Birds of West Cobb

Introducing the Brown Thrasher: The Melodic Mimics of the Southeast The Brown Thrasher, known for its rich, melodious song and striking appearance, is a captivating bird found throughout the Southeastern United States. This elusive yet enchanting bird offers birdwatchers and backyard enthusiasts a delightful experience. Brown Thrasher Identification and Appearance: Brown Thrashers are medium-sized birds with a distinctive reddish-brown upper body and streaked underparts. They have a very slightly curved bill and mature adults have piercing yellow eyes that give them a fierce expression. Their long tails and strong legs are perfect for ground foraging, where they spend much of their time searching for insects and other small prey. Brown Thrasher Habitat and Behavior: Preferring dense shrubs and thickets, Brown Thrashers are often found in gardens, woodlands, and hedgerows. They are skilled mimics, capable of imitating the calls of other bird species, making their songs a complex and varied composition. These birds are generally solitary and can be quite secretive, often heard more than seen. However, we often see 2 of them feeding in close proximity of each other, and sometimes one will give chase to the other! Brown Thrasher Feeding Habits: Brown Thrashers have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, and nuts. To attract these birds to your backyard, consider setting up a bird feeder with a mix of seeds and suet, and plant native berry-producing shrubs. Providing a water source, like a bird bath, can also help entice them. Brown Thrasher Breeding and Nesting: During the breeding season, which typically spans from April to July, Brown Thrashers build their nests in dense shrubs or low trees. They lay 3-5 eggs, which both parents take turns incubating. The young fledge after about two weeks, and the parents may raise two broods per season. Conservation Status: Brown Thrashers are currently not considered threatened, but their populations can be affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. Planting native shrubs and maintaining a bird-friendly backyard can help support these beautiful birds. Bird Watching Tips To maximize your chances of spotting Brown Thrashers, listen for their varied songs early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Keep an eye on dense shrubbery and ground-level foliage, where they are most likely to be foraging. Enhance Your Birding Experience Bird Feeder:   Composite Suet Feeder C&S Suet Cakes (we recommend these for Woodpeckers, Thrashers and more!) C&S Suet Nuggets (I've seen our resident Brown Thrashers feasting on these many times) Hatortempt Dried Mealworms ( Best value in the 10lb bag !) Field Guide:   National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America References Audubon Guide to North American Birds All About Birds - Brown Thrasher Bird Watching Academy - Brown Thrasher This blog post related to Brown Thrashers not only provides valuable information for bird enthusiasts but also includes affiliate links to products that enhance birding experiences. This approach ensures the blog is educational, engaging, and monetized effectively. Thanks for visiting!

I'm sure you have all heard the song "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day but what other songs related to birds can you think of? We put together this fun list that includes 5 or more bird-related songs from each decade starting with the 1950's. We hope you enjoy listening to them and feel free to list others in the comments below! Also, if you'd prefer we add some for earlier decades please let us know in the comments below! 1950's Bird-Related Songs "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day (1958): This one is an absolute classic with an upbeat rhythm to kick off the list. (Click here to download the song on Amazon Music!) "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along" by Harry Warren & Al Jolson (1955): A cheerful tune about the red robin. (Click here to download the song on Amazon Music!) "Mockin' Bird Hill" by Les Paul and Mary Ford (1953): This song features a sweet melody inspired by the sounds of mockingbirds. "Bird Dog" by The Everly Brothers (1958): While you may be more familiar with "Bye Bye Love", this one is more upbeat and of course, it's bird-related too! You can also download this one on Amazon Music with this link, enjoy! "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" by Ersel Hickey (1958): A softer, dreamier tune for bluebird enthusiasts. This one is also available for download here on Amazon Music. 1960's Bird-Related Songs We are pretty certain that if you've ever been to the beach, watched a classic surfing movie, or just enjoy surfing music you have heard the famous song "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen (from 1963): This is definitely a classic Surf rock anthem with infectious bird-related chants. Caution: You may actually get it stuck in your head like we did. "Birds" by Neil Young (1969): this is a late 60's Folk-rock style masterpiece with Neil Young's distinctive voice. "And Your Bird Can Sing" by The Beatles (Released in August 1966 on the Revolver Album): this song is fun and jovial and mentions "birds" multiple times. "Little Red Rooster" by Howlin Wolf (1962): this is classic Blues Track, and if you've never checked out Howlin Wolf you definitely should. They inspired none other than the Rolling Stones! "The Birds and the Bees" by Jewel Akens (1965): this track includes soulful, charming and catchy melodies. 1970's Bird Songs "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973): This classic Rock anthem is known near and far and includes a legendary guitar solo. "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley & The Wailers (1977): Reggae vibes and positive messages. "Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band (1976): This Iconic track really aimed at capturing the spirit of freedom. You've probably heard this song at sporting events, in multiple movies and on your favorite classic rock station on FM radio or Sirius/XM. "Bird on the Wire" by Leonard Cohen (1971): Poetic and soulful addition. "Birdland" by Weather Report (1977): which is a "Jazz fusion" instrumental piece that you should definitely enjoy. 