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It is officially Summer and t
he heavy heat of the season is here to stay for a while. The excitement of new species, migration, and nest initiation is being replaced by the familiarity of a regular cast of avian characters in our yards and neighborhoods. Watching these birds flit about their daily lives helps distract us from difficult realities in our own lives. This summer has the added complication of a global pandemic.
It can certainly feel overwhelming.
And yet , the warm, stretchy, slowness of summer brings with it some wonderful moments.
The birds in our yards and neighborhoods have settled into their summer habits, and with them have come some helpful routines.
You know what time to bring out your hummingbird feeder in the morning. You know how quickly you'll go through your favorite seed. You know how many mealworms your baby birds will need this week.
These natural schedules are here to remind us that although there may be trouble, there may be pain, there is still new life and there is a beauty in the patterns of nature.
For that, we are grateful.
We are trying our best to settle into our own routines at the bird store.
We will be closed at Southport on Saturday the 4th of July. The following Monday (7/6/20) we will be opening the Wilmington store from 10-4 Monday through Saturday! We think that will be a routine we can all enjoy!
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houghts for Mid Nesting Season
This time of year it is important to be aware of what is going on with your nesting birds. They are likely busy parents right now. Adult birds are teaching their fledglings how to forage in the yard and at feeders. It is a good time to be putting out high protein snacks like suet, mealworms, and sunflower chips. Some birds are on their second or third broods! As Jill would say, "there are a lot of beaks to feed!"
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Bluebird Testimonials
It is the middle of nesting season right now, and we have been seeing some AMAZING photos from our beloved online community. Many of these have been shared on our social media, but here is a compilation of some of our favorite Eastern Bluebird nesting photos. These pictures are from different people, but together they tell a wonderful story.
The Bluebird journey always begins with finding the perfect house! Next, comes bringing it home and putting it in just the right place so that
the Bluebirds will love it and you can watch the activity. It helps to make sure you have good habitat, food, and water available nearby.
Photo 1 is courtesy of our friend Deb who sent us this photo of her gorgeous Peace Pole bird house
With some luck, a couple of Bluebirds will find your house suitable and move right
in! This is always very exciting and fill us with hope and anticipation!
Photo 2 is courtesy of Susan Espersen who got this great shot of the male Bluebird just about to enter his nest box.
There is quite a lot of variation in timing between starting a nest and having a full clutch of eggs, but in general it takes about two weeks for the pair to make their nest and lay their first eggs. This is always a great moment to share with your family and friends! It is also where the countdown to baby birds begins!
Incubation really starts with the laying of the final (ultimate) egg and is done entirely by the female. From the start of incubation to hatching is about 14 days. The male is very attentive to the female during this time, bringing her snacks while she incubates. Then comes the much awaited hatch day! They don't always hatch on the same day, but it is usually within 24 hours.
Photo 4 is courtesy of Linda West Hutchison who shared this beautiful moment of these delicate hatchlings with us.
Watching your baby bluebirds grow is a true joy! They are so cute!
After 17-19 days, the babies are ready to fledge! In this picture (taken from a video) you can just make out the timid little face of a baby Bluebird who is trying to find the courage to jump out!
The last part of the story is the most fun and most scary! The fledgling stage is really fun for putting out fresh mealworms and watching the parents feed their cute little guys. It is also the fun to watch the babies become more confident and strong as they navigate the world! However, there are many dangers facing fledglings, such as stray or outdoor cats, windows, and natural threats like snakes or birds of prey. Whenever you can mitigate those dangers (like cats and windows) it is a good idea to do so.
Window decals are helpful temporary stick-ons for the outside of your windows that can alert flying birds to their presence. Keeping cats indoors during breeding season is very helpful to fledglings, adult birds, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles!
Photos 7-11 are courtesy of Tom Banks who kindly shared these amazing photos of his Bluebirds interacting in his yard!
It has been really fun for us to see the different stages of nesting that folks have going on in their yards. If you have pictures of birds that you'd like to share with us, we welcome them via email or social media. We love seeing your journeys!
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Maintaining Bird Baths
In North Carolina, it can get hot hot hot in the Summer! As we start into July and plan for August, maintaining your bird bath is going to be more and more important!
A dirty bird bath can be full of dangerous bacteria that can be harmful or even deadly to birds. A long stagnant bird bath can also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and no one wants that!
It is important to clean your bird bath regularly. We encourage you to add a cleaning regimen into your weekly routine. Bird baths should be cleaned 2-3 times per week - a schedule similar to hummingbird feeders! We suggest using a simple non-toxic solution of white vinegar and water at a ratio of about 1:4 to 1:9 depending on your preference. You just need to dump out the old water, scrub the bath, rinse with the vinegar solution and then refill!
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Curbside Pickup Continues
We are continuing to offer social distancing-friendly ways for you to have the supplies you need as nesting season advances. As ever, we will keep you posted about expanded hours and changes in practice as they evolve.
For Southport pickup please call: 910 457-9453
For Wilmington pickup please call: 910 343-6001
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As always, we thank you for reading. Our customers and community have been just brilliant through the last few months. Thank you for your continued support and for sharing your stories!
Happy (socially distanced) Birding!
Jill and the
Wild Bird & Garden Team
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20% Independence Day Special 20%
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Present coupon for 20% off any* one in-stock item in our stores. Feel free to forward or share with family and friends so they can enjoy the Spring savings, too!
*Excludes plant sales, optics, and sale items.
Offer Expires 08/01/2020
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