Birds of West Cobb

In this blog "Introducing the Carolina Wren" we will share photographs and information about one of our favorite birds: the Carolina Wren. And now... we are glad you've joined us to read our blog " introducing the Carolina Wren !" Carolina Wrens are some of our favorite birds here at Birds of West Cobb! They have so much energy, a fun cheery song in the mornings, and their pose with their little tail pointing nearly straight up in the air. We’ve heard their different calls so often that we can tell their “Alarm” sound from their standard “Good morning world!” song. This could be because a hawk is near, or some other predator like a cat or snake. I like to think of it as Nature’s “backyard warning alarm system”. Additionally, wrens are extremely beneficial and eat a TON of small garden-variety insects, spiders, caterpillars, and butterflies/moths, even ants on occasion. When we first started feeding the local wildlife at our home, we had a small table on our front porch. On the top of the table, we had a small glass vase with some fake flowers in it. This vase and fake flowers had been here for several years and had never moved, aside from us washing the pollen off each spring. This porch is also a covered porch that we wouldn’t even use for a week or two at a time because we often exited through the garage instead. So it was likely being ‘updated’ by our new tenant for a couple of days, maybe even a week before we noticed. Mid-Spring that year we noticed that the glass vase suddenly had some pine straw sticking out of the top. Upon further inspection, we realized that birds had built a nest down inside this vase, between the fake flower stems! We were so lucky to have this table sitting directly in front of one window so we could peer out, between the blinds, from our living room and watch Wren E. Wren and Mrs. Wren E. Wren protect the eggs, and then later fly in and out constantly feeding the children over the next few weeks. One evening while the birds were away briefly, I counted 5 eggs in the nest. They were so small that it was incredible to think they would be bouncy, animated little birds in barely a month. Sadly not all 5 eggs hatched though and they ended up with 3 young birds. Wrens will nest sometimes in low-lying shrubbery, patio furniture, brush piles, vases apparently, and sometimes within small birdhouses. Over the years I’ve even seen them nest in garage shelving, between tools and cleaners. In this case, they chose a nest that was perfectly placed. It was not in our direct path and we were pretty unlikely to disturb the parents or the young. They grow up so fast! I was washing our cars in the driveway a few weeks later and looked around the corner toward the porch and noticed one small juvenile wren was on the deck floor, under the table! I was afraid that something happened to the nest at first and I wanted to help somehow. I heard the parents making their alarm call at this point and realized they were alarmed by me, being so close to their young. I took a step back and the fledgling flapped a few times and was mid-air in the blink of an eye. This little wren flew right past my face and landed on the roof rack on my car. A few minutes later the other two fledglings popped out of the top of the vase and followed suit. It has been several years now, and we’ve had them nest in several containers on our porch since, but we always think back to that first time with the glass vase and our shock when we found the tuft of pine straw protruding from the fake flowers. This photo shows a “Winter Wren”, which is a different species The Winter Wren often can be seen during migration, or over the Winter-to-Early Spring period where they will generally be found in the Southern states. They are shaped and sized very closely to the Carolina Wren, however they are a different species and almost appear as if they were dirty or have mottled feathers like a fledgling Carolina Wren might have. You may have heard someone refer to them as a "House Wren", but that too is a different species. In fact, there are NINE species of Wren in North America. While they have similarities between them, they are all unique in their size, coloration, calls and esapecially their diet! While 9 species may seem like a lot, there are actually 88 species of Wrens worldwide! ( link to referencing material on wikipedia ).

