THE FLOCK NEWSLETTER

Decorate Your Trees for the Birds

Spice up your yard by decorating it with bird food and attract tons of species this season. During this time of the year, we carry various ornaments that are made of seed and are completely edible, so all that needs to be done is to unwrap and hang them from shepherds hooks or tree branches. Bark Butter® is a spreadable suet that can be smeared on any tree, rock, or feeder, but you should press some seed into it the first time to help attract your feathered friends. Our seed wreaths are another great, reliable food item to offer this time of year because they are large and will last a lot longer than loose food, and no feeder is necessary for them! Visit us or shop online with us at https://order.wbu.com/brighton for all your bird feeding needs.

Who has been visiting our feeders?

Black-capped Chickadees!

This species of bird is always one of the first to find a feeder and the last to leave for the night. Our sales associate, Haley, got to enjoy this little Black-capped Chickadee hanging out at her Featherweight Hopper feeder for 10-15 minutes. The roof gave it some protection from a rainy day, so it made itself comfortable and enjoyed a healthy serving of sunflower, NutraSaff, and mealworms from this Cardinal ConfettiTM Seed Blend. During this time of year Chickadees form loose flocks with Tufted Titmice and White-breasted Nuthatches, so if you see one, you will likely see the others soon after! We have plenty of other seed feeders and seed blends, stop by the store and see what would work best for you!

Nature Nerd Corner:

Defensive Turkeys

Our customer B.B. had quite a tale to tell us about a run in with a posse of Wild Turkeys. He was on his usual delivery route, when a group of male Turkeys decided to chase him back to the truck in a flurry of feathers and kicks. Likely, they saw him as a predator or as competition for territory and were establishing their dominance. According to B.B., “the universe said: You guys (turkeys) can’t fly but to make up for it we bestow upon you the knowledge of martial arts”. But it serves as a great reminder that they are wild animals and can be dangerous, so when you can, leave them be and walk away slowly! If you have a story or picture you want to share, please send us an email.

What’s the Deal with Smart Bird Feeders and Houses?

These products are a great way to bring your birdwatching up to another level, because they give you a front-row view of the day-to-day life of our feathered friends. Both the feeder and house connect directly to an app that can be watched on any phone or tablet and will notify you when there is activity. You can share your unique link with friends and family, so they can experience your favorite hobby alongside you! Another great feature of BirdReel products is the one-year warranty that covers defects in the manufacturing and functionality of the product.

Our smart bird feeder is one of the easiest to use and maintain compared to some other styles on the market. It holds two liters of loose seed, and the feeder port is large enough to allow larger peanut splits or tree nuts to filter through successfully. The two solar panels are built-in to the roof, so there is no need for finding a separate place to mount them like some other brands require. A few of our staff here have only had to charge their cameras a few times in the winter when we have gotten long stretches of cloudy, dreary weather.

The smart bird house has the same technology as the feeder: it just has a different mount within the unit. In the house, the view is right above the nest so you can see all the action from the laying of the eggs to the hungry beaks of the fledglings. The house is constructed of durable, weather-resistant white pine wood and is very easy to open and close for cleaning. We recommend adding a layer of white pine wood chips to any bird house because during the winter it adds some extra insulation. On the other hand, in the summer it entices chickadees to check out the nest because it makes them think they are excavating their own nesting cavity.

BirdReel is based out of Colorado and was created by bird lovers for bird lovers. They have great customer service that is available via email or phone call, so no matter what, you can reach out to them with any questions or concerns about their products. Our staff is also trained on the product, so feel free to stop by and ask us questions too, if you prefer in person! Consider upgrading your backyard bird feeders with cameras and getting up to speed with the new technology available to us.