them as "PAHSW"):

Prepare: Research and train before you go! Study sites like Ready.gov. Make sure you and your pals know the terrain and "much-worse-than-possible-case weather scenarios" before you go. Talk with the local park ranger, guide, sporting-store owner, hunter, fisherman, etc. Always seek out the folks who've actually been stuck in the very wilderness you are about to enter. The local police and fire departments as well as the local pubs are goldmines.

Attitude: This is crucial! If you're upbeat, sensible, calm, and keeping the faith, you're well on your way. If you panic, you're in a hurt locker. Stay busy regardless.

Health: Number three on the must-do list is address immediate health problems. If there's an injury, you gotta stabilize the situation. Stop the bleeding, immobilize the broken bone, treat the sunburn... Whatever... But get the situation under control.

Shelter: The forth priority is protection. Have at least a marginal shelter, marginal clothes. Excessive heat or cold are big problems. In the case of a hot environment, seek shade. In the case of cold, get a controlled fire going. Do that and you're almost home. (Note that even in hot environments, a fire is still crucial for signaling, psychological comfort, defense, etc.)

Water: Finally, find potable water ASAP. (Snow is ok, but boil it before you drink it.) It never hurts to pack extra water, especially if you're heading into desert conditions. Remember, you only have a few days (at best!) before lack of water will kill. The typical person can survive for a couple of weeks without food.

So how do you prep for that four-hour birding adventure gone awry in the Great Unknown? Some thoughts...

• Write out a "Hike Plan" and give a copy to a trusted friend or family member. (A good hike plan should include the "who", "what", "when", "where", "why", and "how" of the birding trip.) Be sure to leave a copy in your car too.
• Wear an old t-shirt for a day or two, and then leave that in the car with your hike plan. If authorities have to search for you using dogs, you could be lost on the moon and the hounds will still find you.
• Go with a group or a buddy if you can. And if you do go out in a bunch, do everything in your power to stay together.
• Prepare to dress in layers! Garments like zippered/tied sweats are perfect.
• Always carry a quality pocket knife. Swiss Army, Leatherman, and Camillus (Boy Scout) spring to mind. I own all three brands, and all are excellent.
• The instant you get that "Uh oh" feeling of being lost, STOP! Do not wander off thinking that, "If I just go 'that way' for twenty minutes and then 'the other way' for forty-five minutes, I'll be all set." Go as far as you need to to take care of PAHSW and absolutely no farther.
• Practice to gain an understanding in the balance between "essential" and "bulk"... Even a "micro hike" out onto the sidewalk in a good rainstorm, snowstorm, or heat wave speaks volumes as to what you really need.
• Practice basic skills. (This afternoon I started a fire with a fire bow and was appalled to discover that it took me 45 minutes. Why, when I was younger I could build a fire from scratch in just... Oh never mind. And stop snickering.)

Ok, so what to carry into the great unknown? That answer depends on you and your conditions. But here are some guidelines... Start with a backpack that contains the appropriately waterproofed contents:

• Required medications.
• Pencil and paper.
• In this age of GPS, always know where you are. Hint: Buy a good GPS.
• Reliable cell phones are a must.
• Replacement batteries for the two above!
• A hand-cranked flashlight.
• An old-fashioned map and compass (see below) just in case.
• Basic first aid kit.
• Baby/child needs.
• Water.
• Cash.
• Sanitary water tablets.
• Clean, empty tin can for emergency boiling.
• A few sheets of aluminum foil.
• Extra eye glasses.
• Waterproof matches.
• Emergency beacon.
• Sanitation supplies.
• Whistle.
• Nylon cord/string.
• Dental floss.
• Small and large plastic bags.
• Sewing kit.
• Fishing kit.
• Printed material on local survival techniques.
• Emergency blanket.
• MREs
• A number of pairs of sweat socks. They make for great mittens and keep the feet warm too.
• A metal mirror. (See below.)
• Poncho.
• Wire saw.
• Inspirational text.
• Photo of loved ones.

So that's it. To give you an idea of how unobtrusive some of this stuff can be, take a look at the photo below.



That's three knives, two sets of tweezers, a compass (floating in the mug), a magnifying glass, emergency instructions, a whistle, three screwdrivers, a mirror, two can openers, two sets of scissors, two files, a small chisel, and stuff I'm sure I forgot. And all that junk in the picture fits in (ok, gets lost in) a wallet and a pocket.

When all is said and done, plan on a pack that will weigh roughly ten pounds (depending on how much water you carry) plus your camera gear. Update your pack every six months by testing it in your (or a friend's) back yard.