Each April, we look forward to seeing Ruby-throated hummingbirds have arrived back at our feeders The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is an incredible creature, and we are very lucky to see them so frequently in the Spring and Summer months. These are tiny birds that can fly forward, in reverse, and in basically any other direction they choose. They have a top speed of around 22mph, and with that in mind, it is truly incredible that they migrate to South America each year for the Winter months. We generally see the first few “hummers” arrive in April. My theory is that these are usually just passing through on their way to their northern summer homes. Generally, by April/May, our resident Hummingbirds have arrived and start to frequent the feeders around our house. Lisa makes her own Hummingbird Nectar from scratch using 1 part sugar and 4 parts water. No food coloring or other chemicals are necessary and in fact, can cause harm to the hummers. Please don’t use the “pre-mix” red fluid they sell at most major stores like Home Depot or Lowes or Walmart (to name a few). Take a few minutes and mix your own! How can you get these amazing tiny birds to your yard? Flowering shrubs and trees are a good start, but we found that purple salvia is an amazing plant that returns year after year here in Georgia, even though it’s labeled as an Annual. In Marietta, we are considered “North of Atlanta” in case you are looking at planting zones on a label while shopping for Hummingbird-friendly plants. These start to pop up in our flower beds in early late March or early April, and by mid-May, our first blooms are starting to open. These plants can grow over 4′ tall and make a great colorful privacy plant but also attract loads of hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, bees and more! We like to support ours with tomato cages (when the plants are small and growing still) and these double as perches for the little hummers. When the hummers first arrive, they are pretty thin, very quick, and difficult to capture up close. They are also extremely territorial birds and generally, a single male ruby-throated hummingbird will claim a feeder or a perch as his own, and chase other hummingbirds away constantly. However, over the course of the Summer, these birds increase their body weight significantly as they store up fuel for their Autumn journey back to Central America. As a result, they fly a bit more slowly, perch more often, and sometimes you’ll even see 3-4 of them on a feeder at the same time! Considering that only 2 months earlier they wouldn’t be happy in the same zip code, this is pretty amusing! If you follow this blog we’ll try and make a point to capture this later in the season for you and our other readers! If you are interested in reading more about Hummingbird feeders, and selecting the right one to get the most birds, check out our other Blog Post here on this topic: https://www.birdsofwestcobb.com/post/which-feeder-attracts-the-most-hummingbirds

A quick introduction to the Carolina Chickadee with photos for reference to help you identify the Carolina Chickadee on your feeder and in your yard. The Carolina Chickadee is probably one of the smallest “feeder” birds (close to the size of a ruby-crowned kinglet) and one of the most frequent to visit our feeders as well. We published this blog to provide you with an introduction to the Carolina Chickadee so you can identify them when they visit your feeder and your yard. While primarily interested in sunflower or safflower seeds, occasionally they need a higher protein fix and go for some dried mealworms instead. We just call our Chickadees “Dee” or “Dee Dee” for short, partly due to their name but also because you can hear them calling out from the trees whenever the feeders get low: “Dee Dee Dee Dee Dee”! Carolina chickadees are quite a bit smaller than Eastern bluebirds, however, they have nested in our bluebird boxes several times over the past 6-7 years. This is always a pleasant thing to discover and you will see these little birds way more often than when they aren’t nesting nearby. They are pretty timid typically and hard to capture up close! Feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think about these adorable little birds! Carolina Chickadees have a great personality. They never bully smaller birds. They wait their turn for food and water so it’s important to have a good water source nearby. We use a terra-cotta plate, 12″ diameter or larger, and change the water out daily. After a few weeks of the plate of water existing in the same location, birds of all types will come and drink and even take baths. The Chickadees however are small enough that they can basically duck their whole heads under the surface for a moment, and then splash and shake the water out of their feathers. When it gets hot outside (80+ degrees Fahrenheit) you will see more and more birds taking baths. I’ll dig up some more photos, but here is a picture with a male in the early-morning glow of the sun. Thanks for reading! Carolina Chickadees will also drink from water in overflow trays below potted plants, and often we see them drinking from our Hummingbird Feeder Ant Traps as well! In the image below however, we captured a Carolina Chickadee eating from a freshly cleaned tube feeder.

A photo reference guide by Birds of West Cobb, to assist you with identifying baby birds at your feeders in the Spring and Summer months. Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by our Blog "Birds of West Cobb". This blog post is all about "identifying baby birds at your feeders". This a fun topic and we look forward to it every Spring. I’m hopeful that the images included below will help you identify the species of fledgling / juvenile birds at your feeders and in your yard. Some of them are generally easy to spot, and others you may need to watch their behavior to determine which species they are because they look so different as juveniles. The photo below showing a young poult (juvenile Eastern Wild Turkey) is a great example. We are located in Marietta, Georgia. It’s a suburb of Atlanta which is famous for several things – ironically one of them is “the big Chicken”. We have no affiliation with the KFC mascot and to our knowledge the “Big Chicken” has no offspring. I just wanted to clear this up in case you were reading in a different country and wondered about the birds you were seeing here on our blog. What types of baby birds or fledglings will come to your bird feeders? Near Atlanta, GA you might see the following birds: Northern Cardinals, Rufous-sided towhees, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, House Finches, Gold Finches, Brown-headed Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Grey Catbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, Blue Jays, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, European Starlings (invasive), Common Crows, Mourning Doves, Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Brown Thrashers and more! Its a wonderful time of the year! I’ve included a photo of the adult and a few photos of the juvenile to help you with the photo gallery below!

