Nesting Flycatchers
Aside from our usual suspects of Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Tree Swallows, and House Sparrows, did you know that we have another spring and summer resident here in Tennessee that can be attracted with a nesting box? More frequently heard than seen, the Great-crested Flycatcher is a large and raucous member of the Flycatcher family. Typically hunting insects and calling from hidden branches high in the tops of trees, learn to identify them by their loud “reap!” call which I will link to here. Great-crested Flycatchers are a cavity nesting species, meaning that in nature they will seek out natural cavities in trees or disused woodpecker nests. John had a pair nesting in his backyard this spring in an Eastern Screech Owl/Kestrel box. They are infrequent users of nesting boxes put out for Eastern Bluebirds.
Great-crested Flycatcher on Screech Owl Box
Photo by Eli Haislip
An update on campania
If you’ve been thinking that your yard could use a new birdbath, statue, or fountain, your timing could not be better! This past week, our spring shipment of Campania arrived… All 4,000 pounds of it! Many of you took advantage of our preorder sale, and while typing this we are in the process of contacting everybody.. For those of you who didn’t, don’t worry! We are now filled to capacity with new fountains, bird baths, and cute statues just in time for hot summer temperatures. Do you need a small statue of a box turtle? We’ve got that. How about a chipmunk that WON’T eat your seed or tunnel in your yard? We’ve got that too. Need a fountain that looks like a tree stump? We’ve got you covered. Come visit us this Saturday and see our new expanded inventory of all things cast stone!
A Word on Mealworms
As we progress into hotter summer temperatures, if you are in need of live mealworms it might be worth calling ahead to check availability before you venture out. When temperatures are above 90 degrees in Ohio, where our worms ship from, the company will not send them out. They have no way to keep them cool, and in an unairconditioned trailer, the majority of the shipment would perish. We assure you, there are few smells in a birding store that are worse than dead mealworms, and we don’t want you to have to experience this! We have been out of worms all week, but our rep reached out to inform us that our shipment should go out early next week. Even so, if you need live mealworms early next week, we would recommend calling us before you make the trip!
Male Eastern Bluebird Eating Live Mealworms
Photo by Eli Haislip