1980's Bird Songs "Black Crow" by Jamiroquai (1980): Smooth blend of funk and soul with avian inspiration. "The Bird" by The Time (1984): Funky track from the Purple Rain era. "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac (1983): Instrumental piece letting you soar with the majestic albatross. "Cuckoo Cocoon" by Genesis (1981): Prog-rock journey featuring a nod to the cuckoo. "Wings of a Dove" by Madness (1983): Upbeat ska track with lighthearted avian theme. 1990's Bird Songs "Black Crow" by Beyond (1991): Rock anthem with a powerful chorus. "The Nightingales" by The Beautiful South (1994): Melodic track with a nod to enchanting nightingales. "Black Swan" by Thom Yorke (1998): Atmospheric and experimental piece inspired by black swans. "The Raven" by Alan Parsons Project (1990): Progressive rock track inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. "The Kingfisher" by Emily Portman (1994): Folk meets storytelling celebrating the vibrant kingfisher. 2000's Bird Songs "Birds" by Kate Nash (2007): Whimsical pop-infused track capturing the charm of birds. "Seagull" by Bad Company (2009): Rock anthem paying homage to the coastal beauty of seagulls. "Little Bird" by The Weepies (2006): Sweet and acoustic ode to little birds. "Swallow" by IAMX (2009): Electronic and alternative piece with a unique take on bird symbolism. "Magpie to the Morning" by Neko Case (2009): Hauntingly beautiful song featuring the clever magpie. 2010's Bird Songs "Blackbird Chain" by Beck (2014): Unique blend of folk and rock exploring the symbolism of blackbirds. "Birds" by Coldplay (2015): Dreamy and atmospheric track adding a touch of magic. "Bird Song" by M.I.A. (2016): Electronic and experimental piece with a global and bird-inspired vibe. "Bird Set Free" by Sia (2015): Powerful vocals in a song that feels like a bird breaking free. "The Owl and the Tanager" by Sufjan Stevens (2015): Gentle and folk-infused piece with a nod to the owl and tanager. 2020's Bird-Related Songs "Birdsong" by Claptone, Zola Blood (2020): A deep house track that infuses electronic beats with the magic of birdsong. "Sparrows" by Jason Mraz (2020): A heartfelt acoustic track celebrating the resilience and simplicity of sparrows. "Birds of Prey" by SZA (2020): R&B vibes with SZA's unique sound, exploring the theme of birds of prey. "Magpie" by BC Camplight (2021): An indie-pop track with a nod to the charming and clever magpie. "The Birds" by Protomartyr (2020): A post-punk track offering a unique take on the theme of birds.

In this blog, we share a video and a few photos from our quick Cedar Waxwing Visit. Above this text is a quick video of a Cedar Waxwing drinking fresh water from a dish on our deck! We change the water out 2x per day typically, as it only requires a Robin, Brown Thrasher or other large bird to make it filthy. The birds need to take baths to wash off dust, mites and soil, but they need to drink it too! So fresh water is a MUST. That is how we attracted these beautiful Cedar Waxwings (We've now seen them in the Winter 3 years in a row!) Here in Marietta, Georgia we have had a couple of Winters in a row where a flock of American Robins have appeared and basically stay through the Winter months. While they are here we put out a lot of Mealworms and let them eat until they are full, a few times each week. There are a few fights between birds over who gets the best perch or who gets to sit "IN" the mealworm plates instead of "ON" the edge of them. Overall, it's pretty entertaining. In the midst of this year's edition of the American Robin invasion, I was sitting outside in a hoodie, peering through my camera straight down our deck handrail where the plates of food are placed. I try to catch close-ups of Eastern Bluebirds in the morning light (Which is incredible when it is pulled off) and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Carolina Wrens and occasionally a Towhee or a Brown Thrasher will appear and grab a mealworm also before flying off. It was quite a surprise when I was focusing the camera through the crowd of Robins to find an uncommon visitor peering back at me through the viewfinder. A Cedar Waxwing! To me, this has always been one of those birds that looks like it came from a different planet, or some sort of sci-fi realm. The colors are so smooth and blend together like they were almost airbrushed that way. They have yellow, brown, black, white, and orange or red tips on their tail feathers as well. Once you have seen one, you'll never forget it. As I was shooting photos, this particular Cedar Waxwing flew directly toward me and landed within a foot of my Nikon P1000 camera lens. Cedar Waxwings are known to be very social birds and as I slowly pulled my head back from the camera I could see there were now 2 on the railing, mixed with a dozen or more Robins. I heard their high-pitched calls above and realized there were more in the trees of the backyard also! This wass super exciting, although I couldn't get a count of the additional birds due to all of the American Robin activity! Cedar Waxwings sometimes travel in large flocks of 50-100+ birds and Lisa and I have only spotted one of these flocks previously, while staying in a hotel in Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas). From what I have read over the past 10+ years the number of these birds have been declining. One reason in particular that has come up in my research again and again: Non-native species of plants that have toxic berries. I found an article published some years ago which describes one plant in particular which is used heavily for Landscape design. It is a species of bamboo with ornamental leaves and bright red berries. These plants are called "Nandina". Whatever you do, don't plant these in your yard! Here is the article I was referring to: Link to article Have you ever seen Waxwings before? For more information about Cedar Waxwings diet, migration patterns, mating season and more, check out this link for Audubon Society's field guide to Cedar Waxwings.

