Early winter birding notes & Wood Thrush gifts ideas

Feeders beginning to get busy again

There’s no doubt bird feeding stations have been slow compared to past Novembers and early Decembers but a reason for this is likely the abundance of natural food sources available this fall, and mild temperatures. We’ve only had a couple of brief cold snaps. As of yet, we’ve had no reported sightings of Purple Finch or Pine Siskin but Goldfinches have begun visiting feeders again in their drab winter plumage. Other winter migrants like White-throated Sparrow, Junco, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker are being seen, and if you live where there is a presence of pine and cedar trees you may be seeing Red-breasted Nuthatch.   

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-throated Sparrow

Pine Siskin

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Holiday Shopping

Keep The Wood Thrush Shop in mind for holiday shopping. We are well stocked and have experienced only a few problems getting merchandise. Our everyday inventory of Bluebird houses, hummingbird feeders, squirrel proof, suet, finch, and seed feeders is in good supply and always make great gifts.  And here are a few other things you may or may not know we have:          

Windchimes, Birdbaths and fountains, whimsical metal statuary-including skunks, armadillo’s and giraffes, playing cards and puzzles, books and binoculars, bird pins and zipper pulls, Amazon Lights anti-Mosquito Incense, T-shirts, gift certificates, thermometers and rain gauges, socks, and coffee mugs.

The Wood Thrush Shop will be open Friday Dec. 24th until 3 pm. and we continue to offer curbside service.

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Northern Saw-whet Owl Banded at Warner Park

For only the 3rd time a Saw-whet owl was captured, banded, and released by staff at Warner Park. The Saw-whet Owl is the least familiar and least known of owls in TN. The likely reason for its elusiveness is because of its diminutive stature and very minimal vocalizations. Like most owls they are mostly nocturnal and stay concealed in heavy vegetation during daylight hours. So, all factors considered these owls are very hard to find. They tend to favor areas with evergreen.

Northern saw-whet Owl

The Saw-whet is only about 8” in length, no larger than a Cardinal and has a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes. The Northern Saw-whet is a formidable hunter, however, favoring mice as its prey. Where mice and other small mammals are concerned this fierce, silent owl is anything but cute. One of the most common owls in forests across northern North America (and across the U.S. in winter), saw-whets are highly nocturnal and seldom seen. Their high-pitched too-too-too call is the best indicator that one is nearby. Visit Cornell Labs allaboutbirds.org to learn more.

Wood Thrush Notes

Fall Birdhouse and Feeder Maintenance

It’s a great time to be outside now that the weather is cooling.  Mosquitos and no-see-ums are retreating.  There are several things you can do now to prepare your birdhouses for next spring and get your feeders up to snuff to attract birds this fall and winter.

Birdhouse Maintenance

• Clean out old nests from nestboxes.  It is our opinion this is a must.  Leaving the old nest in the box will not deter a Bluebird or Chickadee from using the box next spring, they would build a new nest on top of the old, however, the old nest debris can create an environment attractive to ants and other insects that can and will actually consume newly hatched babies, and the adults are powerless to stop it. 

• Move birdhouses that have been unproductive for a few years to a new location. Try to determine why this box has not been appealing to a bird, or why there have been multiple failed attempts. Perhaps the nestbox is uncomfortably close to birdfeeders. While some of you have had success with a birdhouse close to feeders we think this location will not typically yield good results year after year. Birds do not normally choose a nest location close to a lot of bird traffic. How far away should you place a nestbox? It’s impossible to be exact but I would suggest about 100’, or out of sight of the feeders if closer. Maybe the nestbox is too exposed to prevailing weather allowing lots of moisture to enter the box. Now is a great time to make some adjustments.

• If you have experienced predation by raccoons or snakes now would be a good time to add a baffle to a pole mount birdhouse. If you have a birdhouse on a tree trunk and had predation issues it is a good time to pole mount and baffle the nestbox. Do not wait too long to make these changes. Time has a way of getting away and you really don’t want to make these changes when a bird has already built a nest and laid eggs next spring.

