Chances are, if you feed the goldfinch, you are in one of two camps: You are covered up in them and complaining about how much seed they are eating; or you haven't seen any and are wondering where they are.
So, what's going on? Goldfinch are movers and shakers, that's what! They move around in flocks looking for food, so if they haven't found you yet, chances are they have found a good feeding spot somewhere.
They are also among the last birds to breed, waiting for the thistle to bloom to ensure nesting material and food for the chicks when the eggs hatch. Unlike most birds, goldfinch are strict vegetarians so no insects for them! They need lots of seed and get most of their protein from seed like sunflower chips.
If you haven't seen them yet, don't despair! They are in the area in large numbers, so its just a matter of time until they find you. Make sure your feeders are filled with fresh thistle (nyjer) because they are picky birds and will not eat stale seed!
So, what's going on? Goldfinch are movers and shakers, that's what! They move around in flocks looking for food, so if they haven't found you yet, chances are they have found a good feeding spot somewhere.
They are also among the last birds to breed, waiting for the thistle to bloom to ensure nesting material and food for the chicks when the eggs hatch. Unlike most birds, goldfinch are strict vegetarians so no insects for them! They need lots of seed and get most of their protein from seed like sunflower chips.
If you haven't seen them yet, don't despair! They are in the area in large numbers, so its just a matter of time until they find you. Make sure your feeders are filled with fresh thistle (nyjer) because they are picky birds and will not eat stale seed!
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Another trick of the trade is to use our Finch Favorite blend. It is a mixture of thistle and sunflower chips. Since the goldfinch are nesting now, they need extra protein so the sunflower chips will be especially attractive.
Fill your feeders half way until you start seeing them at your feeders, then fill the rest of the way. Doing this will keep you from wasting seed in case they don't find it right away. |
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BE A GOOD HUMMINGBIRD STEWARD!
The hummingbirds have been back since early April, but traffic at the feeders has been pretty light while they tended the first brood of chicks, feeding mostly insects for protein. Now we are seeing an increase of activity at the feeders which means those chicks have left the nest and are now feasting on high-energy nectar as well.
The immature hummers look a lot like the female so sometimes it is hard to determine if they are the new chicks. The adult males are the ones with the ruby throats. Sometimes, if the light is just right, the throat will appear almost black.
We need to give these new birds the best chance possible. Make sure your nectar is fresh. The higher temperatures can make it spoil faster and with all the rain we've had, the nectar can also become diluted with rainwater. Cleaning and refilling the feeders after heavy rains or 3-4 days of hot weather will help you attract hummingbirds and its better for them.
Hanging your feeders in a shady spot will help the nectar stay fresh longer and using a weather dome over it can help keep rainwater out.
Using sugar---regular white cane sugar---with filtered or boiled water is the best combination for these small birds. Red dye can be harmful, so don't add it or buy nectar with red dye in it.
When cleaning your feeders, use white vinegar and water. A little brush will help remove mold from nooks and crannies, and then rinse well.
The more feeders you provide, the more hummingbirds you will have. Space them 15-20' apart but make sure you put them where you will enjoy them the most. The activity will only increase throughout the summer.
The hummingbirds have been back since early April, but traffic at the feeders has been pretty light while they tended the first brood of chicks, feeding mostly insects for protein. Now we are seeing an increase of activity at the feeders which means those chicks have left the nest and are now feasting on high-energy nectar as well.
The immature hummers look a lot like the female so sometimes it is hard to determine if they are the new chicks. The adult males are the ones with the ruby throats. Sometimes, if the light is just right, the throat will appear almost black.
We need to give these new birds the best chance possible. Make sure your nectar is fresh. The higher temperatures can make it spoil faster and with all the rain we've had, the nectar can also become diluted with rainwater. Cleaning and refilling the feeders after heavy rains or 3-4 days of hot weather will help you attract hummingbirds and its better for them.
