| Local Bird News |
 | Northern Parula photo by
Bill Flatau |
| Early migration has begun! Barn Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Northern Parulas, White-eyed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and
Gray Catbirds have already been spotted in metro Atlanta! Numbers and species will continue to grow over the next month as migrants make their way from Mexico, the Bahamas, and Central and South America!
This is a terrific time to go on a guided bird walk! Don't be intimidated if you are a beginner. Local bird experts are always happy to help newbies spot birds. The
Atlanta Audubon Society
hosts many spring field trips specifically geared to see beautiful neotropical migrants at local birding hot spots. Field trips are free and open to non-members! What are you waiting on? Go birdwatching!
for upcoming field trips!
Are you ready for hummers? Our next newsletter will be devoted to Ruby-throated Hummingbirds,
but don't wait! Make sure you have feeders out and filled with fresh, clean nectar! Yeah, we're talking to you...wash that gunky, black slime out of your feeder! You could have a hummingbird any day now!
************* Newsletter Lotto The winning receipt number for this period is
59563
dated 3/17/2012
**************
If this number and date match your receipt, you are a winner! Bring the receipt in to any Bird Watcher store location to claim your
$100 Gift Card!!!
Receipts dated today through April 2nd are eligible for the next drawing on April 3rd.
Good luck!
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Hi Birdwatchers!
 | | Bluebird nest photo by Larry Lynn |
Just last week a customer asked a great question on our Facebook page. She mentioned that her silly Bluebirds were nesting in a bird bottle for wrens, and that her chickadees were nesting in her Bluebird house. She asked if she should remove the nests since the birds were not nesting in the right place. The answer - absolutely not! Birds don't read the books. They nest in the best site they can find at the time. Whoever starts building first gets dibs. Nest box monitoring is definitely a good thing, as long as you don't take it too far! Our job is to put up bird houses and then let Nature take its course...but location can certainly be important. Placing Bluebird and Purple Martin houses in an open area will help attract those particular species. White-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice are happy nesting in wooded areas. Carolina Wrens like to nest near our homes (especially in hanging plants or on shelves in open garages). House Wrens (which are smaller and more drab than Carolina Wrens) will nest almost anywhere, in any type of bird house. And if you have a wooded habitat, especially near water, you may be lucky enough to attract nesting Wood Ducks, Screech Owls or even Great Crested Flycatchers! Place their boxes up about 15' on a sturdy tree.
We are often asked about Woodpeckers...will they use nest boxes? Not usually, since they like to excavate their own tree cavity. Occasionally, they will use a Screech Owl box packed with wood shavings that they can remove. Northern Flickers are the most likely to use a nest box, but we have heard of Red-bellied and even a Pileated Woodpecker using a box. Our Downy Woodpeckers use our Bluebird boxes in the winter for roost sites, but have never nested in them. The best thing to do for woodpeckers is to leave up any dead trees that are not dangerously located near your home or vehicle.
Besides nest boxes, you can also provide nesting material for birds. Fresh pinestraw, pet hair, or our Nesting Material blend of feathers, string, cotton hemp and aspen fiber is greatly appreciated this time of year.
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In Store Sale!!!
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Now through Sunday, March 25th, take 20% OFF
ALL bird houses, portals and nesting material!!! Now is the perfect time to put out additional nesting boxes for your birds! Even though many have already built nests for their first brood, birds often have more than one clutch in a breeding season and may choose a different site for subsequent nestings. Choose from Bluebird, Wren, Purple Martin, Screech Owl, Wood Duck Houses and more! Decorative or functional, wood or other material - everything is on sale!!! Hurry in...sale ends Sunday!!! |
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Kennesaw * Roswell * Buford * Marietta
Canton * Hiram
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