First Cardinal in 15 Years

Here's a poor picture of our first Cardinal (and only second ever) in 15 years. It was taken through the kitchen window at quite a distance. More on this and other birds in Saturdays column in Times and Transcript. A great week of backyard birding in Edgett's Landing.

Cheap Raccoon Baffle Thwarts Squirrels Too

I’ve had a real increase in inquiries about squirrel proof feeders, I know I talk about them often and in particular the Squirrel Buster, but I’d like to clarify a couple things. First, although it does work well to keep squirrels off your feeders I do feel there are better and cheaper ways. Since most people feed a variety of food in many different styles of feeders, I think it makes more sense to make a multi hanger station and squirrel proof it. The Squirrel Buster will be rodent free, but it does nothing for the two styles of peanut feeders or suet feeder which are an even greater attractant to bandits of the bushy tail variety. I don’t know anyone who is satisfied with only one feeder, so if you want to add variety you’ll have to squirrel proof them anyway. Sure you could add a dome over each of these feeders that, if placed exactly right will be squirrel proof, but these things are very expensive. A small dome that is usually referred to as a weather dome in the industry (because they are iffy when it comes to squirrels), is around $20, but the big one that is more likely to work is closer to $35, multiply that by the number of feeders you are likely to have out and it becomes substantial.

The other downfall, these domes and squirrel proof feeders do absolutely nothing to deter raccoons, they simply climb the pole or tree and drop it to the ground, where they open the lid and empty the whole load.

On several recent call-in radio shows the only advice that was given to keep raccoons off feeders was to take them in every night. Who has time, space or the memory to do this every night? Not to mention, you come downstairs in the morning to see the dog with a very satisfied grin and a “suet mustache” or the cat rubs against one of the tubes, knocks it over, it dominoes the rest and kitty spends the night playing peanut hockey around the house.

There is a way to raccoon proof your feeders, you can buy a pole or maybe make one with things you find around the yard (I’m not talking about a Red Green scrap metal and duct tape affair either). It could be made out of a 4x4 with 2x4’s crossed at the top and hooks screwed into all 4 ends. You could also Jerry-rig old flag pole, close line pole or cool looking piece of drift wood. I like to make a 4 hanger station, some go more and some go less, but I think if you are going to the trouble to baffle the pole, you might as well have 4 feeders on it. Any more than that creates a lot of traffic and mess around the feeders. The two things you need are: a pole strong enough that a fat raccoon won’t just bend it to the ground (half inch copper pipe doesn’t work, they can bend it, if you have a larger diameter copper pipe you’d be better off selling it for scrap and using that money to buy something good) and a baffle about 4-5 feet up the pole that they can’t climb around. You can use a commercial baffle or make one out of a section of 6 inch stove pipe with a cap or my favourite, a maple sap bucket. You just have to find a way to attach it to the pole. Wooden poles are easy, you cut an appropriate sized X in the bottom of the bucket (or the cap for the stove pipe), bend them up and screw them to the post. For metal posts, I hose clamp two pieces of wood or L brackets to the post where they will hold the baffle in place. Smaller baffles work better if the float freely on the clamp.

So if you raccoon proof your feeders, the squirrels can’t get on either and you don’t really need the Squirrel Buster. Where I do recommend it is to keep pigeons and other larger birds off or if you want to hang a feeder on your deck or so close to your window that the squirrels can jump to the pole, above the baffle.

I’ve been told other methods of squirrel/raccoon proofing, such as greasing the pole, this is only a temporary fix and how do you know when it’s time to “re-grease your pole”? When all your feeders are gone? Carried of into the long grass and shrubs at the edge of the woods. If you examine the edge carefully you should be able to see the disturbed path the raccoons made on nightly trips to your feeders to check the grease levels on the pole. If you can’t find them right away don’t worry, you’ll get them when you brush mow. (I doubt the lifetime warranty covers brush mower damage, but I haven’t tried yet)

I’ve been asked about cayenne pepper in the seed, I think this is a bad idea that is slowly fading away, it doesn’t seem to deter squirrels or raccoons, in fact some say they eventually prefer it. Although the birds seem to eat it, what effect does it really have, there are several complaints from people who get a blast of the hot powder in their eyes while filling feeders, who’s to say the wind doesn’t blow it into the birds eyes too? I can’t imagine what repeated exposure would do to a birds eyes long term.