In this blog "How to attract Eastern Bluebirds to Your Yard" we'll share our recommendations for food, water and housing for these beautiful birds! The Male Eastern Bluebird is truly an amazing sight to behold. With the bright orange breast and nearly-neon Blue head, wings, and tail, not many other species stand out this significantly. Bluebirds are very beneficial creatures to have around your garden, eating tons of insects, spiders, and grubs each day. It’s pretty incredible that this species of birds were nearly wiped out of existence. They have made a strong comeback in many regions though thanks to volunteer efforts and backyard “birders” feeding them and putting out houses for them. Some of the reasons why they were almost wiped out are included below, so keep reading! What caused the decline in these incredible birds to begin with? Eastern Bluebirds are somewhat unique in that they will not create a new hole in a tree or a cavity in the side of a barn. Naturally, they would seek out vacant woodpecker holes near the edge of a field or pasture. However, the more people clear out old, dead trees on their properties, the fewer trees are available for the birds to move into. Another more serious issue was that over the years, thousands of people’s pet cats were released into the wild or left to be “outdoor cats”. This was very unfortunate for the bluebirds which often perch only 5-10ft from the ground on fences and low limbs, Eastern Bluebirds were (and still are) easy targets for the average cat which loves to climb and stalk prey near the ground. You can certainly take part in the efforts to bring them back! Our top 3 requirements for attracting the Eastern Bluebird to your yard are included below: To attract Eastern Bluebirds, you need to provide the right type of food: While Eastern Bluebirds have been spotted eating suet from a hanging suet cake feeder or from small suet chunks/balls, however, they are most likely to be spotted at your feeder if you put out dried mealworms or live mealworms. A fresh water source is another requirement for attracting Eastern Bluebirds: You do NOT need to go wild and buy a giant water fountain with multiple tiers and a filtration system. You could, but just imagine how many mealworms you could purchase with the money you save! A simple terracotta plate, 10″ or 12″ in diameter will do nicely. They are fairly inexpensive and can be placed on a wide deck or porch handrail, on a small table, or even on the ground. However, there are some very nice (decent enough) bird baths to be had for under 200.00 also. Another way to attract Eastern Bluebirds is providing the perfect Bluebird house: The National Audubon Society has a number of downloadable designs so you can print them and go down to your wood shop and build your own house for Bobby and Bella. However, we have done the work for you and also provided a few popular models that are already assembled and ready for hanging. See below! Also, we will add several posts in the future for Birdhouse design requirements. We hope you will view them, build them and share the results with us as also! Where should I put my new birdhouse though? Relax, we have a lot of insight about this topic as well. We’ll be sure to add another post with these specifics. Our best tip for now though: Bluebirds love to have lots of open space around their nest boxes. Here are some additional photos of Eastern Bluebirds we have captured in our yard for your viewing pleasure! #birdsofwestcobb #birdsofwestcobb #attractingbluebirds #CobbCountyBirds #EasternBluebird #bluebirdhouses #mariettabirds #feedingbluebirds

The Pileated Woodpecker visits Birds of West Cobb Just the other day Lisa asked me to take some fresh photos for Instagram. Usually she doesn't have to ask, but in the last few weeks with us both being sick, Christmas shopping for family, crazy work schedule, there has hardly been any time to sit outside with my camera. A couple of days after Christmas though, and I was able to make some time for the birds. As I focused on the smallest Woodpeckers in North America (the Downy Woodpecker), I also noticed a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers, a pair of Northern Flickers, several Carolina Chickadees and our usual white-breasted Nuthatches. Looking away from the camera for a moment and I saw something BIG move in the far back corner of the yard, just beyond our fence. It called out before flying away and for a moment I thought I was caught in the recording of a jungle soundtrack! Once you've heard the call of the Pileated Woodpecker, you won't soon forget it. A short time later with a female Downy Woodpecker back in my focus, (image above) something large flew right across the yard and I didn't even have to guess what it was. The Pileated Woodpecker was back! I zoomed in and quickly noticed that this was a male, as there is some red near the beak of the bird, instead of just the giant red mohawk on top of him. I walked a dozen or so steps towards him, careful to stay behind another tree while moving towards him. Then I would peak around the tree in front of me to make sure it was still there. A couple of years ago we noticed that we had a poplar tree with a large hollow spot in the base. The tree was slowly dying but at the time still had leaves in the Spring and so we decided to leave it. While the tree is probably at least 40 feet tall, it is placed at least 30-35' from the nearest fence and any damage would be minimal if it fell during a storm. Luckily that hasn't happened so far, and since then it has died. some branches have fallen, and the very top of the tree broke off at some point as well. There is still at least 30' of tree though, and between the hollow opening at the bottom and the bark being peeled away from the top, this tree gives us lots of bird-watching enjoyment. Red-bellied woodpeckers love to peck near the top, while nuthatches like to fly to the bare hard wood and crack seeds open on it. I was hopeful that this dead tree would eventually attract a Pileated and it finally did! The enormous woodpecker (standing over 18" tall) first perched on a neighboring tree, but quickly spotted this dead hardwood with a crack and some fungus appearing on the surface. He was ted no time at all pecking and prying and before a minute had passed, many large pieces of bark were flying off to the sides exposing many tasty morsels below the surface. For a