Blog - Wild Birds Unlimited of GPW

What’s in the Yard for Fall?

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Rosann Kovalcik

This time of year can be so relaxing and rewarding in our yards because of the changing bird activity. The number of Hummingbirds reported here at Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods reveals that there is a good population of them in many yards. This is their time of year to fatten up at feeders and flowers as they make their way back to Mexico or in some cases, as far south as Costa Rica. Hummingbird feeders should be kept up through mid-October, the latest date that we get reports of hummingbirds. Goldfinch numbers also swell as youngsters accompany their parents, making their presence known by the constant “chippee, chippee”, their begging call for food. In

House Sparrows – Love them or ?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Rosann Kovalcik

At Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods, some of the most prevalent questions we are asked in late summer are, “What kind of seeds can I use that sparrows DO NOT like?” or, “What do I do about the house sparrows crowding out my other birds?” House Sparrows can be found almost everywhere in this area, close to our homes and other buildings. They have a tendency to displace native birds from nest boxes, which causes some people to resent them. We must remember that because they have the ability to live so well among us, they are beneficiaries of our own success. Identifying a House Sparrow should be easy. Look for the flock of birds that descend upon

Water – an Essential Element for Birds

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Rosann Kovalcik

During the hot and sometimes dry conditions that we face in the summer, birds can use a reliable source of water. Whether they are birds that are visiting your feeders or not, all birds need a source of water and will come to a birdbath or pond. At Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods, we want to help you take care of your resident birds as well as attract migrating birds to your yard. We know that water is essential to all living creatures. In the case of birds, it is vitally important when it is extremely hot and a bird’s ability to regulate its body temperature can be stressed. Birds do not sweat and must remove excess

The Garden at Daybreak

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Rosann Kovalcik

We’ve entered a new chapter in local birdwatching. Spring migration is past, and we can now settle into watching the resident birds. This is exactly what I did on a recent Sunday morning. Of course, morning in bird time is at about 4:30 a.m. That’s when the robins start to sing in my neighborhood. The saying “the early bird gets the worm” definitely fits in this case. The cardinal adds to the chorus 15 minutes later. The sweet song of the familiar cardinal never feels ordinary to my ears. I lay in bed and through the open windows I listen for him. Will he choose “woit, woit, woit, chew, chew, chew, chew”? Or will today start out with “pichew, pichew,

What’s a Songbird?

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Rosann Kovalcik

The morning chorus of spring begins quite early in the day. I’ve heard robins singing at 4:30 a.m.! A songbird or oscine is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of Passeriformes, in which the vocal organ developed in such a way as to produce various sounds that we commonly refer to as bird song. Interestingly, many of the birds that belong to this classification do not have a song that we would consider melodic. Take the nuthatch, for example. The repetitive “wic, wic, wic, wic” may not sound like a song to us, but it certainly does the trick or we wouldn’t have been watching a young nuthatch being fed by parents on our bird walks. What about the

Goldfinches Prefer Fresh Seed

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Rosann Kovalcik

The American Goldfinch is a bird that can be found in Southeastern Michigan throughout the year. Attracting them to feeders in your yard includes offering fresh seed. Goldfinches prefer Nyjer (formerly known as thistle) and sunflower seed. When offering either of these seeds, freshness is key. Nyjer is grown in Nigeria and Ethipoia and is heat sterilized before being imported into the United States. This kills noxious weed seeds that could germinate once they fell to the ground. Sometimes, over-heating causes the Nyjer to become dried out, similar to what can happen when a coffee bean is roasted. When this happens, Goldfinches will turn up their beaks at the seed. Old seed will lose its’ oil content and will also

Red-headed or Red-bellied Woodpecker

Posted on October 6, 2014 by admin

In the last few years, I’ve had an increase in the number of customers at Wild Birds Unlimited here in Grosse Pointe Woods who come in and report that they have a Red-headed Woodpecker at their feeders. Knowing the status of that bird is unusual in Michigan, I show them a picture of both Red-headed and Red-bellied woodpeckers. After seeing both, most people realize they in fact saw a Red-bellied and not a Red-headed Woodpecker. It s far less common to have the latter bird in this area (though certainly not impossible!). In the case of the Red-bellied, it does in fact also have a red cap, which makes the nomenclature slightly confusing. Perhaps at the time of the Red-bellied’s

Feeding Techniques of our Wild Feeder Birds

Posted on October 6, 2014 by admin

“Chickadees don’t stay very long at the feeder.” This is a common observation of our customers that sit and watch the various feeding habits of the birds that visit their yards. Chickadees and Tufted Titmice do flit to the feeder, grab a seed and then disappear into the closest shrub or tree in order to eat. Sometimes, they may stay at the feeder for a few moments, picking up a seed and evaluating its’ weight in order to ensure that the energy they expend will be worth the prize inside. Once a seed is selected, these members of the Paridae family cannot open the seed while sitting on the small perch of a feeder. The seed needs to be held

Tips for a Pest-free, Clean Bird Feeding Station

Posted on October 6, 2014 by admin

When we get our first blast of cooler air and a cloudy sky, I’m reminded by the heavy influx of customers at our Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods that they are getting ready for their fall and winter bird feeding. With that fuel for thought, I’ve come up with some ideas to share with you for pest free and clean feeding stations. Good, quality seeds are the staple of any feeding station in the colder months. Once natural seeds have been depleted, birds will look to supplement their diet with your offerings. The most favored seed is the black oil sunflower, favored by more birds than any other seed. Using sunflower as the main seed in a blend

How to Feed the Birds but not the Squirrels

Posted on October 6, 2014 by admin

On a daily basis at Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods, we hear about the abilities of squirrels to successfully turn bird feeders into squirrel feeders. Even though we advise customers as to the capabilities of squirrels, some insist that the squirrels won’t be able to climb the feeder pole they are purchasing. We smile knowingly when they are back within days to admit that the little rascals easily shimmied up the pole and are monopolizing the seed. Squirrels are members of the rodent family. The Latin word rodere means “to gnaw”, as we can see in the damage these critters cause to our new feeders. Did you know that squirrels gnaw in order to keep their teeth sharp