So far my 4 arm hanger is 100% squirrel and raccoon proof, I’ve even noticed less collateral damage (corn, grapes, garbage, sheds, etc.) since the feeders haven’t been a nightly draw. I’m still on guard though, I make sure the cordless reciprocating saw, acetylene torches and ladders are locked away every night.

Interesting Comments on Turkey Vultures

In response to the Turkey Vultures and Warbler post.

I'm sure you'll hear from others too, but for those of us who fly hang gliders

and paragliders, turkey vultures are one of our primary 'signs of spring'. These

birds live on the wing, migrating south in the fall as the sun drops lower in

the sky. That's because they're completely reliant on thermal updrafts for

their flight. Flight using sun-created thermals is how we stay up too, though

the TVs are far more efficient soarers than we are.

Turkey vultures and related soaring birds would starve to death if they had

to flap to stay aloft all the time searching for food. They count on the free

lift provided by the sun, and their own exquisite skill in locating that lift,

to be able to search large areas for carrion. Their incredible sense of smell

allows them to find their food because the sun-warmed air near the surface

rises, providing both lift and information on what's on the ground below.

Even human soaring pilots, handicapped though we may be with our inadequate

noses, can exploit this phenomenon. Soaring my hang glider over the orange

groves of central Florida, I could easily smell a thermal by the scent of

orange blossoms rising from the surface, or the unmistakable odor of cow

manure from the pasture next door.

When "the locals" return in spring, it means that soaring season is not

far behind. Their performance is better than what we can achieve with our

artificial wings, but if they're staying up, it's not long until the lift

builds to an intensity that will let us fly too. I've flown many times

with vultures and eagles, and if I've found a thermal first, it's not

unusual to be joined in it by the local birds, all of us turning together

in a rising aerial waltz.

Mark G. Forbes

mgforbes@mindspring.com

Corvallis, Oregon

Turkey Vultures and Warblers

We’re only a few days away from another wave of migratory birds, over the last couple weeks there were plenty of sightings of the expected sea ducks, hawks and other raptors. It’s interesting to hear the reports of Turkey Vultures, especially from the people who have seen one for the first time. People usually don’t trust there eyes or field guides when they see this odd bird that looks like something you see on TV eating an elephant carcass. I’ve had several people ask me what it means to see these birds, some thought it was a bad omen, some even thought it was something Biblical and were actually quite nervous. There’s no need to be scared when you see a Turkey Vulture, if one is looking at you seriously it’s already too late, they only eat carrion.

Even though there are more reports, I’m sure many of these birds go unnoticed or passed off as a crow, raven or eagle. Most people who call me have seen them at very close range, close enough to see the naked red head of the adult or dark gray of the juvenile. Once you observe them in flight for a while you’ll be able to pick them out even at great distances. Turkey Vultures hold there wings upward in a V-shape or dihedral and can soar for hours without ever flapping a wing. If you’re directly under one of these birds you’ll notice the wings look like a great plank with a tail in the middle and compared to the other large black birds vultures appear to have no head. The primary flight feathers are silvery gray but depending on whether the sun is hitting them or not, they may appear white or black. If you ever drive by and see me in the yard staring up at the sky, unmoving for several minutes, it’s likely a Turkey Vulture that has my attention. I don’t even run for my binoculars any more, I just really like watching these guys soar and wonder what it must be like to go for so long with so little effort, I suppose it’s like a hang glider. Someday I may try hang gliding, but it has to be on my terms, maybe jumping off a chair first, I guess when it comes to heights, I’m more chicken than vulture.

Vultures have a better developed sense of smell than other birds and can find food hidden under the forest canopy, you’d think a bird who makes his living cleaning up dead animals would want a decreased sense of smell, but who knows, to a vulture a 3 day old skunk carcass probably smells like fresh baked bread.

There is a large number of Turkey Vultures in the Saint John area and more every year in the Hillsborough to Alma area, last summer I noticed 5 following the trail ride at Broadleaf Farms, they were putting on quite an aerial show coming over route 114 and flashing their light under wings. Their flight reminded me more of swallow or nighthawk that would be catching insects on the wing, quite an impressive show for such a large bird. I didn’t find out why they were in that area, maybe the trail ride flushed them off a carcass or maybe one of the horses had a limp.