moment I visualized this Pileated Woodpecker as a cartoon woodpecker and held back the urge to call out like Woody the Woodpecker (which probably would have terrified the poor bird anyway!). In new subdivisions or young forests you are much less likely to see a Pileated Woodpecker. You may get lucky with Suet feeders but we have not had one visit ours, nor eat the C&S Suet Nuggets that we prefer to feed the other species of Woodpeckers in nearly 8 years. These are such large birds, that you will most likely spot them in forested areas with large, mature trees. They bore holes in the trees for nesting so the limbs and trunk would have to be quite large in order to support nesting requirements for these enormous birds. I have spotted them in the Brushy Mountain Wilderness near the Silver Comet Trail (close to Raccoon Creek), we spotted a female Pileated at Leone Hall Price Park, and we also saw one while hiking the Iron Hill Trail near Red Top Mountain State Park. Lisa watched from inside the house as I stood there at the edge of our deck, taking dozens of photos and a few short video clips of this enormous bird. I'm happy it wasn't startled and it seemed to get a full meal out of this tree. I hope you enjoy the blog post and please feel free to share with your friends and fellow bird enthusiasts! More details about the Pileated Woodpecker can be found at the following pages: All About Birds (Cornell) - Pileated Woodpecker National Audubon Society - Pileated Woodpecker American Bird Conservancy - Pileated Woodpecker Camera information: We shoot with a Nikon P1000, which is the largest "point-and-shoot" camera of it's kind (currently). It is also referred to as the Nikon Superzoom camera because it has a zoom of up to 3,000mm effective focal range. For our purposes, this giant 2.2lb camera does a pretty good job and takes great photos, videos and audio. I wonder what the cost (as well as the weight) would be if I had instead purchased a comparable digital SLR body, and enough lenses to cover the same range that this camera covers? The P1000 allows for remote shutter control via the Nikon Snapbridge App, although we don't use it. I prefer to sit behind the camera and have the freedom of moving around and capturing things as quickly as possible.

In this blog post we look at the common woodpeckers of West Cobb and the Southeastern United States First, I’d like to introduce you to Lisa’s favorite of our local Woodpeckers. When we first started feeding the backyard birds together, this one stood out so much that she had to name him. “Scoob”. Scoob is our resident Red-bellied Woodpecker. He comes down from a tall skinny hardwood tree by our deck and then lands on the handrail. From here he usually scoots along or hops over to the food plate. He sometimes scarfs down 5 or 6 suet balls (C&S Suet Nuggets) before flying back up into the tree. He ate so many of these in that first year that we nicknamed the Suet Nuggets “Scoob Balls”. You might be surprised to know that the old Looney Toon “Woody Woodpecker” was modeled after a real-life creature. You may be even more surprised to know that this is another species we can actually see on our bird feeders here in Marietta Georgia! This one was outside of Marietta (Duluth) however, we have seen them nearby at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park also. Meet “Woodrow” the Red-headed Woodpecker: Another you might see in the Winter months but also similar in size: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We didn’t make up the name either! We’ve only captured him a few times, usually on cold, windy days when there aren’t many insects out. He is very shy and flies away quickly at the slightest sign of people. While the Yellow-bellied sapsucker is an occasional visitor, the next woodpecker species are far more common. We even see them taking turns on the suet-cake feeders we put up. Robert and Roberta are our resident Downy Woodpeckers (Robert is shown below with red coloring on his head, Roberta is the female on the left which lacks red) These are the smallest woodpeckers in North America! The male always has the small red patch, while the female is completely black and white. Just as common as the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker (shown below on the left-side of the feeder), which looks nearly identical at a glance but is almost twice the size of the Downy. These two are females, you can tell this easily because there is no red visible on either of their heads. On some occasions, you may even get a chance to see the largest Woodpecker in North America in your yard. This bird is absolutely massive and makes the Red-bellied and Yellow-bellied sapsuckers look small in comparison. We used to joke that it seemed like a Pterodactyl was visiting the yard! These giant birds require large mature trees to nest in, so national parks or very old subdivisions are good places to spot them. Lucky for us, we are very close to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park, and there are hundreds of acres of trees which provide food and shelter for these amazing birds. The male and the female both have red on top of their heads, but the male has red below the beak as well. The photo below shows a female. While the next one is not a “Woodpecker” by name, it’s definitely in the family. The “Northern Flicker” is usually found on tree trunks near the ground, and sometimes even hopping around in flower beds or near rotting log piles. We named our first flicker that visited "Norbert", but he prefers “Norbie” for short. Here you can see Norbie watching the Suet feeder, awaiting his turn. #birdsofwestcobb #southeasternwoodpeckers #downywoodpecker #CobbCountyBirds #northernflicker #pileatedwoodpecker #mariettabirds #hairywoodpecker #backyardbirds #redbelliedwoodpecker #yellowbelliedsapsucker #mariettawildlife #woodpecker

