Wood Thrush Notes

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings Visiting Feeders

April and May are two of the most enjoyable months at feeding stations. Part of it is that trees are putting on their new leaves and the burst of green is beautiful. But these two months bring to our feeders Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings. Just this morning I had my first RB Grosbeak visit a feeder, an adult male in his black and white plumage and brilliant v-shaped blaze of red on its chest. Like most springs I will see upwards of a dozen at a time. The females are brown with a white wing bar and a prominent white stripe above the eye. They have a large heavy beak that aids them in cracking open all kinds of seeds. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you offer sunflower or safflower. They like both.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Buntings are drawn to feeders, too, but may be a little more discriminating.  Although I see them at feeders they often show a preference for ground feeding.  I use white millet on the ground to appeal to these brilliant blue birds, similar in size to a Goldfinch. They will also feed on sunflower, especially out of the shell, and even nyjer and a finch blend.  Indigo Buntings usually visit feeders now but not so much as they settle in to breeding areas which are grown fields adjacent to forest and very much around river bottom areas.  The Harpeth River Greenway and Hidden Lakes Park are always well populated with them. 

Suet is still one of the best foods to continue presenting during the spring months.In fact, suet consumption will be at its greatest between now thru July. Adult birds raising young find it particularly beneficial. Suet will also attract some of the more unusual feeder birds. For example, the past week I have had a male and female Summer Tanager and a Yellow-rumped Warbler visiting my suet feeders.

Male Summer Tanager

Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Mr. Bird Woodpecker Feast 20% off.

Mr.Bird Bugs, Nuts, and Fruit 20% off.

Mr. Bird Safflower Feast 20% 0ff

Many of you that use Mr. Bird products know we were experiencing delays and shortages. I’m happy to say we are well stocked again.

So to jump start sales again all Mr. Bird products will be 20% off through next Friday May 6th.

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And we’ve introduced a line of wildflower seed packets from Roundstone Seed Co.  We have three different packets to choose from: Pollinator Conservation Mix, Butterfly and Hummingbird Mix, and Monarch Milkweed.  10% off through Friday, May 6th!

Don’t forget we are having our Campania birdbath, fountain, and planter pre-order sale! For more information read our last blog post!

Have a great weekend! Remember to look for spring migrants!

Breaking News…Hummingbirds Are Not Coming This Year

Due to recent changes in immigration laws, and because of their aggressive nature and known drug trafficking activities Ruby-throated hummingbirds will not be allowed to cross the border into the U.S. this year. Many hummingbirds have been used as “mules” transporting small packages of drugs attached to their little bodies.  Put away your hummingbird feeders because they won’t be needed.  April Fools! 

Migratory Birds Being Seen this Week

This is the most exciting time of year for birdwatchers as migration brings neo-tropical songbirds into and through TN from Central and South America.  As of this morning here is a summary of what has been seen in our area this week:

Black and white warbler, Yellow-breasted chat, Black-throated green warbler, Chimney swift, Northern Parula, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, White-eyed vireo, Yellow-throated, Palm, and Yellow-rumped warblers, as well as Pine and Hooded warbler. The best time to look for these birds is in the first 4 hrs. of daylight because they migrate at night and settle down to rest and feed in the mornings. Without leaves on the trees yet there are far less obstacles for viewing.

Northern Parula

Black-throated Green Warbler

For detailed up to date sightings and the locations to find and see birds download the E-bird app, or visit ebird.org

Swallows: The Early Spring Migrants

The earliest of the spring migrants, birds returning from Central and South America, include a few birds of the swallow family. Purple Martins, Tree, Barn, Cliff, and Rough-winged swallows are some of the earliest to return to middle TN. A recent outing on the Harpeth River revealed several Cliff swallows feeding over the water and flying up and straight into the amazing gourd-like mud nest they build on bridges.

Cliff Swallows have broad, pointed wings, a metallic dark blue back, pale cinnamon colored rumps, and rusty brown faces with a white patch on the forehead. 

Like Barn swallows and Purple Martins these birds are colony nesters and it is normal to see hundreds of these structures clustered together.  Over 3,000 nests have been seen in one place.  When young Cliff Swallows leave their nests they congregate in large groups called creches.  A pair of swallows can find its own young in the creche primarily by voice. 

