http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/index/ en mollye@comcast.net Copyright 2012 2012-05-10T17:30:04+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/happy_mothers_day_to_all_of_the_birds/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/happy_mothers_day_to_all_of_the_birds/#When:16:30:04Z As we pause to celebrate this Mother’s Day with flowers, greeting cards, and visits to our moms, many of our favorite backyard birds are a bit too busy to take notice. Right now they’re very focused on raising their own broods. We’ve seen evidence that many birds are busy preparing for their young. There’s also evidence that some birds are busy feeding chicks that have already hatched (have you seen the Western Scrub-Jay nestling photos posted on our Facebook page)? If you wondered where your Bushtit flocks have gone, know that they’re still around just not in their aggregated flocks. Instead they’ve paired up to mate, nest, and raise young. There’s a very diligent pair frequenting my suet feeder: the intervals between their feedings sometimes a matter of only a minute or two. The House Finch flocks have also broken up into mated pairs. Instead of large flocks, I’m now seeing only a pair at a time. The male and female arrive at the Black Oil Sunflower feeder together. She usually feeds while he perches nearby, on watch for any interlopers or danger.  Chickadees are nesting too. While they are still eating some seed, they are gobbling up the protein-rich suet in preparation for their young. The pair at my house, who moved into the swallow nesting box, have a nest but no hatched eggs quite yet. I expect there will be young soon since one bird is always in the box, the other off on forays to the suet feeder for food; or plucking moss from the stones in the shade garden to embellish the nest. When the young hatch, I plan to offer meal worms for the parents. Sure, they can raise their young without my help but it’s much more rewarding to watch the mom and dad with beaks full of meal worm treats, heading into the bird house amid the peeping ruckus of their chicks. So if you really want to embrace Mother’s Day this year, you can extend your wishes to all of the bird moms by making sure your backyard food court is well-stocked with chick-fattening supplies such as mealworms, suet, and fresh Black Oil Sunflower seed. Also, be sure your feeders have been cleaned and that your birdbath is spic and span. It’s best to welcome those chicks into the world with seed and water free from disease. If you don’t have a bird bath, now is a great time to add one. Nesting birds need water too and with the urgency of feeding hungry young a ready source of fresh H2O is much appreciated. Sharing food and drink: now that’s a great way to celebrate Moms! Wishing a truly Happy Mother’s Day to you all! News 2012-05-10T16:30:04+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/spring_newsletter_published/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/spring_newsletter_published/#When:22:25:20Z You may want to check out our latest newsletter, for spring backyard birding tips, valuable coupons, and Mother's Day gift ideas! You can see it two ways: Navigate to the "News" section (click News at the top of the screen), then click "View Our Latest Newsletter", or simply click here to go directly to our newsletter. News 2012-04-22T22:25:20+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/seasonal_change_from_a_hummingbirds_view/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/seasonal_change_from_a_hummingbirds_view/#When:17:16:21Z Longer, warmer days bring early blooming flowers that provide additional variety to the hummer’s late winter diet. You’ll still see action at your feeder but hummers are beginning a seasonal dietary shift to more flower nectar and insects. by Barb Grover Photo by Sandy Leaptrott Now is the perfect time to add native, hummingbird-attracting plants to your backyard habitat.  Blossoming plants give hummers a break from the monotony of our nectar feeders as you continue to enjoy their spring courtship and child-rearing antics.  The red-flowering current (Ribes sanguineum) is an early season hummer favorite that’s hard to beat. This beautiful native plant is easy to grow and starts blooming in March. Its long, salmon-pink blossoms bring in both hummers and humans for a closer look. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and Bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) also provide an early Spring nectar source. Continue to fill your feeder but consider planting some hummingbird-attracting plants in your garden. Backyard Bird Shop’s staff has compiled a list of favorite hummingbird-attracting plants. Stop by a shop and ask for a copy, or click here to see it online.  