Bird Watcher News  November 16th, 2010
Local Bird News
Pine Siskin
As we mentioned in our last newsletter, this is shaping up to be a good winter season for Pine Siskins,
who also travel in flocks, often with American Goldfinches.  Many of our customers are reporting them and also Purple Finches (another infrequent winter visitor) at their feeders.  If you put away your thistle feeder earlier this fall, you might want to put it back out with some fresh Niger Seed!  Siskins also love sunflower seed, especially Sunflower Meats.  If you haven't tried our Cole's Finch Friends blend, now is a very good time!  Finch Friends is a yummy blend of sunflower meats, niger and canary seed and can be used in any typical (non-niger) feeder to attract a wide variety of birds.

GOS logo

The Georgia Ornithological Society will celebrate their 75th Anniversary this January at their winter meeting on Tybee Island and will feature keynote speaker
 David Sibley -
artist, writer and world famous bird expert!  Bring the whole family and explore some of Georgia's best coastal birding spots.  Many exciting field trips and other activities are planned.
Click Here
for details and registration.

Atlanta Audubon logo

Closer to home, the Atlanta Audubon Society
is hosting a holiday nature program for kids on Wednesday,
December 8th from 3:30 to 5 pm at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve on Roswell Road.  There is a 30 person limit, so
Sign Up Now!




Join the Fun!!!
Find us on Facebook

"Like" Us Today!!!
Hi Birdwatchers!

November is a great time to observe bird behavior, especially flocking behavior.  Birds of all sizes travel in flocks, from tiny chickadees, kinglets and finches to large birds such as crows, ducks and even cranes.  Birds flock for several reasons, but mainly because there is safety in numbers!  More birds means more eyes to keep a watch for predators and to search for food sources.  Birds aren't as territorial in the winter since they are not guarding nesting sites or mates, and are much quicker to form groups. We once counted over 60 Northern Cardinals in one tree!

Cedar waxwings
 
Bird feeding stations are an easy place to watch for flocks, as they visit for seed and suet.  If a hawk or a cat shows up, the birds are quick to sound the alarm until it is safe again.   If you have hollies or other fruit producing trees and shrubs, you might see flocks of Cedar Waxwings (above) or American Robins feasting on the berries.  Flocks of Blue Jays and woodpeckers can be found in the tree tops foraging for nuts and acorns.

During the colder months, some birds will roost in flocks at night to keep warm.  Bluebirds, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice and wrens often spend the night in a tree cavity or birdhouse, snuggled next to several other birds.  Huge flocks of blackbirds can often be seen streaming over at dusk and dawn as they travel miles to and from their nightly roost, which may contain tens of thousands of birds!  It's quite impressive, as long as it's not in your yard!

Holiday shopping in December?  That's for amateurs! It's not to soon to get started and we want to help!
November coupon
  Hurry in! This coupon is only good   through Sunday, November 21st!!!
Bird Watcher Supply Logo

Kennesaw * Roswell * Buford * Marietta
Canton * Hiram

www.BirdWatcherSupply.com