Neotropical Migratory Songbirds – How to Help

Neotropical Migratory Songbirds – How we can help them. 

Birds that breed in North America and spend the winter south of the U.S. border are known as “neotropical migrants.” Neotropical means the tropics of the “New World.”

Orioles are just one of more than 300 kinds of neotropical migrants.

Finish what we have started.  

Many orioles don’t leave the U.S. in the fall at all due to the change in migration patterns that were formed by us humans feeding birds. During this century, the migration patterns of many species have changed and Orioles are part of that change. Orioles are an example of a species that has expanded its winter range.

 

If a flock of Orioles does migrate all the way south, it takes approx. 2-3 weeks to migrate down and over the Gulf of Mexico. During that time – they need extra energy and food to ensure that they make the grueling trip across the Gulf safely.

On average, an oriole probably travels about 150 miles each night, flying at about 20 miles per hour. Each morning they stop and eat ALOT. They feed on insects, flower nectar, and fruits. At backyard
oriole feeders, they eat sugar water, mealworms, and bits of fruit. 

Listed below a few Oriole feeders offered by Rachels Robin

Deluxe Oriole Feeder with Perch Activated Bee Guard — EXCLUSIVE perch-activated bee guard feeding stations featured on this oriole feeder allow orioles and hummingbirds to feed without bees. Rugged 36-ounce plastic hexagonal bottle. NO DRIP feeding base.

Aspects Oriole Feeder 16 oz The Aspects Oriole Feeder features 4 ports and holds 16 ounces of nectar. It is both bee and ant resistant and has a built-in ant cup in the bowl. The cover is bright orange to attract orioles.

Opus 24 oz. Oriole Feeder Opus 24 oz. Oriole Feeder featuring a patented reversing funnel that makes filling clean and easy. It has a no drip design and patented bee guards.

Oriole Feeder by Perky Pets Rugged, 36-ounce plastic hexagonal feeding bottle NO DRIP feeding base with orange slice decor to attract Orioles

PerkyPet Handpainted Oriole Feeder (Shown above) Luscious, handpainted oranges adorn this Colibri feeder, attracting orioles to your back yard. Three orange sliced designed ports further attract birds. Comes with hanging chain and gem cut glass bottle.  24 oz – 5 inch x 11 inch

Although we can’t change migration patterns overnight, we can help the birds survive during the fall when they are migrating.

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Choosing a Heated Bed for your Pet

 

Heated Pet Beds give warmth and comfort to pet in both indoor and outdoor application. Outdoor electric products are more limited in selection.
Manufacturers of heated beds include K and H Manufacturing, Petsafe (a component of Radio Systems Corporation), Farm Innovators , Petstages, Four Paws , Brampton Company and Pet Supply Imports to name a few. They can be broken down into two basic categories. Electric heated pet beds (K and H Manufacturing , Petsafe & Farm Innovators) and non-electric (all other manufactures listed).  They work in various ways as we describe below.
K and H Heated Dog Pad

Electric pet beds and mats have a heating unit inside the item which warms the bed when it is plugged in. They have a thermostat to control the heat level and are designed to maintain a temperature of about 102 degrees Fahrenheit when your pet is on the pad. This is the natural temperature of your pets body.

This will allow a comfortable heat level for your pet but not something that feels too hot. The product is not a heat blanket and will not warm to that heat level. This would be uncomfortable to your pet. I have found that I can detect the heating of the bed/mat by putting my hand on a plugged in item but it is subtle.

One method to detect the heat to to put a telephone book on the item and let it sit for 1/2 hour. Then feel under the book for the warmth.

Outdoor Electric Pet Beds/Mats
Outdoor beds/mats need to be able to withstand the elements and are therefore less selection is available. K and H Manufacturing makes two nice outdoor products in the Lectro-Soft Heated Pet Bed and the Lectro-Kennel Heated Pet Mat . The Lectro-Soft is a soft bed that is a very popular item. The Lectro-Kennel is a firmer plastic encased unit that can come with a cloth cover. This may be more applicable if your pet likes to chew soft items.

Indoor Electric Pet Beds/Mats
There are many types of indoor electric beds from mats to snuggles to orthopedic foam for older dogs or those with joint issues. The manufacturing requirements are not as difficult as the outdoor beds so the selection is much more extensive. Most have removable covers for washing. Some have removable heat units that can be stored in warmer months while still using the bed.

