Birds of West Cobb

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 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.

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

A short story about how I first encountered Red-shouldered hawks, found a nest and watched these amazing birds. Ever since I was a young birder, I was extremely interested in birds of prey. Some have mixed feelings to put it mildly, about birds that eat lizards, fish, snakes, rodents and even other birds. I was always more interested in the speed and agility of these birds. Their eyesight is incredible, and considering their size it is even more incredible how agile they can be when hunting or when avoiding pesky blue jays, crows or mockingbirds. The first time that I can remember seeing a hawk as a child, and there were actually two of them circling overhead. I used to spend a lot of time outdoors playing in creeks, fishing for bream and crawfish. It was early Spring and the hawks were barely above the tree tops calling to each other and circling while they looked for a meal. A Red-shouldered hawk high in a tree, calling it’s mate (video from Spring, 2019) Over the next few weeks I would fish the same creek several times, and I kept hearing this pair of hawks. Eventually I was lucky enough to discover their nesting location. They flew over head on one specific afternoon and I watched one fly up to a tall tulip poplar tree growing up right along the bank of the creek. The other perched nearby and was carrying a branch in its beak. They were finishing the nest! I was able to see them well enough at this point to recognize that they were Red-shouldered hawks. These are the second largest hawks in the Southeast (only the Red-tailed hawk is larger). They are very, very vocal and it’s easy to know they’re in the area by their loud repeated calls. My Dad has an a pretty old Pentax camera he bought while in the Navy (1968-70 timeframe) , and has a few lenses and filters. I knew where he kept it and took it to hawk watch several times. I had some cheap camouflage from an army navy surplus store that was basically a bit of canvas fabric with leaf print/pattern. I slowly and quietly walked along the creek banks and climbed up to the base of a sizeable tree trunk adjacent to the tall poplar tree and sat motionless, waiting for them to return. I was able to visit several times in the following weeks and saw them carry back squirrels on multiple occasions and a rabbit once also. The top of the nest seemed to have a lot of fluffy down feathers (or maybe fur) strewn about. It is hard to say at this point in time due to the vintage camera and limited telephoto options. I also had a pair of Nikon Lookout III 10x50mm binoculars which were actually far superior in lense quality at the time to the Pentax camera. These gave me the best views I had. At the back portion of our property there is a small stand of tall Pine trees, it turns out the hawks found a perfect spot and built a nest right along the fence line, likely around 40 feet up in the tree. If memory serves me, I think this was actually late March thru early April for the nest construction phase. They had a couple of young and we were able to snap some photos from our back door 80-90ft away with my Nikon P610 camera. They aren’t great photos but I will post a few up for you anyway. This pair only nest here one season, and it seemed like our resident pair of crows were constantly antagonizing these hawks and eventually drove them out. I also saw Blue Jays, Northern Mockingbirds harassing the hawks and a brave squirrel that attempted to climb up into the nest and attempt to sabotage it. You read that correctly… Grey squirrels are known to exhibit this behavior. They will climb up into a hawk nest and push out the eggs or break them, which is likely some sort of survival instinct of theirs. Thanks for reading and please let me know if you enjoyed this post and the photos. Also feel free to comment if you have a story about Red-shouldered hawks that you’d like to share! #birdwatching #birdwatching #Hawks #Raptors #birding #Predators #backyardbirds #avian

In this blog post, we share some incredible artists inspired by Birds of West Cobb After around 30-40 posts on Instagram (referring to our @birdsofwestcobb page if you’re new here), we saw a beautiful acrylic painting of a bright, happy male Northern Cardinal in our feed from one of our followers that lives over in John’s Creek, Georgia. She tagged us and said thanks for the inspiration! This actually inspired us more to continue and see what else the world had in store for us! Thanks, Ali Leja! We appreciate you and hope you enjoy the shout-out here also! (Her Instagram page can be found @alelejaart, and her website can be found here: https://alilejaart.com Stop by her pages and support a local artist today! Check out this gorgeous acrylic painting by Ali Leja of John’s Creek, GA. A year or so after Ali was inspired to paint this Northern Cardinal in Acrylic, we had another artist tag us in a post and thank us for the inspiration. Tyler Swain from Utah found our page and has since painted many pieces. You can visit Tyler Swain’s art website at tylerswainart.com. We loved his pieces so much we bought a unique one from him of a young Mourning Dove. Here are some screenshots of the pieces he has since painted, below. Also, if you’d like to follow him on Instagram, his page can be found here! Check out this amazing Pine Warbler in Acrylic by artist Tyler Swain, from Utah. If you like to draw, paint, or any combination of the two, and would like to use our photos as inspiration, please just let us know! If you tag us in your posts on social media we can even share future full-quality images with you if that will help you further your art endeavors, and we can promote your work here as well! Thanks for the support! Thanks for checking out these artists inspired by Birds of West Cobb!