Feeder Maintenance

Clean up feeders and get ready for feeder activity to pick up significantly in November.  Warm soapy water and a feeder brush usually do an adequate job but for tougher jobs, a mild bleach solution may be necessary. 

It is recommended feeders be cleaned regularly.  Depending on conditions some feeders may need attention monthly.  The seed ports on tube feeders require regular attention but are quite simple to address.  Clorox wipes are a great way to disinfect the ports and perches.  It only takes a minute per feeder.  If any of your tube feeders have significant cracks or holes we may be able to provide you with a new replacement tube.  The tubes on brands like Droll Yankees and Aspects are covered under warranty and we make an effort to keep them in stock.  Bring your feeder in and we’ll see if we can repair it. 

Winters here are typically wet which presents challenges in bird feeding. Wet weather tends to cause seed to clump clogging seed flow and making a mess. Before you know it you have seed that is molding. A weather dome or hanging squirrel baffle provides excellent protection from rain and snow, particularly on feeders containing shelled sunflower, shelled blends and peanuts, and finch feeders.

Winter Birds to Be Looking For

Look for the arrivals of winter residents like Junco, White-throated and White-crowned sparrows, Purple finch, Pine siskin, Red-breasted nuthatch, and Yellow-bellied sapsucker.  And don’t forget to offer suet.  During cold, wet conditions birds such as Bluebirds, Kinglets, Brown Creeper, and Yellow-rumped warbler may visit a suet feeder often. 

Dark-eyed Junco.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Birds may find a water source even more appealing during winter months. Keep your birdbath free of ice with a submersible de-icer. They require an outlet and are thermostatically controlled. As always we have a couple of choices of heated baths in stock, too.

Watch for Red-breasted Nuthatch

A few of our winter visitors/residents are now being seen around Nashville and middle-TN. In recent weeks there have been several reported sightings of Red-breasted nuthatches. This is a bird that usually calls the higher elevations of Eastern Mountains home. This nuthatch is found irregularly in TN from late September to early May. Some years they appear in abundance, others few are present. For this it is recognized as an “irruptive” migrant. Red-breasted nuthatches are smaller than the White-breasted nuthatch and even smaller than the Carolina Chickadee. Measuring in at 4 ½ inches in length it’s understandable one could miss them coming and going from a feeder. They have a black cap and prominent eye line that stands out next to the white brow. And with rust underparts and gray back this is one handsome little bird. You may be familiar with the call of the White-breasted nuthatch being a repeating nasal “yank” “yank” “yank”. The Red-breasted nuthatch call is similar but higher in pitch and has been compared to a toy tin horn.

To Hear the Red-breasted nuthatch call visit Cornell Lab at allaboutbirds.org

An important connection to the presence of Red-breasted nuthatches is pine and/or cedar trees. Pine and cedar offer important food sources and provide dense cover. A poor cone crop in their usual range may explain why they leave those areas for better food availability elsewhere. So, if you live in an area with some stands of pine and cedar keep an eye on your sunflower, woodland blend, and suet feeder. Like chickadees and titmice they will grab a seed, or chunk of suet, and go, not lingering around the feeder.

Hopefully, the appearance of Red-breasted nuthatches is an indication of interesting things to come this winter. It would be nice to see good numbers of Pine Siskins and Purple Finch as well. Have a good weekend. Go look for some birds!

Winter Birds Arriving

Dark Eyed Junco

White-Throated Sparrow

On Wednesday afternoon this week I went for a walk at Gossett Tract Park in Cheatam county looking for evidence of some winter arrivals, like the White-throated sparrow. Sure enough, I was able to see and hear this subtly beautiful bird. Although things have been a little quiet at the feeders some of our winter visitors will soon begin to appear at feeding stations.  This is the time when I begin ground feeding more.  Birds like Juncos, White-throated sparrows, White-crowned sparrows, and Fox sparrows start to quietly sneak into the picture below feeders and near areas of good cover like the brush piles I’ve created.  This handsome group of little birds likes white millet on the ground.  Sometimes you have to look closely to see them as they can blend into the leaves.  

