October 2008

Sparrows Abound!

‘Tis the season for the sparrows. Migrants now passing through include the Harris, White-crowned, White-throated, LeConte's, and Fox Sparrow. Many of you know these birds as LBJ birds, "little brown jobs". Close examination, however, will show that each is very distinctive in both appearance and behavior. One thing they all have is common is a love for millet and hulled sunflower. They prefer it sprinkled right on the ground. Be careful not to sprinkle it directly under bird feeders, as the accumulation of feces under the feeders can spread disease when birds feed there.

Roosting Boxes

Now is a great time to get out those roosting boxes. Roosting boxes are specialized houses that have the hole at the bottom and perches inside for birds to sit on. They provide shelter from the harsh winter wind and snow. Chickadees and woodpeckers are especially fond of roosting boxes. More than one bird will use a box and huddle together for warmth. We have a good variety of boxes, most of which will convert to a regular nesting box in the spring.

Strange Visitor
The other night, my dog Logan (many of you know him) was outside, looking up onto my deck and barking furiously. I went out on the deck and found myself staring down an opossum. He had been busy munching out on some mixed nuts I had on a ground feeder. He looked at me, then looked at the do, probably thinking his life expectancy was about another 30 seconds. I got a few pictures of him, then called the dog in so he could escape. I love opossums, but they are very hard on the songbird populations. They're eating machines that will devour eggs and young found in ground nests as well as trees. We normally don't see them this far north, but with climate change, they are expanding their range. In Minnesota, it is not uncommon to see them with the tips of their ears or tails frozen off.

Thinking of the Holidays

Be sure to stop in and see our great selection of affordable nature themed Christmas gifts. We are adding more items daily. We have new soaps, mug and mouse pad sets, bird figurines, chimes, weathervanes, and many other items. We continue to offer 25% off manufacturer's suggested retail on Good Directions copper weather vanes or rain chains. Don't forget our gift registry and gift cards.

Jan's Column Schedule

Be sure to check out Jan's birding column in Tuesdays Life Section of the St. Cloud Times, and every 1st Thursday in the Hutchinson Leader. Jan's column in the St. Cloud Times this week was about Juncos. The article will be archived on our website, www.wildbirdfeeding.net soon.

As always, be sure to keep checking up on www.wildbirdfeeding.net for more updates.

Good Birding!
- Jan and Katy of the WBC Waite Park, your local birding experts
103 Division Street Waite Park
Waite Park, MN 56387. (320) 253.5677