Time for the 23rd annual
GBBC Window
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
February 14 to 17
Be a citizen scientist 
ITS FOR THE BIRDS!
The Wild Bird Habitat Stores are asking everyone across 
North America to Count the birds during the
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
Scroll down to learn how


The Wild Bird 
Habitat Stores
Connecting people with nature since 1993
right in their own backyards
Attract more birds to your yard and enjoy backyard bird feeding more with the Wild Bird Habitat Store's series -   "THE 7 BASIC BACKYARD BIRD FEEDERS" -  every backyard bird enthusiast should have....  Check it out below
February News Notes:
from Wild Bird Habitat
  • Up to now this has been a sparse winter for northern finches with the exception of Northern Goldfinch populations. A few Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls have been seen at feeders.
  • We should remain alert for any new birds wandering down from the North Country.
  • If snow and ice covers the ground put some grit out for the birds. Birds need it to digest their food.
  • Suet will be in big demand for the remainder of winter, and even more so from March to August during the nesting season.
  • Open water and well stocked bird feeders can increase the survival of birds during extreme winters by up to 50%.
  • If you choose to plant for wildlife this spring begin planning now. Carroll Henderson's book "Landscaping for Wildlife" is a great resource and available at Wild Bird Habitat Store.
  • Make plans now to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 14 - 17.
  • Peanuts and woodpecker mixes are also a very popular food to offer.
  • Many people have had bluebirds all winter and more will soon begin arriving.
  • Finches will soon be flocking to the feeders in even greater numbers.
  • Share watching birds at the feeders with your kids, family, friends and guests.

Read more in Dave's Bird Chatter in Wild Bird Habitat Store's February Newsletter. Open the Newsletter link provided below

 

Wild Bird Habitat Store's February Newsletter
What is the Bird of the Month?
Is it a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker
Learn how to tell the difference in our newsletter below
BEING A CITIZEN SCIENTIST IS FOR THE BIRDS!

Get ready for this years
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
February 14 through the 17th

FOR ALL AGES AND LEVELS 
OF BIRDING EXPERIENCE

Learn all about it and sign up to count the birds at
Like us on Facebook
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT EVENT 

Wachiska Audubon Program
Unitarian Church / 6300 A Street
Thursday - February 13th at 7:00 PM

Learn How & Why to Participate In
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Presented by Dave from Wild Bird Habitat
February is 
National Bird Feeding Month
Read about it in Wild Bird Habitat's Newsletter
Just click on the newsletter link below
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT EVENT 
PIONEERS PARK NATURE CENTER
Facilitated by the Wild Bird Habitat Store
February 15, Saturday 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. / Chet Ager Building
PPNC Logo

Bundle up and join us at Pioneers Park Nature Center for a 9:00 a.m. winter bird walk. Then meet with other birders in the Chet Ager Building for hot mulled cider and a snack as we count the visitors at our bird garden. That data will be submitted to the biologists at the Cornell University Bird Lab for the 16th Annual Great Bird Count. The Wild Bird Habitat Stores will be on hand to discuss how you can attract birds to your backyard and participate in the GBBC's fun, four day free bird count. No registrations necessary for this drop-in program but please call 402-441-7895 if you plan to attend the bird walk.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT EVENT 

North America's largest birding event for 2020

NORTH AMERICAN BLUEBIRD SOCIETY 
CONVENTION & BIRDING FESTIVAL

Sponsored & Hosted by
BAN logo 2
Details below


Wild Bird Habitat Store's  Newsletter
Published by the Wild Bird Habitat Stores
 
Click on
to find out
  • About Wild Bird Habitat Store's new Vice President of Operations
  • What is the "bird of the month? It's a woodpecker
  • Read "Dave's Bird Chatter" for January
  • Register for the 2020 Bluebird Convention & Festival, North America's most exciting birding event of 2020
  • Make plans for the 2020 Great Backyard Bird Count
  • Creating a backyard bird habitat for winter
  •  and more birding news

THE BIRDING EVENT OF 2020
Register today for the North American Bluebird Conference hosted by Bluebirds Across Nebraska. Sign up for Sandhill Crane Viewing Blinds, Birding Tours, and Prairie Culture Field Trips. Hurry! spots will fill up fast. Enjoy numerous birding workshops and activities. 

