Wood Thrush Notes

Bluebirds getting busy

In the past two weeks I have witnessed Bluebirds landing on and looking in nestboxes around my yard. Some of you have reported the same thing. Even in very cold temperatures this is normal behavior for Bluebirds in February as they begin to show interest in potential nest sites. You may see a couple of males and a female, or a couple of females and a male arrive together and go through some of the motions of courtship: wing fluttering and maybe even putting a few sprigs of nest material in the box. None of this is with any intent to nest now but simply preparation for a couple of months from now. A few eager Bluebirds may begin nesting as early as mid-March; however, the vast majority will not begin in earnest until the mid to latter part of April. So, now is a great time to present a Bluebird box if you haven’t already. And if you were thinking about moving a nestbox because of lack of success for a few years now is a really good time to do so. Video of Bluebirds wing waving.

Don’t forget next weekend, February 16th-19th is the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Simply count and record birds you see from any location. For more information and how to count and record the birds you see visit www.birdcount.org/participate/

Wood Thrush Notes

Bird feeding Slowly Picking Up

A couple of weeks ago I incorrectly proclaimed the end of summer with the impending cold front predicted and its arrival. Then temperatures returned to the 80’s this week. The warm temperatures are doing very little to inspire birds to return to our feeding stations. We continue to get phone calls from concerned people wondering why their feeders are so inactive. Again, the abundance of natural food sources available is too good to pass up at this time.

At my home this past weekend I did see some encouraging signs such as a small group of American Goldfinches consistently at the finch feeder. Remember, Goldfinches have now lost their bright yellow breeding plumage and have reverted to their dull winter appearance. Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches were quite busy making repeated trips from feeders to hiding places they have chosen to stash food. A few Red-bellied and Downy woodpeckers decided to partake of suet, and I saw a first of this fall Yellow-bellied sapsucker.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

American Goldfinch. Winter Plumage.

Cold Front Brings Some Interesting Visitors

The cold front did bring some interesting visitors to TN. Birdwatchers know to look at bodies of water more carefully after a cold front has passed as this often pushes shorebirds, wading birds, ducks and geese, and cranes into the area. Recently seen birds of interest include Limpkin, Red-necked Grebe, Common Loon, White-winged Scoter, and Surf Scoter. Straddling the border between Tennessee and Kentucky is Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This 6-8 mile wide strip of land separates Kentucky Lake to the west and Lake Barkley to the east and forms the largest inland peninsula in the United States. From October through May, the entire area is an excellent hotspot for birdwatching. A noteworthy visitor to look for during this time is the American White Pelican. These birds are hard to miss, as they stand up to four feet tall and have wingspans up to nine feet. They are a communal bird and during the spring can be seen flying in flocks of several hundred individuals. According to L.B.L.’s lead naturalist, John Pollpeter, in recent years satellite images have shown upwards of 5,000 individuals. Bald eagles, Osprey, Double-crested cormorants, and Common loons are also common.

We would like to thank all those who have served our country this Veterans Day.

Wood Thrush Notes: First Migrants Arrive in TN.

Sale Continues and GBBC

Our February sale continues through this Saturday the 18th on all bird feeding related products. Seed and feed, and all bird feeders and accessories are marked down. Get ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count which takes place Feb. 17-21. Take part in this fun activity where your backyard bird data is used by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Visit www.birdcount.org for more information.

First Neotropical Migrants Arrive in TN

We naturally think of migration happening in “spring” and “fall”, however, spring migration has already begun and just last Saturday some of the earliest songbirds arriving from Central and South America were spotted in a couple of locations in TN by avid birdwatchers. One location, the Duck River Unit of TN National Wildlife Refuge in Waverly, is a very popular and productive birdwatching location.

Neotropical means relating to or denoting a zoogeographical region comprising Central and South America, including the tropical southern part of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Tree swallows were spotted in both Chattanooga and Waverly. Tree swallows are a beautiful bird that we see with regularity using Bluebird boxes statewide. We have had customers report having Tree swallows in Bluebird boxes for many years now. Tree swallows are primarily insect consumers, but unlike other swallows, can eat plant foods which help them survive potential wintery weather of early spring. Tree swallows are often seen in open field areas away from trees but get their name from commonly nesting in tree cavities.

Tree Swallow

The Swallow family in general is among the earliest migrating birds to return to N. Am. every spring. This family consists of Purple Martins, Tree, Cliff, Rough-winged, and Barn swallows.

Spring migration for Ruby-throated hummingbirds, as usual, is closer to April. It is not uncommon for a few hummingbirds to be seen and reported the last week of March, but the vast majority of Ruby-throated hummingbirds will arrive in, or pass through, TN between the first of April and mid-May.

Wood Thrush Notes

Brown Creepers and other Winter Migrants

This morning I had the pleasure of spotting one of my favorite birds of winter, the Brown Creeper. It is not a rare bird but is considered an uncommon winter resident statewide from October to April. It is an elusive bird for the backyard birder due to its camouflage plumage and habit of traveling on the trunks of trees. Every fall and winter I catch a few glimpses of a Brown Creeper heading up the trunk of a tree as it searches for insects in the bark. This is the only species we have that only goes up a tree and never down. It has a unique way of foraging for food by creeping up a tree and then fluttering down to the base of another tree climbing up in a spiral or zig zag path. It’s very interesting to watch. Brown Creepers are quite small, about 5” in length, and quite well camouflaged. They are brown above and whitish below, with a slender de-curved (downward curve) bill. Like a Carolina Wren they have a prominent white eye stripe.

Brown Creepers are primarily insect eaters but suet is its preferred food at feeders. As always we suggest watching your suet feeder a little more closely this time of year as many more unusual birds are seen at suet feeders. Birds seen at local suet feeders the last few winters include; Orange-crowned, Pine, and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, and Western Tanager

Wood Thrush Notes

Reminder: Important Store Hours Update

We are closing for a couple of days. On Saturday, October 15 we will close at 2 pm and re-open Wednesday, October 19.

Hummingbirds and other Migrant

A few weeks ago we mentioned BirdCast, a project by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Colorado State University, and UMass Amherst, to track bird migration using radar. Click here to visit birdcast.info

Mid-October is peak time for songbird migration through middle TN as neo-tropical migrants’ are going back to Central and South America. BirdCast estimates that while you were sleeping 3,675,600 birds crossed Davidson County last night. Yes, that’s 3 million from just after sunset until Friday morning just before 7 am. The high traffic count of birds in flight was 570,000. Across the country billions of birds migrate at night in spring and fall. City lights are a very real threat to bird migration as they are attracted to the lights and collide with windows. Bird Safe Nashville has begun a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of city lights and to encourage businesses and homeowners to turn off exterior lighting during peak times of migration. For more information visit www.birdsafenashville.org

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are still being seen in small numbers. Even though you may not have seen any for a few weeks we suggest keeping a feeder up with small amounts of fresh nectar. My late date to observe a Ruby-throated hummingbird in my yard in Cheatham Co. is October 25. There is also a chance you may see a different species of hummer appear at your feeder. Practically every year we have a customer or two that gets a western U.S. hummer, like a Rufous or Anna’s at a feeder they have left out into the months of November and December. Maybe this year it will be you.

Adult Male Rufous Hummingbird

Adult Male Anna’s Hummingbird

Have a great weekend and wherever you go bring your binoculars.