The Audubon of Portland Native Plant sale on April 28-29 is a great place to purchase native plants. News 2012-03-30T17:16:21+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/house-hunting_season_is_upon_us/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/house-hunting_season_is_upon_us/#When:21:13:35Z So you already have feeders and a source of water. What else can you do welcome spring backyard birds? Shelter and habitat are high on the list at this time of year. A few well placed bird houses can make a big difference in how attractive your yard is to birds.Many favorite backyard birds will nest in bird houses (also called nest boxes).  Those that do, like chickadees, wrens, nuthatches, Violet-green and Tree Swallows, bluebirds, woodpeckers, and owls are called cavity nesters.  In the wild, they nest in cavities in standing dead trees .Since people usually don’t leave dead timber standing in their yards, it is becoming increasingly difficult for cavity nesters to find suitable places to raise their young.  As a result, adding one or more birdhouses can be important to the nesting success of backyard birds.  Many birds begin courtship in February, so it’s not too early to prepare nest boxes for use, or to hang new ones. There are a number of practical considerations in birdhouse design: The entrance hole must be big enough for the desired bird to get into the nest box, but not so large that a predator can raid the nest.  Perches are unnecessary; in fact, they just make it easier for predators.  Drainage, ventilation, durability and ease of cleaning are other important design elements.  It is best to choose birdhouses built to Audubon specifications. Most nesting birds are territorial, so your yard will likely accommodate only one family of a particular bird species.  If possible, mount nest boxes at least 30 feet apart to minimize disputes.  Partly concealed, shady locations are best, with a clear flight path to the house. To discourage non-native English Sparrows and European Starlings, try mounting nest boxes at the low end of the height range for the desired species.  Both of these non-native species do not like to nest close to the ground.  Another tactic is to keep the entrance hole “tight” – an unnecessarily wide entrance hole invites both of these non-native species.  Thirdly,if you’re purchasing a swallow nest box, consider an oval or diamond-shaped entrance hole to discourage sparrows and encourage swallows. Another way to discourage predation is to install a birdhouse predator guard over the entry hole.   The tunnel-like predator guard elongates the entrance, making it more difficult for a predator to reach into the birdhouse to access nestlings.  Consider setting out nesting material for cavity- and non-cavity nesters to line their nests.  Pygora goat fleece is warm, even in rainy weather.  You can also hang a mesh produce bag or unused suet cage supplied with short lengths of yarn or string, or clothes dryer lint (without fabric softener), or pet fur. Visit your Backyard Bird Shop for a wide selection of practical and attractive bird houses and all necessary accessories.  We’ve also got information and advice on where and how to place your nest boxes, and who will put them to use.  Are your nest boxes ready?  The birds are!  News 2012-03-13T21:13:35+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/early_spring_musings/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/early_spring_musings/#When:20:25:06Z One of the things I love about being a naturalist is that there’s always more to learn. Whether it’s your first sighting of a particular species or the one hundredth, there’s always a new detail or behavior to see. This is true not only for birds but for other wildlife you host in your yard.by Barb Grover By now you’ve probably heard of the mason bee, a small native bee that’s a superb pollinator.  Did you know that it is but one type of native bee found in the Portland/Vancouver area?  We also have many varieties of other cavity nesting bees that use tree resin or leaves to make their nests instead of mud like the mason bee uses, and we have bumble bees and other ground-nesting bees as well.  Most of these natives are quite docile and beneficial, but also can require a bit of patience and skill to observe. I keep a pair of compact binoculars by my back door. They’re handy for helping me identify new birds that visit my yard.  Because they have a close-focus feature (I can focus on things 4 – 5 feet away) they are handy for looking at insects up close, too.  With those binocs I can watch a small reddish bug come into focus and see that it is really a native bee!  Then I can watch without disturbing the bee as it collects pollen, and then I can track it as it heads off to its nest. What wildlife will be nesting in your yard this year?  Will the violet-green swallows return to their nest box again?  Might you watch a hummingbird collect nesting material from, and choose to nest in, your yard?  Will the mason bees be busy collecting pollen at your blueberry bushes for their next generation?  Or, will you find a completely new and unexpected native bee nesting in the ground in your flower garden?  All of these are possibilities! But, why leave these possibilities to chance? Now’s a great time to put up a new birdhouse.  