In this blog, we answer the common question "What is Georgia's State Bird?" You may have guessed that it was the mosquito, but it’s actually the Brown Thrasher. Traveling through Georgia, or even living here as a resident and you may wonder "What is Georgia's State Bird?" The Georgia State Bird is the Brown Thrasher. It was selected to be the state bird by the Governor of Georgia in 1935 ( Eugene Talmadge ), however, it wasn’t officially recognized as such until 1970 after being pushed by the Garden Clubs of Georgia! You can read more about it here in this article by AJC . We named our resident Brown Thrasher “Thor” because he absolutely dominates the feeding area when he is present. He will glide in effortlessly and perch near the ground. After a quick safety check (hawks, cats, people) he will move to the ground in search of insects or mealworms we tossed out for he and other birds. He will sometimes grab the leaves with two feet and flip then out of his way, other times he will use his bill to toss them. Either way, it’s pretty entertaining to watch Thor the Brown Thrasher looking for food. Towhees, Bluebirds, and even Carolina Wrens better look out because Thor isn't afraid to chase them away from his food source! We had Thrashers in the yard long before we started to feed the birds, although feeding them brought them closer than we had been to them before. If you are ever outside and near some thick, dense shrubbery and you hear something flipping leaves, and you catch a glimpse of a brownish bird about the size of a Blue Jay or a Common Grackle, it’s probably a Brown Thrasher. Here is an interesting note about the eyes of a Brown Thrasher. I read in several blogs that it is believed that when Brown Thrashers are very young (juvenile), their eyes appear grey or blue/grey. As they mature their eyes begin to turn brighter and brighter yellow. It was interesting that for most of the articles I read this was all based on theories. Well, here at Birds of West Cobb @birdsofwestcobb we have seen it to be true. Brown Thrashers have an INCREDIBLE vocabulary. Years ago, I experienced a Northern Mockingbird that seemed to have an endless list of calls and sounds. While impressive, I have now seen several Thrashers do the same and with at least 4-5x as many calls and sounds as the mockingbird. Brown Thrashers can mimic or call with over 1,000 sounds, and research shows that this could actually be a lot higher still, (as much as 3,000 different calls!) That is insane to think of, and it may be more vocabulary than some people I know… ha! There is an article on the Georgia Department of Natural Resources website that talks more about it, and gives a lot more information about the Brown Thrashers in general. Check out this recent video clip below of a Brown Thrasher taking a bath on a warm day! We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping a clean fresh bird bath for ALL of your birds. We actually have 3 different sized plates or terracotta plant dishes that work incredibly well as bird baths.

That's Right! A Barred Owl visited Birds of West Cobb 3 days in a row! As Cobb County (Marietta, Georgia) continues to be developed and new subdivisions, shopping plazas and convenience stores are built, there are less and less mature forests in the area. We are lucky to live in an "older" subdivision that was built in the 1970's, and many of the trees were not removed during construction. I believe this is a great reason for our very diverse bird environment. In fact we have counted over 50 species of birds and at least a dozen mammals in our yard alone! On occasion, (during late Spring and early Summer) we hear owls at night, but we rarely get to see them. A few days ago I went outside to try and capture some photos of American Goldfinches, at least 45 minutes before dusk. Periodically I look around and zoom in on different areas of the yard when something catches my eye. In this case I saw something with my naked eye that looked like a brown ball of fur or feathers, sitting directly on the fence pickets. I thought "that seems like a really big squirrel" for a second and had to zoom in with my camera to see what it was. I was surprised to find out that it was a Barred Owl! That's right, a Barred Owl visited us. But it gets better! The Owl, (we named it Owlexander ) has now been back multiple times over the past few days! (This is the photo I captured the first time I saw Owlexander on the fence, below!) Luckily we have not seen Owlexander chase any birds so far, perhaps because Barred Owls have a pretty diverse diet and while birds may be a piece of this, they certainly enjoy other cuisines also! We have a decent number of squirrels, chipmunks, spotted a mouse on one occasion, and have also seen flying squirrels in the past. Owls prefer to eat small rodents but will also eat reptiles, amphibians, small birds, and even large insects! Here is a quick video of Owlexander on our fence (nearly 110 feet from the back door where I was standing with the camera!) Are Barred Owls Active at Night or During the day? So you may wonder if Barred Owls are active at night or during the daytime? Read more below! At several local parks (Kemp Park, Allatoona Creek Park and Green Meadows Preserve) I have spotted Barred Owls in the past. Usually perched somewhat low in large trees, and they tend to land fairly close to the trunk of the tree. They blend in really well and their feathers help with this camoflage. In fact, as I was watching Owlexander yesterday, he flew from one tree to another and after perching, he took several side-steps directly toward the trunk, before freezing and essentially vanishing from sight. The coloration of the feathers nearly matched the tree bark perfectly and within moments bird activity resumed around him as if he wasn't even there. Barred Owls can be quite active during the daylight