Presentations by the Wood Thrush Shop
Did you know that you can book us for presentations? Over the coming months, if you are a member of a garden club, church group or any other kind of club/group that would be interested in a presentation on backyard birding, let us know! We can tailor our presentation to match your group’s interests. Are your members new to bird feeding in the area and would benefit from a crash course? We can do that. Do they have questions about attracting bluebirds, hummingbirds, or goldfinches? We can do that too! We can even come out and give a detailed presentation on one of the most frequently asked questions at the store, “How can I become squirrel-proof?”
While we do not charge for guest speaking, if you were so inclined as to offer an honorarium, the proceeds would go to West Meade’s Harmony Wildlife Rehabilitation. If this seems like something you or someone you know would be interested in, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Beginnings of Bluebird Activity
It’s that time of year again, and we are beginning to hear the first reports of bluebirds beginning to seriously investigate boxes. While it is too soon to expect bluebirds to begin nesting, it is never too early to make sure that your boxes are prepared for the start of the breeding season. If you have not already done so, we highly recommend cleaning out any old nesting material. Old nesting material can potentially harbor insects, such as ants, that can feed on the young after they hatch. Cleaning boxes is usually a fairly straight forward procedure, and is typically as simple as emptying out the old material. As we get closer to nesting season, we will cover bluebirds and bluebird boxes in greater depth, but for now, keep an eye on your boxes and you may witness some early interest!
Bluebirds Investigating a Box
Photo Credit: Eli Haislip
Sandhill Crane Migration
Recently while working in the yard, John heard an unmistakable sound that caused him to turn his eyes to the skies. As he watched, a flock of Sandhill Cranes flew overhead. A winter visitor to parts of Tennessee, like the Hiwassee National Wildlife Refuge, Sandhill Cranes often begin their migration to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska as early as late January or early February. Learning to recognize their distinctive trumpeting call will make spotting them easier. Most of the time, I will hear them before they come in to view overhead, sometimes extremely high in altitude. Their unmistakable call is thanks to an exceptionally long trachea that coils into their sternum. This added length helps them achieve their unique trumpeting tone that I will link to here. As we progress through February, seeing large v-shaped formations of them flying overhead will become more and more common.
