One lucky duck!

A customer called me Saturday morning at tell me that a male mallard was stuck in the ice on the pond behind our store.

I sent my husband over to the pond because I had customers. When he arrived the police were investigating the scene and shortly there after the local fire & rescue truck pulled up. After a through evaluation of the scene they decided to send a fireman out on the ice to free the duck. Lt. Urban volunteered to go out on the ice.

The temperature had hit over 50 the day before so there had been a lot of melting but the temperature plummeted that night to below freezing. Not only was this risky but it was also his first time to put his training into action.

Lt. Urban was tethered by a rope to land which was being held by the other firemen. He wore a dry suit just in case. The mallard was probably 50 feet out from the shore but Lt. Urban was able to walk out to the mallard without incident.

It seems the mallard was on the ice too long. His belly was frozen to the ice. With the high temps yesterday, the water pooled on top of the pond. The mallard probably fell asleep and because they stay warm and cozy with their down feathers, didn’t awaken until much later, after the pond had froze over again.

Lt. Urban brought out a bottle of warm water and poured it on the mallards belly. With a little bit of work, it freed him. He flew away quickly and seemed unharmed.

I was very pleased to see that we have such caring individuals in the city and working for us here. The timely response and actions of the fire department, even for a seemingly minor incident, makes me feel like we are in the right hands!

Fall Birdfeeding Tips

Assess your yard. A diverse habitat encourages a variety of birds. Plant bushes that will produce berries next year to attract fruit-eating birds.

Inventory your feeders. In addition to hopper feeders and seed tubes, consider adding a peanut or suet feeder to your yard. Suet and peanuts are high in fat which provides energy and helps birds stay warm in the winter.

Clean your feeders with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water. Rinse thoroughly.

Put up a window feeder to bring birds even closer during the fall and winter.

Offer water to attract migratory birds. As temperatures drop, it is important to provide an open source of fresh water for the birds.

When temperatures drop, protect all birdbaths made from porous materials. Protect the bowl with a plastic cover and store. Replace it with a plastic birdbath bowl or a heated birdbath.

Watch for fall migrants. Keep optics and a field guide on hand for quick identification.

Once hummingbird migration has ended in your area, take down your feeder, clean and store.

Have children help you prepare to feed the birds. Early involvement in birdfeeding can instill an appreciation for nature and grow into a life-long hobby. Get involved in Project Feeder Watch and help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.

Already providing food, water, cover and places to raise young in your yard? Consider certifying your yard with the National Wildlife Federation®. Certification packages are available at our store.

With Ike coming thru Ohio a couple of weeks ago, it has prompted many questions about how our backyard birds handle high winds.

Research indicates that birds are sensitive to changes in air pressure. So when the pressure drops significantly, indicating a large storm is on the way, birds take notice. If birds detect an approaching storm in the fall, when they don't have a nest or babies to protect, they will, for the most part, huddle down in dense shrubs or trees where they will be sheltered. Larger birds may attempt to fly ahead of the storm, carried by the winds at the forefront of the system. Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters have been known to use tree cavities to ride out the storm, which can be dangerous given the chance of the trees snapping or getting uprooted.

Luckily for perching birds, their feet work differently than human hands. When perching birds sit, a tendon on the backside of the ankle automatically flexes locking their toes around the branch. As the bird stands up its feet release. This holds them in place during high winds or when they sleep.

Migrating birds will avoid these storms as much as possible. However, birds can get caught up in the eye of the storm and end up hundreds of miles from where they started. This can be especially dangerous to birds that live near the ocean and can not find a food source after being displaced.

Birds can also be affected in high winds when their food supplies, such as fruits, berries, nuts and seeds are stripped from trees, shrubs and weeds. Hummingbirds can be devasted by this at the end of summer if nectaring plants are permanently damaged due to winds.

After using up a lot of energy trying to ride the storm out birds need to reload immediately after a storm. What can we do to help them? Be sure your feeders are full immediately after the storm. Feed them high protein foods, such as suet, black oil sunflower & safflower to re-build their strength. And always be sure they have a clean water source. This will take the stress off them and allow you to sit back & enjoy….well, after you've picked up all of the branches off your lawn!

Birds Fly Out as Fall Rolls In

Our sky’s will play host to thousands of winged visitors for the next few weeks, as birds from across the country migrate to their fall and winter destinations. This is a very exciting time for birdwatchers and individuals who feed wild birds, because many species not native to the area will be passing through and will be seen at feeders, in birdbaths, in yards and in other natural settings.

Migration is a fascinating part of bird behavior. It appears that age, sex, weather and the availability of food, water and shelter are the major factors in migratory behavior.

