It's Christmastime at the Wood Thrush Shop!

A Scandinavian Tradition

Did you know that the idea of feeding birds isn’t a new one? In the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, people will put bird seed on their front doorstep on Christmas day to bring them good luck in the New Year. This practice originated with farmers hanging up sheaths of grain (called Julkarve in Sweden, or Julenek in Norway) from the autumn harvest to insure a successful harvest in the next season.

If you are feeling Scandinavian this season, or if you just want all the luck you can get, a couple handfuls of Black-oil sunflower seed or our Wood Thrush Mix (equal parts Black-oil sunflower and White millet) thrown on your doorstep (if you’re feeling traditional), driveway, sidewalk, or patio is a great way to entice several wintertime visitors and a few of our colorful year round residents alike. Northern Cardinals, Eastern Towhees, Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos, and White-throated Sparrows are all ground feeding birds by nature and would be likely to take you up on your offering. While we cannot guarantee that feeding birds on your doorstep this Christmas will provide you with good luck this New Year, an up close look at these beautiful birds is sure to brighten your morning, and the squirrels will certainly thank you, too.

White-throated Sparrow

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

Saturday Flash Specials

The Saturday before Christmas is the single busiest day of the year at the shop. This year, we are going to have flash sales on a few selected items that we think would make great gifts for the lover of yard art. Do you know someone who would appreciate larger-than-life sized metal birds? Saturday only, take 40% off the marked price of our oversized GMex Flamingo and Rooster!

Owls are generally a popular animal, and we have a number of products that would make great gifts for the owl lover in your life. One of our favorites is our large cast stone Great-horned owls. They are made in Pennsylvania by Campania International, the same company that makes our fountains and many of our bird baths. They have an accurate likeness to the real thing, are a versatile size (slightly larger than life sized) and we really like the stain they use on the stone. This Saturday, take an additional 40% off the prices marked!

Holiday Hours

We have received numerous questions about what our hours are going to be for Christmas and if we will be open next week. Don’t worry! We won't let your birds go without. We will be open Saturday, December 21st, normal hours from 10:00-5:00, Monday, December 23rd, normal hours from 10:00-5:30, and then on Christmas Eve we will be open from 10:00-2:00. We will of course be closed Christmas Day, and then it is right back to business as usual with normal business hours resuming Thursday, December 26th!

A Final Note

We’d like to thank all of you for making this holiday season a huge success at the Shop. From our family to yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Pine Warbler

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip












Midweek Specials! Kettle Morraine Recycled Plastic Feeders

20% Off Kettle Morraine Feeders

In the latter half of the year, we decided to branch out from our tried and true offerings of hopper style feeders. While we are still happy with our traditional Bird’s Choice feeders and will continue to stock them, we felt it was time to introduce a fresh line of feeders into the store. Today through Saturday, December the 21st, all Kettle Morraine feeders are 20% off!

Made in a state more commonly associated with cheese-making than bird-feeding, This Wisconsin based company’s feeders are made from long-lasting, high quality recycled plastic that won’t fade and won’t break down over time the way natural materials, such as wood, eventually will. To be specific, they are made from recycled milk jugs! We currently have five styles in stock; a suet/peanut butter feeder, a multiuse mealworm feeder, an out of the shell peanut feeder, and two traditional seed feeders.

We’ll begin with the peanut butter/suet feeder. As you can see, this feeder is different from a traditional suet cage feeder. The depressions on the surface are designed for suet or peanut butter. A good tip for using suet on this feeder is a quick blast in the microwave that will melt the suet just enough to make it malleable, but without making it runny. Times will vary by microwave but I would start with 8-10 seconds and go from there. It can then be easily spread into the depressions. You can also use peanut butter, though if you go this route we recommend finding a natural peanut butter that does not contain salt or sugar, and with no preservatives. If you use peanut butter, you can also sprinkle sunflower seeds onto it as well!

Suet/Peanut Butter Feeder, regularly $29, now $23.20 before tax.

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

We also carry a mealworm/mixed use feeder as well. While this feeder is mainly designed for presenting live mealworms, it could also be used for suet nuggets, peanuts in or out of the shell, or even water. (Note: If you use water in it, the cup is glass and will crack if it freezes)

Mealworm/Mixed Use Feeder. regularly $52, now $41.60 before tax.

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

They also offer a shelled (out-of-the-shell) peanut feeder that we like the design of. Unlike our Aspects shelled peanut feeders, this one offers a roof to help keep the rain off. While it won’t stop driving rain from getting in, it will help with drizzly, steady rain like we have been experiencing this week. This feeder is also quite easy to fill, it has a hinged roof where one side simply lifts up making filling this feeder a breeze. It’s design promotes use by smaller clinging birds, such as Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downey Woodpeckers, and more!

Shelled Peanut Feeder, regularly $49, now $39.20 before tax.

