eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

Sometimes you feel like a nut(hatch)... Awww... Never mind... Too easy.

Looks like we've got a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) here.

This handsome little bird, in his slate gray jacket and brilliant white shirtfront, is common around forests, fields, and backyard feeders. His familiar call is very distinctive. You usually hear this guy well before you see him.

The nuthatch feeds primarily on seeds, insects, and small spiders. He will creep head-down along tree branches and trunks, pecking at bugs for a meal. Or he'll grab a seed from a feeder and then fly off to insert it in a tree branch between bits of bark. After a few trips between tree and feeder, the nuthatch will finally settle down to eat his cache, hammering away at the stored seeds with great vigor.

Some interesting nuthatch facts:

• Nuthatches are tree cavity dwellers and prefer holes in trees that have been abandoned by other birds, most notably woodpeckers.
• They are one of only a few birds that can creep head-first down tree branches in search of food, and they will occasionally simply hang upside down from a branch.
• In the winter, nuthatches believe in the old adage, "There's safety in numbers," as they tend to feed and flock with other small birds.
• There is no U.S. state (and no Canadian province) which has the nuthatch as its state bird. How sad.

So here's to the Nuthatch, the eBirdseed Bird of the Week.

See you by the feeders,

Mr. & Mrs. CapeCodAlan

P.S. Looks like the NovaBird camera has been afoot!

P.P.S. We've got chickadees living in our birdhouse!

As always, thanks to the following resources:

• 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
• Chapman's "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America"
• Peterson's "A Field Guide to the Birds"
• "Birdwatching" from publisher "Discovery Travel Adventures"

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Hi,

Yeah, the camera is a ringer. To use the cam, just carefully follow the directions. 'Nough said.

Right now, we're experimenting with photographing different bird types, the hummingbirds being our models today. Take a look...



More observations...

• The focal length of 15" is critical. To actually measure the distance from the lens to the potential position of the subject will take some practice.
• The rig needs to be aimed carefully.
• High-speed birds (like the hummingbirds) are going to take work. Because they are so small, and so quick, everything has to be just right... The feeder has got to have fresh sugar water. We have to anticipate the best lighting. And the position of the camera needs to be spot on.
• Because of the sheer volume of pictures the NovaBird takes, organizing all those snapshots is going to take extreme care. See the December 26th entry in this blog, Christmas Gift... Truer words were never spoken. Our bird photo collection stands at 899 right now, and the NovaBird could easily add 50 - 200 shots per day. If you want to seriously use this camera, you're either going to have to be highly organized, or you're doomed.
• The purchases of a spare 6V rechargeable battery pack (in the shape of a rock) and a backup SD memory card are investments worthy of consideration... There's nothing like being able to reset the system at will.
• The possible uses for a gadget like this boggle the mind. We've already purchased a 4' long, 1/2" dowel that will act as a portable stationary platform. Who knows what pictures might be obtained when a few seeds, some bread crumbs, a bit of suet, or a salt lick are placed 15" away from it?

In short, learning how to get the max out of this camera will take time, and we'll continue to post the best pictures that we can, but eventually expect some pretty good stuff.



See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi all,

"Well this is it, the night of nights..." as the old cartoon theme song goes... The two cans of "BirdWatcher's Choice" meal worms arrived, as did the new NovaBird camera! A quick review of each follows...

First, let's look at the meal worms... They're made by Timbuktu Outdoors, located in Madison, GA. (And yes, you can purchase these the painless way via the Web at: eBirdseed.com.) They are in fact, soft and moist (just like the can says), and when unopened, have a long shelf life. So far, it looks like the larger birds (crows and jays) prefer the worms. (I just checked the feeders - the meal worms are all gone and the crows look like they're coming out of withdrawal.) Bluebirds are supposed to go crazy after the things. (Why can't we attract any bluebirds? Hmmm... Thoughts? Buehler?)

Sorry, sorry, sorry... I know I should spend more time discussing meal worms. (Birds love 'em, and they are 17% crude protein, which is something that the typical high-metabolic-rate bird needs.) But, the new NovaBird camera has arrived, and the engineer in me is about to explode!

