The Birdhouse Chick

Forget the chocolate this Valentine's Day, and flowers too, because they just die after a few days anyway. The Wren Casita makes a groovy gift for all nature and bird-lovers out there... for him, for her, for the birds! Anyone would be delighted to receive such a unique and functional gift.

Premium seed coats a real wooden wren house, full size and meant for nesting. Once the seed has been consumed, the birdhouse may be moved to a more secluded area to entice nesting. These edible birdhouses may be painted, stained, or left natural. The Wren Casita is simple to hang with the attached screw-eye hook. The flowers and decorative adornments may even be used by some birds to feather their nest! These unique birdhouses start as feeders for your feathered friends, and then provide nesting and roosting spots for many seasons to come. That's a pretty good bargain!

The Birdie Cottages are slightly smaller and available in sets of two birdseed houses. They may also be hung in a more secluded area once the seed has been eaten. Some smaller songbirds like chickadees and titmice will find these digs a swell roosting spot as well.

This Valentine's Day, show someone you care enough to find a gift that's unique, fun&functional.; After all, Valentine's Day only comes around once a year!

Our coupon code here on Merchant Circle will nab 10% off your order too (MC10).

Available for immediate shipping...
only at The Birdhouse Chick!

So maybe you received a cool feeder like this for the holidays, or maybe it wasn't so cool?

Either way, keeping your new feeder clean is of utmost importance! Now we're not talking about scrubbing weekly, but seed that's exposed to rain becomes a soggy and mushy mess. And on warmer days like we've been having in many parts of the country, soggy seed turns moldy fast. The birds won't eat it and it sits in the feeder mildewing and attracting insects if anything at all. No pretty birds to watch and money wasted on moldy seed. If the birds aren't eating all the seed and emptying your feeder within a few days time, do not fill the feeder to full capacity.

A weather guard will help the situation some, keeping both feeder and birdseed protected from the elements. But again, those warm, wet days do take their toll on exposed seed.  Some feeders, like this Copper Round-About, or the innovative All-Weather Feeder, totally encase or enclose seed, keeping it fresh for longer periods.

But you're not seeing any birds at the feeder? Consider the placement, is there shelter nearby for birds to flee quickly from predators? What seed are you feeding? Really cheap birdseed isn't the best bargain after all. Fillers end up on the ground, which crows, starlings and other less desirable birds may come and pick at, while chasing all the songbirds away.  A good basic seed to attract a wide variety of birds is Black Oil Sunflower. If you can't stand the mess, go for the sunflower hearts&chips;, or a '"no-waste" seed mix. It cost a few dollars more, but well worth it in the long run. Literally, there's no waste, and no ground mess.

Try adding a fresh water source for birds. Believe it or not, birdbaths attract more birds than feeders themselves! Some birds who may never even visit a feeder, will stop by for a drink or dip in the water. The bath can be as as simple as a plant saucer set upon an up-turned flower pot, or tree stump. It doesn't need to be anything fancy at all... just fresh water will do fine. Birds tend to bathe naturally at ground level, so a shallow dish or bowl like this cast iron frog bath works great. Of course if there are ground predators lurking in your yard (like cats), it's best to keep the bath elevated and safer birds.

Okay... so now we're off topic about the importance of clean feeders. The main reason is disease amongst birds: it's mostly respiratory, and spread easily to the rest of your bird population through a dirty feeder. One sickly bird can make many ill. We create an "unnatural" food source when feeding wild birds, so it really is our responsibility to make it a safe habitat. Wooden feeders have porous surfaces, and even though they're common (and good ones), bacteria seeps below the surface. This is where the scrubbing is needed... say just once a month. The newer recycled plastics and glass feeders are non-porous, and they don't allow anything to sink in below their surface. But they too, still need a good cleaning maybe every other month to be on the safe side.
This sparrow is sick with conjunctivitis, likely spread through a not so clean bird feeder. Notice the swollen eye, just like people's symptoms of the same disease.  Often fatal for birds, the disease will take the bird's sight causing blindness, and a blind bird can not survive for long in the wild. If you see a sick bird around your feeder, it's best to take the feeder down for a few days and let the birds dissipate, clean the feeder with a solution of bleach and water. This is a far better option than knowingly spreading disease.

