There’s a wide range of foods you can offer on a bird Christmas tree that will attract a wide variety of birds and the more you decorate a tree the more species you will see. Make sure that your bird treat tree is visible from a comfortable spot in your house. What a delightful sight […]
Category Archives: Backyard Habitat
Winter Water
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. But also important—a source of […]
Creating an Ideal Backyard Wildlife Habitat
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 Federation. It took […]
Six Tips for Effective Birdhouses
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, size does matter. A birdhouse should have the proper dimension; entrance hole size, […]
Top Tips for Hosting Bluebirds
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 […]
Keep Your Birdbath Fresh and Clean
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 […]
Where do our backyard birds nest?
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? Cardinal nests are usually very well hidden in dense shrubs or trees, about 3-10 feet […]
Critical Tree Pollinators
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. Some examples of trees that are pollinated by insects include: […]
Open vs. Cavity Nesters
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 […]
White Bear Lake Bluebird Workshop
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 […]
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