This promises to be the largest birding event in 
North America for 2020. So register today.

For all the information 
and Printable Registration Form click
March 11 - 15, 2020

Register early to be certain to have a place on the birding trips, tours, and special activities. 
Ban Logo

Contact 
for more information

In 2003 when Bluebirds Across Nebraska hosted the North American Bluebird Conference almost all 50 states were represented and several Canadian Provinces.

If you enjoy bluebirds, or just like birds in general, don't miss this exciting conference/festival. Its educational, informational, fun, its all about birds, and you'll be witness to one of the largest migrations on the planet. Up to 600,000 Sandhill Cranes along with numerous waterfowl species, and many migratory and resident Nebraska birds. 

It's the birding event of the year - don't miss it!

You can also visit the 
Nebraska! A Top North American Birding Destination
Find out where to go birding in Nebraska below
 WHERE TO GO BIRDING IN NEBRASKA
A top North American Birding Area
Nebraska Birding Trails

Listing more than 400 bird watching sites across the state of Nebraska. From the Missouri River Valley to the panhandle's rugged Pine Ridge, you'll find world class bird watching, scenic vistas, and a remarkable Nebraska Heritage around every corner.  nebraskabirdingtrails.com
 
 
Nebraska Metro Birding
Bird watching in seven counties in Eastern Nebraska. Find birding sites right out your backdoor in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington counties. nebraskametrobirding.com
 
Central Nebraska, one of the major migratory routes on the continent. From Sandhill Cranes to Prairie Chickens, shore birds to prairie dog towns, it's an incredible journey you don't want to miss. nebraskaflyway.com 
Chicken Dance Trail

Chicken Dance Birding Trail, 27 counties in Southwestern Nebraska 
Birding in South Central & South Western Nebraska.  chickendancetrail.com.

A comprehensive guide to the birds of Nebraska, seasonal occurrences, where they occur, and information on over 500 birds that reside, nest, or migrate through the state including maps for locating birds. Click on: 
Nebraska - birding doesn't get any better than this anywhere on the continent

FREE BIRD ID APPS
Check them out below
"7 BASIC BACKYARD BIRD FEEDERS"
Published by the Wild Bird Habitat Stores

Do you know what the 7 basic bird feeders for a complete backyard bird feeding program are? Different birds have different feeding characteristics and each of these 7 basic bird feeders and the wild bird feed you use in each is guaranteed to attract a larger variety of birds to your backyard. 

The Wild Bird Habitat Stores is publishing a series - "7 Basic Backyard Bird Feeders". Every two weeks we will featuring one of the seven basic feeders, what they are, how to use, recommend the wild bird feed you should use in each one, and what birds to expect to be attracted by each of these basic bird feeders.

With the exception of a few specialty, wild bird feeders ( hummingbird, oriole, etc.)  every bird feeder you see at your local bird feeding supply store will fall under one of these 7 categories even though they may appear in a variety of designs. This includes window feeders, caged feeders, even squirrel proof bird feeders, all bird feeders.
                                               

"7 Basic Backyard Bird Feeders" series
Check out the first 5 of the 7 basic wild bird feeders you should have in your backyard if you feed birds. Then like us on Face Book for updates on the remaining 4 basic backyard bird feeders as they are published. Or find them on our website at  the Wild Bird Habitat Store 
Platform Bird Feeder
Nyjer Thistle Tube Bird Feeder
Downy on upside down feeder
Suet Bird Feeder

Once you understand the 7 basic backyard bird feeders and follow our recommendations and tips, I guarantee you'll enjoy a larger diversity of bird species coming to your backyard.

Watch for the last two bird feeders in Wild Bird Habitat Store's
"THE 7 BASIC BACKYARD BIRD FEEDERS"
coming soon

MORE TIPS ON ATTRACTING BIRDS TO BIRD FEEDERS

No matter if you plan to use just 1 of the 7 basic backyard bird feeders or all 7, the quality of the wild bird feed you use is essential for attracting birds to your bird feeder, and keep them coming back for more. Learn more about wild bird feed at  ALL ABOUT WILD BIRD FEED

For additional information on which birds are attracted to each of the 7 basic backyard bird feeders and what wild bird feed is recommended, checkout our easy to use guide at  BIRD FEED & BIRD FEEDER GUIDE

Bird Populations Continue to Decline
Scroll down to learn more
Need some help identifying birds? 