Obviously, they are very social, not only in their nesting habits but feeding as well.  You may see hundreds of these birds feeding together when a particularly good swarm of insects presents itself.  In fact, if a Cliff swallow finds a good source of flying insects it has a specific call to alert the others. 

To find this bird look at any bridges crossing the Harpeth River. There’s a good chance you will see these busy little birds feeding and coming and going from their amazing nest structures.

Wood Thrush Notes

Spring is officially here as of this Sunday! So much, in regards to birds, is happening and will only get better and more interesting in the coming weeks. Yesterday, I checked all nest boxes on my property and found 2 Chickadee nests started, and 1 Carolina Wren nest complete, but no eggs yet. Bluebirds have been trying to decide which box to use and in past years I’ve seen this process go on until mid-April before a decision was made. Many times Bluebirds eventually moved into one of the boxes Chickadees successfully fledged their babies from.

Eastern Bluebird nest.

Carolina Chickadee nest.

We’ve only had one reported Bluebird nest with eggs so far, which is quite normal as the majority of Bluebirds do not start actually nesting for another couple of weeks. You still have plenty of time to attract Bluebirds even if you haven’t put a nest box up yet. For success this spring I wouldn’t wait much longer, though. All too often people new to attracting Bluebirds think they must offer mealworms to attract Bluebirds, which is not true. It’s certainly fun to feed Bluebirds but not at all necessary to the process. Some of you may already be seeing Tree Swallows as they have become frequent users of birdhouses.

The first Ruby-throated hummingbirds to arrive in this area are probably just a week to ten days away. As exciting as that is I would not advise putting out several feeders just yet. One feeder with a small amount of nectar will suffice as their interest in feeders is minimal at this time of year. Keep in mind the hummingbird you see may very well be migrating much further north to its summer home, perhaps as far as Canada. Let us know if you see one. I have never seen one earlier than April 4 at my home in Cheatam County.

As we approach mid-April we will experience the main period of migration in middle TN. Warblers, Vireos, Flycatchers, Wood Thrush, Summer, and Scarlet Tanagers, and Orioles, will be present as they settle into their summer home here or move on to destinations north of us.

Indigo Bunting.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

At your feeders be ready for Indigo Buntings and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  R-B Grosbeaks are especially fond of visiting feeders with sunflower and safflower.   While a platform feeder may be their preferred feeding situation they adapt very well to tube feeders as well.

This week it was noticeable that Goldfinches are changing out of their drab winter outfit in to their beautiful yellow summer plumage. 

I’m so glad spring is here, aren’t you!?

Goldfinches and why you may not have success with them.

We have really been fielding a lot of questions about Goldfinches lately. Mostly the question is “why am I not getting Goldfinches”? There are a lot of possible answers to this question so let’s look at some things to be mindful of as it pertains to finches and your finch feeders.

Goldfinches are very different than the usual cast of songbirds visiting your feeders on a daily basis. Goldfinches (GF) travel in flocks from small to large, and I mean travel. GF’s may move several miles a day in search of good reliable food sources where, once found, may stay for a few days, or longer until they go in search of more.

• Make sure the seed in your finch feeder is in good condition.  If it’s wet and clumped they will keep moving.  A weather guard is a really good idea during wet winter and spring months.  Goldfinches are very happy to feed on natural food sources so the seed in your feeder better be in good condition to get and keep their attention.

• Because they move and feed in flocks your finch feeder should be topped off regularly to accommodate several birds at once.  They prefer to feed in groups.  Also, you will likely have better results if your finch feeders are grouped and not separated.

• Nyjer is not the only seed GF’s will feed on.  In fact, we are of the opinion GF’s prefer sunflower seed.  They show a strong preference for black oil sunflower in or out of the shell, or our Finch Blend and Fine Sunflower Chips.

• Keep in mind many GF’s are migratory.  Spring and fall migration tends to be a time when these birds are really on the move and disappear from feeding stations seemingly overnight.  Be patient and pay attention to the quality of your feeders and seed because they will return and reward you with their beautiful spring-summer plumage.