Naturalist David Mizejewski discusses options for providing places for animals to raise their young in your backyard, including dense plants, snags, nesting boxes, bat boxes, clean standing water, and host and nectar plants. For a list of recommended native plants for your state, please visit the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Fifth of seven videos from the National Wildlife Federation about establishing a Certified Wildlife Habitat at your home or school.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/certified-wildlife-habitat-places-for-wild-birds-to-raise-young/
Many North American birds nest in “cavities” (holes in trees and fence posts). Although some birds, such as woodpeckers, can chisel their own holes with their heavy, sharp bills, other cavity-nesters must find suitable holes for nesting. Unfortunately, suitable nest cavities can be hard to find in much of North America.
One way to solve the nest-site shortage is to provide artificial cavities, also known as birdhouses or nest boxes. More than 50 species of birds-including Bluebirds, Kestrels, Owls, Titmice, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Wrens, Tree Swallows, and Woodpeckers-Will use nest boxes. Nest Boxes have helped boost populations of many cavity-nesting bird species whose numbers were declining.
For example, both Wood Ducks and Eastern Bluebirds recently have made dramatic comebacks. A Nest Box on your property will provide a valuable home for birds and enjoyable bird watching for you.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/attract-nesting-birds/
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.
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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/
As I write this, I can look out my window and see a busy house sparrow going from the birdfeeder, to the suet feeder, to the blossoms of the pineapple guava bush. The sparrow eats a few sunflower seeds, takes a few pecks from the suet, and then yanks on the sweet fleshy petals of the red and white guava flowers (Feijoa sellowiana).
Bees and other insects seldom visit the guava flowers and they are pollinated almost entirely by birds. As the bird yanks on a petal, the pollen is shaken from the stamens onto the pistil and fertilization takes place. I first noticed this with mocking birds, and then with Hooded Orioles. Today is the first time I’ve seen a sparrow doing this work. The sparrow may not know it but he (she?) is making sure that I’ll have a good crop of guavas this fall.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/garden/birds-bugs-and-allergies/
Generally, a backyard birder can be defined as someone who enjoys feeding and seeing wild birds in their garden or patio. Backyard birding is a new name for a very old activity. At some point in our lives, we’ve probably all hung a bird feeder, thrown bread on the ground, or maybe even taken pause on a warm summer day to listen to the “feee-dee-de” whistle of a male chickadee – all backyard birding activities. The basic components of backyard birding are providing food & water, and shelter for the visiting wild birds.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/what-is-backyard-birding/
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