We're All About Birds, for All Seasons

July Highlights

Are you wondering why we still have nesting materials listed this month?  Not only are wrens, cardinals and others busily preparing for a second brood, but brightly colored American Goldfinches are just preparing for their first round.  Traditionally, goldfinches use the soft down of thistles to line their nests, and thistles won't be in their downy stage for another couple weeks.  (Just a personal note here: I'm continually amazed at how quickly the goldfinches empty my nesting materials box in July.  Bits and pieces get pulled off throughout May and June, but the first few weeks of July arrive and the box is soon emptied.)

Did you know it's easy to keep orioles and bluebirds in your yard all summer?  Yep.  You can even have them bring their young right to your feeders.  Just offer fresh, live mealworms!  We stock them in our local Twin Cities stores (for out of state we recommend the dried mealworms offered near a grape jelly cup for the orioles).  These juicy tidbits are packed with protein, which is what the baby birds need at this time of year.  Give it a try - you'll soon be captured by what these little worms can do for bird activity!

As our heat index increases, it's vitally important to keep your liquid refreshments fresh for the birds.  This means regularly emptying you birdbath: try to do it every other day, while giving it a good cleaning every 4-5 days. Remember to keep your hummingbird nectar fresh.  If it's above 80 degrees outside, or if your feeders is mounted in bright sunlight, your nectar should be changed every other day.