BIRD NEWS BLOG
Wood Thrush Notes: Hummingbird Celebration and Labor Day Hours
Warner Parks Hummingbird Celebration
If you can’t get enough of hummingbirds this time of year, you’re not alone! This Saturday, September 5th, we are taking our show right down the road to the Warner Parks Nature Center for the Hummingbird Celebration!
Festivities will kick off at 9AM with hummingbird banding, giving folks a close up look at Ruby-throated hummingbirds. Banding will conclude at 11am. We will be amongst the vendors there, with our tent being dedicated to all things hummingbird. We will have feeders, accessories, and other fun items available for purchase so if you’re there, stop by and see us!
If you’ve got kids or grandkids to keep entertained, there will also be food, arts and crafts, and even a face painting station. Registration is not required and attendance is free, so if you are looking for something fun this Saturday, we highly recommend it!
We are currently in the peak time for hummingbird feeding. If you have yet to put up a feeder, now is the time! Remember, keeping your nectar fresh is crucial to successful hummingbird feeding. We cannot emphasize this point enough. Nectar must be changed at least every 2-3 days this time of year to prevent it from fermenting and growing dangerous mold and bacteria.
Hummingbirds will continue to be seen in this area into October, with the bulk of activity being concluded by mid October. It doesn’t hurt to keep a feeder up later though, as there is always a chance at attracting a western species!
Labor Day Hours
Happy Labor Day weekend, everybody! We will be open normal hours, 10-5 on Saturday, September 5th. Monday, September 7th, (Labor Day) we will be closed in celebration of work. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, September 8th.
The Hummingbird Edition!
The Hummingbird Edition
It’s that time of year again and folks are beginning to see an increase in hummingbird activity. If you were wondering if it is too late to put out a feeder, or if you missed out on hummingbirds entirely, the answer is no! Activity at feeders will continue to increase as we get into August and the first half of September.
Hummingbird activity increases in the latter half of summer because with the breeding season concluded, hummers turn their attention to fattening up for their long migration back south to Mexico and Central America. Did you know that some birds will even migrate DIRECTLY across the Gulf on their journey south? This is part of the reason they so aggressively defend our feeders from other hummingbirds. Having enough body fat to ensure they survive the journey is literally a matter of life and death for hummingbirds.
When it comes to helping the hummingbirds fatten up (or in nicer terms, providing a feeder) there are some things to keep in mind. First and foremost, keeping nectar is critical. Nectar MUST be changed every 2-3 days max in the high heat. Think about it, would you want to drink a sugary drink that had been left outside in the heat we’ve been having for a week or two? Of course not! With hummingbird nectar, it’s no different. Nectar that sits around more than 2-3 days can ferment, creating alcohol that the high metabolism of hummingbirds cannot handle. It can also grow harmful bacteria that are dangerous for hummingbirds to consume. If this seems like too much of a hassle, then we would recommend not putting up a feeder for hummingbirds. It really is important to stay on top of keeping nectar fresh and feeders clean. Fear not though, we will touch up on an easy-on-the-eyes, low maintenance way to feed hummingbirds in a moment!
First though, let’s take a few moments to discuss nectar. While we sell a powder here at the shop where you just have to add water, (no need to boil!) We always recommend simply making your own. If that sounds difficult or time consuming, it is in fact so quick and easy that last night I made mine WHILE brushing my teeth before bed. The ratio is 4 parts water to 1 part plain white table sugar. I use my kettle, and pour a quarter cup of sugar into my mixing cup, and then add one cup (8 oz.) of hot water, stirring until fully dissolved. Then simply let it cool, and you are good to go! It’s that simple.
When you make your own nectar, you should always use plain white table sugar. Never use brown sugar, “raw” sugar, and especially never honey. Honey is not a “healthier” alternative to refined sugar, as it can quickly grow dangerous bacteria and fungi. Brown sugar and “raw” sugar should not be used as they contain molasses, which is what gives them their coloration. This is a byproduct of the refining process and would not be part of a hummingbird’s diet. In regard to food dye, it is completely unnecessary and can be harmful. Many dyes are alcohol based, which as we previously mentioned is harmful to hummers. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds also encounter feeders from as far south as Panama to as far north as Canada, and have learned to recognize feeders for what they are: a convenient food source. Having a feeder out will do the work of attracting them, so keep your nectar clear!
Plain white table sugar, also known as refined sugar, when used in a four to one ratio most closely replicates the nectar found in plants and for the hummingbirds sake we should stick to it!
The Reddest Bird in North America: Bird Bio of the Summer Tanager
Bird Bio: Summer Tanager
It seems that the Northern Cardinal is almost universally liked. Whether they are nesting in a shrub outside your door, visiting your feeder or bird bath, or you just happen to catch a glimpse of one while out on a walk, people love Cardinals. What if we told you, though, that during the spring, summer, and fall, we have another species of bird that is ALL red and can even put the vibrancy of the Cardinal to shame?
Male Summer Tanager
Photo by Eli Haislip
The Summer Tanager is a fairly common summertime resident here in the mid-state. While females are a dull yellowish green, mature males are actually the ONLY fully red bird in North America (Male Cardinals have the black feathers on their face) and are beautiful birds if you get a good look at them. Immature males are able to give adults a run for their money with their striking orange and red plumage.
Juvenile Male Summer Tanager
Photo by Eli Haislip
Summer Tanagers spend winters in Central and South America, flying as far south as Bolivia! They usually are beginning to be seen here by mid to late May, and they will then spend the breeding season here. Adult females will construct nests out of roughly woven grasses, typically in clusters of leaves or out on the forks of branches. After this, they will lay 3-4 pale blue or pale green eggs with brown markings. Incubation lasts 11-12 days, with an 8-12 day nestling period.