So what is the NovaBird you ask? Well, it's a camera that snaps pictures all by itself. It has a motion detector which triggers the shutter automatically. All that is needed is to configure the camera, and then mount it 15" away from the subject area. Not much to do after that beside wait, and then remove the standard SD memory card, plug it into the PC, and download the .JPG pictures from the H:\DCIM\100MEDIA source. (Naturally, the path to your memory card will probably vary.)

Observations concerning the camera (and pics) follow...

• The NovaBird shipped intact - good secure packaging. The contents (camera, 6V lead acid battery/rock, 6V battery charger, tripod adapter post, and manual) can be seen below.
  
  
  
  
• The specs for the rig are respectable...
  • It's about the size of an old-fashioned, personal, 35mm camera.
  • The color of the case is a camouflage green.
  • The 256MB SD card we bought (not included with the camera) holds ~600 pictures. (You'll need at least that, because any movement can trigger the NovaBird. I left it on for two hours and fifteen minutes, and it snapped 177 pictures. The camera will support up to a 1 GB SD card.)
  • I'd guess the camera itself weighs around 10oz.
  • 3 Mega pixels - common by today's standards. But when properly applied...
• Setup was fairly simple. Just charge the battery/"rock", and set the "time", "date", etc. for the camera per the instructions. It was certainly easier than configuring a VCR. (Note that this isn't a hot-swappable device. That is to say, power down everything before you start connecting and removing cords.)
• The picture below tells the tale of the actual mounting of the camera.
  
  
  
  
• Supposedly, the camera has an electric eye that turns itself off at dusk, and then back on again at dawn. That sort of power-saving feature should give the NovaBird a 2 - 3 day lifespan on a single charge. I haven't had a chance to test this yet.
• NovaBird and its battery pack are "water resistant". (Personally, I wouldn't leave them out in a downpour.)
• The camera is adjustable such that its picture-to-picture delay can range from 10 seconds to 30 minutes.

Enough details! What can we expect from the camera? Start with "Wow!" and go from there.



To give you an idea of the quality of the pictures, check out the snapshot of a boat-tailed grackle's feet below... (This also seals it for me as to whether or not birds are related to dinosaurs.)



And then there is this...



See you by those remote-camera monitored feeders!

CapeCodAlan

P.S. Can't wait 'til the wife and I get a chance to really put this unit to the test!!!

P.P.S. The hummingbirds are back!

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi all,

Wow! Reader Brenda in N.J. just blew us out of the water with her recent sighting of a chukar...



Forgive the "slightly-less-than-perfect" picture above, but the public-domain drawing by Mr. Wilson speaks volumes... Is that wild or what? (With a little luck, Brenda or others can take pictures and attach them to emails directed to: capecodalan@ebirdseed.com. We want to see these rascals and others!!!)

A chukar in N.J.? Cool...

Alectoris chukar is a type of pheasant that normally inhabits Europe and Asia. It was brought to America as a game bird, and has taken hold in California, Nevada, Utah, and as far north as Washington state. Because it is a prized (and hardy) game and table bird, hunters frequently trap and move the "quarry"... Its appearance in New Jersey shouldn't be all that impossible. Its a rough world for birds.

For more information about this bird, (easily confused with the Red-legged Partridge by the way...) check the sites below as well as Chukar site in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

• 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

Thanks to Brenda!!!

(Who knows what we'll see by the feeders next!)

CapeCodAlan

Keep those comments coming!

UPDATE! Brenda sent us the following photo she snapped... Amazing, and thanks again!

