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Lower Pricing on
Oil Sunflower!!!
Finally, we have some good news
to report on seed prices. A few months ago we lowered the price on oil sunflower (in-shell) by about 20%. In the last month we have also lowered the prices of hulled millet, and nyjer.
Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. We always strive to bring in the highest quality, fresh, and clean seeds at reasonable prices to keep your birds happy.
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Wild Bird Center of Boulder Saturday
Bird Walks
bird watchers (that's us)
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.
Call for more info: 303-442-1322
Birdwalks
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Wild Bird Center
of Boulder Quick Links ________________
Xcel Energy
Bird Cams
One fun way to participate in the lives of local birds is by viewing Xcel Energy's
Web Cams
owl cam
Osprey Cam
from Earth Cam
Osprey Cam
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New Seed Mixes
Western Patio: This is a return to a no mess formula like the patio we sold a few years ago. It's a better mix because it does not include the nyjer seed. Nyjer is a fine seed, but in a mix I think it goes to waste and it makes it more expensive. Use this blend for all kinds of birds on platform, hopper, or tube feeders. It comes by the pound and in 20# bags.
Mountain & Plains: This is a new style mix for us. It is a no millet mix of both oil and striped sunflowers, safflower, peanuts, and cherries. This would be a great mix grosbeaks, finches, and jays on a platform or in a hopper feeder with a lot of tray space. It comes by the pound and in 20# bags.
Nature Cherry: No mess seeds and mixes are our best sellers. Nature Cherry adds another attractive seed blend to our patio, or no mess, mixes. As the name implies, this blend has lots of cherries so it's attractive to a wide variety including non-seed eaters like robins. It also includes sunflower chips, peanuts splits, and tree nuts. The cherries make it too chunky for a tube feeder, but it will work well in all others. It comes by the pound and in 20# bags.
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Birding Community
Bulletins
 National Wildlife Refuge Association
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Contact Information
Steve Frye, Owner
Wild Bird Center of Boulder
1641-28th Street
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 442-1322
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 | | Blue Jay |
Where is the Blue Jay, I wonder?
by Steve Frye
Blue Jays are secretive about their nesting. That's why we were excited about the pair who built a nest in the spruce tree next to our bedroom. We don't have a great view of the nest, but it's fun to see the activity of the pair on a daily basis. The other morning I was on our driveway next to the spruce tree when I heard a familiar 'cluck' sound. This was not the sound of a blue jay but rather a Cooper's Hawk. I looked up with a certain amount of dread. I didn't want to see a Cooper's Hawk with one of 'my' jays in its talons. Instead, it 'clucked' again and took off across my yard after another Cooper's Hawk. I looked up again into the tree and saw one of the adult blue jays perched quietly and perfectly still. If the hawk saw the nest it would be back and back again until the nest is empty. I may have never seen this drama (or potential drama) if I had not been paying attention to the sounds in my yard. The following article is a reprint from 2002.My daughter Genevieve and I were out in the backyard blowing bubbles a few months ago. Like all two-year-olds, she is a keen observer of life. We were blowing bubbles and then trying to eat them, when a Blue Jay called out. Genevieve wheeled around and immediately yelled out, "Blue Jay, Blue Jay! Come here Blue Jay!" (She has figured out many things, but not how to approach quietly.) She turned back with a very serious look and said, "Daddy, where is the Blue Jay, I wonder?" I had to smile when I heard the sophisticated air of her question, but I replied, "I don't know; let's look for it" After a minute's search, we concluded that it must have flown away behind the trees.
That question got me thinking about how we change as we grow older and about its lessons for bird watchers. When I visit grade-school classrooms, I am always impressed with the kids' knowledge of birds. Many of them, like Genevieve, can identify common birds by sight and by sound. A few can even tell me quite a bit about the natural history of individual species. I believe that if I polled adults and kids about their knowledge of birds, the kids would come out ahead. Granted, the kids I usually talk to have been studying birds, but I still think the kids would win. Over time, most adults forget what they have learned about birds, and I think that they lose their curiosity for the natural world. Adult concerns and pressures can preclude us from smelling the roses.
Every day our brains are bombarded by sensory stimuli. The only way to keep from going crazy is to filter out some of that sensory noise. Adults choose not to pay attention to certain things, so we can focus on more immediate and "important" things. These "filters" help us ignore traffic noise when we have to, or ignore certain music or other conversations, but they often block out other small sounds such as birdsong. As a challenge, I ask beginning birders to relearn how they hear the world. As a birder, you have to learn how to ignore sounds like traffic noise but still hear the faint chip note of a warbler in the top of the tree.