While they do occasionally visit suet feeders, they are primarily an insect and fruit eating species. Interestingly, they are bee/wasp eating specialists, frequently catching their stinger-equipped prey on the wing. They then fly back with it to a branch where they beat it into submission and scrape off the stinger. When they aren’t going after bees and wasps, they make quick work of other insects, as well as fruits and berries depending on availability. They are also known to occasionally visit suet feeders!
If all this has you wanting to see one for yourself, I highly recommend beginning your search with familiarizing yourself with their call. Once you learn to identify their distinctive “pi-ti-tuk” call, you’ll be surprised just how common these gorgeous birds are. Look for them in deciduous or pine woods, especially where the woodland meets field and meadow habitat. Edwin and Percy Warner Park are excellent spots to find them, as are Bowie Park, Bell’s Bend, and Beaman.
For reference, all of the photos below were taken along the Little Harpeth in Edwin Warner Park!
Hummingbird Activity
If you don’t already have a hummingbird feeder up, now is a great time! And, If you have yet to see your first hummer of the season, don’t get discouraged! As we get into late July, look for activity at feeders to increase as we get into the beginning of peak hummingbird feeder activity! August and the first half of September is generally the busiest time of the year at feeders, but you have a chance to see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds through October!
We always encourage making your own nectar at home. It is cheap, easy, and fast! If you are making small amounts, you do not even need to bring it to a boil, just make sure that the sugar is fully dissolved. The recipe is simple: 4 parts water to 1 part plain, white table sugar.
Addressing Frequently Asked Questions
Where Are My Hummingbirds?
Wondering why you aren’t seeing as many hummingbirds as you might like? We promise, this time of year, this seeming lack of interest in your feeder is normal. As we say every year, hummingbirds are not traveling thousands of miles just for sugar water! Instead, they are coming here to breed and raise young. After this has concluded, usually by mid to late July, THEN they will turn their attention to fattening up for the migration south again.
Another contributing factor to low hummingbird numbers could be your nectar. Keeping nectar fresh is crucial to hummingbird feeding success. This time of year, nectar must be changed every two to three days at the most. Waiting a week can cause the nectar to grow bacteria, becoming cloudy and making it unsafe for hummingbirds to consume. As always, we recommend making your own nectar at home. All this takes is 4 parts water to 1 part plain white table sugar, heat and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Once cooled, transfer to a water bottle and store in the refrigerator!
Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Photo by Eli Haislip
What Do I Do with My Old Bluebird Nest?
By this point in the season, many folks have likely had success with attracting Eastern Bluebirds to their nest boxes. This is great! However, do you find yourself wondering what needs to be done after the young have fledged?
We always recommend cleaning out the old nest material between nestings. There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, as old nesting material breaks down over time, it can draw insects that can prove harmful to the young birds. Also, there is no need for keeping it in there! Nest construction is part of the courtship of Bluebirds, therefore they have no use for the old nest. Lastly, the young will not return to the nest after fledging, so there is no reason to keep the old nest in there!
Male and Juvenile Eastern Bluebird
Photo by Eli Haislip
How Can I Attract More Goldfinches?
Are you seeing Goldfinches at your feeder, but want to see more? There are a few things you can try!
For all our Goldfinch customers out there, remember to make sure your finch food is staying fresh, dry, and not getting clumped together! Also, while you’re out there, if your finch feeder is getting low, be sure to top it off! While this might sound like we are just trying to get you in for more seed, there is actually a very functional reason for this advice. Because Goldfinches prefer feeding as a group, a half empty feeder where many of the perches won’t yield seed is unappealing to them. Seeing as they are birds, and lack our sense of manners and decorum, rather than wait patiently for a turn lower on the feeder, they will likely just leave your feeder behind and go to your neighbors yard! We know you want to avoid this, so take it from us. Keep your goldfinch feeders topped off!
Happy Memorial Day from The Wood Thrush Shop!
Memorial Day Hours
Happy Memorial Day from the Wood Thrush Shop! We will be closed Monday May 25th in observation of Memorial day, with normal hours resuming on Tuesday, May 26th. We hope you all enjoy the unofficial start of summer, and look forward to seeing you Tuesday morning at 10:00!
Blue Grosbeaks Are Being seen
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
Photo by Eli Haislip
After arriving home after work on Wednesday, a flutter of blue in the brushy field next to my apartment caught my attention. Even from a distance of roughly 50 yards, I could see that the bird wasn’t behaving like an Eastern Bluebird, and the blue didn’t seem like the right shade even from a distance. I had my binoculars handy, and thinking I possibly had my first of season Indigo Bunting, I took a closer look.
I immediately could tell this wasn’t an Indigo Bunting. In addition to being too large for an Indigo Bunting, the colors were wrong. It had very distinct warm brown wing bars, and an enormous silvery bill that looked large enough that it could crush any seed or nut with ease. This was no bunting, this was a Blue Grosbeak!
Interestingly, unlike Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, they are not feeder visitors despite eating insects and seeds. Also unlike Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, who are only brief visitors between mid April and mid May, the Blue Grosbeak will spend the spring and summer here in Tennessee to breed and raise their young before migrating south to Central America and the Caribbean in the fall. This means that you can spot these gorgeous songbirds throughout the coming months. They prefer fairly open habitats such as scrub or brushy fields. I have seen them most recently at Bell’s Bend, where I observed a pair along the roadside just before you turn into the nature center. In the past, I have also seen them out in Pegram at Gossett Tract. With some birds not even arriving until July, there is still plenty of time to see these beautiful summer visitors!