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodeAlan

P.S. The boy scout has been found alive!

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sorry this entry is late... But understand that there're a number of very good reasons for the tardiness - time will tell.

Well, the goldfinches are thriving, and have "clawed" their way into the “Bird of the Week!”

Hmmm... Where to begin? How about some pictures? Here are six of the rapscallions... Note that the color is beginning to change from the drab winter feathers to the bright summer threads.



More neat pics follow...





Finally there is this... Nope, it is NOT a function of creative editing... The wife shot this one (along with all the rest - sometimes serendipity...)


Cool stuff about the American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis or Spinus tristis tristis)

• As the pictures above clearly show, they're gregarious!
• The goldfinches' flight is quick and "herky jerky".
• In the summertime, the male is the only small yellow bird with black wings.
• You can listen to (and learn more about) this colorful fellow at: Cornell Lab of Ornithology (American Goldfinch).

As always, comments are welcome indeed!

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

References used for this post are listed below:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Wikipedia
• Audubon Society
• U.S. Geological Survey
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds”
• ”Birds Of North America” published by Golden
• ”Birds of New England” from Smithsonian Handbooks
• "A Field Guide To The Birds" by Peterson, published by Houghton Mifflin Company

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 7:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 14th, 2007

Hi troops,

Time for another "Weird Birds News, etc." post.

Ok, the first bits of weirdness come from Gerry Ashley in Florida. (Gerry won the “Give the Latin Name to That Bird!” contest) and he has given me permission to use some of his pictures, and poke fun at him at the same time. (If you'd like to use Gerry's pictures, contact capecodalan@ebirdseed.com, and I'll pass the request along to Gerry.) Here goes!

The first shot is that of a Grey Heron, (Ardea cinerea). The edited version of Mr. Ashley's account follows...



"Don't let that tall swamp grass throw you... [T]o give you some idea, this bird comes up almost to my chin. Although they are not known to attack humans or animals, they WILL defend themselves if they feel threatened. And the sound they make when trying to scare off predators... Well let's just say it's like something out of a Wes Craven movie."

Say no more!

Next up is a picture taken by Gerry of a baby alligator.


And invariably, where there are baby 'gators, there are larger 'gators.


Gerry does note that even though he was using a zoom lens for the shot above, his dog Copper thought it was best to move on - at least Gerry's dog ain't weird! ;)

What else? Spring is almost here, and there's a lot of work to do. Projects include:

• Construction and placement of that new bluebird house.
• Finding a decent bird cam. (We're looking at several types, though I'm still trying to find a way to set up a live bird "web cam"... We'll get there.)
• Purchasing a killer digital SLR camera... (Right now we're leaning heavily towards the Canon Rebel XTi 10 MP brute. All recommendations (via the comments button below or email) are much more than welcome!)

Ok, it's late...

See you by the feeders,

Capecodalan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey gang,

Didn't want to keep you waiting. The chart below offers a general idea of what creatures like what mixed feed.

Click here to view the mixed-seed chart

Once again, if you're not sure about what to feed the critters, give us a shout at:

Call: 1-866-324-7373
E-mail: info@eBirdseed.com

Mail:
eBirdseed.com
27823 86th Ave. S.
Hawley, MN 56549-8982

Fax: (978) 268-7155
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Monday-Friday

See you by the even-more-appropriately-stocked feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 1:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Single-Seed Saga

Spring is just around the corner! (Get ready to adjust those clocks.) With that in mind, it seems only fair to give you a quick, handy, "ballpark" guide to feed selection. So here you go with part 1 of 2... (Note that these are general guidelines. And yes, we know that squirrels will eat almost anything including cement mixers if the mixers are just parked long enough...) But this should at least give you a ballpark idea of what to look for. Once again, if you're not sure, use the comment button below for free help, or use the contact info to talk with the "Big Bosses":

Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Monday-Friday
Call: 1-866-324-7373
E-mail: info@eBirdseed.com

Mail:
eBirdseed.com
27823 86th Ave. S.
Hawley, MN 56549-8982

Fax: (978) 268-7155

To use the following table, just cross reference the bird type with the feed. (Gotta love the sunflower hearts and chips!)

Click here to view the single-seed chart

Keep a sharp eye peeled for part 2, The Mixed-Seed Saga!