Hanging your feeders in a shady spot will help the nectar stay fresh longer and using a weather dome over it can help keep rainwater out.
Using sugar---regular white cane sugar---with filtered or boiled water is the best combination for these small birds. Red dye can be harmful, so don't add it or buy nectar with red dye in it.
When cleaning your feeders, use white vinegar and water. A little brush will help remove mold from nooks and crannies, and then rinse well.
The more feeders you provide, the more hummingbirds you will have. Space them 15-20' apart but make sure you put them where you will enjoy them the most. The activity will only increase throughout the summer.
We all love feeding the birds and other wildlife, except when we are the food!
Tis the season for mosquitoes and other bugs that gnaw on us.
For those of you tired of being the main course for mosquitoes, try our No Bite Me cream and soap!
Its all-natural and quite effective. Use the soap during the summer, especially on the days you will be outside a lot and use the cream before you head out the door to work in the garden.
In addition to using it on exposed skin, we also use it around the ankles under socks when hiking to help repel ticks.
It works and is safe for kids and adults!
Tis the season for mosquitoes and other bugs that gnaw on us.
For those of you tired of being the main course for mosquitoes, try our No Bite Me cream and soap!
Its all-natural and quite effective. Use the soap during the summer, especially on the days you will be outside a lot and use the cream before you head out the door to work in the garden.
In addition to using it on exposed skin, we also use it around the ankles under socks when hiking to help repel ticks.
It works and is safe for kids and adults!
MILKWEED SUCCESS!!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual Milkweed Sale! We raised over $2000 for the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and their Butterfly Highway program!
Just as importantly as the donation to the Federation, monarchs and other native pollinators are being supported by the native milkweed, phlox, aster and black-eyed susan that customers are planting around Charlotte and Matthews. The plants that we had left over, we donated to Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK) for the pollinator garden at Squirrel Lake Park.
Tim Gestwicki, CEO of the Federation dropped by the store to personally receive our donation. "Every acre and every species is a mantra of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation," stated Tim. "Along those lines, every butterfly garden planted helps support local pollinators and species like the monarch butterfly which depend on the plants purchased at Bird House on the Greenway's annual native plant sale. We appreciate Bird House on the Greenway's support of pollinator habitat conservation and all their customers who purchased plants that will support the life cycle of monarchs and help them along their migration as part of ncwf.org/programs/garden-for-wildlife/butterfly-highway/The Butterfly Highway."
If you didn't get a chance to purchase plants but would like to support the work of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, we encourage you to make a donation so that they can continue to preserve the wild lives and wild places of our beautiful state!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual Milkweed Sale! We raised over $2000 for the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and their Butterfly Highway program!
Just as importantly as the donation to the Federation, monarchs and other native pollinators are being supported by the native milkweed, phlox, aster and black-eyed susan that customers are planting around Charlotte and Matthews. The plants that we had left over, we donated to Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK) for the pollinator garden at Squirrel Lake Park.
Tim Gestwicki, CEO of the Federation dropped by the store to personally receive our donation. "Every acre and every species is a mantra of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation," stated Tim. "Along those lines, every butterfly garden planted helps support local pollinators and species like the monarch butterfly which depend on the plants purchased at Bird House on the Greenway's annual native plant sale. We appreciate Bird House on the Greenway's support of pollinator habitat conservation and all their customers who purchased plants that will support the life cycle of monarchs and help them along their migration as part of ncwf.org/programs/garden-for-wildlife/butterfly-highway/The Butterfly Highway."
If you didn't get a chance to purchase plants but would like to support the work of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, we encourage you to make a donation so that they can continue to preserve the wild lives and wild places of our beautiful state!
To Clean or Not To Clean
Many customers are already on their second batch of bluebirds, so it is a good time to remind you NOT to clean out the bird houses between broods. Mrs. Bluebird will put a fresh layer of pine straw on the old nest and she will start laying eggs again.
If you take out the old nest, she has to start all over again and it may encourage her to look elsewhere for housing.