Is Red-Dyed hummingbird nectar safe for your Hummingbirds? Not likely! You know the stuff… that bottled, cheap red fluid you see at Walmart, your local home improvement chain or even your grocery store. You may even see a neighbor “giving it away to a good home” on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or on the Nextdoor app. But what’s the deal, anyway? Is it even usable? Is it safe for the Hummingbirds? Let’s look into it a bit further and I’ll let you decide for yourselves! Before we start though, let’s talk about our favorite DIY hummingbird recipe. It’s easy! So easy even a caveman could do it! DIY Hummingbird Nectar Recipe: Add 4 parts water to a small pot and boil. Stir in 1 part white, table sugar. Remove the super hot liquid from the burner and let it cool off until it’s at room temperature. (For speed, you can refrigerate it to cool it down a bit more quickly). If you already have been using your hummingbird feeders Be sure to thoroughly clean out your feeder(s). Refill them and hanging them back up for the birds! That’s all there is to it! You don’t have to take our word for it though; the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute has an article about this specifically: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/hummingbird-nectar-recipe Now that we have the recipe (our "Go-To", clean, safe and not to mention quick method) out of the way, let’s get back down to it: Is the red-dyed, store-bought hummingbird nectar safe to serve to your feathered-friends? First: Let’s look at a few of the brands out there. #1 that comes up in most of my searches seems to be “Perky Pet Concentrated Hummingbird Nectar Sugar” which claims that it is 100% Sucrose. Now, I looked further into this (as you might expect), and I found that Sucrose IS metabolized at nearly a 100% rate by hummingbirds, making it a definite “YES” for feeding to hummingbirds. However, there is a glaring detail in this product that just doesn’t add up. It’s red in color. The Smithsonian link above even states specifically that you should mix sugar and water and avoid using any dye. Why does Perky Pet do this then? Well, it seems to be a marketing ploy to get consumers to purchase it. People are far more attracted to the red dye and red-colored packaging than the birds they hope to attract. Reading further on this subject, and trying to help point you to the correct information more easily, I found this site by Sheri L. Williamson, who is a Hummingbird researcher that has publicly called out the makers of these hummingbird foods for the dyes that are unnecessary and also harmful. Their responses certainly left the feeling that they really just don’t care. Take a look at her blog site below! Feeding Hummingbirds: Seeing red over dye Are you curious to know more about Hummingbird Feeders, Nectar or something else? What details would you like to see? Thanks for visiting and reading! -BOWC #hummingbirdnectar #DIYhummingbirdnectar #DIYhummingbirdjuice #birdsofwestcobb #hummingbirdsatlanta #hummingbirdfood

In this blog we explore which feeder attracts the most hummingbirds: We have found that there isn't a single feeder that matters. It is more important that the feeder is cleaned and filled often! Googlers want to know: Which feeder attracts the most hummingbirds? Our preference is a red glass feeder with colorful fake flower blossoms (They seem to prefer either red or yellow, but also will drink from other bright colored blossoms as well). We are located in the Southeastern United States, and aside from a few (very few) migratory hummingbirds, there is only one species that resides here: The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. Here is some additional information about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the feeders that work for well for attracting them and supporting their nutritional needs as they prepare for migration. In most of the Southeastern United States, you’ll only see Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds throughout the Spring and Summer months, and they will depart in early Fall. The female is typically slightly larger and nearly all white/grey on the belly and throat. The adult males are a bit smaller but their throats absolutely glow red in the sunlight. Other times they may appear black, as they attempt to blend into the surroundings or perch in the shadows. Juveniles will look similar to females at first, and may only have 1 ruby-red feather or just a handful of them. They are a TON of fun to watch as they buzz between feeders and chase each other around relentlessly. Here’s the thing: Ruby-throated hummingbirds are extremely territorial. In all the years I’ve been feeding them I’ve rarely seen more than one at a time on a feeder. This usually only happens if there are too few feeders in the area and a lot of birds, and they are nearing their departure date for migration. For this reason, you can use a hummingbird with as few as 4 “blossoms” but more than that is really a waste. They will attack / chase each other so quickly that it’s pretty uncommon to see two sitting together sharing a drink. If you are in the area and you’d like to stop by the pollinator garden at Kemp Park, you’ll likely witness the hummers buzzing each other for the next few weeks! They are located at 4331 Burnt Hickory Rd NW Marietta GA, 30064 – or you can visit their website. I still recommend a feeder with 4 blossoms (or more), over just a single blossom because it does give the other birds a chance at grabbing a drink, before being chased away. Also, they will come at it from every side, and from below (in our case we have 4-foot tall purple salvia in the summer) as well as above. So it’s a great idea to have multiple angles. Now, another thing to consider is that many hummingbirds actually prefer to perch. They are the only species of birds that cannot walk, their feet are only designed to perch. So they will do this, and lean into the plastic/metal blossoms on your feeders and take deep rewarding drinks. So try to get feeders with perches for each of the blossoms. Red-dye or red glass? We prefer either the red colored glass, or a base that is red and the glass that is clear. You do still want to be able to see the level (and condition) of the hummingbird nectar inside of the feeder so I’d avoid getting a solid color or ceramic that you cannot see through. We talked about red dye / store bought nectar in another post… it’s so easy and fast to mix up a batch of hummingbird nectar that you should avoid the red stuff 100% of the time. (Hummingbird nectar DIY recipe: 1 part sugar, 4 parts water. Lightly boil and then chill to serve). The Feeder we have been using for that last few years looks similar to this one from Perky Pet. It is durable, easy to clean and refill, and the color stays bright. Direct Link Here. Are there any accessories that I should purchase to go along with my hummingbird feeder? Absolutely. You should consider how you will be hanging the feeder(s), and whether or not raccoons can get to them. Raccoons simply love them and will grab hold and tilt them over drinking every last drop (that doesn’t spill). So I’d recommend hanging them from a piece of soffit or facia with at least a 12″ long hook, so they cannot reach down to it. Additionally, you’ll want to invest in an “Ant trap” or ant guard. You and I both know how quickly ants will find anything sweet here in the South. So these little ant traps are worth their weight in gold. You just fill them with water (only a small amount), and it creates a protective barrier that the ants cannot cross and it keeps your nectar safe. Additionally, these little ant traps will double as a tiny bird watering hole for other small birds like finches, titmice and chickadees. We’ve even seen downy woodpeckers and nuthatches drinking from ours, so be sure to keep them clean! #attractinghummingbirds #birdfood #safeDIYhummingbirdnectar #birdfeeding #birdsofwestcobb #birdfeeders #feedinghummingbirds #hummingbirdfeeders #rubythroatedhummingbird #backyardbirds