Morning Birding in Ashland City
This morning, while doing a little pre-work birdwatching at Ashland City’s Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail, my ears were assaulted by a harsh and raucous shrieking call that I have not heard for some time. Scanning the swampy area to my left that separates the greenway trail from the Cumberland River, I quickly spotted the culprit clinging high in the top of a dead tree… A Red-headed Woodpecker!
Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail
Photo by Eli Haislip
Not to be confused with the more common, feeder frequenting Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpeckers are arguably the most striking of the six woodpecker species we see in Tennessee. Stark black and white wings, with a white tail and breast, and a red head and neck are the giveaways for this beautiful bird. Last fall, we discussed these birds and how they have been turning up in new places, specifically Radnor Lake. While I have seen them before, this is my first sighting in Cheatham County. Seeing them here makes sense, though. The swampy marsh contains numerous dead trees, which provides them with ample nesting opportunities.
Father’s Day Gift Ideas
Not sure what to get for Dad? We’ve got you covered! While we have a broad assortment of different possible gifts, today, let’s just focus on a couple options… Gifting the father in your life the gift of being squirrel-proof!
While we currently have over a dozen squirrel-proof feeders, today let’s talk about a couple of our favorite models: The Brome SquirrelBuster Classic and SquirrelBuster Plus. These two feeders have consistently been the most popular of our squirrel proof feeders. The main difference between the two is the capacity. The Classic holds 2.4 pounds, whereas the Plus holds 5.2. This is convenient, especially in winter when the weather outside is unpleasant but the birds are still draining your feeders! Both feeders are also covered by Brome’s lifetime warranty. This means that if it gets broken or damaged by squirrels, we can repair it at no cost to you! Another benefit of these feeders is they actually work best when hanging from an eve or tree limb, so if he is new to bird feeding, you don’t also buy a pole as well!
What if Dad already has feeders and poles? Depending on the yard, a baffle can be an excellent solution to squirrel troubles. A baffle does require a few things to work effectively, first and foremost, 8-10 feet of separation of things a squirrel can jump from. It also must be mounted between 4-5 feet up on the pole, that way the squirrel cannot simply jump from the ground to above the baffle.
Not sure if you have the right setup for a baffle? Send us a picture of your current feeder placement and yard, and we will help you out! Also, as we tell folks almost daily, we make house calls. We WANT you to be squirrel-proof if that is what you desire!