How to stop your Bird Bath from freezing this Winter: And we pick our favorite inexpensive bird bath de-icer/bird bath heater It's that time of year again folks, and the temperatures just dropped by a pretty large margin from the low 80's to the 40's overnight. It won't be long before we are seeing 20's and even teens for a couple of months here in the Southeast. So you might wonder what the birds drink when they eat so often. Unless you are putting a bird bath out with some sort of heater in it to keep the water from freezing, the birds have a pretty limited selection of water sources to choose from. Our BEST choice for an inexpensive but very effective bird bath heater: We'd like to share a fairly inexpensive but effective bird bath heater that we have tried We purchased and used it last Winter (2022-2023 season) which was pretty darn cold for a week or so here in Marietta, Georgia. We had lows near 5 degrees Fahrenheit which is about 10-15 degrees colder than we have seen in the past 10 years. We purchased this one on Amazon and had it delivered a couple of days before the cold front hit us (luckily). Please note: It will require an extension cord to reach the location of your choosing. What we like about this bird bath heater: It blends a bit with surroundings (and is available in a few plain-color options as well). It shuts off at a certain temperature which is helpful when the weather is just below freezing in the morning but warms up later in the day - you wouldn't want to keep heating the water and wasting energy, or boiling it! It's small enough to fit in a variety of bird baths! Just drop it in and keep it covered with water to be sure it functions properly. It cleans easily. If it becomes dirty it can be quickly wiped down or washed and scrubbed and the color doesn't leech into the bird bath. It's effective! The birds will come from all over to find a safe, warm watering hole and bath and drink. You will need to add water more often because of the amount the bird bath gets used! Are you worried because you don't like extension cords? Are you looking at Solar-powered bird bath heaters? Keep in mind that heaters require a pretty decent amount of energy to function. Solar could possibly supply enough power, but would require larger panels, batteries to provide a charge when the sun is down, (and batteries do not function well in the cold) and they certainly don't appeal to many with their aesthetics. We recommend sticking with a plug-in model which has a thermostatic controller like the one above. Here are some American Robins and some Brown-headed Nuthatches enjoying our bird bath with this heater installed: Next, let's look over the natural environment and what options the birds have to choose from if you were to go the other route and simply pass on the idea of providing a warm water bowl or bath for our feathered friends. Streams / Rivers - both of these options for birds are likely to be used as water sources for drinking and bathing. However, the water here can be nearly just as cold as the ice that forms nearby when the water does not flow. While natural (as natural as any streams and rivers are these days) they may not be the cleanest water source and could have long term negative affects on the health of the birds. Ponds / Lakes - very common places for geese and ducks to gather and eat/drink but you might be surprised how many songbirds will also fly to low overhanging branches and sip water from the surface of a pond or lake. The downside to this is also one that can be said for streams and rivers as well: predators. Various species of Bass live in lakes, ponds, and rivers that would not hesitate to make a meal out of a small or medium songbird. The more rural you are, the chances of other predators also increases and coyotes, fox, bobcats will all be on the prowl for a quick meal.

For any amateur photographer or backyard birder, it seems like a pretty daunting task. The speed at which the timid Ruby-Crowned Kinglets fly in, grab a bite to eat and then disappear into the brush is absolutely astounding. For weeks I struggled to snap a few photos that were even shareable to the public! I am of the opinion that these Ruby-Crowned Kinglets are actually just teasing me and other photographers. The funny thing is that while we carry bird food and mealworms out to the feeders in the morning, the Kinglet will often fly right next to us and perch on the deck railing... As if to say "thanks for the food, human!". However, as soon as the camera comes out... Poof, they are gone! We have found that these birds enjoy eating dried mealworm crumbles, (leftovers, or broken pieces of dried mealworms that the other birds didn't bother with) or little chunks of C&S Suet nuggets, but they won't eat any of the seeds that we put out. This includes Safflower, hulled Sunflower, peanut mix and more. Another thing we have noticed, they will drink water but they are intimidated easily by all of the larger birds so we have to put out smaller water plates for them. The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet is a tiny bird, about the same size as a Carolina Chickadee. We don't see them on or near the feeders in Spring or Summer, but when the weather is chilly and insects are scarce, we see one or two of these charming little creatures every morning and sometimes in the evenings as well. The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet could be confused with a dull winter Pine Warbler from a distance, but once you see their "crown" which is typically bright red/orange, you'll know that it is something more special! They are generally a dull brownish/grey or greyish-yellow color with a bit of brighter yellow accents on the wings and tail. If you are familiar with a Carolina Wren, and they way they move around, Kinglets move in a similar fashion. They flap quickly, bounce from branch to branch with easy, and small flits of their feathers is all it takes to propel them out of sight. Have you ever seen a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet in person? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