See you by the appropriately stocked feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It had been a tough night (a terrible night really). They'd both said things they really didn't mean to say. But both knew that what had been said was beyond retract, and no matter how cruel, bore at least the shadow of truth. What had started out as an offhand exchange between a young couple had deteriorated into a verbal brawl between old friends.

They stood in the kitchen staring out the window at the feeder, she in her robe and he in his sweats... Just a couple of sets of eyes, bloodshot from crying and raw exhaustion.

"How could this happen?" she murmured.

"I don't know..." He whispered back.

"My God, do you remember when we used to..."

"Yup," she interrupted.

"You used to call them love birds," he began again. (He was looking out at the mourning doves.)

Her answer was a barely audible whisper. "They fly so beautifully..."

"Yeah, but look at them now... Just scratching at the frozen ground trying to find a seed."

"So that's it," was her response. "Quick flights of grace, and hours of digging in the dirt... Love birds..."

Both drooped their heads even further as if in unison. Their shoulders touched instinctually.

Nothing to do now but grab a couple of hours sleep before facing "BurgerWorld" and "The Mall".



See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 4:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday I had the wonderful experience of attending an owl exhibit at our town community center, given by the folks of Eyes on Owls. The husband and wife team of Mark and Marcia Wilson presented a comprehensive look at many of the common owls of North America (with a pair of exotic non-US owls thrown in for good measure).

Attendance was by reservation, but a few lucky stragglers got seated as well. The audience was filled with people of all ages, from babies to senior citizens. The presentation started with a slideshow of magnificent photos taken by Mark, a photographer of international renown. And the slides were breathtaking. Owls, nests, habitats, diet were all covered. We learned that owls do not digest everthing they eat, and their stomachs form pellets which are regurgitated; a sure sign of owl habitation in a tree is the debris of owl pellets below. We also learned that the wingfeathers of the owl, lightly fringed on the edges and velvety soft, are what allow the owl to fly nearly silently.

As each owl was displayed, Marcia demonstrated with amazing accuracy what its call sounded like, and invited audience participation in mimicking each call. I'm sure the owls were entertained--the children in the audience were, as well.

Seven different owls were displayed, and Mark and Marcia were good enough to stroll around the room as they discussed each bird, answering audience questions as we all got wonderful views of the owls up close. While the discussion centered around which birds live on Cape Cod, several of the owls displayed are not common here, so we all got a good close look at some beautiful strangers as well.

And speaking of good close looks...

Eastern Screech Owl
A small owl, common on Cape Cod and across the eastern US; usually nests in boxes or holes.



Saw Whet Owl
This tiny bird is found on the Cape and elsewhere, but is shy and hard to find.



Snowy Owl
This large beautiful owl nests in the Arctic, but can sometimes be found in off-season on Cape Cod beaches (no doubt enjoying the off-season rate!)



Great Horned Owl
Common on Cape as well as throughout the rest of the US and most of Canada; nests on platforms or takes over other raptor nests.



Barred Owl
Not found on Cape, but in other parts of Mass as well as throughout eastern US, up through Canada and to the Pacific Northwest. The owl shown here lost a wing in a collision with an automobile, and has been rehabilitated and has nobly served for educational purposes for nearly eight years.


All the owls presented were disabled in some way and are not able to survive in the wild. They are well cared for by the Wilsons, who have all the necessary permits and certifications. All told, this presentation was a wonderful learning experience, and a great show!

See you by the feeders,
Mrs. CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 7:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Greetings,

Time for The Bird of the Week!

There's plenty of info on this site concerning the feeding of bluebirds (and the feeders they seem to prefer) so why don't we take a look at some of the more "esoteric" stuff concerning this colorful creature.

First things first... Many thanks to Star Filbert for the picture below! Excellent work Star!



Mealworms... YUM!

So what about this brilliant little guy? Well, he officially comes in three varieties:

• The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (shown above)
• The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
• The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sailis)

What else?

• Only the female Eastern Bluebird builds the nest and sits on the eggs. (Though to his credit, the male does supply the building materials.)
• Young born late in the season often winter with the folks.
• The typical bluebird egg is roughly 5/8" wide and 3/4" long.
• Both the Western and Eastern adult males have distinct orangish-red chests, but the Eastern has a white belly as compared to the blue belly of his Western counterpart.

One last point... As for the number of songs and poems about bluebirds? Just take a look at the Web - there have to be dozens if not hundreds of them.

Gotta go!

See you by those blue, blue feeders,

CapeCod"Welcome Those Comments"Alan

References used for this post are listed below:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Wikipedia
• Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources
• Audubon Society
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds”

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 6:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)