While Perry Como may declare December "the most wonderful time of the year", the annual spring bird migration holds the exact same "magic" as Christmas morning did as a child.
I have often declared to friends and family that my idea of heaven would be the 1st week of May in Southeastern Wisconsin. The newly emerged foliage on the trees and shrubs glows a brilliant green, and the flowering crabapples and lilacs are in full, fragrant bloom.
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird
This glorious time also heralds the return of my favorite migrating birds. I get a little giddy when I hear, but haven't yet caught a glimpse of a Baltimore Oriole. If my oranges aren't already out, I have been known to hop in the car and make a mad dash to the local grocery store to pick up a bag.
Equally as exciting is the first Ruby-throated hummingbird to visit my feeders. Yes, a 52-year old empty nester can still get as excited as a toddler seeing Santa Claus when the hummingbirds arrive!
American Goldfinch and Indigo Bunting
It happens all at once, and it is a joyous sensory overload. In addition to the orioles and hummingbirds, the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings come through at the same time.
I make sure that my feeders are filled (finch, hummingbird and mixed seed) and sit back in awe as the American Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting and Northern Cardinal create a surreal living version of the primary color wheel. This marvelous display against the backdrop of brilliant, bright green, it is a feast for the eyes, as well as the ears.
Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
I listen closely for any unfamiliar bird song, as it often belongs to a mystery wood warbler or Scarlet Tanager tucked into the woodlot behind our property. In order to capture these rare visitors, I make sure that my field guide and camera are always at the ready. All of the photos in this blog post are images captured in those magical moments of early May!
Nothing is quite as exciting as having a rare bird species visit your backyard. As I write this blog post, I am torn between continuing to type or investigate the "new" bird song I am hearing just outside the patio door.
It is most likely a wood warbler of some type, and they often only give me a brief opportunity to enjoy their company as they move further north to their nesting grounds.
Hoping that you are enjoying a magical migration in your neck of the woods!
I am available for birding presentations to your business, group or organization. For more info: Belinda's Website
Cedar Crest Retirement Community Janesville, WI 2015
As a young girl in middle school, I remember the terror that was speech class. I wasn't overly shy by any means, but the prospect of standing in front of the class and talking always put me in a panic. Never in a million years could I have pictured myself decades later as a wild bird speaker/presenter.
I guess I have to give some credit to my 10-year stint in a tv newsroom for easing my fears of public speaking. I was often tapped as an "extra" for news promos, and being around extroverted personalities certainly helped me gain confidence. I eventually realized that something was missing and left the newsroom to pursue my love of art and nature. I picked up a paint brush after many years and became an accomplished watercolor artist, specializing in bird and botanical paintings. I even had some of my bird illustrations published alongside those of John James Audubon in the book "Wings of Mercy". That was a personal highlight for me!
Unfortunately, we all know the plight of the "starving artist". Eventually financial constraints forced me to seek additional employment, which I happily found working in the lawn and garden industry. I worked for another decade as a sales representative, specializing in wild bird feeders and garden products.
"Birdscaping" Presentation at Waterford, WI Library 2014
Having enjoyed feeding the birds all the way back to my newsroom days, I eventually became quite knowlegeable in backyard birding...even offering to do presentations for some of my garden center customers. The first couple of times I stood before a group of people, I had butterflies in my stomach. Before long, my passion for birds overwhelmed my fears, and I was ready to fly!
I began to realize that I had knowledge that could help others become more successful in attracting birds, but more importantly, I had found my passion. Each time I finished a presentation, I felt a rush of energy and accomplishment that I got no where else, and a self-proclaimed "bird nerd" was born. I have done presentations at local home and garden shows, garden centers, garden clubs and recently led a garden walk at the The Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, WI.
Garden Walk - Boerner Botanical Gardens Hales Corners, WI 2015
I am available to do presentations on backyard birding and "Birdscaping".
I have experience with all of the following:
- Garden Centers - Garden Clubs - Youth Groups - Senior Living Centers - Women's Clubs - Botanical Gardens - Public Library Education - Consumer Lawn & Garden Shows
I also have programs available on attracting orioles and hummingbirds and I can customize a Power Point presentation for your particular club, business organization. Click the link below for more information:
I have been actively feeding wild birds for most of my adult life. Living adjacent to the Tichigan Wildlife Area in Southeastern Wisconsin, I have enjoyed regular visits from all the resident woodpeckers, including several seasons with nesting Red-Headed Woodpeckers in my yard. Despite my successes, it is the largest of the woodpeckers, the Pileated, that continued to elude me.