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology -- This is the "Big Daddy" of the birding sites. And its complexity reflects that of its subject matter. It's well worth spending a few hours roaming around this project.
• Wikipedia -- From "hum" to "hummingbird", Wikipedia has got you covered...
• Online Etymology Dictionary -- Tremendous work, and fun reading.
• Audubon Society -- For me, this site is good, but could be better. Its "About Birds" takes the reader from plates depicting the digestive tracts of birds, to the birds themselves... My bottom line is that I just don't find the interface that intuitive.
• U.S. Geological Survey -- The USGS entry is good, but suffers from the same sort of convoluted interface as the Audubon site... There's a wealth of information in there, but you'll need to dig for it.
• USGS maps -- Simply amazing detail here, but slow.
• MSN Encarta -- Good old Microsoft Encarta... This is a nice "general use" resource.
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds” -- When it comes to bird books, this is (in my opinion) the Holy Grail. The binding, color drawings, scope, detail... It's all great. This book sells for around $35, and belongs in every person's library whether or not she or he is a birder. Hats off to David Allen Sibley.
• Peterson's "A Field Guide to the Birds" -- Before Sibley, there was Roger Tory Peterson... And, his work too is a masterstroke. I've got the 1947 edition of his book... It's old and it's tired, but still a "must own" regardless of the year.
• ”Birds of New England” from Smithsonian Handbooks -- Fred J. Alsop III and the Smithsonian have really done a superb job of documenting and illustrating the birds of the northeast.
• Chapman's "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America" -- This is a more scholarly text complete with black and white illustrations.
• ”Birds Of North America” published by Golden -- A smaller book, this works well as a good field guide.

Also, the following two, "more coffee-table" books deserve mention...

• "Birdwatching" from publisher "Discovery Travel Adventures".
• Ortho Books' "How to Attract Birds".

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (5)

Hi all,

Kathy (my sister-in-law) lives in Reno, NV, and has run across an unknown bird. (The creature has a blue body and brown wings.) Kathy is hoping that we can help her identify it. Let's see what we can do. Here are the facts that we have to go on...

• She sees the unknown birds in the morning.
• They seem to be fairly gregarious.
• They are "robin-sized".
• Kathy has looked at pictures of both the Western Bluebird and the Blue Grosbeak, and she doesn't think that either one of those are a match.

Before you look at the sites below, please understand the importance of examining each entire page listed. Keep in mind that birds can vary considerably in appearance based upon age, sex, and the degree to which they are hybrids and these pages reflect that variety. Now, we'd guess the local suspects to be:

• Blue Grosbeak
• Indigo Bunting
• Western Bluebird
• Purple Martin
• Pinyon Jay
• Steller's Jay
• Black-chinned Sparrow
• Townsend's Solitaire
• Mountain Bluebird

If you want to identify the bird further... Some thoughts...

• Maybe one of the readers of this blog can post a comment positively identifying the bird.
• Try to get some pictures of the birds, and then email those photos to me at: capecodalan@ebirdseed.com.
• Use the microphone built into an MP3 player or cell phone to capture the birds' songs and email that to me at the address above.
• Borrow/buy binoculars and a local bird book and see what you can find.
• Ask your neighbors... No doubt someone will nonchalantly say, "Oh, those are such and such."

Finally, if you still can't identify the bird, I'll contact the natural resources folks in your area and we'll get you a definitive answer!

See you by those UFB (Unidentified Flying Bird) feeders!

CapeCodAlan

• 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

My money is still on the grosbeak below...

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 4:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Hi,

This is an unusual post in several regards...

First... Our hearts, thoughts, prayers, and love go out to the victims, family, and friends of those lost at Virginia Tech.

Ok... Deep breath... Onward...

Secondly... The wife has a unique birding story to pass along...

It was a typical Cape Cod day - cool, sunny, with blue skies and a light to moderate breeze (if there had been no breeze, I would be writing a post for a different forum, as I would have been out in my kayak, but that's neither here nor there). As it was, it seemed a good day to get some random bird shots from the feeders in the yard.

I had the brilliant idea to bait the crow feeder and then lurk on the deck, camera in hand, to see if I could get some good pictures of these notoriously camera-shy birds. So having filled the tray with freshly-popped popcorn, I hunkered down on my stomach (on a mat) in the corner of the deck, covered with camouflage. (Read that: green blanket.) With camera in hand, I prepared for a long-ish stint outside. Next to me was the bird bath; above me was a small seed feeder.