hours, depending on their food sources, if it's breeding season or not, and there is always the chance that they were simply disturbed from their roosting place by someone making a lot of noise (cars, motorcycles, leaf blowers, etc). Where do Barred Owls Nest? Barred Owls typically nest in natural tree cavities, where limbs may have fallen off or there is an opening in the trunk due to a variety of natural causes (storms, insects, fungus, even lightning!). However, it is possible that they will also nest in a species-specific Birdhouse with very precise measurements for a bird of this size. As an example, A bluebird nest box may only measure 11" tall and 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" floor and a 1 1/2" entry hole. A Barred Owl house however, would need to be approximately 30" tall, with a 24" x 24" floor, and an entry hole measuring 6" across! Look, that's a pretty large bird! Are Barred Owls Territorial? Barred Owls, like many other birds, can be quite territorial. They may quarrel over a certain feeding area but most of the time they will mind their own business. However, if they are nesting nearby they may be a bit more intimidating and lash out, especially if they have fledglings nearby and they are in a "protective parent" mode. I was once mountain biking in the woods with friends in Woodstock, Georgia and a Barred Owl starting chasing my friend, right in front of me! We can only assume that we got a little too close on our bikes to a nest or some young owlets. Thanks for reading our blog about the Barred Owl that visited us this week. It is very impressive that so many birds visit us here in Marietta, and we see far less cross-species fighting than you might expect! Just this week we also had visits from a Red-tailed Hawk and a Cooper's Hawk. It's almost like the birds have Yelp! and use it to find a good meal in a safe place. Thanks for reading our blog, bird friends!

Birds of West Cobb has assembled some tips for attracting Winter Bluebirds to your Bird Feeders! It's no secret that we absolutely love our Eastern Bluebirds. From the very beginning of our bird-feeding adventures and posting our photos for the world to enjoy on Instagram, we hoped that we would see a Bluebird. Within a few weeks or a month, we were lucky enough to have one visit. And then another... and another. Of course it helps significantly that we are very near " The Green Meadows Preserve " (which is located approximately 1 mile from our home.) However, some of our neighbors came to us and asked how we are able to attract so many Bluebirds when they have tried just about everything, and they have rarely seen one in their yard. So we've put some tips together for attracting Winter Bluebirds to your feeders! We hope you find this information helpful! Tip #1: Bluebirds prefer open meadows/fields considerably over forested areas. If you live in a heavily forested area you will simply not be as likely to see these birds (typically). In the Eastern United States, the (aptly-named) Eastern Bluebird can be found from Canada on the North, throughout the Eastern United States, all the way into Florida to the South. In the Spring and Summer months, Bluebirds can be seen along fence posts, wires or pickets, perched on the roof tops of bird nesting boxes, flying quickly down to grab insects, spiders or worms, and then right back up to feed their young. So if you live near a pasture, farm, or have a large lot with grassy fields nearby, these areas would be your best bet in spotting them during the warmer months. Tip #2: Bluebirds depend on insects, worms, caterpillars and spiders for their high-protein and fat diets. Once the temperature starts dropping however, the insects that these amazing Eastern Bluebirds depend on for such a large part of their diet start to move much more slowly, eventually not moving at all. These incredible birds hunt primarily by sight, so without the motion, there is much less food obtainable for them. As temperatures approach freezing (or plummet well-below freezing), most birds foraging for insects (especially those in the Thrush family like the Eastern Bluebird) will toss leaves around looking for anything tasty, but there are far fewer morsels to be found. If they cannot find anything appealing, they move on to the next leaf (or next area.) For those of us that like to feed wild backyard birds this is an excellent opportunity to attract Bluebirds. Adding a high-protein option to your bird feeding offerings such as dried (or live) mealworms , will provide these gorgeous Bluebirds with the nutrition they are lacking and they will come back again and again. Additionally, there are some Suet cakes we can recommend (further down) which also have a large content percentage of mealworms or other insects which woodpeckers and warblers will also enjoy thoroughly. Here are a few photos of Male and Female Eastern Bluebirds captured recently (January 2024) enjoying their mealworms that we put out for them. Tip #3: Bluebirds will eat from multiple types of feeders including platforms, tube feeders, and suet feeders. However, ours seem to enjoy eating from a plate the most! Now the next most important thing to keep in mind besides their food requirements for protein and fats, is their need for fresh water. Colder air is typically more dry, and birds certainly use a TON of energy trying to stay warm, foraging for food, avoiding predators and even chasing other birds away. So while the food is great (and greatly appreciated we promise), they need to drink water quite often! In the past we only had one water source but found that in the winter months larger birds like Robins, Grackles and Blue Jays will essentially take ownership of the larger bowl/bird bath and so we needed to provide them with at least one more option. We now have a couple of small hanging iron/glass water bowls (photo below) placed