The Flock Newsletter

Wild Birds Unlimited of Brighton

Do You Have the Hummingbird Necessities?

Hummingbirds and Orioles are notorious for craving sweet treats, and nectar is a favorite. You can make the best mixture at home with 1 cup of granulated white sugar and 4 cups of water. This blend is the simplest and closest to natural nectar.

Make sure to clean and refill your feeders every few days if temperatures are very hot. We have an additive that contains copper sulfate and can extend the life of nectar up to a week in the feeder. Hummingbirds and Orioles already eat bugs that have copper sulfate in them, so it will not harm them. It will only make your nectar last longer.

If you are trying to feed these beautiful summer visitors, stop by the store or shop online with us at order.wbu.com/brighton.

Simple Actions to Save Birds: Drinking Shade-Grown Coffee

One challenge that we face is that three-quarters of the world’s coffee farms destroy forest habitat by clear-cutting and then only planting a monoculture of crops to replace it. This significantly reduces the habitat available for birds and other wildlife to have enough food and shelter to survive. However, when coffee is grown in the shade, the forest canopy is preserved and allows for better survival of migratory birds.

Most of our summer migrants rely on these diverse rainforests to provide for them during the winter, so they can be prepared to make the long journey north again for nesting season. Without these key habitats, it is likely migratory species’ populations could crash.

As consumers, we can demand that shade-grown coffee become the standard and help save songbirds and other wildlife. Making informed decisions when we buy coffee and other products can start a grassroots movement that becomes something bigger and benefits everyone.

Nature Nerd Corner: Red-headed Woodpeckers

Our customer J.B. managed to get this stunning photo of a Red-headed Woodpecker on their Suet Cylinder Log Feeder. This species is considered an irregular or partial migrant in Michigan, because their presence depends on how the acorn or beech nut crop is for that particular year.

If you see one, there are usually more around since they tend to travel in family groups like Eastern Bluebirds. Red-headed Woodpeckers love shelled peanuts, suet, and Bark Butter^®, so consider adding some of these foods to your offerings.

To learn more about this woodpecker, check out All About Birds: Red-headed Woodpecker.

Save the Songbirds: The Importance of Summer Bird Feeding

There are plenty of natural resources for your feathered friends throughout the year, but providing them with food in the summer has a long list of positives. First, you get to see how they raise their families and help them thrive, not just survive. The birds that routinely come to your feeders will show their babies the best fast-food joint around: your bird feeders.

Protein-rich foods like mealworms, sunflower seed, and safflower seed are great things to keep your feeders stocked with or add to your seed blends.

Michigan also has summer residents that you can only see from April to September, like Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Gray Catbirds, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Adding fruit, nectar, or jelly to your feeding station is a great way to see these species, since they do not normally come to seed or nut blends. Some of your usual visitors might enjoy these tasty treats too, like House Finches or Downy Woodpeckers.

With all the fledglings coming to feeders, there are bound to be some interesting interactions and behaviors to be seen. Some easy ways to identify fledglings are by their messy-looking appearance, because they still have some down feathers and miscoloring as their adult plumage continues to grow in. They will follow the parents around begging for food and trying to get their attention, so many youngsters will flap their wings a lot and chatter at the parents demanding to be fed.

Feeding the birds is so rewarding, and it does not prevent them from moving on or learning how to feed themselves. Bird feeders are a supplemental food source that gives them another easier option and increases the likelihood of them surviving and thriving.

Visit Us In-Store or Order Online

Need nectar, mealworms, suet, seed, Bark Butter^®, jelly, or bird-friendly coffee? We would be happy to help you get set up for summer bird feeding.

Shop Online

Wild Birds Unlimited of Brighton

9610 Village Place Blvd., Brighton, MI 48116

(810) 522-5520

Closed Major Holidays

Order Online at: brighton.wbu.com