Electric Pet Bed Usage
There are a few things to remember when using electric pet beds. If your pet likes to chew cords this may not be an appropriate application for your pet. Some products put chew guards on the cord. In the end it is the responsibility of the pet owner to monitor the situation and determine if the application is appropriate. Also, be sure that your pet has the option to get on and off of the pad whenever he/she wants. Putting a heated unit in a kennel without the ability to move away from the heat source can cause the animal to become uncomfortable and overheat.

Non-Electric Heated Pet Beds
These beds are typically either made from heat reflective material that naturally heat when the pet lays on the item or microwavable inserts that the owner heats in the oven and inserts in an existing bed. This can be an option for those without electricity present in the area the bed is being used or if they feel an electrical product is not right for them. Microwavable inserts give warmth for 4 to 6 hours. These may be suitable for outdoor and indoor use. Be sure to follow the heating instructions and do not overheat. I have heard of a pet owner causing the item to explode in a microwave when the item is left in too long. There is also a concern if the item is too warm for the pet.

If the product instructions are followed there should be no issue. As with the electric units, always allow your pet the option to move away from the heated area so that they do not overheat. This is of concern in areas of restricted movement such as kennels and cages.
 

Your pet will enjoy cuddling to a warm bed on a cold night. Many options are available for the consumers specific application as discussed above. Puppies may also find heated beds a source of security and warmth as they relate the beds features back to those supplied by their mother. Orthopedic heated dog beds are ideal for older dogs with stiff joints. Most have removable covers for washing.

 Whatever your pets needs this may be an item that is worth consideration.

Electric Pet Beds and Mats – How they function

Go Green with an Environmentally Friendly Birdhouse and Bird Feeder

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Environmentally friendly items touch every aspect of our life and there is nothing better than being environmentally friendly inside and outside of your home. An emerging trend among many manufacturers is to make birdhouses and bird feeders out of recycled plastic to help save trees and prevent more plastic from ending up in the dump. Recycled plastic is easy to clean, durable, and makes an attractive home for the birds.

One of my favorite recycled birdhouses is the Going Green Wren House by Aubudon Woodlink. This stylish birdhouse is made to look just like wood and blends in well with nature. It is made of 90% plastic lumber, which means it puts the recycled plastic to good use, and does not absorb water like real wood. The recycled plastic is less likely to attract mold and is easy to clean away dirt and bacteria. This birdhouse is especially design for wrens and looks great hung on a tree or wood fence post. Your backyard wrens are sure to be comfortable and cozy in this green bird house.

Another great recycled birdhouse by Aubudon Woodlink is the Going Green Bluebird House. This is made from the same recycled wood and is the same style as the Going Green Wren House, but the hole size and house size is designed especially for attracting bluebirds. The bluebirds will be attracted to this charming, yet natural looking home for many years to come.

To continue the green theme, many manufacturers are starting to make bird feeders out of recycled plastic. A great recycled tube feeder is the Recycled Plastic Lumber Mixed Seed Tube Feeders. These tube feeders are available in a variety of sizes to suit your bird feeding needs and hold various quantities of bird seed. Each tube feeder is made of recycled plastic milk jugs and easily comes apart for cleaning. The white tube stands out to attract birds, while the green top blends in well with nature.

Whether it is a stylish birdhouse or a practical bird feeder, you will find great green options to help the environment. Items made out of recycled plastic are designed to be durable, easy to clean, and stylish. Check out more recycled bird supplies at Rachel’s Robin.

Bug Free Storage for Your Bird Seed

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Feeding backyard birds can be expensive and nothing is worse than having your bird seed become moldy or be infested with bugs. All bird lovers know that keeping your bird seed free of insects and other critters is essential for attracting birds and keeping them healthy. To keep your bird seed fresh and bug free, it is important to keep it stored in a container that is air tight and made of a durable material. Keep your seed in a covered area and off of the floor. Bugs all over the house can get annoying. True pest control Hobart is an expert in various pest treatment services.