This next wave of migration is for sure my favourite, it includes so many birds that we only see this time of year and most of them are full of colour and song. Mid-May is a great time to get out and brush up on your bird identification. Although there are more birds around in late summer and early fall, they are easier to find in May, their breeding plumage is usually more conspicuous, the males are singing like the survival of the species depends on it and, maybe the biggest advantage, the trees haven’t leafed out yet. (I should mention too that it’s a lot easier to hold your binoculars on a small bird flitting through the trees when you’re not swatting mosquitoes with one hand.)

Every year there are several birding festivals held during this time. The most popular ones that I’m aware of are in Point Pele and Long Point, Ontario. Hundreds of birders flock to the area for the big week end, there are a few species that they get to see that wouldn’t be likely in New Brunswick, but the big thing that we have that Ontario’s festivals don’t have is elbow room. Before you go there you have to get used to holding your binoculars with you elbows tucked in, so the people pressed up to either side of you will be able to squeeze in. You do get to do some hiking though, because if your not there before 6 a.m. you’ll have to park a mile down the road. I’ll stay here thanks, where I’m sure if we had as many eyes looking for birds we could likely find 95% of the birds they see in Ontario, but keep that to yourself, I see enough birds but mostly I enjoy the solitude.

What I’m mostly on the look out for are warblers, we have 40 species of warblers that have been documented in New Brunswick, but we aren’t likely to see that many in a single year. I’m happy to see or hear the majority of the 23 species that nest annually. We have some warbler hot spots right here in Albert County, but I’m sure anywhere the early morning sun shines on the edge of evergreens, causing them to heat up quickly and the insects to be active earlier would be as productive. Also, by being on the edge you are afforded better views of the birds as they fly off a perch into the opening to fly catch and return to their perch.

It’s always a good idea to brush up on warbler song before the season arrives, many of our warblers have a distinctive song that isn’t that hard to remember. The instructional recording offer phases to help you, like the Yellow Warbler who says, “Sweet, sweet, sweet, I’m-so-sweet”...maybe a little conceited? Then there’s my favourite, the Chestnut-sided Warbler who says, “Pleased, pleased, pleased to MEETCHA”…so polite.

There are several ways to lure a bird in for a closer look, usually a couple “pish” sounds (like calling a cat) will do the trick, there are squeaky bird calls and, with the increased popularity of MP3 players, people are using recorded bird calls. Any of these methods are acceptable as long as used in moderation, don’t continually go to the same territory and play the song of a competing male bird, it will likely drive the birds away (or crazy). You are only trying to spark some curiosity in the bird so he or she comes over for a closer look, then you should stop.

One sure fire method that never fails to attract several birds at one time is the trickling sound of running water. We all know how drippers and pumps attract birds to our bird baths, well it works equally well in the woods. I don’t mean you should set up a water feature in the middle of nowhere, I’m simply talking about relieving your bladder in the woods. It never fails, you’ll see 10 different species in time it takes, and your trying to identify all of them with only one hand on your binoculars. I used to think it was just coincidence, but it happens too often, maybe it’s something the birds learn to do for fun and is passed on from generation to generation… “OK kids, when you see a birder taking a whiz, everybody fly in at once, it’s a hoot, 9 times out of 10 he pees on his leg.”

On that note, get ready to enjoy birding New Brunswick in May, all you have to do is walk out your door and enjoy what costs others their entire vacation budget.

Should I Stop Feeding for the Summer?

This is the time of year that I often hear the question, “When is the best time to stop feeding so the birds will learn to fend for themselves?” I always have a hard time answering the question, should you stop now when thousands of birds have just returned north, what is the natural food supply like this time of year? Should you wait until the birds are laying and incubating eggs to stop feeding? Then wouldn’t the adults have to leave the nest for longer periods of time to find food? What about when the young hatch and need huge amounts of food to grow enough to make the journey south or survive our winter?

The truth is, I don’t know when the best time is to stop feeding...so I don’t. In all honesty though, I feed year round for selfish reasons. I enjoy the birds that come to our yard in spring and summer, I love it when the adults bring the young around the feeders and make frantic trips from the feeder to a nearby branch to feed a begging fledgling. It’s OK to be selfish, it’s been proven that feeding birds in summer doesn’t hurt and is in fact beneficial, there are more eggs per clutch, more hatch and more fledge when there is the benefit of steady feeder supply. Sometimes it’s the seeds or suet that’s being fed to the nestlings and sometimes feeders are a fuel supply for the adults so they can spend more time hunting insects to feed the young. Since we started feeding birds year round we’ve noticed a steady decline in garden pests, and a steady decline in the work to maintain a healthy organic garden.