Keeping a clean feeder is necessary for the health and well-being of your birds. No fancy, store-bought cleaners are necessary, just bleach and water in a 1:10 solution. A good scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush, and thorough rinse does the job beautifully. Set your feeder in the sun for a few hours and let dry naturally... your birds will thank you!

...and Feeders too! Save 10% Site-wide thru Dec. 15th.

Exquisite copper roof birdhouses are handcrafted in durable vinyl/PVC, and are built to last a lifetime. Imagine finding this under the tree Christmas morning! An awesome gift for any birding or backyard enthusiast, these copper roof bird feeders and birdhouses are simply stunning with superb quality to boot!

Each piece is made to order, and takes about one week for delivery. They ship for free too! Your choice of patina or bright copper roof on every order. Sizes range from small (bluebird houses) and seed feeders with an 8 or 10-inch diameter, up through estate-sized bird mansions with a whopping 22-inch diameter. These are actually as tall as me... 5 feet, 2 inches :) 

With the Merchant Circle discount code, the estate sizes are 20% off through December 10th. Now there's a fantastic deal with the free shipping! Guaranteed to make someone's holiday extra special this year!





Our more common sizes are likely the 12 and 14-inch diameter houses and feeders, still commanding attention with size and elegance.

Make your loved one's holiday super special with a gift to last a lifetime, that actually gets used and enjoyed for many seasons to come!

Enter code MC10 at checkout to receive 10% off copper roof birdhouses and bird feeders!

Shop theBirdhouseChick.com for the most unique holiday gifts with a real "wow" factor!

If your bird feeders seem slow this time of year, there's a pretty good reason for it!
Food is plentiful in the wild right now, (at least in most parts of the country). Berries abound, acorns and seeds are all over the place. Grasses and weeds are lush, and this is the stuff that sustains wildlife. Some will choose to stash their goods and save them for nasty winter weather when there's absolutely nothing to eat.

But as winter winds begin to blow, the berries will all be eaten and the grasses and weeds will die off, leaving nothing in the wild but barren habitat. This is when wild birds return to your feeders... and with a vengeance!

It's the hardcore, resident birds who brave winter weather, just waiting for spring's arrival. Cardinals, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, Goldfinches, and even Bluebirds will over-winter if habitat is suitable. Enter heated bird baths, feeders, birdhouses for roosting, and mature trees and shrubs. These are some necessary components for keeping songbirds around your place in winter. Their colors and song will brighten the dreariest of days, and it's really relaxing to just sit a minute and watch them! It's like a natural de-stresser from the day-day chores and chaos of life.

A good, basic seed to attract many species is sunflower. The "meats" or hearts will leave virtually no ground mess either. A quality seed mix is always a good option, but we wouldn't recommend cheap seed mixes. Here's why: They'll end up attracting some more undesirable birds like house sparrows, starlings, crows, and grackles. These seed mixes tend to have cracked corn and millet as fillers. Although the quantity may seem like a bargain... it is not! The former are non-native birds and really do a number on our beloved songbirds like bluebirds and tree swallows. The competition for nest sites is severe, with sparrows killing baby and adult bluebirds.

Suet is also a great choice for winter feeding. It's convenient, leaves no mess, and is relatively inexpensive. Many species covet suet for it's high fat and protein content, giving birds additional calories for energy needed to stay warm.

If you'd like to give backyard birding a shot, a simple suet cage and suet cake is a great start! A shallow container or pan of water also serves as a great bird bath. Place a plant saucer on an upturned flower pot and you have a bird bath! Birds need only 2-3" of water in a bath, anything deeper could be harmful.

This winter, invite and entice resident birds to your backyard, it's really simple yet quite rewarding!
For more information on feeding and helping birds in winter, visit our site's bird tips page. A great article on year round care for wild birds, plus other useful tips awaits. Whether novice or seasoned birder, there's info for everyone interested in backyard birding.

Through November 10th, receive a free suet feeder and suet cake with your order... our thanks for feeding the birds :)

Due to the severe drought in the Southeast, and destruction from Hurricane Irene, most of the plants and nectar producing flowers that hummingbirds depend on have been ravaged and damaged and killed. 