If the nesting box is particularly messy, infested with insects or if there are dead babies or unhatched eggs, then you probably should clean it out using water and a stiff bristled brush. No chemicals should be used at all.
One of the best parts about the second and third broods is that the juveniles from the first hatch will help the parents feed their new siblings, so you get to enjoy the whole family!
Many customers are already on their second batch of bluebirds, so it is a good time to remind you NOT to clean out the bird houses between broods. Mrs. Bluebird will put a fresh layer of pine straw on the old nest and she will start laying eggs again.
If you take out the old nest, she has to start all over again and it may encourage her to look elsewhere for housing.
If the nesting box is particularly messy, infested with insects or if there are dead babies or unhatched eggs, then you probably should clean it out using water and a stiff bristled brush. No chemicals should be used at all.
One of the best parts about the second and third broods is that the juveniles from the first hatch will help the parents feed their new siblings, so you get to enjoy the whole family!
VISIT OUR SECOND LOCATION AT THE WAVERLY SHOPPING CENTER
PROVIDENCE ROAD AND 485
7211 WAVERLY WALK AVENUE
CHARLOTTE, NC 28277
704-443-9000 GOWILDOLOGY.COM
MON-SAT 10AM-6PM
SUNDAY NOON-5PM
PROVIDENCE ROAD AND 485
7211 WAVERLY WALK AVENUE
CHARLOTTE, NC 28277
704-443-9000 GOWILDOLOGY.COM
MON-SAT 10AM-6PM
SUNDAY NOON-5PM
NATIVE PLANT DATABASE BY ZIPCODE!
Many of you know that Bird House is a proud corporate sponsor of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation which is the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. Both organizations are big proponents of planting with native plants in order to help create wildlife habitat, especially if you are trying to attract birds.
Identifying wildlife-friendly native plants has never been easier with a new tool that the National Wildlife Federation recently launched in partnership with Dr. Doug Tallamy and based on his research.
To use this database with native plants for your area, follow this link, enter your zip code, and explore the listing of plants to start planning the bird sanctuary that you want to create!
And its not just birds! There is also a database of the butterflies and moths for your zip code and the host plant needed for the caterpillar stage to ensure your garden will be filled with these beautiful pollinators.
This is a wonderful resource for you to use to help restore some of the wildlife habitat we are losing to development. The website is free but we hope you will consider support both organizations and the work they do protecting the wild lives and wild places we all love!
Many of you know that Bird House is a proud corporate sponsor of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation which is the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. Both organizations are big proponents of planting with native plants in order to help create wildlife habitat, especially if you are trying to attract birds.
Identifying wildlife-friendly native plants has never been easier with a new tool that the National Wildlife Federation recently launched in partnership with Dr. Doug Tallamy and based on his research.
To use this database with native plants for your area, follow this link, enter your zip code, and explore the listing of plants to start planning the bird sanctuary that you want to create!
And its not just birds! There is also a database of the butterflies and moths for your zip code and the host plant needed for the caterpillar stage to ensure your garden will be filled with these beautiful pollinators.
This is a wonderful resource for you to use to help restore some of the wildlife habitat we are losing to development. The website is free but we hope you will consider support both organizations and the work they do protecting the wild lives and wild places we all love!
Birding by ear. There's an app for that!
We've all been waiting for it and its finally here! A Shazam app for bird songs. (For the uninitiated, the Shazam app will identify the song that is playing in a restaurant, elevator -- pretty much anywhere)
Song Sleuth is an app for your smart phone that will allow you to identify the birds your hear in your garden. Here is what their website says about it:
"Song Sleuth is a fun and easy way to learn birding by ear. Everywhere you go, Song Sleuth can listen to the birds singing around you, and instantly show you the most likely bird species that it heard. The app provides all the tools you need to determine which is the correct bird. Save and share your recordings, and learn about each bird with the built-in David Sibley Bird Reference."