We picked 5 of the Best Tube Feeders to help you in your search for products that are durable, easy to clean, and stand up to the elements for years of future bird-watching bliss. Droll Yankees New Generation Droll Yankees Classic Feeder Perky-Pet 325SCOMBO Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper (This one is fun!) Audubon Kay Home Products Die-Cast Aluminum Finch Tube Feeder Tube-type bird feeders provide lots of perch space for your feathered friends, holding up to the elements. A few of the feeders listed below even have extra benefits! Introduction: "Tube Feeders" are a staple in every serious (and amateur) backyard birder's feeding toolkit. There are several benefits to using a tube feeder, let's look at some of the most common reasons first, and then take a look at the 5 feeders we picked: Visibility: You can see from a distance when the food level is low and needs refilling. You will also be able to see more birds perched and eating in a smaller footprint, thanks to multiple perches on each side of the feeders. Versatility in attracting various bird species: We have seen Northern Cardinals, House, Carolina & Gold Finches, Mourning Doves and more on our tube feeders, all at the same time!! The birdseed placed in a tube feeder generally stays dry (or mostly dry) when compared to several other feeder designs. This helps the feeder stay clean for longer periods of time and provides more fresh food for your backyard birds! Ease of maintenance and cleaning: This is a deeper topic we'll explore a bit further in a bit. NOT all tube feeders are created equally! Related to the last bullet point, and also the topic of durability: Many cheap, low quality feeders from online shops and even some local stores simply will not last. They use cheaper acrylic / plastic which will fade and yellow after only a year or two, and you won't be able to see the feed levels or tell if the feeder is clean or not. Additionally, some feeders are made by companies that didn't exist 3 months ago, and likely will not exist in another 3 months. This means that if you have a part that breaks or a screw that went missing, you'll likely not be able to get it from the customer support team (because they don't exist!). With that being said, we stuck with the top 5 BEST TUBE FEEDERS on the market that are also from top-tier companies that have been around for YEARS! Top 5 Tube Feeders for Backyard Birding 1. Droll Yankees New Generation Tube Feeder Droll Yankees has been producing very high-quality bird feeders for many years. In fact, they've been doing so since 1969, and they produced the FIRST commercially sold Tube Feeders. It's no wonder that this is our #1 pick on our list! This is an ideal feeder for an amateur, or an absolute bird fanatic (if there is one in your family it would make a great gift as well). This feeder features the following: 1 pound of seed capacity 4 perches / seed ports UV "Stabilized" polycarbonate tube (prevents fading and yellowing!) It comes with a metal hanger and a metal cap Made in Connecticut! For the model described above - it is priced currently at 39.99 on Amazon! (Please note that this is subject to change!) 2. Droll Yankees Classic Tube Feeder This feeder is a BIG step-up in size and capacity from the prior feeder in our list. The 30" long tube feeder variation (currently 25% off on Amazon) has the following features: 4 Pound Capacity means you'll need to refill less often! 12 metal perches / feed ports means you'll have seating for way more birds! Another top quality feeder made in Connecticut! The current cost for this feeder is listed at $89.99 (25% off!) which is a great value when looking at the product durability, capacity and a brand name/history to back this product up! 3. Perky-Pet 325SCOMBO: This feeder is one we've owned also. We love that their are two tiers of small reservoirs with a perch that goes all the way around the feeder. This allows larger birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Mourning Doves to be able to sit more easily and comfortably while they feast. Here are some additional features: The filler cap locks down to prevent squirrels from simply just prying it open and getting a nearly unlimited buffet! LARGE capacity: This tube feeder maxes out at 4.5 pounds! Metal Parts are powder coated for durability (The same finish that is used heavily in automotive and commercial machinery applications) Bronze finish (while plastic) looks great and holds up well! 4. Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper (Definitely one of the best tube feeders in our book) Guys & Gals, this is a truly iconic feeder. While some might consider it pricey, it has a very unique (Not to mention FUN) bonus feature. Below the feeder perches is a battery and an electric motor. When a large amount of weight pushes down on the perches, the motor engages and the perches at the bottom of the feeder begin to spin. Squirrels don't stand a chance. Incorporate an affiliate link to this feeder. Some additional features for you below, but first, a classic video clip showing this feeder in action! We are talking about HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT! Video credit goes to the Droll Yankees team for this gem. Extra-Large Capacity: 5lbs seed capacity! Powder coated metal components 100% Squirrel Proof! Battery lasts for YEARS. A fully charged battery lasts for weeks in most cases. Made in Connecticut! Currently on sale, (11% off!) and priced at $153.78 on Amazon 5. Audubon Kay Home Products Die-Cast Aluminum Finch Tube Feeder: This feeder is on the opposite end of the price spectrum from the Yankee Flipper. However, it still has some entertainment value! House Finches, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins natively enjoy eating Thistle in the Fall/Winter months in large meadows and pastures. A lot of property owners these days mow the thistle plants down though and so there is less food available to the finches and siskins. You can change that, with this Audubon Licensed product! This feeder holds up to 1 pound of Nyjer Thistle seed or finch food seed mix. There are 6 feed ports / perches, specially designed for Finches and siskins Bright yellow color is the standard for Finch feeders There is an EZ Clean button, which opens the base and makes cleaning out the feeder a snap! Tips for Choosing the Right Tube Feeder We recommend you decide which birds you like to target. Most of the feeders we have listed can be used with a wide variety of foods, from Sunflower to Safflower, to Dried Mealworms and lastly, Thistle (which is a tiny seed in comparison to Sunflower). We prefer feeding multiple species and are sure to include a feeder more specific to the finches and siskins, and have a separate feeder for Blue Jays, Cardinals, Doves and other larger birds. For more info about our favorite feed, you can view our blog post here. Conclusion Tube feeders provide a Fast-Fill method for bird feeding that keeps your feathered passerine friends well-fed, and provide multiple perches so even if the feeder turns, or twists in the wind, you'll likely have a good vantage point to see your favorite birds in action chowing down! Do you have a favorite Tube feeder? Drop a comment below and let us know why you love that particular model!