Answer five simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will come up with a list of possible matches. Merlin offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers to learn about North America and Europe's common and rare birds!

A new advanced version of the Photo ID tool is now available for download in the latest version of Merlin Bird ID for Android and iPhone . Select an image from your smartphone image gallery or snap a shot from the back of your cameras viewfinder, and Merlin will walk you through the 2 quick steps before showing you a list of possible species.

The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to over 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket. Built for all experience levels, it will help you identify the birds around you, keep track of the birds you've seen, and get outside to find new birds near you. Now with Bird ID Wizard

HARD COPY FIELD GUIDES form Wild Bird Habitat
For all your backyard birding needs shop
Check out some popular bird feeders below
Arnie's Corner
February is Doggy Dental Month

Carefree Dental Care for Your Dog
Did you know 80% of all dogs will develop some form of dental disease by the age of three? Dental disease is the #1 illness in pets. The cause is plaque buildup on the teeth and bacteria below the gum line. It causes gum disease, cavities, and tooth loss. More serious problems can occur such as bladder infections and kidney disease. Plaque absorbed in the blood can clog arteries leading to heart failure. The fact is dental disease can shorten a dog's life by as much as seven years.

But now there is "TEEF". A human grade prebiotic powder you add to your dogs water that safely and naturally targets the root cause of dental disease. TEEF not only eliminates bacteria between teeth and below the gum line that causes periodontal diseases, but fights the plaque that can be absorbed into the blood stream causing serious pet health issues. TEEF is the only product available that safely and effectively improves bad breath, gum health, and tooth whiteness.

TEEF was created by microbiologist Dr. Emily Stein after her rescued dog needed 21 teeth removed and suffered from health issues related to dental disease. Protektin 42 is a patented prebiotic formula. It was designed and named with the ultimate goal of keeping all 42 teeth in your dog's mouth.
Katie at Arnie's Pet Food Store recommends dental check-ups as part of your pet's health care routine along with using TEEF for daily dental pet maintenance. 

TEEF is available exclusively at Arnie's Pet Food Store in the Alamo Plaza at 56th & Hwy 2. 


a division of the Wild Bird Habitat Stores
All natural U.S. sourced pet foods, treats, & chews

Where we care as much about your pets as we do our own

Arnie's Pet Food Store
Alamo Plaza / 56th & Hwy 2
Lincoln, NE 68516

Seed tube bird feeders & Nyjer thistle bird feeders
Made in the USA / Lifetime warranty
#1 tube bird feeders on the market
Check them out below
For the best seed tube bird feeders and Nyjer thistle feeders on the market its Aspects and Droll Yankees - hands down

Why? These are high end, quality wild bird feeders at an affordable price. Made in the U.S.A., and come with a lifetime warranty. 

DY Twist Off CC Fdr


These seed tube and Nyjer thistle seed feeders are easy to fill and even easier to clean with Quick Clean removable bases.




Unlike acrylic seed and thistle bird feeders you find at many big box outlets that can crack in cold temperatures or they become brittle from the hot summer sun, Aspects and Droll Yankees tubes are made from polypropylene - durable, UV stabilized, won't yellow or crack. (covered by lifetime warranty)

If you want a quality seed tube bird feeder or Nyjer thistle seed bird feeder, then you want  Aspects or Droll Yankees feeders - guaranteed for life..






Environmentally Friendly Bird Feeders
Birds Choice Recycled Feeders
Although the durability and natural look of cedar bird feeders continue to be preferred, the new line of feeders made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic is gaining in popularity. Many of these bird feeders have a lifetime warranty against fading, pealing, cracking, and chipping. They clean up like brand new, even after years of use. And speak of easy cleaning, many of the cedar and recycled plastic feeders we stock have removable perforated steel bottoms. This also allows moisture to pass through and the seed to remain dry.
 

