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 birdwatchers (that's us)
Wild Bird Center Saturday Walks:
From 7:30 am (promptly)
to 9:45 am (approximately)
Every Saturday year-round.
Every last Saturday of the month we travel further afield than normal
and return a little later.
Birdwalks
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Upcoming Events
"Magnificent Obsession"
Wildlife Tree Day
Dec 6, 10:30 to Noon
Join us for our Annual Wildlife Tree Day Celebration as we make edible bird ornaments for your outdoor birds. This FREE outdoor event is great for the whole family. Take away lots of ornaments to decorate your outdoor trees for the birds (and squirrels). This has become a much anticipated activity in the Frye household. For info call the Wild Bird Center at 303-442-1322.
During Wildlife Tree Day, Wild Bird Center Employee and Nature Photographer Wendy Stuart will be raffling off one of her framed prints of a great horned owl 'Magnificent Obsession' (a $375.00 value). Raffle tickets are $5.00 and will be sold from Nov 28th to Dec 7th. All proceeds going to the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center in Keenesburg, Colorado wildanimalsanctuary.orgwhich rescues and keeps large predators, especially cats like tigers and lions.
Steve, Charley & friend
during Wildlife Tree Day |
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Wild Bird Center
of Boulder
Quick Links
Xcel Energy BirdCams
One fun way to participate in the lives of local birds is by viewing Xcel Energy's Web Cams
owl cam
eagle cam
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Nature Photography
by
Wendy Marie Stuart
 "Heart of a Redtail"
Visit our store to see a gallery of Wendy's matted and framed prints
and greeting cards for all occasions or
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Photo Credits
"Magnificent Obsession" by Wendy Marie Stuart
"Hummingbird Sept'08" by
Wendy Marie Stuart
"Heart of a Redtail" by Wendy Marie Stuart
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Send Us Your Pictures
Send us photos of your backyard wildlife and we will add them to our slide show of digital pictures in our store. Along with your pictures please give us your name, date of the photo, and your general location. (We especially love to get pictures of birds on feeders) E-mails can be sent to: WBCBoulderCO@aol.com. |
We Love to Hear From You!
Stop on in, send an email, or, give us a call. We love to hear about your latest birding experiences and look forward to sharing ours. Thanks for your support! Happy Birding!
-- Steve, Marlene, Bill, & Wendy
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Welcome to "Boulder Backyards" downy woodpeckers
Wild Bird Center of Boulder adheres to a strict privacy policy that means your information will not be shared, sold, or otherwise distributed. If you do not wish to receive any further eNewsletters with Offers and Resource information, click the "SafeUnsubscribe" link at the bottom of this page. We value your relationship!
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Seeking Sanctuary
Stress is an unavoidable reality for both humans and birds. As we face an uncertain economic future it only adds to our stress. We need a place to let down, relax, seek refuge, and enjoy ourselves. One positive reaction to cope with the stresses of everyday life is to create a sanctuary for yourself and the birds at home.
People are spending more time at home rather than travelling because of high gas prices and tighter budgets. Have you ever heard the new term 'staycation' meaning one spends their vacation at home enjoying local events and the sanctuary of your own home? What a great idea to view your yard and house as a sanctuary for yourself and wildlife, even if you still leave for vacation.
Clinical studies have shown that fish aquariums reduce blood pressure. As you watch the fish swim and interact with each other, you relax and are engaged in their interactions. I have no doubts that watching bird feeders has the same effect. The relaxing aspect of bird feeding is something that only those involved can understand. It is one of the strongest attributes to bird feeding, but one that is not mentioned often. Try sitting and watching your feeders for five minutes. Don't do anything else, just sit and watch. It's almost as good as a nap!
Creating a sanctuary for the birds in your yard will also create sanctuary for yourself. Improving the habitat of your yard will increase the number of birds and species you see. Adding a water feature will attract birds and add the wonderful sound of water to your yard. As you work to improve the habitat of your yard it will draw both you and the birds in. I think it's impossible to create sanctuary for the birds without also creating sanctuary for yourself. Yet another way in which we see that our lives and the lives of birds are connected.
So do yourself a favor - create a bird sanctuary in your yard. Start out simple, all you need is a bird feeder, some bushes and trees, and a bench. Then sit back and watch the birds (every day). Life will be a little lighter, your problems not so bad, and your blood pressure will be lower. Enjoy!
