Looking for a home built, compact, squirrel-proof, recycled bird feeder? Here’s a great diy bird feeder design using recycled and easy to find parts that will attract perch feeding backyard birds, and deter squirrels.
Check out this video of the diy horizontally mounted bird feeder in action.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/diy-squirrel-proof-bird-feeder/
Create a backyard that will appeal to birds. Planting trees and shrubs of different heights will accommodate the preferences of different birds. Check with your local gardening center on which plantings work best to create a bird friendly yard in your area. And keep in mind chemically treated lawns will make a less healthy, and unattractive environment for birds.
THE FOUR BASICS – Water, food, shelter and a place to nest
Bird Baths
Bird baths are one of the easiest ways to bring birds up close, where you can get a really good look at them. They provide fresh clean water to drink and bathe in, which can sometimes be the hardest necessity for birds to come by.
When selecting a bird bath, choose one with a running water feature (or add a water moving feature) to help keep it free of algae and other contaminants, including mosquito larvae. The sound of moving water will also attract birds from afar. Another feature to consider is either a heated bird bath or a separate heater or deicer to put into the bathe. This will keep the water from freezing in winter, when open water is scarce. If electricity is not available to power a backyard bird bath, consider adding a solar powered bird bath.
Keep in mind, the water shouldn’t be more than a couple of inches in deep. If it’s too deep, birds won’t feel comfortable and will avoid the water feature. To limit the depth, add rocks for birds to perch on.
Bird Feeders and Feeding Stations
Platform Feeders
A platform feeder is a simple tray-like system that accommodates a wide variety of backyard feeder birds, both small and large, from sparrows to blue jays to mourning doves. To attract all sorts of birds, fill the tray with mixed seed. Varieties of platform feeders are also available as mealworm feeders – a backyard bird favorite!
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/attracting-birds-to-your-backyard/
Project Feeder Watch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit bird feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locations in North America. It is operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.
Feeder Watchers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send their counts to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Project FeederWatch.
FeederWatch data help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. As a Feeder Watcher, you will learn more about winter birds and how their populations are faring.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/sign-up-for-project-feeder-watch/
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on October 29 to officially open the Byam Outdoor Learning Center in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Located in Byam Elementary School’s central courtyard, the Learning Center will be used as an outdoor classroom with an emphasis on ecology, biology, gardening, wildlife habitats, and recycling and reusing.
The Learning Center includes a variety of bird feeders, bird houses, a birdhouse video camera system, a wireless weather station, rain guage, butterfly garden and solar bird bath. In the future, the Learning Center will be expanded to include an herb garden and composting center.
The transformation from courtyard to Outdoor Learning Center was made possible by volunteer efforts, donations from local businesses, and a grant from the Chelmsford Arts and Technology Fund.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/garden/ribbon-cutting-at-the-byam-outdoor-learning-center/
Andy Thompson of “Bird Watcher’s Digest” shows Harry Smith of the CBS Morning News, some of the great new products available for backyard birders including the water wiggler, audubon nesting boxes, and the Identiflyer. Great video for backyard birding basics, including a segment on field guides, bird feeders and squirrel proofing.
Posted on:
September 25, 2009
Andy Thompson of “Bird Watcher’s Digest” shows Harry Smith of the CBS Morning News, some of the great new products available for backyard birders including the water wiggler, audubon nesting boxes, and the Identiflyer. Great video for backyard birding basics, including a segment on field guides, bird feeders and squirrel proofing.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/bird-watchers-digest-backyard-birding-basics-video-2/
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a member of the Picidae family, and is the largest common woodpecker of the eastern United States. It is found primarily in northeastern US and southern Canada, ranging as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. Its common habitat is wooded areas, including suburban neighborhoods and parks. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers are very tolerant of humans, and are regular visitors to backyard garden feeders (especially during the winter), favoring sunflower seed, suet, and fruit. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers climb and “hitch” along branches and trunks of trees, picking at the bark.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-red-bellied-woodpecker/
The state bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin, the American Robin is a familiar songbird in the thrush family. They live in towns and woodlands, and are commonly seen on suburban lawns exhibiting their “running and stopping” behavior as they gather their morning worms.
The America Robin feeds on different things throughout the day, including earthworms in the morning, and fruits and berries in the evening. They are mostly active during the day and gather in large flocks at night to roost in trees in secluded areas.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-american-robins/
Black-Capped Chickadee
Scientific Name: Poecile atricapilla
The state bird of Maine and Massachusetts, the Black-Capped Chickadee is a small, common songbird in the Tit family generally found throughout Alaska, Canada and the northern United States.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-black-capped-chickadee/
House Sparrows are the most abundant songbirds in North America and the most widely distributed birds on the planet. These small, round birds are frequent visitors to suburban backyard bird feeders, and are commonly found in school yards, fast food parking lots, and street corners. Imported from England to North America between 1850 and 1886 in an effort to control insects, the House Sparrow (originally called the “English sparrow”) has grown in population to over 150 million. It’s aggressive nesting behavior and adaptability to humankind, has led to this increase and given them an unpopular status among many birding enthusiast.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-house-sparrow/
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