It's so very important to keep as many hummingbird feeders out as possible.  As their big migration is already in gear, hummingbirds need nectar for energy in their insect catching efforts, and to double their body weight in order to make the long trip back to Central and South America.  As the days become shorter, hummingbirds will begin to migrate south but they can't start the trip until they have gained enough weight to make the long journey.

It is a total myth that it's necessary to take down feeders in order to force hummingbird to leave. As fall approaches, and the days become shorter nearly all the birds at feeders are already migrating. If your hummingbird feeders are taken down too soon, birds will just seek and find food elsewhere.  And since hummingbirds practice "site fidelity" they may not even bother to return to your feeders next year. It is recommended to keep your hummingbird feeders up, clean, and full of nectar until freezing becomes a problem.

Make your own nectar using this very simple recipe: One cup plain table sugar to four cups water. Nothing else, no red dye needed. You don't even need to boil the water-but using some boiled water helps to dissolve the sugar quicker and more effectively. Store unused nectar in the fridge for up to two weeks. Never use honey or artificial sweeteners as they're harmful, even fatal to hummingbirds. They actually prefer this sugar water solution best! To help aide in successful migration efforts, you can actually make the solution a bit stronger at this time of year. A ratio of 1:3 instead of 1:4 will help the little sprites achieve required body weight to make it home.

Oh no... not another tie or bottle of aftershave!
This year show dad your love and appreciation with an unusual yet useful gift. Our unique birdhouses and bird feeders will last for many years of use and enjoyment...a great gift that actually gets used, enjoyed and benefits wildlife for seasons to come.

You'll find some of the most unique birdhouses around town, many hand crafted in ceramics, stained glass and wood. Ceramic Birdhouse Garglers, like this Basset Hound, and other comical canines by artist Doug Fey, are sure to be a huge hit, a super surprise that's guaranteed bring a big smile!

Copper Roof Birdhouses and bird feeders crafted in durable vinyl make for an awesome gift that will enhance any garden or landscape setting. Simply stunning with meticulous quality, these birdhouses and feeders will last a lifetime with their vinyl/PVC construction.

Give Dad the boat he's always wanted with this hand crafted wooden boat birdhouse!

With so many unusual and useful gifts, you'll have a tough time deciding on which one dad would like best! And don't forget...use promo code MC10 to grab 10% off your order!

It's the earliest they've been here in years, and I'm not sure why but so glad to see the tiny sprites again!  Traveling all the way from their winter breeding grounds in Central and South America, it's the smallest bird with the longest migratory flight.

Hummingbirds practice "site fidelity" which means if they find decent diggs... they'll likely return the following year. Decent diggs? Yes, good habitat that offers them food, shelter and water. Although sugar water, or nectar feeders really help to entice them, nectar-producing flowers are also a great food source. Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Trumpet Vine, Petunias, and Salvia are just a few.

Hummingbirds love water, to bathe and play. We use leaf misters during extremely hot weather, and between he hummers and butterflies there's constant action. One mister is staked in the ground with a simple plastic plant stake. The other sits on a metal deck bracket off the front porch.

You can easily make your own nectar for feeders, no red dye necessary! I think they actually prefer plain sugar water over commercial mixes and concentrates. Use plain table sugar, absolutely nothing else as it will be harmful to hummingbirds. Mix one cup of sugar to four cups water... that's it! No need to boil the water either, organisms are spread by the bird's beaks - not the nectar in feeders. We boil one cup of water simply to dissolve the sugar quickly and more effectively, then add 3 cups cold water. Let nectar cool before filling feeders, and store unused portion  in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Hummingbirds have been in the North Georgia/Tennessee are for about two weeks now, and they're heading your way! Remember to have feeders cleaned and ready and out before the hummers actually get there... you don't want to miss them!

As always, remember to enter code MC10 at checkout for 10% off your order...happy birding!

Nesting Season That Is!

Although still quite chilly in most of North America, March marks the beginning of nesting season for several favorite songbirds. You can easily entice feathered friends by offering them nesting materials. There's some great nesting sets out there, with refills available too. This nesting wreath is one for example, filled with many wild birds' favorites for nest-building. Some of these materials include feathers, decorative mosses, aspen fiber, and bright cotton yarns. You can even gather these materials yourself and offer them up in a standard suet cage.









