Read 

"The Hawk in My Backyard" 

on page 6 in this months 

Wild Bird Habitat Store's 

January Newsletter below

Is Your Bird Bath De-Icer Working?

You get up on a cold frigid morning only to find your bird bath is frozen over. You have a bird bath de-icer in it, but what happened? Check to make sure the GFI didn't trip and needs to be reset. Did a circuit breaker trip? If so, did you add an appliance to the same circuit the bird bath deicer was on and overload that circuit? If using an extension cord, did it go bad? How do you know if it is the bird bath de-icer, or another issue? To find out unplug and remove the bird bath deicer. If it is frozen in the bath pour luke warm water, not hot water, into the bath to loosen the de-icer then follow these steps:

TESTING A BIRD BATH HEATER OR DE-ICER

If the bird bath de-icer fails the test it may be time to replace it. If there is a warranty on the product bring it back to Wild Bird Habitat for a replacement. But we encourage you to test it first. Often a de-icer is returned and when we test it it works fine.

Do You Still Have Bluebirds?

During the winter months we receive numerous reports of folks that have bluebirds at their heated bird baths. While most bluebirds move to more southern states during the winter it seems a number of bluebirds are opting to winter over.However they would not be staying if they had not established a food source. It could be cedar berries on junipers. Coral berries in the under-story of woodlands. Or any other numerous fruits still set on trees and bushes. If that food source were to become depleted you can bet they'll start drifting south.

One resource that can become difficult to find when the thermometer plummets is water. This is why you may see them at your bird bath if it provides open fresh water.

Wild Bird Habitat also offers live meal worms year round and carry a full line of bluebird feeders. Many folks who do have bluebirds staying over will put meal worms out as a supplemental food source, although this would not be enough to keep them sustained over the winter months. They must still have a reliable natural food source to remain.

How To Attract A Larger Variety Of Birds To Your Backyard

Want to attract more birds to your backyard? Want to attract a larger variety of bird species to your feeders? Birds have certain feeding characteristics. For instance certain birds will only feed at elevated feeders such as Chickadees and nuthatches. Others prefer larger perching areas. This includes Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays. Then there are those birds that like to cling; Downy Woodpeckers as well as Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers. Some birds prefer to feed on the ground That would include Mourning Doves and our native sparrows.

The fact is that to attract a larger variety of birds to your backyard it helps to provide a variety of bird feeders that will accommodate the needs of the birds you want to attract. And of course what you fill those bird feeders with makes a difference also. For example birds that come to elevated bird feeders are primarily after the the nut meats such as black oil sunflower, hulled sunflower, safflower, and peanuts. 

Check out Wild Bird Habitat's article on the SEVEN BASIC BIRD FEEDERS that will guarantee bringing a larger variety of birds into your backyard. Also helpful is Wild Bird Habitat's BIRD FEED & BIRD FEEDER GUIDE where you can find out what bird feeders and wild bird feeds are suited for your favorite backyard birds.  

WINGTIP:

You may think birds can locate water during the winter - some where. But that isn't the case when the thermometer plummets below freezing. Water is essential for all living things. For birds eating snow may be an option, but it lowers their body temperature robbing them of the essential energy they need to remain warm. L earn more in this months newsletter below and in the article

Water In Winter Is For The Birds!

WINGTIP:

Nyjer thistle seed has always been the go to wild bird feed for Goldfinches. They will also feast on hulled sunflower seed. But Nutra Safflower seed has become a very popular feed for Goldfinch when placed in a seed tube bird feeder.

Nyjer thistle seed is imported from places like India, Burma, and Ethiopia. It is sterilized when brought into North America to avoid noxious weed seeds from germinating creating a relatively short shelf life which Goldfinch will reject if the Nyjer is old.

Nutra safflower on the other hand is grown by American farmers, is less expensive, attracts not just Goldfinch but a large variety of birds, and best of all squirrels ignore it.

NOTE: I have never observed Goldfinch feeding on traditional WHITE SAFFLOWER. However   NUTRA SAFFLOWER was hybridized from white safflower removing the hard white outer shell, raising the over-all fat content by 30% leaving a thin brown hull often referred to as safflower gold.

Wild Bird Habitat Store's North Lincoln Store Has Migrated

 

Lincoln's Wild Bird Habitat Stores. Serving Nebraska birders since 1993

 

Wild Bird Habitat Store's North Lincoln

(New Location)

                           4900 Dudley Street 

                              

Wild Bird Habitat Store's South Lincoln

South Lincoln / Alamo Plaza / 56th & HWY 2

ON LINE AT WILD BIRD HABITAT STORE.COM

Wild Bird Habitat's Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Selection

When it comes to squirrels, Wild Bird Habitat doesn't only have you covered with our functional squirrel baffles, we offer a large variety of squirrel proof bird feeders, several with lifetime warranties, and all that can be repaired, not tossed because of any damage.

Learn more...

The Wild Bird Habitat Stores

are proud members of the

Wild Bird Feeding Industry

PEANUT BIRD FEEDERS

One of Dave's favorite and  bird feeders

Check out Dave's photos below