One of my favorite containers for storing bird seed is the Vittles Vault II Seed Storage Container. This container has a variety of uses, but it works great for storing bird seed. It is air tight and helps to keep your bird seed fresh and bug free. Just pour in your bird seed and seal the lid tight. I recommend keeping the seed stored in your home or in your garage to prevent other animals from getting into it.
Once you have your bird seed stored in an air-tight container, it is a good idea to get a bird seed scoop. A bird seed scoop makes it easy to fill up all of your bird feeder quickly and easily. It also makes filling up your bird feeders more convenient because you can walk around to each one for a refill. A great bird seed scoop to use is the Bird Seed Scoop designed by Peter Kilham. This bird seed scoop can hold up to 2 quarts of seed and has a sleek design.
Providing your backyard birds with fresh, bug-free is essential to the health of the birds and helps to attract more birds to your yard. For a great selection of storage containers and bird seed scoops, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Save Money by Preventing Your Bird Seed from Being Wasted

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If you find that you have a large amount of mixed bird seed on the ground surrounding your bird feeder, consider changing your seed to a bird seed that only contains one or two types of seed. By limiting the variety of bird seed in your bird feeder, you will discover that only the birds that enjoy the seed are eating from it and you will have less waste.

Determine what types of birds that you would like to attract to your yard and purchase the type of bird seed that those birds like to eat. By offering only that type of bird seed, you should get more of the birds that you enjoy watching and less seed discarded on the ground.

If you enjoy watching finches, choose a thistle or Nyjer seed like Lyric Nyjer Seed. Sunflower seed is also great for attracting a variety of songbirds including chickadees, finches, titmice, and more. If you would like to attract ground feeders, use an inexpensive bird seed like millet, buckwheat, cracked corn, and more.

Choose a bird feeder that only holds a specifc type of bird seed. Hang up a variety of specific seed feeders in your yard if you would like to attract a variety of birds. There are several types of bird feeders that are made to hold only one type of bird seed. By feeding birds in this way, you will spend less money on bird seed and enjoy more of the birds that you like.

Feeding Your Backyard Birds Sunflower Seeds

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Sunflower seeds are a highly nutritious food for your backyard birds. They contain a high amount of protein that creates a lot of energy in birds. Birds use this energy for flying and survival. There are three types of sunflower seeds that are ideal for feeding your backyard birds: black oil, black striped, and gray striped.

To attract a large variety of birds to your feeder, choose Lyric Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. These seeds are small and have a soft outer shell that a large number of birds can easily pick apart and eat. Not only are these seeds packed with protein, but they are rich in oil to keep birds warmer and dryer during the winter months.

In addition, both black-striped and gray-striped sunflower seeds are also a great source of protein and oil for backyard birds. Birds that are attracted to black striped sunflower seeds are Blue Jays, Cardinals, Chickadees, House Finches, Tufted Titmice, and the White Throated Sparrow. Blue Jays also enjoy gray-striped sunflower seed. A variety of birds enjoy either kind of sunflower seed as long as it is hulled.

Choosing a variety of sunflower seeds for your backyard birds is great for attracting them to your yard and giving them essential protein and oil for survival. No matter which kind of seed that you choose, you are sure to attract birds to your yard. For a variety of nutritious bird seed, take a look at Rachel’s Robin.

Simple Solutions to Bird Proof Your Garden

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BIRD REPELLENT

While birds are delightful and enjoyable to watch in your backyard, birds can be a nuisance when they invade your garden. To keep the birds away from your vegetables and fruits in the garden, it is a good idea to install bird repellents. Bird repellents are very effective for keeping birds away and protecting your investment.

A realistic looking owl will help scare away a wide variety of birds. Owls are a natural predator of birds and by setting up an owl decoy in your garden, the birds will be discouraged from sticking around to feast on your plantings. A safe and effective bird repellent is the Rotating Head Owl. This owl has a head that moves around to look realistic and is easy to set-up in your garden.
Another great bird repellent is the Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler. This sprinkler attaches to your hose and will squirt water when it senses a bird or animal approaching. Birds will fly away from your garden and be hesitant to return when squirted by this sprinkler. Not only does this sprinkler repel birds, but it also repels other pests from invading your garden.
An effective repellent for geese in your garden is the Liquid Fence Goose Repellent Concentrate. This liquid repellent can be sprayed around your garden to keep the geese out. Geese do not like the smell or taste and will be discouraged from going into your garden. Use the spray on other areas, including your lawn or shrubs, to effectively keep unwanted geese out.