Photo Credit: Eli Haislip

Last but not least, we offer two of their varieties of small hopper style feeders. One is essentially a plexiglass version of the aforementioned shelled peanut feeder, and the other is a unique take on a standard feeder. Both options are very simple to clean and fill and would make a great first bird feeder. The birds will be happy with either option, so it is purely a matter of personal taste!

Bird Bio: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Gifts for Aspiring Birders, and Christmas Hours

Bird Bio: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

It seems like it has been a long time since we did a good old fashioned bird bio, so why don’t we take a few minutes to unwind, forget the chaos of the holidays, and learn about a new bird together!

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Visiting Pine Tree

Photo credit: Eli Haislip

Perhaps while on a walk, or maybe even in your own yard, you have noticed a tree with neat little rows of small holes circling the trunk. These are known as “sapwells,” and the bird responsible is the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. You could easily be excused if you’re thinking to yourself, “I’ve never seen one of these.” This member of the woodpecker family is the only species of woodpecker in the East that is completely migratory, and therefore, we only see them during the fall and winter months. Unusual for our eastern species of woodpeckers, Sapsuckers are quite the accomplished travelers. During the Spring Migration, they will make their way as far north as eastern Alaska, and in the Fall Migration, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been documented as far south as Panama. Interestingly, there is evidence that the females generally migrate further south than males.

As their name implies, sap makes up a large percentage of their diet. They are very protective of their sapwells, defending them from other birds, including hummingbirds. Did you know that in parts of their northern range, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds depend on sapwells to such an extent that they time their arrival with that of the sapsuckers? Sapsuckers and hummingbirds both will feed on insects that get caught in the sticky tree sap. In addition, porcupines and even bats have been documented visiting the sapwells, making these an important food source in the northern United States and Canada.

Like other species of woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers make their nests in tree cavities they excavate in the spring. The male is responsible for the majority of excavation, usually taking two to three weeks to complete the cavity. The female then lays her clutch of four to six white eggs directly in the left over wood chips. The incubation period is 10-13 days, and then the nestling phase is around a month. Unlike other woodpecker species that construct a new cavity each year as part of their courtship, Sapsuckers have been observed using the same cavity for up to seven years!

Unlike many other species of birds, the overall population of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has actually INCREASED over the last 60 years, possibly because of more new growth forest habitat that they tend to favor. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, they have enjoyed a bounce back in population to the extent where there may be more Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers around today than in pre-settlement times. Once considered pests, especially in fruit orchards where they would often simply be shot, that is fortunately no longer the case. Contrary to popular belief, healthy trees are able to survive the shallow wells dug by the Sapsucker. Remember, a healthy tree can survive having entire branches removed by an arborist, so small less than quarter inch deep depressions in the bark won’t kill it.

All the information used in this article can be found HERE for further reading!

Gifts for Aspiring Birders

Did you know we also have gifts for the young and aspiring birdwatcher in your life? For the young bird enthusiast, we currently have the Peterson and Stokes Beginner Guides. ($9.99 and $10.99, respectively) These are both in the vein of proper field guides, complete with detailed illustrations or photographs, respectively, as well as ID information and range maps in the case of the Stokes guide. Another great book for kids who are passionate about birds is Backyard Birding for Kids. ($12.95) While this book includes birds that can be commonly spotted at feeders, it also goes into more detail about ornithology and ecology as a whole with information ranging from migration, types of flight, irruption years, and much more. This would be an excellent gift for the young birder who’s passion extends beyond simply what’s at the feeder. One of our bestselling books the last several years would make a great gift for the novice or more experienced birder alike! The Backyard Birdsong Guide by Donald Kroodsma ($34.99) literally has it all. Beautiful illustrations, detailed information, range maps, and the best part? By keying in the number on the page with the speaker box on the side of the book, you can hear the calls and songs of each bird!

Another popular line of items year round are the Wild Republic stuffed birds. ($12.00) There’s more to these stuffed animals than meets the eye, however. A light squeeze and the bird will emit the actual call of that species of bird, with the calls supplied by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These are a great way for kids (and their parents or grandparents) to learn the calls of individual birds that are likely to be found in the backyard!

Christmas Hours

Lastly, let’s address our Christmas hours this season. We will be open Christmas Eve from 10:00 AM till 2:00 PM and we will be closed Christmas Day. Normal business hours will resume Thursday, December 26th!











Midweek Specials! J.J. Potts Ceramic Mushrooms and ALL Owl Statuary!

This week we are excited to announce a few new gift specials that will be running today through Saturday, December 14th. J. J. Potts Ceramic Mushrooms as well as ALL Stone and Metal Owl Statuary are on sale!

J. J. Potts on Sale Now!

Some of our most popular gifts over the few years have been the Ceramic Mushrooms by J.J. Potts. Handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah, these funky shrooms can make the perfect addition to your fairy garden, flower pot, or window box! Available in small, medium, and large sizes, these are ordinarily $12, $23, and $32 respectively and are on sale through Saturday, December 14th for 20% off those prices.

Owl Statuary On Sale Now!

