Wild Birds Unlimited

Chickadees may be the most beloved birds that visit our backyards, but their seemingly never ending energy and inquisitive nature are only part of what makes these birds fun to watch. Here's a fun video on chickadees!

Help your backyard birds survive through the winter! Check out this video.

FUN FACTS ABOUT BLUE JAYS! Just like bluebirds, Blue Jays have no blue pigments in their feathers. Instead, each feather barb has a thin layer of cells that absorb all wavelengths of color except blue. Only the blue wavelength is reflected and scattered, resulting in their blue appearance to our eyes. Blue Jays are often chastised for their known practice of eating eggs and nestlings of other birds. But extensive research has proven this to be a very rare occurrence, with on...ly 1% of the study population showing any evidence of this behavior. Blue Jays are known to migrate, but the phenomenon is not well understood by scientists. Research has shown that some individuals will migrate south during some years and choose to stay in the north during others. Why they do this is still one of nature’s mysteries. It is estimated that only about 20% of the population of Blue Jays migrate, even in the northern parts of its range.

We hope you've been seeing juncos at your feeders, we have been! During the winter, Juncos are sighted at more feeding areas across North America than any other bird. Over 80 percent of the participants in Project Feeder Watch reported seeing Juncos at their feeders. Now is a great time to attract juncos. Visit the store soon and provide the expert advice and products needed to help attract these cold-weather visitors!

Check out this great article to see how birds survive the cold!

Goldfinches live throughout the United States and southern Canada, a fact that makes attracting them to your backyard a bit easier. Though goldfinches carry the reputation of being finicky eaters, you’ll have no problem finding a suitable offering that will please their palate. Goldfinches love to eat fresh, dry Nyjer (thistle). In early fall, the male goldfinches molt into duller winter colors that resemble the female's soft olive green and subdued yellow tones. And just wh...en it seems as though winter will last forever, the male goldfinch forecasts spring’s arrival with the reappearance of its glamorous buttery yellow. Male or female, the goldfinch’s striking features are always pleasing to the eye and make any backyard distinctly more colorful. American Goldfinches do not nest until mid- to late-summer, long after most birds have started their families. In July and August, after the male has serenaded the female with canary-like songs, goldfinches begin to nest for the first and only time of the year. The location of the nest is usually five to 10 feet high in trees or shrubs and often near a water source. The delay in nesting affords bird enthusiasts the opportunity to focus their attention on goldfinches during this exciting time of song and activity, especially since other birds are less active because of their new family lives.

How bright are your goldfinches? By now, most of them are probably well on the way towards sporting their brilliant lemon-yellow summer plumage. But feathers are not the only part of a goldfinch to change color. In winter their legs, feet and bill are dark grayish brown. By summer, all of these have changed to a buffy yellow orange. Check it out yourselfit’s a pretty cool secret to discover. https://youtu.be/-36N43_Udfk

While we may be coming to the end of hummingbird feeding season for this year as hummingbirds prepare to migrate, the information in this podcast is a great resource. You can still keep your feeders up through October to help prepare them for their upcoming journey. In this inaugural podcast by Wild Birds Unlimited, hosts John Schaust and Brian Cunningham talk about hummingbirds. You’ll learn why hummingbirds can be called, a beast of a bird and hear tips on how to attract... them to your backyard. Find out what to look for when selecting a hummingbird feeder, the best place to locate your feeder and how to make nectar. These podcasts feature Wild Birds Unlimited's Chief Naturalist, John Schaust and Brian Cunningham, Product and Hobby Education Manager. Listen, as they share information about feeding the birds and enjoying nature right in your own backyard. Relax, enjoy the birds, and stay Nature Centered. Subscribe to these podcasts to view the library of available podcasts and stay tuned for upcoming podcasts as well.