Black Capped Chickadee

Fred and I have been watching a pair of blacked capped chickadees since February checking out a birdhouse the we placed on our back deck railing the end of last year. We were going to move it come spring time, but a male and female black capped chickadee decided to make it their home to raise their young.

Black capped chickadees in New England start to pair off around February with the mating season. We watched them diligently bringing wood chips day after day to their new home to build their nest. We can now identify the male from the female as the male is longer and heavier.

Their breeding season is done now, the typical breeding season for New England Chickadees is between April and May. Once the nest has been built, egg laying begins. These Chickadees breed once a year.

For days now when we go out on the back deck our male and female Chickadee make it a point to screech at us from the tree that they do not like our presence. Their song "chicka-dee-dee-dee" can be suttle or extremely loud depending on how much we have scared them. Today, however, we were able to actually sit out on the deck, they are finally getting use to us.

We are hoping that there are the normal 6-8 eggs in the nest they built and in 5-7 weeks baby Chickadees will be flying away to begin their own life cycle. Check out our pictures, we think this is the male Chickadee and the female Chickadee is inside sitting on the eggs. Stay tuned, I am sure we will be able to get more pictures for you to see.

KEEPING OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS HAPPY

Our attraction to birds lies within their beauty, the amusement they can bring us, and their wonderful melodies of their songs. Bird watching is one activity the whole family can partake in. Here are some important steps to follow in order to make your feathered friends happy:

Birds need water no matter what time of year it is. Supplying a birdbath for the birds to bath in will enable them to clean themselves. Birds will also be able to drink from a safe place with a birdbath in the yard. No more than two inches of clean water is needed and always place your birdbath close to a hanging limb so birds can get out of harm's way if they are frightened.

Bird feeders are ideal in the winter for feeding and will attract birds in the warmer months. Birds will rely on these feeders especially when they are raising their young. Scout around and buy food for the birds most common in your area. If you have frequent squirrel visitors, invest in a squirrel proof feeder.

A birdhouse or nesting box will keep birds in your yard while they are raising their young. A sturdy wooden birdhouse hanging from a tree, attached to a tree or building with an L hook, or a birdhouse on a pole are ideal for a family of birds. Remember, birds do not like a lot of activity when they are raising their young so make sure your birdhouse is not near the birdbath or bird feeder.

Once you have figured out the basics, you can sit back and enjoy the entertainment and the beauty of the birds in your area.

Birdhouses

Did you know that it is very important to put a few birdhouses in your yard? This is because many types of birds like to choose their home. Most birds will check out birdhouses, inspect them and the area they are hanging and choose one to nest in that fits their needs.

Some birds such as songbirds will not let other birds nest by them. Purple Martins on the other hand enjoy each others company.

Any time is really the right time to put up a birdhouse. In the winter months birds will use the birdhouse for shelter. Always remember that food and water are a necessity for birds to thrive and raise young.

Being able to watch the cycle of birds building a nest, birds hatching, raising their young and leaving can be a wonderful past time for you and your family. Giving the birds a couple of choices in birdhouses will bring you this enjoyment.

DID YOU KNOW

Researchers have found a sure fire way to get rid of those pesky squirrels that will be frequenting your birdfeeders soon.....habanero chili peppers.

It has been proven that the birds love it and the squirrels hate it. You can buy hot meat suet cakes at your local garden stores which contain habanero chili peppers or you can mix a small amount of the dried variety into your birdseed.

Let us know if it works.

Don't Forget To Feed The Birds

Winter can be very hard on the birds because snow covers up much of their food resources and ice can make it impossible for them to get nourishment from tree buds and wild fruit plants. Making sure your feeders are well stocked with high quality bird seed is pertinent and can mean the difference between life and death to birds.

There are many new suet cakes and birdseed that can provide the birds in your yard with high fat nutrients to give them the energy they need to survive. Check out your local garden centers and home improvement centers for the different types of varieties they offer, many at reasonable prices.

Butterfly Houses, Mason Bee Houses and Bat Houses

Winter is a perfect time for us to work on new birdhouses. This includes brainstorming on what we feel our customers may like for the new year and also gives us a chance to work on some new designs and color schemes. We are stocking up for the summer shows with a new variety of birdhouses and bird feeders.

Fred has been very busy this past week making butterfly houses and he is in the process of making a few mason bee houses. Last year we had requests from our customers for these bee houses. These houses attract non-stinging mason bees and are an essential part of your garden because mason bees are responsible for pollination.

Bat houses are always in demand, we sold out last year. By the time winter decides to leave, we should be ready for spring with our new designs.

Happy New Year

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and thank you for visiting our blog. Your support means a lot to us. We have started applying for our craft shows for 2010. Check our show schedule for upcoming shows. Thanks again everyone!

Fred & Lynn