If we stopped feeding at the end of winter we’d miss out on so much, sure we’d still get the earliest wave of migration, as the black birds usually come to clean up the spilled seed from winter, but if I didn’t keep the seed out I’d miss the Goldfinch in their summer plumage and the Purple Finch wouldn’t be singing outside my window.

I’d also miss the several species of sparrows that stop by to fuel up on their trip farther north. You really should take a few minutes to check this group out, from a distance you may think they all look the same but put binoculars on them and you will be amazed. The large Fox Sparrow with it’s rusty red streaks, the White-crowned Sparrow with the bright white cap, the White-throated Sparrow with it’s yellow stripes and familiar song are all likely to stop by a millet feeder. You’ll also see Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow and may even see some of the more rare species of sparrows that occasionally visit our yards.

The thing I’d miss the most though, is the brilliant orange of the Baltimore Oriole and the crimson red of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak when they arrive in May, if you’re lucky enough to have either of these species nest nearby you’ll be treated to visits from the young birds throughout the summer.

About the same time as the oriole and grosbeak arrive you could be treated to visits from migrating warblers. On particularly cool days when there is little insect activity we get the odd warbler visit the suet feeders. Over the years we’ve had 14 species of warblers visit the suet in spring, the Cape May Warbler also went for the grape jelly we put out for orioles and an American Redstart also developed a taste for hummingbird nectar.

Another favourite of mine in the spring and summer woodpecker visits, because I feed (rendered) suet cakes all summer I’m first treated to the sight of the adults loading up great a beak full of suet and flying off to the nest to feed young, then the young birds coming to the feeders to be fed by the adults and then to get their own. Did you know that Downy and Hairy Woodpecker fledglings can have orange on the top of their heads? Not the familiar red we see on the back of the males. I have countless arguments with “avid birders” who think they have discovered a new species, it’s apparently a regional thing and isn’t very common in the US or central Canada. It usually goes a little something like, “I’m an avid birder and I’m telling you that’s not a Downey Woodpecker.” I have a little fun with the tourists before showing them the pictures in Sibley’s Guide, (it’s not shown in all guides). They’ll argue with me, but it’s hard to argue with David. If I really wanted to have fun I’d let my 4 year old son answer the question and then show them the pictures.

I’ve read that the worst time of year to stop feeding is in late April when the weather is still cold and we may even have snow storms, that the birds that arrive first may be most vulnerable, but I think that unless you live in a very isolated area with no other neighbours who feed birds you could stop feeding whenever you want. There are simply so many people that feed birds today that if your feeders go empty, birds will likely only have to jump the fence to find another food supply.

I do feel that you miss out on potentially the most active time of the year if you’ve already taken down your feeders though. So the only thing I do differently in the summer is put out the hummingbird nectar feeders, the oriole nectar feeders and the oriole jelly feeders. The only thing I take in is the raw suet hanger (after temperatures stay around 15 degrees).

Birds Fighting With Their Own Reflection

One of the producers at CBC Saint John was having a problem with a Robin pooping on his car, I caught the tail end of the story and sent in this response...

Hi Paul,

I run a wild bird supply shop in the Moncton area, I've had dozens of calls about birds pooping on cars and banging into windows of houses. This is male birds seeing their own reflection and trying to chase it away. It's nesting time and they see this "very handsome devil" and feel they have to get rid of him before he steals his wife away.

Usually it's just complaints of birds chasing their reflection in the mirrors and maybe the odd window, but this year being so warm I think people are washing their cars and windows earlier and the birds see their reflection everywhere. I didn't catch the colour of your co-workers car but I bet it's dark, probably black as they give the best reflections.

The best thing to do is to not wash it for a few days, (except the poop) if the offerings continue to be left down the doors, put a bag over the mirrors. You might also try parking in a different spot in the drive way if possible or at least reversing the position. It usually only last a short time, once eggs arrive they settle down. After hatching, they're so busy feeding young they forget about rival males.

Of the hundreds of people who have bought owls over the years, I haven't had one claim they work, only the guy selling them.

I know this can be annoying, after all their latin name is Turdus migratorius, meaning he who flies north in spring to poop on your car.

But remember, like the dozens of earth worms the Robin eats each day, this too will pass.

Dwayne @

The Bird Garden

3203 Rt 114,

Edgett's Landing, NB

E4H 2E9

506 734 2489