Famous artist and birder Roger Tory Peterson was once walking with a friend on Fifth Avenue in New York during rush hour when he stopped and looked toward the sky and exclaimed, "Bluebirds!" His friend laughed and asked Peterson how he could hear bluebirds over all the noise. Peterson simply replied, "I listen for bluebirds."
I believe that most adults' inattention to the natural world is due to the fact that they literally do not see or hear it. So, if you want to notice the world like a two-year-old, pay attention to noises in the trees and to the bugs in the grass. But if you want to see the birds, try approaching more quietly.All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology): Blue Jay |
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Saturday Morning Birders List
A strange thing happened to my Saturday Morning Bird Walk list. Recently, several hundred people who receive the bird walk list every week were dropped from my email group. That means many of you have not been  getting the bird walk list every week over the last few months. If you think you have been dropped or would like to receive the weekly list of birds we saw,
please send me an email at WBCBoulderCO@aol.com and ask to be put on the bird walk list. Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience.
Please put me on the Bird Walk list
--Steve
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----- Coupon ----- Coupon ----- Coupon -----
Keep the Grackles in Check!
20% OFF Safflower Seed
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Grackle
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Bird Seed & Suet
Visit our Online Catalog
Grackles (and squirrels) don't like safflower seed much. So you can still get a good variety of birds without being overrun with grackles and squirrels by using safflower in your feeders.
Mention this Coupon to redeem or visit our store.
Call (303) 442-1322
Not to be combined with other offers.
Offer expires 6/15/12.
----- Coupon ----- Coupon ----- Coupon ---
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Fun Facts: Carrying Capacity of Birds
For all of you Monty Python fans out there, here is a chart showing the carrying capacity of several birds. Adapted from The Bird Almanac by David Bird. Note the carried weights are the largest that have been documented, not necessarily the carrying limit of the birds.
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Bird
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Body Weight (g)
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Item Carried (g)
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Weight of Item (g)
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Percentage of Body Weight
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Calliope Hummingbird
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2.5
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Mate
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2.9
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116
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House Finch
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21
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rag
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5
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23
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American Kestrel
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165
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rat
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240
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145
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Osprey
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1800
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fish
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1800
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100
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Golden Eagle
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4309
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UID Prey Item
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900
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21
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Bald Eagle
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6300
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Mule deer (part)
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6800
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108
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Harpy Eagle
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9000
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sloth
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5900
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65
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Walk on the Wild Side - Sat, May 19 Environment for the Americas Put this on your calendar! Last year we had a great time at Walk on the Wild Side, and this years' walk should prove to be even better. Learn more details and pledge on the web site listed below. Last years' money went to fund recently planted native and wildlife-friendly plants at Walden Ponds. If you would like to help us out, we need volunteers to station spotting scopes along the birding route and to talk about birds and wildlife with the participants. You need not be a birding expert to do this. If you can volunteer, please call the Wild Bird Center at (303) 442-1322. Get an International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) T-Shirt at Walk on the Wild Side or at the Wild Bird Center (while supplies last). . |
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 Ask Steve
Q: I just saw a hummingbird in my yard and I want to keep it coming. What plants do they like?
A: Gardening for hummingbirds is the best way to have more visits at your hummingbird feeder. Of course, it is also important to maintain your feeder well, but planting hummingbird attractive plants will increase the number of hummingbird visitors in your yard and at your feeders. Essentially, almost all tubular-shaped blossoms are attractive to hummingbirds regardless of their color. However, ones that are red or colors closely related to red like orange and purple are usually more attractive to hummingbirds. There are some great native plants such as pentstemons and monardas which our native hummingbirds like, but there are also numerous ornamentals which they love too. For a better list and to learn about the basics of hummingbird feeding please click on the link below to our resource section.
Hummingbird Basics
Q. Is it too late to put out a bird house?
A. Definitely not! At this point in the spring, many birds have already nested once, but many songbirds have two or even three broods in a year. So go ahead and get your boxes out. The worst thing that could happen is that the birds don't use your box until next year. At the old Longmont store we installed a shelf right above the main door for the house finches to nest on. They were not put off by the comings and goings of customers. One year they fledged a brood on Mother's Day, then another on Father's Day, and another after that. When you install your box it is usually best to face it east or southeast. Any aspect can work as long as you keep the box out of harsh afternoon sun and strong westerly wind. Now this advice does not always pertain. Some birds like tree swallows and mountain bluebirds readily accept nest boxes placed in the middle of a meadow. So if you have specific questions about nesting species and their preferences, just ask when you come in to get another nest box. Thanks. |
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Thank you for all of your support from all of us at YOUR Wild Bird Center!
We couldn't have done this without you! Twenty-three years is a long time in anyone's book and we owe our success to you -- our customers, compatriots, fellow birders, and friends. A hearty thank you to you all!
Steve, Wendy & Bill
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