For the hummers, it’s not too soon to provide Pygora Fleece nesting material.  Get your bee boxes up and your bee cocoons placed in anticipation of spring.  If you’re not sure what’s best for your yard or patio, stop by one of our shops and our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to advise you.  And I encourage you to always keep watching, taking notes, taking photos, and enjoying the wonder of nature! Now in Your Backyard 2012-03-13T20:25:06+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/free_nature_programs_for_metro_area_schools_are_popular/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/free_nature_programs_for_metro_area_schools_are_popular/#When:14:24:54Z We receive many requests for our free nature programs, and say "yes" to as many as we're able to schedule. The following is a positive comment about one of our recent programs, this one for Hollydale Elementary School in Gresham.A letter from a public school volunteer who arranged for one of our free nature programs ..... I just wanted to let you know that Elaine Murphy came out to Hollydale and did a presentation for my 4th and 5th grade Nature Leaders program yesterday!  She did a really excellent job, and the kids were very interested in all the information about birds that she taught them. So, I just want to commend Elaine, and also thank you for your wonderful service of providing this presentation to our kids.  I am very impressed with and grateful for your community service to our program.  In this economy, I don’t have too much parent support these days, so this is very much appreciated.  I will be sending out an e-mail to the kids’ parents to make sure they see the coupon Elaine gave them, and tell them of your generosity.  In this picture we are making peanut butter pine-cone bird feeders (they were a big hit with the squirrels!  I really appreciated Elaine’s tip about only one type of seed per feeder ....ah well, live and learn…..)! Thank you, and I hope maybe we can come in the Backyard Bird Shop and do one of your bird walks one of these days! Sincerely, Sally*  Hollydale Nature Leaders * Sally works with Hollydale Elementary school in Gresham as a parent volunteer.  Around eighteen 4th and 5th graders grow a garden in the spring, and have a variety of other nature experiences in the winter.  They meet once a week, and their schoolyard sanctuary is certified by the National Wildlife Federation, News 2012-03-13T14:24:54+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/february_2012_newsletter_online_now/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/february_2012_newsletter_online_now/#When:20:25:13Z To view the latest newsletter, visit "News" and then click on the words "View the Latest Newsletter" in green, located in the upper right portion of the page. Or, click HERE. News 2012-02-05T20:25:13+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/hummer_feeder_cozies_now_available/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/hummer_feeder_cozies_now_available/#When:05:22:49Z We are pleased to offer Hummingbird Feeder Cozies, an affordable way to keep your hummingbird feeder thawed during the day. No electricity required and easy to use! And, Hummer Cozies are hand made in Washington State!by Michele Dupraw The hummer cozies come in different sizes and colors, and with two Little Hottie Handwarmers that work for 8 hours.  It’s a great way to keep that feeder thawed during our freezing days!  Affordable, attractive, and easy to use (no electricity required), this is sure to be a popular item this season! There are two styles available: Wrap-Around Cozy —comes in various sizes and is made to velcro around a jar-style hummingbird feeder. (illustrated above) Pocket Cozy—velcro it to the base of a saucer style feeder, such as a Hummzinger Hummingbird feeder. (see illustration below) News 2011-12-09T05:22:49+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/view_2011_photo_contest_submissions/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/view_2011_photo_contest_submissions/#When:19:53:37Z We've posted all the photo contest submissions to our Flickr photo site. Have a look, and enjoy the artistry (and luck!) of some of Backyard Bird Shop's favorite customers.Band-tailed Pigeons Enjoying a Bath by Jim and Joei Lattz To see this year’s photo contest submissions, navigate to “Photos” ,then click on “2011 Photo Contest” (look toward the upper portion of the right side of the page).  Or click here.  News 2011-12-01T19:53:37+00:00 http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/news_coupons_other_savings_our_holiday_newsletter_is_now_online/ http://backyardbirdshop.com/index.php/site/archives/news_coupons_other_savings_our_holiday_newsletter_is_now_online/#When:19:08:34Z There are two ways to view our newsletter. Either click here or navigate there by clicking on the words "View our Latest Newsletter" to the right, on this page. Happy Holidays, Naturally! News 2011-11-30T19:08:34+00:00