Hot Pepper Food:

Beat the Critters!

If you are struggling with squirrels, raccoons, or deer eating your bird seed, try some of our Hot Pepper products. All mammals have the same taste receptors that react to capsaicin, and they typically do not enjoy it. While it is about 85% effective against critters, there are some instances where they might tolerate it. For best results, we recommend serving these products in a feeder with a lid to prevent the capsaicin from washing away. If you have a critter that seems to tolerate it, take a break and then reintroduce it in a few weeks. Stop by the store or order online at My WBU Store to get stocked up on all your bird necessities for your feathered friends.

What have we been doing?

Bird Watching!

Migration season is in full-swing and there are many species beginning to flock up and migrate down south. Team member Ella got some great pictures of this Sandhill Crane family at Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area in Pinconning, Michigan. Picking up a pair of binoculars, going on a hike, or watching your backyard, are all great ways to get out in nature and see some different species. Merlin and eBird are amazing resources to help you find hot spots where there are large numbers of species moving through. Check them out and enjoy some time outside.

Bird Nerd Corner:

Unique Birdbath Visitors

Water is a great way to attract many birds that do not visit feeders, especially during migration season when many species are travelling through the area. Here is a beautiful picture captured of a Cedar Waxwing (left), House Sparrow (center), and an Eastern Bluebird (right) enjoying a drink and a bath. Thank you to our customer A.C. for submitting an amazing photo this month! If you have any pictures or fun stories you would like to be featured in the next copy of the Flock Newsletter, send us an email at [email protected].

Save the Songbirds:

The Benefits of Leaving Your Leaves

What is the most important food for your backyard birds? Insects! These creepy crawlies are the greatest source of protein and fat for our feathered friends, and they need places to overwinter, too. When leaves and other smaller piles of organic debris are removed, vital wildlife habitat is also eliminated. Many beneficial moth and butterfly caterpillars remain dormant through the colder months in leaf litter. So, if we remove their habitat, we remove our birds’ pantry and next year’s pollinators.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, yard waste contributes to about 13% of the United States solid waste, or around 33 million tons, a year. An easy way to utilize leaf debris is using it as fertilizer for landscaping. Gardens will appreciate the extra nutrients that decomposed leaves provide. It can be raked right onto the garden beds or shredded with a lawn mower to speed up the breakdown. Something to avoid this Fall would be dead-heading plants that are in the garden,, because seed heads are another important food source for birds.

Creating brush piles throughout your yard is another beneficial resource for all the critters in your backyard. This provides shelter for many critters like turtles, toads, birds, mammals, and other invertebrates, and protects them from bad weather and predators. Take some time to watch the wildlife in your backyard, because you might see some unique and fun behaviors while birds and other critters forage around these debris’ piles.

Consider skipping yard clean-up this season, or reducing the amount of it you are doing, any amount of habitat you can provide for wildlife is a step closer to creating your own backyard sanctuary. If you are interested in learning more, check out the National Wildlife Federation’s website at Why You Should Leave the Leaves