After the various creatures forgot about my presence, the birds returned to the feeders, the sound returned to its normal noisy level, and yard life continued as usual. Under my camouflage, I snapped photos of woodpeckers, grackles, sparrows, robins, titmice, goldfinches, our local myrtle warbler, and even a few brave squirrels; in fact, all the usual denizens except the crows. Oh, I could hear them on the periphery, but my vision was limited to the small area in front of my eyes free of the blanket. I could hear the squirrels scampering around the deck, and the scritch of little claws as they climbed to the bird bath for a drink. I heard the flutter of little wings and felt a gentle rain of sunflower seeds as the chickadees flew up to the seed feeder above me. In fact, my camouflage was so good, that at one point I heard the wing beats and suddenly felt tiny bird feet on my head through the blanket. A chickadee had decided that I was a good place to perch and eat a seed. It was an extraordinary feeling.

Through all this the crows were calling, egging each other to be the first to the delectable pile of popcorn on and beneath their tray. One brave soul finally lit on the ground several feet away from the tray (but within my vision and camera range), and sidled cautiously toward the food. I clicked frequently, getting several good shots of the bird stuffing his bill with as many fluffy kernels as it could hold. At one point, he had so much in his beak he looked like he was foaming at the mouth. He tried to get one last piece in, and everything popped out! So he started loading up again, skittish and watchful, but determined to carry away as much booty as he could.

After about an hour of watching, holding totally still, and snapping photos, I was chilled, cramped, and thirsty. During a lull in yard activity, I picked up blanket, mat, and camera and returned to the house to download the photos, one of which is shown below. I only wish that Alan had been watching with a camera to catch a shot of the chickadee on my head. Maybe next time!



See you under the seed,

CapeCodAlan

P.S. Note how Mrs. CapeCodAlan torments Mr. CapeCodAlan by using words like "fluffy", and "scritch". You're all witnesses folks...

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 7:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Hi,

Well, according to the forecasters, we here in New England are about to be hit with a monster "Nor'easter". So, we're just going to pound this post out and sign off before we lose power...

Random thoughts (whilst listening to the wind gust and watching the barometer drop {29.62 in. and falling})...

• Was watching the birds yesterday morning... There seemed an unusual urgency and aggressiveness to their feeding habits. At the time it seemed just an anomaly. In retrospect, perhaps not. They may have sensed this storm coming and were "stocking up".
• Hoping that the new birdhouse holds up... Now regretting using copper tubing as the mounting post - should have used iron pipe. We'll keep you updated on the survival of the casa de pajaro.
• The photo below is of a flicker. This was just one of the birds that were mobbing the feeder Saturday AM.
  
  
  
  
• Barometer now at 29.57. Winds still low at 20+ mph... Maybe this whole thing has been overblown for Cape Cod. Maybe not.
• Better go check the basement for flooding.

Signing off for now...

Boating by the feeders

CapeCodAlan

P.S. Barometer at 29.54 at 11:30 PM... Hmmm

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 3:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Back in February, we explored Using the eBirdseed.com Web Site. We also looked at Changing the Way That You Look at the eBirdseed.com Blog.

Perhaps now would be a good time to remind you how to post a comment. (Please keep in mind the simple fact that this blog needs your input! What do you want?)

So, take a look at the screen shot below... Notice the red oval. That is the "Comments" button that's available at the bottom of every post (like the one you're reading now). Just click that and you're on your way.



Once you click on that "Comments" button, a simple form will pop up... (Depending on how you access the post, the form may appear automatically at the bottom of the entry.)



Just fill in the form (name and email address; you don't have to have a URL) and you're done. And no, posting a comment will NOT place you on a mailing list! See the eBirdseed.com Privacy Statement.

So that's it gang! It's spring... We've got our new birdhouse mounted, discussed all seed, suet, and feeder types, the new remotely-activated outdoor camera is on the way, the kayak is in the water, you know how to use the Web site and make comments...

Now, what's on your mind?

See you by the feeders,

Curious CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi all,

The wife found an old bird book ("A field Guide To The Birds" 1947, by Roger Tory Peterson) at an estate sale ($2). The book is in terrible shape... The spine is torn wide open, there are water stains, and one of the book's former owners made umpteen marks within the book itself. But it's exactly those marks on the "My Life List" pages that lead us into this post.









There are 117 checked sightings there... There are also several dashes. Questions and a few answers leap to mind...

