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Pole Systems

How to create a pole system for your feeders

April 10, 2019 Backyard Habitat
  Pole systems allow you to create a feeding station that's optimally placed in your yard. They also allow your to customize the number and placement of feeder and perching spots. It may seem daunting when you're considering how to set yours up, so we created this video as a guide to the Erva pole systems we carry in our…
types of nests

Types of Nests

February 28, 2019 Backyard Birds, Backyard Habitat
Note: this is the full article by Guest Contributor MELISSA BLOCK. An excerpt is featured in the March/April 2019 edition of our Bird's-Eye View Newsletter NEST DESCRIPTION : Cardinals Northern Cardinal on Nest Males sometimes bring nest material to the female, who does most of the building. She crushes twigs with her beak until they’re pliable, then turns in the nest…

Winter Water

November 12, 2018 Backyard Habitat, Seasonal Happenings
American Goldfinches on a heated birdbath (Photo by Jim Weisman) Want to attract more birds to your yard this winter? Supply a source of open water! When temperatures drop, birds are in a constant struggle to maintain their body temperatures. A steady source of fats and proteins will help to nourish and fuel birds' metabolic needs and keep them warm.…

Creating an Ideal Backyard Wildlife Habitat

July 31, 2018 Backyard Habitat
A Northern Cardinal enjoys a backyard water feature My wife’s and my yard is not manicured in “normal” fashion. No chemicals are used, and little seeding or sodding has been done. It is push-mowed. The wooded third of the property is not managed. Given this setting, we looked at certifying our yard as a “wildlife habitat” through the National Wildlife…

Six Tips for Effective Birdhouses

March 15, 2018 Backyard Habitat
This birdhouse features appropriate materials, sloped roof, easy access for cleaning and a correctly sized, reinforced entry hole. Providing a healthy home for backyard birds isn't difficult, but there are some simple tips you should observe in order to make sure your bird's abode is a safe and attractive place to create a nest. Pay attention to dimensions. With birdhouses,…

Top Tips for Hosting Bluebirds

March 6, 2018 Backyard Birds, Backyard Habitat
Hosting Eastern Bluebirds in your yard is rewarding. You get a close-up look at these beautiful, iridescent birds. You also get the satisfaction of knowing you're helping to restore bluebird populations. It's not difficult to host bluebirds, but you should be aware of what's involved before you get started. This video gives you an introduction to hosting bluebirds. For more information,…

Keep Your Birdbath Fresh and Clean

August 15, 2017 Backyard Habitat, Uncategorized
Not all birds eat from our backyard feeders but all birds need fresh water. Here are some tips for keeping your birdbaths healthy for your birds.   Stone or ceramic birdbaths are best cleaned with a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part bleach.  Lime deposits can be removed from plastic birdbaths with a mixture of half white vinegar…

Where do our backyard birds nest?

June 21, 2017 Backyard Birds, Backyard Habitat
We know the backyard birds that usually nest in our birdhouses: House Wrens, Chickadees, Bluebirds, and House Finches. But what about our other backyard birds, like the Cardinal, Blue Jay, Goldfinch, Robins, Hummingbirds or Orioles? Where do they nest?   Northern Cardinal Nest Cardinal nests are usually very well hidden in dense shrubs or trees, about 3-10 feet above the…

Critical Tree Pollinators

May 17, 2017 Backyard Habitat, Uncategorized
Many varieties of trees and shrubs depend on pollinators to reproduce, such as apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. Insect pollinators include bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, flies and wasps. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources we have about 400 native wild bee species. A bumble bee pollinates an Eastern Redbud Tree © Russ Ensley | Dreamstime.com Some examples…

Open vs. Cavity Nesters

April 12, 2017 Backyard Birds, Backyard Habitat
Our favorite songbirds can be open nesters or cavity nesters. Open nesters build or weave nests out in the open in cattails, bushes, trees or on top of ledges. Cavity nesters use a bird house/nest box or hole in a tree to raise their young. Open nesters include birds like: Northern Orioles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinches and Blue…

White Bear Lake Bluebird Workshop

March 9, 2017 Backyard Habitat, News and Events, Uncategorized
Join Us April 2, 2017 for “Let’s Talk Bluebirds!” George Brown, coordinator for Ramsey County Bluebird Recovery Program of MN (bbrp.org), will be leading a Bluebird Workshop at our White Bear Lake store April 2 from noon until 3pm. George has been monitoring bluebird trails since 1995. He currently monitors bluebird trails at Dellwood Hills golf course, Oneka Ridge golf…

For Irresistible Yards, Just Add Water!

July 14, 2016 Backyard Habitat
Want to make your yard irresistible to birds? Try adding motion and sound to your birdbath! Motion on the water’s surface or the sound of falling water is like a magnet to birds because they instinctively equate moving water with natural water sources that are cleaner and healthier than stagnant water. The sound of moving water also lures birds that…

Late-Nesting Goldfinches

June 15, 2016 Backyard Birds, Backyard Habitat, Seasonal Happenings
Goldfinches are the latest nesting songbird in Minnesota. Unlike most of our songbirds, they do not feed their young insects or larvae as their diet is strictly vegetarian. As a result, Goldfinches delay nesting until milkweed, thistle and other plants produce seeds in an effort to ensure that there will be plentiful food sources to feed their young. Typically in…

Summer Tips for Nectar Feeders

July 14, 2015 Backyard Habitat, Troubleshooting
As summer temperatures heat up, your nectar feeders may need some additional care. Here are some tips! Clean nectar feeders about every 2-3 days during 90 degree summer heat waves. Even sooner, if the nectar looks cloudy. Hummingbirds are very sensitive to the quality of nectar and will reject feeders indefinitely if they determine your nectar is moldy or sour.…
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