on our front porch, and one Large and one medium Terracotta plate that we use for bird baths on the deck behind our house. Lastly, Lisa thought it was cute to put a tiny 3" water plate out as well and this one turned out to be one of the ABSOLUTE FAVORITES for the Bluebirds as well as smaller birds like Wrens, Chickadees, Waxwings, Titmice, Warblers and even Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. Product Links for the items mentioned in this blog above: Dried Mealworms ( Please Note: We have found that some brands of "mealworms" are actually marketed more as Chicken feed. Some of these brands will include black soldier fly larvae. We have found through EXTENSIVE testing, that soldier fly larvae is not nearly as popular with the wild birds, so try to avoid those if you want more birds at your feeders! These options below are only dried mealworms, which come from a beetle species and it is very popular with the bluebirds!) 5lb Bag 10lb Bag (Our preference AND a deal when compared with the 5lb bag!) Hanging Glass water bowl C&S Suet Cakes with Mealworms (for Bluebirds) 3" Terracotta Plate (tiny birdbath) 10" Terracotta plate (used for excellent food presentation) Additionally, we captured a couple of video clips for you of the Winter Bluebirds eating and drinking at our feeders. We hope you enjoy!

In this blog post we are excited to be Introducing the American Robin to our readers. Personally, I feel these birds are extremely undervalued members of the bird community. They have a TON of personality, play games, chase each other often, and their fledglings are absolutely adorable! It is hard to drive down any residential street in the Southeast United States without seeing at least a few of these beneficial birds, hopping around in lawns and gardens, pecking at worms or insects. What do American Robins typically eat? We find that American Robins (members of the Thrush Family of birds) generally prefer live insects and worms for much of the year, however, in the Fall and Winter months when insects are not (usually) very active, they will eat the Dried Mealworms we put out for the other songbirds. But when there is a lot of crowding going on, some of the Robins will then begin to eat Suet Cakes or Suet Nuggets. (I'll add links to the end of this blog for those brands that we recommend based on our succesful experiences). In addition to the insects and suet, American Robins can also be found eating wild berries including Blackberries, Raspberries, Dogwood Tree berries and more. Here is a short video of a flock of Robins in the woods I captured at nearby Allatoona Creek Park. In Spring, the rapid, cheery calls of the Robins can be heard from dawn until dusk. You'll seldom find them at the feeders as there are so many insects, spiders and worms around. It seems that anyone with a Sprinkler running in their lawn will also find flocks of American Robins as they will gather to eat any earthworms that come to the surface while the sprinkler runs, and the water penetrates the soil's surface. They will hop along the edges of driveways, curbs and streets and pause, waiting for any motion from the worms before immediately jumping on top of their location and pulling them out of the soil like spaghetti noodles! It's pretty entertaining to watch! How can you tell the male American Robin and the female American Robin apart? This is a great question. The male in most species of birds is going to have brighter colors, or deeper color, or more contrasting colors. Robins are very similar and it can be tough to tell them apart at times but the male does still have darker feathers. Even the fledglings have more pronounced dark feathers on their heads and more bright, rich orange on their breast and undersides of their shoulders. In the image below, You can see pretty clearly the differences in the male and female American Robin coloration between the males and female. (If you are having trouble still, the female is the one in the Top-Center, and the males are on both sides of her.) Are American Robins very territorial? Yes, American Robins can be quite territorial when it comes to (certain) other birds, as well as other American Robins. In the Winter months they seem to flock together well and for the most part, play nicely. However, in Spring when they are breeding, or if a nest is nearby, a pair of Robins will often chase off any birds that compete for the same food. There are some exceptions of course, as they don't seem to bully any birds that are larger than themselves. We have seen them chase (temporarily) Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, Carolina Wrens and a few species of Warbler. However, Eastern Blue Jays, Brown Thrashers, Common Grackles have no issue standing firm and don't seem to be intimidated much at all. When do you typically see the first American Robin Fledglings? We find that American Robins have already built their nests at the end of March or early April, and after another 6-7 weeks the babies are ready to leave the nest and follow the parents around for food and water needs. Just last week we were lucky enough to spot the first fledglings, visiting our water bowls and "shadowing" their parents when digging through our flower beds and lawn. Here is a photo and a video of "little Richard", as we like to call him. A fledgling American Robin visits the pool for the first time. He's still figuring it out... Thanks for reading our Birds of West Cobb blog! We hope you enjoyed this topic an you value these wonderfully beneficial garden guardians as much as we do! Below we have shared a few links to the products mentioned above or pictured in the images that we captured. PRODUCT LINKS Dried Mealworms (5lb bag) Suet Nuggets from C&S 10" Terracotta plates for bird feeding or bird baths Suet Cakes for insectivores You can also find us on TikTok , I nstagram , and Youtube !