• Who owned this book, and spent the time to make all those marks? Was it more than one person? Doubtful - no one wants to continue a "Life List" another has left off.
• Did someone buy this book at a used book store and then start filling in the "Life List"? Possible but I doubt it. Here's why. After any major disaster, Americans (and human beings in general) want security. They want to feel safe. They want to do things that are time-tested and peaceful. (In the last quarter of 2001, A.C. Moore's (the arts and crafts superstore chain) earnings shot up a mind-bending 47%.) No, this book was probably bought and used in 1947 by someone who was still coming to grips with the end of World War II, and the horrific Texas City series of explosions that killed almost 600.
• Where did this person live? Given that there are a bunch of northeastern water birds, warblers, etc., (and the fact that the wife bought the book at a local estate sale) the person probably lived and/or vacationed right here in the Cape Cod area.
  
  But other questions aren't so readily addressable.
  
  
• Was the original owner of the book a young person? And if so is he (or she) still around?
• Was the "Life List" part of a school or scouting project?
• How long did this person work on the list?
• Does this person have a good life? (Or, if he's deceased, did he have a good life?)

The questions go on and on and on. But the lesson rings true through the ages... We leave things behind - just traces and questions.

See you by the feeders,

Existential CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 10:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, spring is here, and I think we've got the basics covered...

• We've explored single-seed and mixed-seed feeds.
• We've also taken a look at suet.
• I was going to delve into feeder types, but the folks at Cornell have taken care of that issue.
• The remote outdoor camera (Novabird) is due any minute. (Once that device arrives, expect this blog to go silent for a few days... Yours truly, and a gadget "excelente" are going on a technological bender!!!)

So what else is there? How about small boats (10' - 15') for birding purposes?!? (True, boats aren't what you might expect to find on a bird blog, but this ain't any traditional bird blog!) Regardless, one of the best ways to observe birds (and blow off some steam) is to get on the water, observe, and photograph. For instance...



Ok... So the osprey photo isn't perfect, but you get the idea as to what you might just see from a simple kayak in as lowly a place as Paddocks Pond in Harwich MA. Beyond that, it was still a perfect day on the water.

But, what watercraft is going to keep your tail section dry for such photos? Five suggestions...

• There are bottom-buck inflatable boats out there. Such "things" are abhorred by anyone interested in serious boating, but if the budget is tight, the water is flat calm, the PFD (Personal Flotation Device) is high-quality, and the shore is near, it will probably serve for a few years.
• Occasionally, there are second-hand boats up for sale for $300 or less in the newspaper or on eBay... Tough to ignore. There are bargains to be had.
• Companies like L.L. Bean and EMS offer kayaks (or "yaks") for $500 - $1,500. Not bad. And some are the only creations you'd want to use when facing white water while others are stable enough for the non-kayaking soul who's trying to photograph birds.
  
  Then there are the real boats that you build... Two companies (and their respective boats) leap to mind...
  
  
• Instant Boats: The Teal.
• Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC): The Mill Creek.

The wife and I have built both. And both are excellent, stable little platforms for seated photography.

Using quality materials (marine plywood, epoxy, brass, copper, stainless, etc.) will make the construction of the Teal about a $750 adventure. Add another $250 for outfitting, and you're looking at $1,000. Using the kit provided by CLC for the Mill Creek raises the price up into the $1,200 range. Depending upon your skill level, the Teal will probably take around 40 hrs to complete; the Mill Creek may be double that. Our personal favorite is the Mill Creek 13. It's light, stable, and can hold everything but the kitchen sink in its waterproof compartments.

Ok... Time for some warnings about boating.

• Wear a quality, comfortable, life jacket (PFD). Always. (There's a reason why the local harbormaster and natural resource officers live in PFDs... Seriously, take it from someone who's been dragged out of the drink twice with his lungs full of water - drowning is not fun. If you're going near the water, put on your PFD each time and every time!)
• Contact the local officials. They'll be more than happy to clue you in on the local waters.
• Follow the outline of Staying Alive.
• Don't ask a boat to do what it wasn't designed to do. The boats mentioned above are protected-water craft only.
• Listen to the experts... That is to say, post questions on boating forums... Both Instant Boats and CLC have exemplary forums. The cumulative experience for any given post will often break the century mark.