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
hummingbird  And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
--Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) |
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robin  Take a Bath at the
Wild Bird Center
Every We recently put a bird bath just outside the front door of the Wild Bird Center. It's the most simple bath possible, just a plastic pan with some gravel in it. Does it attract birds so close to the door and building? You'll have to come in and see for yourself, but we have been impressed with the activity. Sometimes as many as six sparrows will bathe in it at once. Of course, they also get scared off frequently, but that doesn't deter them for long. We have to fill the bath at least twice during business hours because of all the water splashed out while bathing. We just added a bird bath heater to our setup so that the staff and customers can enjoy the bathing activity throughout the winter. Come check it out. |
----- Coupon ----- Coupon ----- Coupon -----
Start Your Suet
Feeding Now!
black-capped chickadee
Get a new suet feeder and either use Suet Scrumpy or a Wild Bird Center Suet Cake to bring in lots of nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers for the winter.
30% Off all Suet Feeders
when you mention this coupon
Mention CODE WBC1113. Call (303) 442-1322 or bring in to redeem. Some restrictions may apply. Not valid in combination with other promotions. Expiration date: 11/30/08.
----- Coupon ----- Coupon ----- Coupon -----
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| Suet Scrumpy from the Kitchen of Steve Frye
2 c peanut butter
4 c vegetable shortening
2 c Chickadee Cheer
2 c Sunflower Chips
2 c Flour
2 c Quick Rolled Oats
2 c Cornmeal
Extra cornmeal and/or flour
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl or bucket. You can microwave the peanut butter and shortening to make it easier to mix. Add extra cornmeal or flour to give the Scrumpy the consistency of cookie dough. You may also add other extras such as raisins, nuts, or oyster shell. Suet Scrumpy works great smeared onto tree bark or in a traditional feeder.
Note: Look for the new Suet Scrumpy Feeder we are developing at the Wild Bird Center of Boulder. Available Nov 20th. |
 Ask Steve
Q: Several of my house finches look really bad. They have big growths on their heads. What is wrong with them and are they going to be okay?
A: Your house finches have avian pox most likely. It is a viral infection which produces abscesses around or on the eyes, beaks, or feet of the birds typically. Avian pox has been reported in many bird species, but I have only seen it in house finches. Humans, dogs, cats, and non-avian animals cannot contract avian pox. I see quite a few infected birds every fall. This is a naturally occurring problem for the birds just as influenza is a virus that we humans have to deal with.
What is the fate of your infected birds? Avian pox is not always fatal to the birds, but in many cases their fitness is compromised such that they die from exposure or predation. I saw a house finch at my feeder yesterday with an avian pox abscess on its foot which had gotten matted in its stomach feathers so that the bird could not extend that foot. It was sad to see it hopping around on one leg. I usually see fewer infected birds after the weather gets cold. No doubt many of the most severely effected birds do not make it through harsh weather. Like it or not, that's the way of the world and the house finch population is strong because of, not in spite of avian pox.
house finch
Is there anything you could do to help the house finches? There are a few steps you could take to reduce the transmission of the virus between birds. Clean out your bird bath several times a week and clean the outside of your feeders, especially the seed ports and perches every month. These steps will not likely hinder the spread of the virus significantly, but it can help people feel better about helping the birds. As I tell customers at the store, 'You are not in charge'. If you can catch an infected bird, Greenwood Wildlife Center will nurse it back to health and release it. However, most birds that you would be able to catch are already quite sick.
Some people stop feeding the birds to help reduce the spread of avian pox. This strategy will reduce the transmission of pox between birds slightly because they would not have contact with each other at your feeders. I choose to leave my feeders out even when I see the birds are fighting avian pox. Sick birds often congregate at feeders because it is a reliable and easy food source. This food source can help a weak bird survive. I feel that feeders benefit sick birds far greater than feeders contribute to the spread of avian pox. So the population of finches is better off with my feeders than without. |
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year??
At the Wild Bird Center we have been ordering Christmas Cards and 09 Calendars recently. (Believe it or not, we were a little late in ordering.) We have some lovely cards and calendars on the way so don't forget us if you have a need. We should have most of them out by late September/early October (but not our Christmas decorations).
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Colorado Birding Trail
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has recently published a small booklet highlighting the best birding spots in Southeastern Colorado. This glossy booklet is well organized and informative. It's a must have for local birders and its FREE. The Division has sent us a case of these books to give away. Please stop by the Wild Bird Center to pick up your copy.
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Contact Info:
Steve Frye, Owner WBCBoulderCO@aol.com (303) 442-1322
Wild Bird Center of Boulder 1641 - 28th Street Boulder, CO 80301 | |
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