Made in the USA

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.
Best affordable 
SQUIRREL PROOF 
BIRD FEEDERS

2 YEAR TO LIFETIME WARRANTIES

BROME 
BIRD CARE

Peanut Feeders - A picture is worth a thousand words
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Downy feeding young
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
photos by Dave of Wild Bird Habitat

Check out Wild Bird Habitat's Peanut Feeders

 

Caged Peanut Feeders - Feed woodpeckers not squirrels & starlings
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
photos by Dave of Wild Bird Habitat

Check out Wild Bird Habitat's Peanut Feeders

 


Best Woodpecker Suet Plugs

Attractor High Energy Suet Plugs available at 
the Wild Bird Habitat Stores

  • Roasted Peanut Attractor Plugs
    P-Nutbutter Logs
    Suet Log w/WP
  • Pure Attractor Plugs
  • Sunflower Attractor Plugs
  • No-Melt Peanut Butter Attractor Plugs
By the pack or by the case, woodpeckers love 'em




Shop Wild Bird Habitat's Online Store

We hope you enjoy Wild Bird Habitat's monthly birding news
More birding info than you can shake a tail feather at!
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.

Nearly 3 Billion Birds Gone

A new study finds steep, long-term losses across virtually all groups of birds in the U.S. and Canada

More info & links in 
Wild Bird Habitat Store's





In ancient times humans looked to the flight and songs of birds to protect the future. Today once again, birds have something to tell us.

THE MESSENGER
Su Rynard's wide-ranging and contemplative documentary THE MESSENGER explores our deep-seated connection to birds and warns that the uncertain fate of songbirds might mirror our own. Moving from the northern reaches of the Boreal Forest to the base of Mount Ararat in Turkey to the streets of New York, 

THE MESSENGER brings us face-to-face with a remarkable variety of human-made perils that have devastated thrushes, warblers, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks and many other airborne music-makers.

On one level, THE MESSENGER is an engaging, visually stunning, emotional journey, one that mixes its elegiac message with hopeful notes and unique glances into the influence of songbirds on our own expressions of the soul. On another level, THE MESSENGER is the artful story about the mass depletion of songbirds on multiple continents, and about those who are working to turn the tide.

Watch THE MESSENGER on Amazon Video


Shifting Ranges: 588 Habitats in a Changing Climate
Audubon Logo


In 2015, the National Audubon Society released a groundbreaking report called "Birds and Climate Change." This report detailed what we can expect for North American bird species in the coming decades. It focuses on the impacts of climate change on 588 avian species using decades of observations from Audubon members and our best understanding of what each species needs to survive.

In the most likely climate scenarios, the majority of the bird species studied-314-will see at least 50 percent of their current summer or winter range no longer suitable for them. Some species, like the purple finch, may see an increase in their expected habitable ranges because new habitats will become suitable as existing ones are no longer viable for them. Others, like the burrowing owl, are expected to mostly lose territory. Some impacts of climate change are unavoidable, but we can still protect many of the species we love. One of the most important ways to protect birds from the effects of climate happens to be one of the most important ways to protect birds in general: creating and protecting habitats. These strongholds should take into account both current and future bird populations. 

To view the redistribution of 588 North American bird species from 2000 to 2080 open the Audubon Field Guide. Select a bird (or search a bird species) then scroll down to the bottom and watch the changes in that birds range as habitats change due to a warming climate.

Wild Bird Habitat Stores
recipients of the 2015
from
Gold Crest Distribution, Birding Business Magazine
& leaders in the Bird Feeding Industry
Alamo Plaza Store
South Lincoln. NE
Wild Bird Habitat Store

South Lincoln, NE location
5601 South 56th Street
In the Alamo Plaza
(402) 420-2553

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Intergity Award


North Lincoln, NE
North Lincoln, NE location
4900 Dudley Street
(402) 464-4055

Toll Free Phone: (800) 606-2553



In Omaha visit
Omaha, NE
Bing & Luann Behrens at
Wild Bird Habitat
Harrison Village Mall
168th & Harrison
(402) 504-4450
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