See you by those damp feeders...

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 11:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Need some ideas from you guys...

For some time, folks here have been discussing remote photography as a means to close-up shots of birds. It looks like we're getting very close to implementing such a camera rig.

Here's the deal:

We looked at a number of systems, and decided that the following considerations were crucial:

• We wanted something weatherproof.
• A 2-megapixel camera (or better) resolution was a must.
• We really wanted a device that was portable.
• Focal distance needed to be two feet or less.
• It needed to be motion activated - that is to say that that common bird movement would trigger the camera's shutter at the appropriate moment.
• The timing between photos had to be programmable.
• The camera's memory card needed to be priced within reason yet still hold several hundred pictures.

The Novabird Camera seems to solve the initial problem...

But how do we mount this contraption? The following requirements seem to take front stage...

• Stable
• Height adjustable
• Accessible
• Portable
• Resistant to the squirrel menace
• Weatherproof
• Practical
• Easy on the eyes

This is where you folks come in... What would you suggest for a convenient mounting platform? We're leaning towards a "crook and spikes" system (using the shaft as a stable platform) as below... What are your ideas?



Curious by the feeders...

CapeCodAlan and Mrs. CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 5:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi,

Time to assault the issue of what birds eat what suet! To give you a brief refresher, we outlined popular feed habits a few posts ago including both single-seed food, and mixed-seed blends.

But what of the rendered fat mélange?



Let's take a look... General recommendations concerning suet types follow...

• Berry Suet: Black-capped Chickadees, Bluebirds, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Titmice, Carolina Wrens, Woodpeckers, and Mockingbirds.
• High Energy Suet: Black-capped and other Chickadees, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Wrens.
• Peanut Suet: Blackbird, Bluebird, Catbirds, Chickadee, Creeper, Crow, Finch, Jay, Kinglet, Magpie, Mockingbird, Nutcracker, Nuthatch, Oriole, Roadrunner, Robin, Siskin, Startling, Tanager, Thrasher, Thrush, Titmice, Warbler, Woodpecker, and Wrens.
• Woodpecker Suet: Black-capped Chickadees, Flickers, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Titmice, and Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.
• Pecan Suet: Blue Jays, Bluebirds, Cardinals, Chickadees, Creepers, Finches, Flickers, Grosbeaks, Woodpeckers, Juncos, Nuthatches, Tanagers, Titmice, Warblers, and Wrens.
• Fruit and Nut Suet: Bluebirds, Cardinals, Chickadees, Flickers, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Titmice, Pine Warblers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, and Carolina Wrens.
• Peanut Butter Suet: The usual suspects above, but the woodpeckers in particular love this stuff!

A side note: Birds' tastes vary not just from state to state, but from neighborhood to neighborhood... Best to ask your neighbors what they use. And as always, you can use the comments button below for my $0.02 worth, as well as the following contact info.

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 those feeders!

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Greetings,

Welcome to the next installment of The Bird of the Week! But this time the BOTW isn't even a bird... It's a moth.



The Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe) is a mysterious little creature in that it looks like a cross between a bumble bee and a hummingbird. These "day moths" are not the most common of creatures, and should you wish to study and attract them, the following may help...

• The hummingbird moth populates all of the northern United States, and roams up into Canada as well. It can also be found as far south as the Gulf of Mexico, stretching from the Great Plains eastward.
• Hemaris thysbe is a member of the Sphinx family of moths.
• The larvae eat plants of the honeysuckle family and are relatively innocuous.
• The clearwing is attracted to nectar-producing plants such as the butterfly bush, which also attracts actual hummingbirds.
• Once drawn to your garden, they are fairly oblivious to intruders, and are easily photographed.
• A mature hummingbird moth has a wingspan of roughly two inches.

See you by those "buzzing for a comment" feeders,

CapeCodAlan

References used for this post are listed below:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Wikipedia
• Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources
• Audubon Society
• eNature.com
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds”
• "A Field Guide To Birds" by Peterson
• "Birds of New England" by Fred J. Alsop III
• Frank M. Chapman's "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America"
• "Bird Watching" from Discovery Travel Adventures

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)