In this blog, we attempt to answer the question "What is that red bird on my bird feeder?" Please keep in mind this blog is based in the Southeastern United States Here in the Southeastern United States, (Metro Atlanta area to be more specific) you are most likely to see one of these 7 birds which are very red, or somewhat red. There are a few species here that you might not expect! In the order of "most red" to "least red" here they are: Northern Cardinal House Finch Purple Finch Red-headed Woodpecker Scarlet Tanager Red-bellied Woodpecker Rose-breasted Grosbeak Northern Cardinal (Male) Probably the most popular, Northern Cardinals are usually the answer to the question "What is that red bird on my bird feeder?" They are gorgeous birds without a question, but only the Male's feathers are bright red, brightest in Spring! Did you know that Cardinals generally do NOT migrate? They will stay in the same area year-round and don't seem to mind the seasons changing! Here is another interesting fact for you: Cardinals are the official state bird of 7 different states! (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia). While the male is typically bright red with a bit of black around the beak and eyes, the female is usually brown with an orange/red beak. Here are some photos for you of the male and female Northern Cardinal to help you identify them on your feeders! House Finch (Male) House Finches are extremely common on feeders in the Southeast, but they were actually native to the Western United States originally and spread throughout the country. They often build nests inside of hanging plants, or in retail store sign lettering. You may even here them singing a a happy "Cheap cheap cheap" call when they are nearby in trees or shrubbery. While they are generally not a species that migrates in the Winter, you may see more than usual in Winter as some of the Northern Birds will migrate. Similar to the Northern Cardinal, the House Finch male is typically the red bird of the pair, and the female is usually quite plain in appearance. Here are some photos for you of the House Finches: Purple Finch (Male) I've heard from several people that they were pretty confident they'd seen Purple Finches on their feeders here in the Metro-Atlanta area. For us though, it's really not very common. We usually see the House Finches (above) far more often and only see the Purple Finches (shown below) in early Spring when they are likely migrating back to their Summer homes. They appear slightly larger than House Finches and the coloration spreads to their wings and down their bellies to their tales as well. it is also, as the name suggests, purple instead of red. (although it is fairly close to red!) Red-headed Woodpecker (Male & Female) This photo was captured in Duluth, Georgia at my parent's home. They've had a nesting couple nearby for years and there is almost always one at the feeder visiting while I am spending time with my parents. The male and female BOTH have the completely red head, it is truly wonderful to see with the bright contrasting white and black on the wings, breast and head. Scarlet Tanager (Spring/Summer Plumage = Red, Winter Plumage - Not red!) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Male & Female) The Red-Bellied woodpeckers are favorites of ours. The male has a full-red patch extending from his shoulders all the way to just before the beak. The female has red in the same area, but it is broken up with a patch of warm grey between the back of the head and the beak. In the right lighting (and viewing angles) you can also see the hint of red on the bellies that they are so well known for! Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Male) The coloration differences between the male and female are basically completely opposite sides of the spectrum. The male (shown below in most photos) is bright red, black and white while the female is brown (multiple shades) and white. You may not even recognize her until you see a male along with her. The colors on the male sure are impressive to witness!