What is the best time to clean out your birdhouse? In case you didn't know, cleaning out your bird houses is important for the health of the wild birds Since Spring has arrived, you may be staring out into your yard and wondering, “When is the best time to clean out my birdhouse?” Technically you should have already done this! So, if you have not already done so, (and you know there was a nest in there last season with complete certainty) go grab some gloves and clean out that old nest material. We typically we clean out our birdhouses here in Georgia in January or early February. We have seen many species of birds “inspecting” our birdhouses as early as February. In early March, our first birds typically start building their nests (for the past several years this has been the white-breasted nuthatch, followed by Eastern Bluebirds an Chickadees or Titmice). Experts of Ornithology recommend cleaning out a birdhouse after every brood has been completed for maximum health and safety of the birds. Why should I clean out my birdhouses? Let’s face it, birds are cute, fluffy, adorable little feathery balls of energy with tons of character. But, they are not always as clean as they appear. Bird nesting materials can contain feces, mites, bacteria and parasites! You wouldn’t want to have a new family of your favorite neighborhood birds invest the time and energy of moving into the house in your yard, only to have them get sick or worse! We have researched this subject to help you and your new bird families have safe, healthy broods. What are the best and safest cleaners to use to clean my birdhouse? There are several cleaners that can be used to clean out bird houses, but it is very important to use bird-safe products that are free of harsh chemicals. Here are five top cleaners that are safe to use. We recommend using rubber or latex gloves and a mask to avoid breathing or touching anything you wouldn’t want to: Vinegar: A solution of white vinegar and water can be used to disinfect the birdhouse. Hydrogen Peroxide: A solution of hydrogen peroxide and water can be used to disinfect the birdhouse. Mild Soap: A mild soap solution can be used to clean out the birdhouse, followed by a thorough rinse with water. Bird Safe Cleaners: There are bird-safe cleaners available that are designed specifically for cleaning out birdhouses, one example is Poop-Off Birdhouse Cleaner. This cleaner, and others in this category of cleaners are marketed as non-toxic and safe for birds. To summarize: Some birds only have one brood each year (white-breasted nuthatch for example), but others could have 3-4 broods in a long summer with milder temperatures. Regardless of number of broods per year, you should still plan to clean out the birdhouse after each brood for a high success rate and the healthiest birds possible! #birdsofwestcobb

We are asked all the time: "should I buy a bird bath?" The answer is ... absolutely! It is incredible how many bird species visit bird baths! Some don't visit bird feeders! Should you buy a bird bath for your yard? Definitely! And you’ll be glad you did! Just remember that it is important to fill it with fresh water often (and clean it out). If you came here looking for advice on some good bird-safe cleaners, I’d recommend checking out our blog post on that topic here. Just the other day I was wandering around at Kemp Park, with my Nikon camera ready to snap a shot or two of any birds willing to make themselves seen. I saw a perfect example in nature of how important the water is to our bird friends. When you park at Kemp and go around/through the gate and proceed to the bottom of the hill there is a small (I mean very small) pond. There are some reeds growing there and a nice bench is positioned nearby. After a good rain, water drains down the hills on this property and forms a temporary stream that feeds into this small pond. As I quietly walked past this tiny pond and the bench there, I heard some soft gurgles and splashing sounds. As I peered “upstream” I noticed an American Robin taking a bath just before he noticed me and fled the scene. A few moments later, a Tufted Titmouse flew in and also took a few drinks and a quick bath also. The Tiny Pond located at Kemp Park in Marietta, Georgia We started feeding the birds in our yard first and didn’t give much thought to providing water to the birds, because there is a 17-Acre lake basically right across the street from us. However, we discussed it and came to the conclusion that if we were going to put out fresh seed each morning for the birds, it would not require much effort to provide them with a plate or bowl of water too. We were right of course. Now, we’ve seen so many birds drinking water that it is hard to keep track of them all. Sometimes we have more fun watching the bird “pool” than anything that is streaming on the Roku. Here are a few pictures to show exactly what I mean: Carolina Chickadee considering a bath if the temperature is just right. Chester the Brown-headed Nuthatch visits the pool often for drinks and baths. Bobby the Eastern Bluebird loves to bring his wife and children to our pool. A very wet Gray Catbird enjoys a good soak. Momma Titmouse kept calling but Timmy did not want to leave the pool! Mourning Doves love to take long sips of water in the evenings. Gray Catbird splishing and splashing. Brown Thrasher