The Birdie bell is another way to offer nesting materials, and this cool product is versatile enough for year round use. Feed suet or seed bells in winter, and offer fruit to more exotic migratory birds in summer. Spring is for the nesting materials, which come generously packed in every Birdie Bell.

Pet hair is another favorite for nest building. Saving the hair that accumulates in your cat or dog brush will be much appreciated by your birds. And if you have access... horse hair is an awesome material - birds just love it.









And who are these early birds who start nesting in March?
Eastern Bluebirds, Cardinals, Blue Jays and House Finches do! Although Bluebirds tend to use birdhouses, Cardinals and Jays do not. Bluebirds will nest in other cavities like fence posts, but houses provide better protection from predators and the elements, ensuring greater chances for a successful brood. The Bluebird house shown here is actually constructed of vinyl, and built to last a lifetime with its gorgeous copper roof.











Cardinals on the other hand, will not use a birdhouse and prefer nesting shelves like this cedar model. Mounted to a tree with some surrounding shelter and facing away from prevailing winds is most suitable.

Encourage feathered friends to take up residence in your yard, without even spending a dime! Mesh produce bags from the grocery store (like the kind apples come in) also make great nest material holders. Start saving the pet hair, dryer lint, cotton yarns and even moss from potted plants or old silk floral arrangements. Place them in one of these mesh bags and hang from a tree.

Another simple way to attract birds is with water. Fresh water in a bird bath is the single, most effective way to entice birds, even those who may never use a birdhouse or visit a bird feeder. Something as simple as a plant saucer filled with water works perfectly. The optimal depth for birds to bathe and wade comfortably is about two inches. (If your bath is deeper, place a large rock in the center for safe perching) Place the saucer on an up-turned pot and you've got an instant bird bath! Try it and see for yourself... these simple "free" activities will really bring the birds around... Happy Birding!

NEW: Downloadable GBBC instructions (PDF)

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you're likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you're finished, enter your results through our web page. You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission on March 1st.

Marbled Godwit, Sharon Milligan, MS   2010 GBBC

Other helpful tools and information:

• Data Form Some people find it helpful to fill out the form before entering it on the website. By printing it off ahead of time, they know what information they need to be aware of, such as snow depth, for example.

• GBBC Photo Contest rules

• GBBC participation certificate to give out to students or to anyone who takes part in the GBBC (The 2011 certificate will be posted just before the count begins.)

• PowerPoint slideshow about the GBBC
  

• Local events Have a look at some of the events from the last count to get some ideas on what you could plan in your community for the next GBBC.

• If you're a teacher looking to get your class involved with the GBBC, read through our educator's materials for some ideas.
  

• If you're new to bird watching, you might want to check out our "Learn About Birds" section. You'll find help with tricky bird identifications, choosing binoculars, bird feeding tips, and much more.

Participants have many questions that we've tried to address over the years. Questions such as: Why hold the count in February? How many lists may I submit? or How are the results used? We have answers to these questions and many others in our FAQ section!

A great gift is one that is admired... and actually gets used! Chocolates are gone in a few days, roses die in a week, a great dinner lasts one night. Sadly, these gifts are forgotten shortly after the holiday. Make this Valentine's Day special and give a gift of nature that will be around for many seasons, some even for a lifetime!

Unique birdhouses and bird feeders are fabulous gift ideas for any nature lover or backyard enthusiast. Artisan's hand crafted items in stained glass, copper, and weatherproof stoneware not only help your birds thrive, they create wonderful focal points in the garden or yard.

Fresh water in a bird bath will actually entice and attract more feathered friends to your place than any birdhouse or feeder alone. Water acts like a visual magnet to birds, many who may never use a feeder or house will frequent a birdbath! What kind is best? Most definitely it is the one you will maintain! If space is limited, a deck mount or hanging bath will work nicely.

For an instant feeder, check out the Valentine's Heart Shape Seed Treats...or the jumbo TerraCotta Garden Hearts!

A super fun site to browse, you'll find the most unique home and garden decor too, with some fabulous, hand crafted garden art...special for Valentine's day!

Birdhouses, bird feeders and birdbaths make for long lasting gifts that are useful and enjoyed for many seasons!




We'll get your gift there on time, and in style! Promo Discount for MC Members... enter Code MC10 for your 10% discount at checkout!