In a previous blog post we wrote about an effective trap for removing yellow jackets from your property. This time, let's take a look at the best (and worst) ways to remove Chipmunks from your yard. We'll discuss using poisons, electronic traps, stopping the bird feeding completely, and finally the best and most humane traps so they can be relocated, unharmed to a nearby park or vacant property. Why would you want to remove Chipmunks from your yard? They are cute, fairly quiet and pose no physical threat to us humans. Unless you were to step in a recently built chipmunk hole while mowing the lawn. Or if a chipmunk hole and tunnel were abandoned and worse yet, it collapsed in the rain and now you have a small sinkhole in the yard you need to fill. Worst of all, an abandoned chipmunk hole is a prime candidate for a queen yellow jacket to move into in Spring and start building a new colony of serious hurt. Okay, okay, I see why you might want to get rid of the furry critters. But why can't we all just coexist? Chipmunks are effectively medium sized rodents. Rodents are famously known for their ability to breed and populate very quickly. If you are big into bird feeding like we are, you're likely generating a lot of waste seed from birds (above) in the feeders. This waste seed will eventually attract chipmunks, squirrels and possibly mice or rats. So to put it simply, you're feeding the chipmunks and they are just going to use that fuel to procreate and then replicate. The first couple of years we saw a few chipmunks around and didn't think much of it. Then suddenly it seemed like they were all over the yard. It has taken some time to get them back to a much smaller number and occasionally we see one again. If you see more than 2-3 at a time you need to be capturing them and relocating them quickly or the population will literally explode! My neighbor said I should use poison to take care of the chipmunk problem. What do you think? Poison has been used for hundreds of years to rid the world of rodents. It works, but there are ecological side effects and we recommend against poisons because a sick/poisoned chipmunk can then be eaten by a hawk or an owl, a raccoon, possum, or even a house cat or your next door neighbor's dog. Additionally, if it's poison pellets it's very likely that birds will find this poison and ingest it as well, killing them. Some birds we see eating from the ground include: Carolina Wrens, Winter Wrens Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows Brown Thrashers Rufous-sided Towhee Northern Cardinals Hermit Thrush Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Tennessee Warbler Another reason you would likely want to consider if the reasons above don't deter you, is the location of the dead chipmunks. You can't choose where they will end up when they finally kick the bucket. They could end up in a downspout on your home, under the deck or front porch in an inaccessible spot. Then they will start to rot and stink. Nobody wants that! Okay I see some folks using electronic rodent traps that kill their targets in an instant. How would these work for Chipmunks? We've seen those around the back of our local grocery store and strip mall as well. These electronic traps are considered fairly humane because they are intended to instantly kill their targets pests, but they are actually designed for other rodents (rats) which would be snooping around in these locations where there may be nesting materials or food nearby. Chipmunks are really after your birdseed and that's about it. Plus, these are quite expensive and require recharging as well. Using a very simple trap, and also a very easy bait technique I was able to capture nearly all of them and move them to a park just a mile or two down the road. I've been using Havahart branded traps for a few decades now. They are extremely durable, reusable, easy to clean, and simply work again and again. I have a pair of these traps designed for small-to-medium sized rodents and since we have multiple bird feeders stations, it makes better use of my time capturing and taking them to the park two at a time. I usually place one of these humane traps under each of the feeders that are furthest from each other. My best luck has not been from using peanut butter or almond butter, but instead I partially fill my palm with some bird seed, gently toss it into the traps, and then I go inside the house and wait. The reason i like to place the traps below the furthest two feeders is that when one of them has been triggered, the sound will scare others away to cover if they are too close when when the doors close quickly. With a bit of distance between them, other chipmunks and even birds will barely flinch, and then go right on with their regularly scheduled program. Once you've trapped them, you just carry the trap out to your trunk with the built-in carry handle (or your hatch if you have a wagon or an SUV). I recommend placing some cardboard or a trash bag under the traps though because the chipmunks will be pretty excited about being in your trunk and will definitely eject some seeds from their cheeks, and maybe poop or pee a little also. When you get to the park, just pop the truck, quickly open one of the doors on the trap and wait a few seconds. The little chippies will come firing out of the door like a cannon! I've included a product link below 👇 for the specific trap model we've been using now for several years. Rather than poison, or expensive electronic countermeasures, we strongly recommend you try out one of these Havahart traps instead. Thanks for reading! 🙏

