Birds Feeding One Another
In the past few weeks, you may have noticed birds feeding one another. If you were thinking that it seemed early for fledglings, you’re right! What we have been witnessing is actually a phenomenon known as courtship feeding. Birds use courtship feeding as a way to form and strengthen pair bonds, as well as to provide the female with much needed nutritional value without the expenditure of calories. This is important, as nest building and or egg formation/laying requires a great deal of energy. We most frequently observe this behavior in Cardinals, as well as House Finches, Carolina Chickadees, and Eastern Bluebirds.
Easter Gift Ideas
I’ve always enjoyed and looked forward to the fun, small gift items that come in Easter baskets. Fortunately, our store is filled with items that are perfect for Easter! For the little ones, finger puppets and our Audubon stuffed birds make great gifts. When squeezed, the latter makes the call of that species, so it is a great way for them (and you as well) to learn that specific bird’s call!
Wildflower seed packets, Birds of the Southeast playing cards, and our Shroomyz ceramic mushrooms also all make great Easter gifts! Mr. Bird’s Christmas seed wreaths and ornaments are one of our best-selling gift items year after year, but did you know that they also have a spring collection? We currently have their Wildfare Wreathes, Rustic Wren seed houses, and the Whoo-lio seed owl in stock. The seed owl and the seed wreath are both made entirely from seed, therefore there is nothing left over to store or find space for! The Rustic Wren seed house however has a wooden wren house beneath its coating of seed, and therefore after the seed is gone, you are left with a useable bird house!
Lights Out Nashville
Did you know that many neo-tropical migrants migrate at night? Species such as Indigo buntings, for example, are shown to even use stars to aid in navigation. That’s why during the migration months of March through May, and August through October we encourage folks to turn off outside lights that they aren’t in use, or to switch them to motion activated if possible. The bright lights can disorientate migrating songbirds, leading to confusion or worse, impacts. Simple acts like this go a long way towards helping birds in their long and challenging migrations!
Indigo Bunting
Photo Credit: Eli Haislip