Pine Siskin

Purple Finch

Other birds we look forward to seeing are Pine siskins and Purple finch, which may be seen in good numbers at finch and sunflower feeders.  Pine siskins and Purple finch are here practically every winter but their numbers may vary greatly.  Pine siskins may go unnoticed at finch feeders, blending in with the Goldfinches in their dull winter plumage.  Siskins are the size of a Goldfinch and their plumage is described as heavily streaked with a touch of yellow in the wings and base of the tail.  Listen for the buzzy “shreeee” sound Siskins make.  A flock of siskins may sound like bacon frying.  Goldfinches have slowly been returning to my feeders this week, although at first they were almost imperceptible because of their lack of color. 

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Purple Finch on the left. House Finch on the right.

Purple finches are often confused with House finches.  While we see House finches year round at our feeders Purple finch are typically here only in the late fall and winter months.  The male Purple finch has a more raspberry red color that is most prominent on the chest, head and rump.  The head of the Purple finch is slightly crowned too. Last year Siskins and Purple finches were a little scarce in this area. Will this be the year we are inundated with them?

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Pine Siskin

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Pine Siskin

Suet feeders often produce some of the best surprises of the winter.  Golden and Ruby crowned kinglets will visit suet, as will the Yellow-bellied sapsucker and Red breasted nuthatch, Yellow-rumped and Orange crowned warblers, and Bluebirds and Brown Creepers. 

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

And every winter there are a few folks that will enjoy an overwintering hummingbird, like the Rufous, Anna’s, or even Black-chinned hummingbird.  If you see a hummingbird in the month of November or December please give us a call.

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Male Rufous

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Female Rufous

Spring Migration

Spring Migration is in full swing which means there will be a lot of interesting birds to see if you spend a little time looking around your yard, or at any of our wonderful parks and greenways. If you are going out for your morning, or afternoon walk don’t forget your binoculars because the neo-tropical migrants are passing through, or arriving in middle Tennessee every day on the way to their summer breeding areas. Warblers, Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Tanagers, Swallows, Hummingbirds, and many other species are there for the viewing if you try. Early in the morning, between 6 am and 10 am are best to see some of these birds because many of them migrate at night then settle down in the mornings to feed and rest.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Male Indigo Bunting

The first Ruby-throated hummingbirds to arrive or pass through TN have already been sighted. Usually one, maybe two hummingbird feeders at this time of year is enough. Don’t bother filling your feeder to full capacity at this time as the feeders are of little interest to them this early.

In the coming weeks at your feeders expect to see the always popular Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings. Of course American Goldfinches are here in abundance year round but are now putting on their bright yellow spring plumage.

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

RB Grosbeak males are quite handsome with their black and white plumage and v-shaped splash of red on the chest, while females are brown and white with heavy streaking. Both have the distinguishable heavy beak. These birds may be seen in good numbers at your feeders. In years past I’ve seen as many as a dozen at a time, or some years just a few. They are fond of several types of seeds and feeders. Sunflower and Safflower are the more preferred seeds, while platform, hopper, and tube type feeders all work well. Let us know when you see one.

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Interestingly there are still good numbers of our winter visitors like Purple finch, Pine Siskin, and even Red-breasted Nuthatches in the area.

Reports of Bluebirds with completed nests and with eggs are sprinkling in. It’s still relatively early and plenty of time to attract Bluebirds to a nest box. In years past I would not see a first Bluebird nest until late April.

For daily bird sightings reports of migrating birds you may want to subscribe to TN bird e-mail list, or visit Tennessee Birding on Facebook.

Spring birding class

There is still time to register for Richard Connors bird identification class at Radnor Lake this spring. The 5-week class runs Tuesday mornings from April 9th to May 7th, and includes classroom sessions and morning bird walks. Radnor is a premier location for spring migrants and those migrants are often heard more easily than seen, so this spring class will emphasize "birding by ear". We will work on bird identification by sound as well as by sight. The class is open to beginners, but some prior knowledge of our local birds will be helpful. There is a fee for the 5 week class with part of the proceeds going to Friends of Radnor Lake.

For more information see this web page:

http://www.pbase.com/rconnorsnaturephoto/spring_bird_class_2019

To register for the class contact Richard at rconnorsphoto@aol.com or 615 832-0521.