,

Product Profile: High capacity squirrel proof feeder

,

This feeder measures 27" tall and 12" wide. The 1.5" wire cage only allows small birds.

Bail retaining clips keep squirrels from gaining access to seed hopper.

Quick release base makes cleaning this feeder much faster.

Introducing the high capacity caged feeder by Woodlink. This is one sturdy feeder! Made from thick gauge metal and ¼” PVC, this feeder will provide many years of service and protection against squirrels, starlings, and grackles. At the top of the feeder, there are two large bail clips that keep pesky squirrels from being able to lift the lid and get to the seed. Under the lid is a huge hopper for reserve seed. This hopper easily holds more than a gallon of seed, not to mention what’s in the tube underneath it. The tube itself is made from a 3” piece of PVC, six large seed ports great for sunflower or any favorite seed blend, and a quick release base for easy cleaning of any accumulation that may build up in the bottom of the tube. The cage that surrounds the feeder is a 1.5 inch coated wire grid that works very well at keeping out squirrels and birds cardinal size or larger.

If you’re looking for a large capacity feeder that also keeps out squirrels, starlings, and grackles, stop by and check out this feeder!

Through the month of February, we're offering 20% off all feeders for national bird feeding month.  🐦

,

Bird Bio: Mockingbirds harassing feeder birds.

,
northern_mockingbird_3.jpg

With each day that passes the breeding season for birds’ draws ever closer.  As of the last week of January some songbirds were already singing, like Cardinals and Chickadees.  Spring really is right around the corner and soon the habits and behaviors of birds will begin to change noticeably.

Many of you will experience our state bird, the Northern Mockingbird, ramp up its territorial defense of its chosen breeding- ground.  The typically feisty Mockingbird can be seen harassing predators that encroach on its territory, like hawks and cats.  Maybe you’ve had a Mockingbird take a swipe at you when to close to their nest. 

But it also means “Mockers” may present a problem for your feeder birds.  If your feeding stations are anywhere near the intended nesting area of a Mockingbird one or both of the mating pair may fly in aggressively and make all the feeding birds scatter, over and over again.  This tends to be a very frustrating experience, more so, for the person trying to feed birds than for the birds being chased. This behavior usually persists well into the Mockingbirds first nesting in April.  When the babies hatch and the “Mockers” are feeding young they are usually too busy to chase the feeder birds away.  It will still happen but not with the frequency of earlier in the breeding season.

Suggestions:

  • Temporarily move, or spread out, your feeders. One Mockingbird cannot be in two or three places at once.  Move feeders further away or out of sight of the location they appear to be guarding.  Mockingbirds often use evergreen trees or shrubs, or dense hedges to nest in.
  • Try offering the Mockingbirds a few live mealworms a couple of times a day.  This may or may not alleviate the tension but you may gain an appreciation for the “personality” this intelligent bird displays. Be sure to offer the mealworms near the Mockingbirds’ supposed nest-site and not near the birds feeding station.  
  • When we have fed Mockingbirds on our loading dock at the store it’s been an enjoyable experience.   They nearly come to our feet and are quite tolerant of our presence. 

February is national birdfeeding month so stay tuned for more blogs througout the month. Also stop by and take advantage of our big bird feeding sale running through February.

Click Here to read more about the sale.

,

Local Birding News: February is national bird feeding month.

,

February is National Bird Feeding Month and to celebrate The Wood Thrush Shop will be having a store wide sale on all things bird feeding, bird attracting, and birdwatching.   Sale details to come out next week.

Other bird related things going on in February include….

Winter Bird Banding at Warner Park Nature Center, 7311 Hwy 100.  February 3rd stop by between 9 a.m. and noon to witness licensed bird banders as they research winter birds in our area.  The BIRD team will discuss the winter banding project and what they learn through banding.  Seeing wild birds up close gives you a whole different perspective of these fascinating creatures.  No registration required. 

The Dr. Ed Gleaves Memorial Bird Walk

Dr. Gleaves volunteered at the Warner Park Nature Center for 15 years and was an avid birdwatcher as well as a long time customer of The Wood Thrush Shop.  Join experienced birders Chris Sloan and Heather Gallagher for a winter bird walk.  You may register at wpnc.nashville.gov

The Great Backyard Bird Count.

Take part in this annual event conducted by the Audubon Society.  Feb 16 through Feb 19 count the numbers and species of birds visiting feeding stations in your yard.  Help Cornell with their research by contributing your data.  For more information visit gbbc.birdcount.org

You may also be interested in Project Feederwatch by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America.  Project Feederwatch begins in November and concludes in April.  For more information visit feederwatch.org

Woodcock walk

One of Mother Nature’s spectacular courtships takes place in late winter. Woodcocks are known for the unique flight-display of males during breeding season. Join naturalist Chris Guerin Thursday, February 20th, 5:00-6:30pm for an evening of woodcock watching at Bells Bend Outdoor Center. For more information visit Bells Bend Outdoor Center. Age level: 13+ Call 615-862-4187 to register.

Store update: Winter freight delays

wood_thrush_LOGO[1].jpeg

Hello Wood Thrush Customers,

Due to the recent winter weather across the U.S. receiving freight has been a problem.  Our bird feed comes from Des Moines, IA and our truck load scheduled to be here yesterday has still not arrived as of today, Friday the 19th.  While we still have adequate quantities of some feeds we are very low, or out of others.  You may want to call first to see if we have your choice of feed if you intend to visit us today or tomorrow.  Sorry for the inconvenience and we’ve been assured our load of seed will arrive Monday the 22nd.  

Bird Bio: Orange Crowned Warbler

In the recent wintery weather did you see anything “different” at your feeders?  Just yesterday, Jan. 17, I noticed something different at a tube feeder with a variety of Wood Thrush Shop blends.  What caught my eye was a bird smaller than a Goldfinch that moved differently than the other birds.  It was quicker as it moved among the branches to the feeder, and it was by itself.  I then keyed in on the color which was more greenish-yellow than Goldfinches.  Looking through my binoculars that I keep by the window where I watch birds it became clear I had an Orange-crowned Warbler.  And it was the first recorded in my yard.  I got a little video to share with you although the quality isn’t great. 

The Orange-crowned warbler measures about 4 ½” in length and has no wing bars or distinctive marks.  It’s olive-green to gray above, and yellow-green below.  Looking through binoculars you may notice faint streaks on the breast.  The orange on the crown is barely visible and seldom seen.  They are primarily insect eaters but in this kind of weather they can adapt to small bits of seed and fruit. 

Other birds of note during the snowy weather are the Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Fox sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebird (eating suet and mealworms), and Red-winged blackbirds.

Always be extra vigilante during winter weather for the more unusual birds.  They notice the additional bird traffic at feeders and follow in to investigate.

Links

Subscribe

* indicates required
I am interested in receiving e-mails for

Intuit Mailchimp