Note: The Ivory-billed Woodpecker and the Imperial Woodpecker are/were larger than the Pileated. Both species were believed to have gone extinct in the 20th century. However, recent sightings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Arkansas and other remote swamp regions in the southern US indicate that a small breeding population may still exist of this magnificent species.
While my yard boasts plenty of mature oaks and other hardwood trees, the surrounding area simply does not include the 150-200 acres of forest territory that the Pileated requires. However, my 5-acre camp in Florence County, Wisconsin does have a large forest area adjacent to 75 acres of State-owned land and in close proximity to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The perfect habitat for Pileated Woodpeckers, our property hosts many dead trees displaying their woodcarving handiwork. Their raucous call/laugh is often heard while we are up there, and we often catch a glimpse of them flying from tree to tree. Unfortunately, keeping bird feeders both full and out of the hands of hungry bears when you are only up for a long weekend is next to impossible.
Pileated Tree Excavation
This year, I found myself with the entire month of January off. While not my first choice for making an extended visit, I knew that it would afford me the opportunity to place feeders (while the bears are sleeping) and make some observations of the hardy year-round bird population, including the Pileated Woodpecker.
Armed with two suet feeders and cakes, I was able to attract both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers the first few days, as well as both White-Breasted and Red-Breasted Nuthatches. It was comical watching a particularly feisty female Downy take on a much larger male Hairy Woodpecker on a regular basis.
Hairy (left), Downy (right) Woodpeckers
By the second week, I still had not seen or heard the Pileated, despite the fact that a tree right outside my bedroom window looked to have been freshly excavated.
I was enjoying my quiet time in the woods, and became accustomed to the daily routine of the Black-capped Chickadees, woodpeckers, Blue Jays and occasional visits from an American Goldfinch and a small flock of Common Redpolls.
I had planned for different scenarios I might encounter while alone in a cabin with no running water. I had gas in the snowmobile, plenty of firewood and mace in case I encountered wolves while walking my dogs. I did not, however, prepare for serious illness. What started as a sore throat, soon developed into an abscess on the tonsil, and I found myself hospitalized in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My winter retreat was to be cut short by about a week, and I was disappointed that I had not accomplished what I had set out to do.
While resting in my hospital bed the morning before I was to head home, my husband called from the cabin to say that a Pileated Woodpecker had been hanging around the property. Great! I couldn't believe that after almost two weeks, the cruel irony of my being in the hospital, with my camera back at the cabin was too much. But I got lucky!
Sometimes in life the good things are just worth waiting for, and this beautiful female Pileated Woodpecker did make a magnificent appearance the next morning, as we packed up my things to head back home. The video below is a compilation of still shots and video that I captured that beautiful winter morning!
Happy Birding!
I am available for birding presentations to your business, group or organization. For more info: Belinda's Website
I have been actively feeding wild birds for well over a quarter of a century, and one of my perennial favorites is the delightful Black-capped Chickadee. These year-round Wisconsin residents are one of seven chickadee species in North America.
Easily attracted to feeders with a variety of seeds and suets, the Black-capped Chickadee's quick movements often make them a tough target to shoot with a camera. The photo taken here is one of very few images I have of a Black-capped Chickadee that isn't just a blur of feathers.
Getting chickadees to utilize a nesting box takes a minimum of effort. A box with a 1-1/8" hole is large enough for chickadees, yet small enough to keep out the more aggressive House Sparrow. I have had the opportunity to witness the raising of several clutches of chickadees in the nesting box located right on my back deck. The amount of energy exerted by both of the parents in feeding their hungry nestlings is truly entertaining, and I am often exhausted just watching them. The number of insects that can be consumed in just a few minutes of observation is simply amazing.
Every season here in Southeastern Wisconsin I am guaranteed to see and hear these pint-sized favorites. In most cases, chickadees mate for life, with the male chickadee starting his breeding calls as early as mid January, as they start exploring nesting sites early. This sweet sound is very welcome during the cold, silent months of winter. Black-capped Chickadee Calls
Not only are these birds well suited for surviving harsh winters, but recent studies have shown that chickadees in northern climates actually have the ability to grow more brain cells during the cold months. This added brain power allows chickadees to find the stash of seeds they stored away prior to the beginning of winter. Chickadee brains in winter
Variety is the spice of life, and it should always be considered when feeding wild birds as well. In addition to traditional feeds like black oil sunflower, safflower, nyjer seed and quality mixes, suet can add a whole new dimension to your birding experience.
Suet is inexpensive to provide, and will bring a variety of birds that you may not be attracting with other feeders, including:
woodpeckers
nuthatches
wrens
warblers
creepers
Pine Warbler at Suet Feeder
Traditionally, suet is the fat from the kidneys and loins of beef. It can be offered raw, but is safe to use only when temperatures are cooler. In recent years, manufacturers have created rendered suet recipes that prevent melting and make it safe to use all year long in many climates.