that decided a drink just wasn’t enough. Tufted Titmouse sipping water quickly. Eastern Gray Squirrel grabbing a drink before pillaging the deck feeder (again). Juvenile American Crow enjoying a fresh drink of clean water. As with any wild animal feeding “experiment”, there are some unusual guests that you might not expect to see drinking from dish laying on a deck handrail: Raccoons, Squirrels, Chipmunks, and most recently even Wild Eastern Turkeys. To make things stranger still, not all birds will drink from a dish or a bowl. In 5 years we have seen Downy Woodpeckers drink from the dish only a handful of times, but never the other woodpecker species. Additionally, House Finches and American Goldfinches seem to prefer drinking water from the small “Ant Traps” that we place on top of our hummingbird feeders. Occasionally we see Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice and even Brown-headed nuthatches and White-Breasted Nuthatches drinking out of these as well, but they will just as often drink from a plate or a bowl. If you haven’t seen these small “Ant traps” they basically function as a small barrier to protect your hummingbird sugar-water/nectar from a never-ending swarm of ants. We fill ours with fresh water each day to prevent mosquitos from growing and also to keep the water clean for these small birds. Here is a link – we STRONGLY recommend them if you have hummingbird feeders OR if you just want to hang some other type of feeder and want to keep the ants off, while quenching the thirst of our tiny friends! hummingbird feeder ant trap We may upgrade to a small heated birdbath for the winter this year. It becomes problematic when you leave water in your plates/dishes and it freezes up. Then you either wind up with a cracked plate or you spend lots of extra time pouring water on the ice to thaw it out, dump it, and then repeat… only to forget again a few days later to dump the water before you go to bed, so it freezes again. When you put fresh water out during the Spring or Fall migrations, you will be in for a treat! You might see Cedar Waxwings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, or any number of other visitors that food alone may not entice. If you enjoy reading this please give us a like or leave us a comment! We’d love to hear about the strangest visitor you’ve seen at your bird bath or “pool” as we refer to it. #birdsofwestcobb

In this blog post "When do Hummingbirds Migrate?" we take a look at the most typical first sighting and when the resident humminbirds all seem to appear in Georgia. BirdCast has built a very interesting bird-tracking tool and you can check to see the numbers of birds that migrated overnight. This seems to cover many bird species but I couldn’t find specifics on hummingbirds likely because they are so small, they cannot be tracked with the same tools. However, Hummingbirdcentral.com seems to cover it well with this map/tool. As we approach Fall, there is a cool crispness to the morning air. Our resident Ruby-throated hummingbirds have put on quite a bit of weight. They fly a bit more slowly, as they chase each other and try to declare a feeder or a flowering plant as their own. They will perch nearby on a low branch, sometimes directly on top of the flowering plant itself, or high up in a tree where they can cover a lot more ground. By late September the adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds typically begin to migrate South. In the past several years we’ve noticed the females and the juvenile males will hang around a few weeks longer. I’m writing this on Saturday September 9th (2023) and we still see most, if not all, of the adult males. But we know their time here is coming to an end for the year. Update as of October 14th, 2023: All adult males have migrated South now, and the majority of adult females as well. We have 2-3 hummingbirds still on our feeders this morning, and have reduced the number of feeders from 5 (yes, you read that correctly!) down to 2 feeders. Also, our Purple Salvia is still blooming and will do so until a hard freeze occurs. Hopefully not until Dec/Jan as this gives an additional food source to the birds which they do seem to prefer over sugar water most days. While we have purple salvia planted in our yard and the plants return each Spring, the blooms usually aren’t present until May. Our earliest Spring time hummers arrive in mid April. We are pretty certain that these are migrating further north and just passing through, because each year we see a couple at the feeder and then don’t see more for several weeks. Another possibility though, is that in Spring there are TONS of natural flower blooms which the hummingbirds can feed on, from trees and shrubs to flowers in beds and planters. So if you have a feeder (or 4 like us haha), be a bit patient in the Spring. By mid-May you’ll see plenty of these amazing creatures regularly frequenting your feeders. By July/August you’ll also start to see the young hummers as well. Thanks for reading! Please comment below if you’ve enjoyed this blog post and let us know when you typically see hummingbirds where you live! We’d love to hear about them! #AcworthBirds #wildlifephotography #GeorgiaHummingbirds #birdsofwestcobb #KennesawGeorgiaBirds #hummingbirdsatlanta #birdphotography #rubythroatedhummingbird #hummingbirds #MariettaGeorgiabirds