The Rufous-sided Towhee is an adorable (and friendly) backyard bird that is frequently spotted by bird watchers in the Southeastern United States. With its bold Black and Rufous (rust colored) and White appearance, it's easy to spot and often times is even easier to hear. The Towhee's distinctive calls, which sounds like "Drink your tea" or "Tow Heeeee", the Rufou-sided Towhee is a wonderful bird to have in your yard. What does a Rufus-sided Towhee look like? Male Rufous-sided Towhees are easy to identify with their bold black head, back, and tail, contrasted by bright white underparts and rust-colored sides. Females, while less vivid, display a beautiful warm brown instead of the crisp black feathers of the males, but still maintain the same rufous-colored border between the wings and the bright white belly. Fledgling Towhees lack the obvious and crisp/bold colorations of their parents, but instead have mottled brownish feathers with streaks that easily mimic natural colors from their environment. Males do have more dark contrasting feathers though and you will be able to tell them apart with a close encounter or good quality binoculars (or digital camera) What do Rufus-sided Towhees eat? (What does the diet of Rufous-sided Towhee consist of?) Rufous-sided Towhees primarily forage on the ground, searching for insects, seeds, and berries. They have a particular fondness for sunflower seeds and cracked corn. Offering these foods in your bird feeder can attract these charming birds to your yard. Where do Rufous-sided Towhees migrate to in the Winter? In the Winter months, Rufous-sided Towhees favor dense brushy areas, woodland edges, and overgrown fields. These environments provide ample cover and food sources, making backyards with shrubs and low trees ideal for their winter habitat. Here in Marietta Georgia we have them year round. Where do Rufous-sided Towhees spend their Spring and Summer months? Summer HabitatDuring the summer, these birds frequent similar habitats but may also be found in more open woodlands and forest edges where they breed. They build their nests low to the ground, hidden among the underbrush, which offers protection for their fledglings. Are you still wondering about details not listed here? Let us know in the comments! We are always excited to delve deeper into the world of backyard birds for you and for us as well! In the short term though, maybe check out the following pages: visit Audubon 's Eastern Towhee page here : All About Birds has a great read about Towhees also! If you want to get up-close and personal with Rufous-sided Towhees and other amazing backyard birds, we have a few recommended products that can certainly help enhance your experiences: Platform Bird Feeder Premium Sunflower meats (no shell) Wild Bird Identification Guide for Georgia, United States

In this Blog post, we will take a look at one of the common backyard (and sometimes front yard) birds of the Southern United States: The Northern Mockingbird. The Northern Mockingbird, while fairly common, is actually quite an interesting species found throughout the Southeastern United States , Midwest, and even throughout the Southwest. Mockingbirds are well-known for its impressive vocal range. These birds can mimic the calls of other birds, animals, and have even been recorded mimicking mechanical noises, car alarms and more ! Let's dive into some of the more fascinating aspects of the Northern Mockingbird's life including their habitat, behavior, and some other very unique traits. Northern Mockingbird Habitat Preferences Northern Mockingbirds have the ability to adapt and thrive in a variety of environments, from suburban areas near shopping centers and malls, to open fields and brush along the outer edges of forested areas. They prefer habitats with dense shrubs and trees, which provide ample nesting sites and protection as well as a variety of food sources. You might spot them perched high on top of a telephone pole, or on a fairly open, obvious branch, singing their little hearts out. Does The Northern Mockingbird Have An Incredible Vocabulary? One of the most remarkable (and well-known) features of the Northern Mockingbird is its extensive vocal range and seemingly endless supply of songs. A single bird can learn and mimic over 200 different sounds in its lifetime! These birds are not just talented mimics; they also use their songs to establish territories and attract their mates. What Is The Lifespan Of A Northern Mockingbird? In the wild, Northern Mockingbirds typically live around 8-10 years, although some have been known to live longer. Their longevity is aided by their ability to adapt to various habitats and their aggressive behavior in deterring predators. Do Northern Mockingbird's Eyes Change Colors As They Mature? An intriguing aspect of Northern Mockingbirds is their eye coloration, which changes as they age. Juveniles have blue-gray eyes that gradually turn to yellow as they mature. This change in eye color can be a helpful way to distinguish between young and adult birds. How Do Northern Mockingbirds Defend Their Nests? Northern Mockingbirds are fearless when it comes to protecting their nests. They are known to chase off predators many times their own size, including cats, hawks, and even humans. This bold behavior ensures the safety and survival of their young and also maintains their territory. Sometimes you can look up into the sky and see a pair of mockingbirds chasing a Red-shouldered or Red-tailed Hawk, or even a Common Crow! It's quite impressive! What Is A Little-Known Fact About Northern Mockingbirds? A little-known detail about Northern Mockingbirds is their unique "wing flash" behavior. When foraging on the ground, they often spread their wings to display the white patches. This behavior is thought to startle insects into revealing themselves, making them easier to catch. Enhance Your Bird-Watching Experience With These Products: To attract Northern Mockingbirds to your backyard, consider adding these products: Bird Feeders : Hanging Suet Feeder (just like the one shown above in this blog!) Bird Baths : Check out this amazing bird bath Bird Feed : Dried Mealworms Additional Resources for Attracting Northern Mockingbirds: Perhaps you came to this blog searching for the famous book with multiple references to Mockingbirds, consider downloading the classic novel " To Kill a Mockingbird " on Amazon . By understanding and appreciating the Northern Mockingbird, we can ensure that these extraordinary birds continue to thrive in our backyards (as well as our front yards). References Audubon Society - Northern Mockingbird All About Birds - Northern Mockingbird