Get a Closer Look at Your Backyard Hummingbirds with a Window Mounted Feeder

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Hummingbirds are delightful little birds that are very interesting to watch. To get a better look at these fascinating birds, a window feeder is great for attracting and viewing hummingbirds at your window. Make sure that your window feeder is properly maintained and safely secured to the window in order to keep the hummingbirds coming back.

One of my favorite window mounted feeders is the Garden Jewels Glass Window Mounted Hummingbird Feeder. This beautiful feeder is easy to install on your window, great for attracting hummingbirds, and makes a charming window decoration. The feeder holds 14 oz. of hummingbird nectar. Because the base is colored red to attract the hummingbirds, clear or red nectar may be used. The feeder ports are shaped like flowers to get the hummingbird’s attention and make a great decorative accent.
Another great window feeder for attracting hummingbirds is the Heart HummingBird Feeder by Artline. This charming feeder is shaped like a heart, doesn’t drip nectar, and includes a bracket for hanging on your window. The brightly colored red heart is perfect for attracting hummingbirds to the feeder.
Whatever window feeder you choose, you will enjoy the close-up view of hummingbirds. Check out these feeders and more at Rachel’s Robin.

How to Protect Your Backyard Birds from Predators

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Many birds die every year from trauma or predators, so it is important to make your backyard a haven for birds. Some songbirds can live up to 10 or 12 years if they live a safe, trauma-free environment. Creating a safe environment for birds in your yard is essential for the health of your backyard birds.

The greatest danger to backyard birds is a family pet, such as a cat or dog. Young birds are very vulnerable to cats and dogs during the spring and summer. During this time, it is a good idea to keep your cat indoors and your dog on a lead or chain when in your backyard. Keep neighbor pets out by installing a fence around your yard. To protect birds from stray dogs and cats, call your local branch or SPCA to pick up strays.

Other predators such as squirrels, raccoons, opossums and others can also be a nuisance to birds. Squirrels like to get into the nest boxes to eat the bird eggs and young birds. In order to protect your backyard birds from a variety of small animals, set up traps and relocate them to another area.

Another way to protect young birds from other larger birds is to keep evergreen branches on the ground around nesting boxes or bird houses. This helps to provide young birds with cover in case they fall from the nest. Also, do not try to seek out the bird’s nests to see the young birds. This will attract predators to the nest.

The best way to protect birds is to set up nest boxes or birdhouses that hang from a pole or mounted to a pole. By using a pole, such as the Ultimate Yard System by Droll Yankees, small animals, cats, and dogs will have a difficult time getting to your backyard birds. You may also want to install a predator guard on the pole, such as a baffle or a metal sleeve, to make it harder to climb up the pole and get to the birds.

Extra reference for those fixing their patio: Los Angeles deck construction.

Choosing a Hopper-Style Bird Feeder

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This popular type of bird feeder is perfect for a variety of wild birds and is available in a variety of styles. The basic style includes a platform-style base with a covered roof and sides, such as the Redwood Hopper Bird Feeder w/ 7 lb capacity. Another type of hopper feeder, such as the Garden Song Red Tube Feeder with Seed Catcher, consists of a tube with a plate at the bottom for catching bird seed. Other shapes of hopper feeders include round, square, rectangular or tube shaped.

No matter what style you choose, bird seed is dispensed by gravity as the birds take the bird seed from the feeder. The bird seed may taken from the bottom or opening along the sides that allow the seed to be taken at multiple locations. This type of feeder holds a large amount of seed and ideal for feeding multiple birds.

Hopper-style feeders may be adjusted or chosen depending on the type of bird that you want to attract. A feeder that has smaller holes is ideal feeding small types of birds. Tube feeders that don’t have perches are great for feeding chickadees, nuthatches, and other types of birds that cling. Other types of feeders are designed for use with large types of birds.

When filling up your hopper-style feeder with bird seed, take in consideration the type of bird that you would like to attract. If you use a mixed bird seed, some may be discarded by the birds to get to the seed that they want to eat. For more helpful bird tips and great bird products, check out Rachel’s Robin.