Do you know a person who has a thing for owls? We’ve got you covered! We currently have a broad assortment of owl statuary in stock; both in metal and cast stone. The large cast stone Great Horned owls by Campania are 25% off, while all other owl statues are 20% off. This includes the Regal Art metal Barred Owls, as well as the other cast stone Campania owls!






Bluebirds Visiting Feeders, a Flurry of Winter Hummingbirds, a Surprise Encounter

Bluebirds Visiting Feeders

With the sudden snap of cold weather, we have been hearing more reports from customers of bluebirds visiting feeders. When temperatures begin to drop below 45 degrees consistently, Eastern Bluebirds may be enticed by suet and shelled (out-of-the-shell) sunflower and peanuts. The reason is simple. Below 45 degrees, their normal diet of insects becomes scarcer, and they will turn to alternative food sources. This includes berries, and in the back yard what we offer at feeders. Our Woodland Blend contains out-of-the-shell sunflower and out-of-the-shell peanuts that bluebirds will eat during cold weather. Sunflower hearts and our Premium Blend are especially good, as are live and dried mealworms. As late fall progresses into winter, and berries become more difficult to find (many other birds eat berries when they are available, and there is only a finite supply each year) we receive many reports of Bluebirds feeding on suet.

Male Eastern Bluebird Eating Mr. Bird Bugs Nuts and Fruit Cake

A Flurry of Winter Hummingbirds

Rufous Hummingbird, December 15th, 2020 in Bellevue, TN

Photo credit: Eli Haislip

In the United States, there are 15 species of hummingbird, with 14 of these occurring in the Western U.S. However, during this past week, 4/15 species have been calling our state home. There have been confirmed sightings of Rufous (Trade, Johnson County) Black-chinned (Knoxville, Knox County) Calliope (Ooltewah, Hamilton County) and our common Ruby-throated Hummingbird. (Brentwood) While each year we have come to expect that somebody in the state will get a western winter hummingbird, to have three different species is exciting.

 The Rufous Hummingbird is the most commonly reported wintering western species of hummingbird in Tennessee and the eastern U.S. as a whole. Their range extends from southeastern Alaska to as far south as southern Mexico. Normally, they would follow the Pacific coast north to their breeding range, and then follow the Rocky Mountains south again. Why some individuals end up as far-east as Tennessee we are not sure, but as recently as 2021 one of our customers in Bellevue had a confirmed sighting of a Rufous Hummingbird.

The Black-chinned Hummingbird has a similar range in the West as the Rufous, although they do not breed as far north. Inhabiting a diverse range of habitats from deserts to mountains, it was certainly a surprise when one turned up in Rocky Top! This is not their first time visiting the Volunteer State, with isolated sightings throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s.

The Calliope Hummingbird might be generating the most buzz. The smallest species of hummingbird found in the United States, this tiny interloper to Hamilton County would ordinarily be spending its winter in the pine-oak forests of southwestern Mexico. As surprising a visitor as it is however, it isn’t the first time a Calliope has turned up in Hamilton County with the last reported sighting being in January of 2001.

You may be wondering how a little hummingbird is able to survive the winter, and the reasons are quite fascinating. Many species of western Hummingbirds encounter areas where weather can be unpredictable, such as the elevations of the Rocky Mountains where temperatures can drop to near or below freezing nightly. One method they can use to survive this is something called Torpor. In this near hibernation state, they are able to drastically reduce their metabolism to a fraction of what it is during the day, and this helps conserve enough energy that they can survive the cold night. We could write an entire blog about torpor, but for those of you that want more information, we will link an interesting article published by Washington University. Also, contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds are not reliant on sugar water or plant nectar to survive. Most of their diet is made up of insects, and even on days that may feel cold to us, these are still readily available. Lastly, because of the areas that they inhabit, they are simply better adapted to cold temperatures than our eastern Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Compared to the Rocky Mountains in early and mid-spring, December in the parts of east Tennessee where these birds are being seen is a breeze for these hardy hummers.

A Surprise Encounter

As John and his wife were walking through Pegram’s Gossett Tract, they were surprised by an explosion of brown that flew almost straight up in front of them before flying off a short distance and descending back into the shrubby field, out of sight. A crow-sized bird, it was too large to be a Northern Bobwhite, but too small to be a turkey or escaped pheasant. What it turned out to be was a Ruffed Grouse, a bird that is usually found in the mountains of East Tennessee when it is seen in the state at all. The sighting of one of these chicken-sized forest dwellers in Cheatham County is unexpected. While the historic range of the Ruffed Grouse does encompass Middle Tennessee, they are non-migratory, so it is surprising for one to appear so far from its normal range without help. In 1986, a small population of Ruffed Grouse from East Tennessee were trapped and released at Cuba Landing in Humphreys County on Kentucky Lake. While there was initially some success, it seems unlikely that this bird is a descendent from that program, given in almost forty years there have not been sightings of Ruffed Grouse in the general vicinity of Cheatham and western counties. It is also possible that the bird was released by hunters or escaped captivity somewhere in the surrounding area.