We've all been waiting for it and its finally here! A Shazam app for bird songs. (For the uninitiated, the Shazam app will identify the song that is playing in a restaurant, elevator -- pretty much anywhere)
Song Sleuth is an app for your smart phone that will allow you to identify the birds your hear in your garden. Here is what their website says about it:
"Song Sleuth is a fun and easy way to learn birding by ear. Everywhere you go, Song Sleuth can listen to the birds singing around you, and instantly show you the most likely bird species that it heard. The app provides all the tools you need to determine which is the correct bird. Save and share your recordings, and learn about each bird with the built-in David Sibley Bird Reference."
NATURE VS TECHNOLOGY
Everyone knows about drug-sniffing dogs.
And the Navy uses dolphins and seals to help them locate and mark mines in the oceans.
Now, the French (and the Dutch) are using eagles to help locate and destroy drones that may be used by terrorists.
We've known all along that we can't live without nature, but the partnerships with these animals really demonstrates the wide variety of ways we benefit from wildlife!
Everyone knows about drug-sniffing dogs.
And the Navy uses dolphins and seals to help them locate and mark mines in the oceans.
Now, the French (and the Dutch) are using eagles to help locate and destroy drones that may be used by terrorists.
We've known all along that we can't live without nature, but the partnerships with these animals really demonstrates the wide variety of ways we benefit from wildlife!
BIG NEWS!
Bird House on the Greenway was recently named SUSTAINABLE SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR by Mecklenburg County's Solid Waste Department!
Since before we opened, we have worked hard to minimize our impact on the environment, reduce our carbon footprint and work with the community to promote sustainable practices, and its nice that they noticed.
We were honored along with 7 other local businesses at a banquet at the Foundation for the Carolinas. Melinda Johnston, of the Charlotte Observer, wrote a great article on our efforts. Here's a link to her article.
Please take a minute and watch the short video that they produced about our store. Congratulations Bird House Team!!!
Bird House on the Greenway was recently named SUSTAINABLE SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR by Mecklenburg County's Solid Waste Department!
Since before we opened, we have worked hard to minimize our impact on the environment, reduce our carbon footprint and work with the community to promote sustainable practices, and its nice that they noticed.
We were honored along with 7 other local businesses at a banquet at the Foundation for the Carolinas. Melinda Johnston, of the Charlotte Observer, wrote a great article on our efforts. Here's a link to her article.
Please take a minute and watch the short video that they produced about our store. Congratulations Bird House Team!!!
We were recently invited to appear on the Fabulous Francene Marie show to talk about the birds and the bees (and butterflies). It was a great conversation with a great lady! We hope she invites us back soon. Here's a link to the show in case you missed it.
We're not your average wild bird products store. In addition to one-of-kind products we provide excellent customer service, great education and answers for all of your questions. Try our custom seed mix, Greenway Blend. It's especially formulated for the birds in this region. Each bag of Greenway Blend was packaged just days prior to your purchase. That's not the case with seed you purchase at your local grocery store or big box center. There is no better bird seed in Charlotte. We have a great selection of bird houses, bird feeders, bird guides, garden art and wonderful nature inspired gifts. We have National Wildlife Federation Certified Habitat Stewards on staff that can answer your questions and help you create the wildlife habitat in your backyard you've always wanted. If you're having problems with squirrels we can help you defeat them with squirrel-proof feeders that really work or pole & squirrel-proof baffle set-ups that will keep them off your feeding pole or post. Follow us on Facebook and/or sign up for our email newsletter below so you can learn and stay up to date on what's happening at the store. Once a month our newsletter subscribers can take 10% off regularly priced items, once per month. Learn more about birds and wildlife as well as all of our activities. Throughout the year we have various bird walks and frog walks on the Four Mile Creek Greenway across the street from the store. We also visit Latta Park and the Six Mile Creek Greenway at different times.. So whether you want to attract more birds, or different birds, fight squirrels, improve your backyard for wildlife we can help. We can't wait to see you!