Leelanau Peninsula BirdFest

09/21/2020

Not the best photo, but four of these beauties were in a field across from our nature center. Soon they will depart for the winter.

09/10/2020

Our newest member, Dave Donoher took this beautiful shot of a migrating female redstart today. Thanks, Dave!!

09/05/2020

For many species that nest on our property - and adjacent Charter Sanctuary, migration from our area has been completed. Others (like our catbirds) are yet to begin. But Eastern Bluebirds are in the middle of their trip southward, and as they pass through here, they check out our Long Branch Bluebird Houses. We have watched, from our patio area, as dozens linger every day to look over these nesting boxes. This photo was taken several years ago of a pair that nested here - and successfully raised their family. This style of nest box saves the lives of nestlings by preventing loss due to heat stress, prevent starlings access, and keep most predators from entering.

08/16/2020

Lil Mahoney, one of our most observant (and helpful) members, suggested that we add the following: DO NOT use soap to clean your feeders; it can be difficult to rinse it out completely. Begin with this: use the smallest feeder you can find and change the solution at least every other day. (Unless you live in the west, where you may have hundreds of hummers visiting during migration, you won't need a large feeder.) Clean you feeder thoroughly with hot water and a small brush. Rinse well and refill.

Those of us who live in northeastern states are seeing one of our favorite birds - male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds - begin their southward migration. It is a reminder for us to keep our feeders clean and nectar fresh. Also a reminder NOT to use commercial hummer foods or food coloring. Simple sugar water (1 part to refined white sugar to four parts water) is the only nectar we should put out for them. Do not be surprised that they drive other males away from your feeder; this is a survival mechanism established over many millennia (they will also defend a patch of nectar bearing flowers). Never use brown sugar, honey or sugar substitutes.

08/16/2020

Those of us who live in northeastern states are seeing one of our favorite birds - male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds - begin their southward migration. It is a reminder for us to keep our feeders clean and nectar fresh. Also a reminder NOT to use commercial hummer foods or food coloring. Simple sugar water (1 part to refined white sugar to four parts water) is the only nectar we should put out for them. Do not be surprised that they drive other males away from your feeder; this is a survival mechanism established over many millennia (they will also defend a patch of nectar bearing flowers). Never use brown sugar, honey or sugar substitutes.

05/29/2020

Listen to this podcast before killing a cute little jumping spider like this one. He or she may be your chickadees' next meal.

Kay Charter from Saving Birds Thru Habitat talks about spiders and birds in the latest episode!

Listen here: https://www.tacm.tv/outside_episode.asp?aid=19

05/15/2020

On this week's migrant bird report, Kay Charter from Saving Birds Thru Habitat talks about Hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

https://www.tacm.tv/outside_episode.asp?aid=13

05/02/2020

That was our first Ronald Brown Academy class. Great memories. Sadly, we had to cancel this year, but we will be there again next year!

Next Thursday morning (May 8), Saving Birds volunteers will meet a school bus carrying this fourth grade class from Ronald Brown Academy in Detroit at Ohio’s Magee Marsh Wildlife Area east of Toledo. Magee Marsh is one of the nation’s best places to watch spring birds, migrating from the Tropics back to their breeding grounds in the northern U. S. and Canada. There, these young students will enjoy an experience every birder in the country would give his or her eye teeth to have. Each youngster will have a pair of binoculars to use during the field trip. Each will also have a field guide, tee-shirt made especially for this trip and, in the event of rain, a poncho. This trip - along with three follow-up field trips in one of Detroit MetroParks - has been initiated, planned and the costs covered by Saving Birds. We plan to repeat this program at Ronald Brown Academy every year.

04/30/2020