More than 300 bird species found in North America during the summer will make their way to Latin America and the Caribbean, some covering distances of nearly 7,000 miles.

While migration is still not completely understood, it appears that some birds orient themselves by the stars on clear nights while others seem to have a built-in magnetic compass. Some birds travel over large bodies of water, and it is not uncommon for birds to lose one fourth to one half of their body weight during over-water migration.

In order to survive their grueling trip, birds accumulate fat prior to migration. This physiological change helps the birds maintain their energy reserves.

Not only can we enjoy migrating birds as they pass through our area, but, we can also play a role in their survival by providing food, water, habitat and/or shelter to help them conserve and replenish their energy supply during their journey.

Bird Chat Q & A - Water

Q: Should I Put A Birdbath Out For The Birds?

All wildlife requires four basic elements to survive: food, water, cover, and areas to raise young. Wildlife needs water both for drinking and bathing. Water can be more attractive to birds than food. The more movement and sounds of water, the more attractive to birds. Water can be supplied in a birdbath, a small pool, a recirculating waterfall, a shallow dish, or through a dripper or mister. A dependable, year-round water source is best.

An elevated birdbath protects birds from cats and other predators and is an attractive addition to the yard. A small pool set into the ground can provide not only water for drinking and bathing but also cover and reproductive areas for small fish, frogs, insects, and reptiles.

Birdbaths should be no deeper than 1 to 3 inches to allow birds to stand in the water. Birdbaths should slope slightly so birds can move from shallow to deeper water. This also accommodates the different sizes of birds that drink or bath in the bath.

Most birds dip their bill and then tip their head back to let the water run down their throat. Small birds will use the dewdrops as a source of water. Doves and pigeons drink by immersing their bills and sucking up the water (much like a horse). Not all birds need to drink water. Hummingbirds, for example, have a largely liquid nectar diet. (Hummingbirds do seem to enjoy playing and bathing in water.)

Provide a water source for the birds and you will be rewarded by watching them come to the bath all year long!
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Q: Can I leave my birdbath out all winter?

A: It is important to provide water for the birds year round. It can be difficult for birds to find water due to freezing conditions or dried up sources. If you have a concrete or decorative bath, the temperature and moisture variation may cause the concrete to crack. Store the bowl in the garage or basement, replace it with a plastic birdbath bowl and add a heater. A birdbath heater keeps an opening in the ice so birds can drink. Some birdbaths even come with a built-in heater.
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Q: The birds won’t come to my birdbath. What can I do to attract them?

A: Be patient. It may take birds a while to feel comfortable coming to the bath. Be sure the birds can see the bath. Birds are extremely attracted to moving water, so consider adding a dripper or a fountain to the bath.
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Q: What is the best way to clean my birdbath?

A: Use a stiff brush and rinse the birdbath thoroughly. Replace the water with fresh water on a regular basis. If necessary, use a solution of 10 parts water and 1 part bleach to clean stubborn stains.

The questions we get most frequently right now in the store are regarding hummingbirds.

Where are my hummingbirds?

Sightings are definitely down this year. Last year was a banner year for hummingbird visits and because we didn't get a spring freeze this year everything bloomed - good for us, great for the hummingbirds! They'll take natures nectar over ours any day!

But don't give up! Continue to change your nectar twice a week. Hummers will finish up nesting in August, the babes will be hunger, the blooms will have died off and they'll be hitting the feeders once again.

How do I keep ants and bees out of my hummingbird feeders?

My first response is, 'Is your hummingbird feeder dripping?' If it is throw it out and get a new one that has ports above the nectar. Dripping hummingbird feeders are like a huge FREE FOOD HERE sign for ants and bees! During the hottest times of the year, when hummingbirds are visiting your feeders often, nectar heats up and creates pressure inside the feeder and if your feeders nectar reservoir is above the ports it is bound to leak out.

But if you want to try to deal with these pests, here are some tips:

Ants are prolific this year and they too love nectar! But guess what? They don't swim! So attach an ant moat filled with water to your feeder so that the ants have to (attempt to) go through the water to get to your hummingbird feeder. Check the water level frequently as finch love to take sips from the ant moats & it will evaporate fast on hot days!

Bees are much trickier! Diligence is key here. The only solution I have heard of (that is said to have worked) is to use Avon Skin So Soft around the portal - NOT in the portal. Bees don't like it. The only issue with this is of course reapplying often.

I personally would recommend you purchase a hummingbird feeder with extended ports on the inside of the feeder. This makes it more difficult for bees to get to the nectar and if they too don't give up you can attach nectar guards to the inside ports. The hummers can still get their nectar but the bees can't get near it.