That is where the variety comes into play. In addition to blends that offer a mix of seeds, there are suet mixes available that include a variety of different nuts, berries, citrus and even insects to attract more species of birds. The Pine Warbler (above) was a welcome surprise to my suet feeder and allowed me the opportunity to observe a bird that normally would not come near a traditional feeding station.
Like me, if you have a yard full of squirrels where a suet cake will last only a few days, try offering suet that is mixed with hot pepper. Unlike mammals, birds do not have the taste receptors to detect the capsaicin in peppers that makes them hot. The birds will love it, while squirrels and other mammalian pests will leave it alone.
Having issues with starlings at your suet feeder? Then switch to a feeder that has a "roof" over the top. Starlings do not like to feed upside down, and therefore, will be discouraged from a feeder that allows access only at the bottom.
Want to attract some of the larger species of woodpeckers? Then look for a suet feeder that has a tail prop to help support them while feeding. There are several varieties on the market that are environmentally friendly and made from 100% recycled plastic (below right), as well as sustainable bamboo.
Plastic Tail Prop Feeder
Downy Woodpecker
Want to blend in with your environment? Why not offer suet in the form of a log feeder (left). This provides the most natural setting for woodpeckers and other birds that routinely feed off of insects on dead or dying trees.
Manufacturers now offer suet to custom fit these log feeders in a variety of mixtures, including "hot pepper".
If you are not already offering suet, you need to do so today! Not only will it bring more birds, but will provide them with needed nutrition throughout the winter months.
Happy Birding!
I am available for birding presentations for your business, club or organization. For more information, visit my website at: Belinda's Website
Male Slate-colored Junco
(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
No, not the mass migration of retirees to Florida, Arizona and other warm climates. I'm referring to the adorable member of the sparrow family known as the Dark-eyed Junco. They are also affectionately called Snowbirds by many due to their "reappearance" each fall just before the first flurries fly.
Juncos breed in the coniferous forests across Canada, in the western and eastern United States and in the Appalachian Mountain area. Here in Southeastern Wisconsin, they head north in the spring, with the promise to return in late September and October.
There are multiple subspecies of juncos with different color variations throughout their range. However, the adults in this part of the country are easily identified by the following:
dark slate-colored head and chest
white belly
pale "pinkish" bill
Tichigan Lake, WI 2015
Juncos prefer to forage on the ground looking for dropped seeds. I have had a great deal of success attracting juncos to the area around my fly-thru feeder mounted to my deck. The junco (at left) was photographed resting during a snowstorm just inches from the feeder and deck.
Scattering seed on the ground or in a low dish or ground feeder is a great way to lure them in. Juncos are fond of cracked corn and white proso millet, as well as black oil sunflower. However, in order to discourage nuisance birds and sparrows, I fill my feeder with just Golden Safflower seed, and I have plenty of visitors.
Happy Birding!
Original Watercolor by Belinda Abendschein
I am available for speaking engagements to groups and businesses. For more information, visit my website at: Belinda Abendschein
I love that technology has given us many options to listen to music on demand. Most of the time you will find me listening to my favorite artists on Pandora at home or in my car. However, there are certain times of the year (Early Spring and Summer) that I enjoy unplugging my devices and simply listen to the sound of the birds.
Early May is when I listen carefully for one of my favorites...the distinct song of the Baltimore Oriole. Not only does this song signal the official start of Spring for me here in Southeastern Wisconsin, but it also reminds me that it is time to fill my hummingbird feeder, as well as set out the oranges for the orioles.
As the season progresses, it is the incessant trill of the House Wren that fills the the days of late May and early June. The raucous sound of the Blue Jay often warns of intruders in the yard, and the song of the male Northern Cardinal (when whistled back) will often bring them closer to inspect the new rival to their territory.
House Wren
Listening for the first song in the pre-dawn hours often takes the edge off of insomnia. It is relaxing to see which bird's song will emerge first each morning and how quickly others follow suit.
Take advantage of this opportunity to immerse yourself in a symphony of song that has been perfected over the ages. The months of Summer will be over before you know it, and the birds will become less vocal. Taking time in the morning or early evening to relax with a cup of coffee or glass of wine and take in the intoxicating sounds of nature is one of my favorite "guilty pleasures".
Happy Birding!
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a great site for identifying bird songs and calls. Songs & Calls
I am available for speaking engagements to groups and businesses. For more information visit my website at:Belinda Abendschein
