Birds of West Cobb

Recently, we read a few Facebook posts about backyard bird feeding and someone shared that they were absolutely fed up with the large number of squirrels in their yard. These squirrels had forced out the birds, and even started fighting amongst themselves. We offered up the idea that this person could ( potentially ) humanely trap some of the squirrels and relocate them to a park or abandoned lot a few miles away. Afterward, we started researching this topic further and discovered that in most cases, trapping and relocating "nuisance" animals is legal. But sometimes there are special rules in place and you should always be aware of the laws in your area before proceeding! Continue reading below to found out which U.S. States allow trapping and relocation of Nuisance Animals! The Gray Squirrel is often seen as either adorable, or a major pain in the ...you know. Which U.S. States allow trapping and relocating nuisance animals? Let's start by defining a "Nuisance Animal"... but before we do, just a little disclaimer here: We are not legal experts nor do we claim to be. We have spent hours researching this topic on multiple state and federal government websites which are quite specific regarding the definitions of a "nuisance animal" and what you can do with it to protect your personal property. "I wouldn't dream of hurting your property!" - Carlton the Raccoon The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) defines nuisance wildlife as: “ Wildlife that causes damage to agriculture, property, natural resources, or that may threaten human health and safety. ” — Source : USDA APHIS – Wildlife Services Many state agencies (like Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission , Texas Parks and Wildlife , etc.) adopt similar language and criteria when it comes to nuisance animals, or pests. While some states authorize use of poisons (we are STRONGLY against this due to the effects it can have on birds of prey, pets, or even children) , other states require licensed or certified professionals to come and remove the pests. Whenever it is possible and legal, we recommend using a live-trap and relocating these animals. Just be sure to do your local research as it may vary by city to city or municipality. A Chipmunk surfaces in the morning sunlight, before collecting more seeds for his storage cellar If you want to jump ahead and view the list of traps that we'd recommend, click here or scroll to the bottom section of this blog post. If you'd like to view a specific state, you can click below on a specific letter and jump to the appropriate section A | C | D | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W 1. Alabama Alabama law allows for trapping and relocation of nuisance animals as long as you consider the following (this detail came directly from the Outdoor Alabama website which can reviewed here: link ) Nuisance Wildlife Regulation Alabama game and fish regulation 220-2-.27 allows for permits to take protected wildlife causing crop damage, property damage, or concern for human safety.   Which animals are included in Alabama's "Nuisance Animals" legislature? A property owner or tenant is allowed to take  one  squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, beaver or skunk per incident that is causing damage to their property without a permit. Definitely check out the website if you have any question about whether something is illegal or not. 2. Alaska Under 5 AAC 92.420, nuisance wildlife means animals “that have invaded a dwelling, are causing damage to property, or are an immediate threat to health, safety, or property”  law.cornell.edu Directly from Alaska's Department of Fish & Game : "Permits from ADF&G are needed before a person can kill, destroy, relocate, or haze (systematically harass) wild animals that are creating a nuisance or a threat to public safety. Also, any person who kills a wild animal in defense of life or property must file a report and surrender to ADF&G or the Alaska Wildlife Troopers certain animal parts within a prescribed time period." 3. Arizona Arizona defines nuisance wildlife as animal species causing “problems or conflicts for people or property,” such as coyotes, javelinas, skunks, or raccoons encroaching on homes or damaging property. Further, we were able to find the Arizona law pertaining to this topic: ARS Title 17-239 this is a partial snippet of the text on the website but it states that: " A. Any person suffering property damage from wildlife may exercise all reasonable measures to alleviate the damage, except that reasonable measures shall not include injuring or killing game mammals, game birds or wildlife protected by federal law or regulation unless authorized under subsection D of this section.  A person may not retain or sell any portion of an animal taken pursuant to this subsection except as provided in section 3-2403. " 4. Arkansas Arkansas treats nuisance wildlife as non-game species (e.g., beaver, raccoon, squirrel, skunk) causing damage to property and they have pretty specific rules to be aware of if you plan on doing this for your specific situation. You can read more here on the Arkansas website , but we have copied & pasted the related text from their web page, below: "Live traps: Nuisance animals, other than bear or alligator, may also be removed by landowners (or their designees) at any time without a Depredation Permit with the use of live traps. Trapping in towns must be in compliance with municipal ordinances. Live captured nuisance wildlife must be released unharmed on private land with landowner permission in the county of capture or adjacent to the county of capture outside a municipalities boundaries within 24 hours. Live traps must have the trapper’s name and address or his vehicle operator ’s license number or the current vehicle license number registered to the trap user." 5. California California (Los Angeles County specifically) has some interesting rules in place regarding trapping and relocating “nuisance wildlife”. They say that you must either release the nuisance animals in the immediate vicinity of where they were trapped (which really defeats the purpose in our opinion) or, the pest/nuisance animal must be euthanized. This seems a bit harsh but laws are there and should be obeyed! Here is the text we found on the Los Angeles County website : Trapping at Home for Nuisance Wildlife The most common way to trap nuisance wildlife is to use a live trap. However, before purchasing one and catching an animal, it is important to consider what you will do with a live animal once it has been caught. The Fish & Wildlife Code states the requirements for trapped animals. Trapped animals are to be either released back into the immediate vicinity in which they are caught or to be killed immediately (California Code of Regulations- section 465.5). The Code lists kill methods that are prohibited to prevent undue cruelty. 6. Colorado While researching this topic, we're going to say that we are really very impressed with the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Website , specifically the coverage of the nuisance animals and how well-thought out the webpage is. If you are responsible for this webpage, kudos to you ! There are details pertaining to whether or not trapping or removal is possible for many species (27 mammals by our count!). Take a look at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife page , located here ! Per the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website shared above: "Wildlife You can Relocate Without a Permit Cottontail rabbits and tree squirrels can be relocated up to 10 miles from the capture site Raccoons can be relocated up to two miles away from the capture site.  You must notify Colorado Parks and Wildlife in advance and secure permission from the landowner or managing agency where the animal will be released ahead of time. Relocation sites must be appropriate habitats for the species."   7. Connecticut The state of Connecticut requires licenses for Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators who remove wildlife “causing damage to livestock, crops, or property.” Licensed NWCOs are recommended for homeowners that are unable or unwilling to resolve issues on their own accord. The Connecticut specifics can be found here , which relate specifically to trapping nuisance animals. They also include details about which animals you are able to trap (for relocation) and offer alternative options as well for protection of your property from specific species (such as Geese, Racoons, Bears and more). 8. Delaware Delaware defines nuisance wildlife as any wild animal that “poses a threat to public health, safety, or property.” Removal/relocation requires permits for licensed operators (people that professionally remove pests or nuisance animals) however homeowners can also remove pests on their own. The Delaware Dept. of Natural resources states on their website currently: " Can I Relocate Wildlife? Some animals can be trapped and relocated by homeowners. Wildlife cannot be released on any state or public land, and you must obtain permission from private landowners before releasing any wildlife species." For specific species we would recommend that you reach out to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources through their website's " Contact Us " link. 9. Florida Let's take a look at Florida’s regulatory details related to trapping and relocating of nuisance animals. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) states the following on their website : " Nuisance wildlife refers to an animal or animals exhibiting behavior that: causes (or is about to cause) property damage, presents a threat to public safety, or causes an annoyance within, under or upon a building." They continue with some additional context and mention that you should make considerations related to trapping and relocating animals. Some species won't do well with relocation, whether it's due to the ability to find food, or how they are received by the local species, or for other environmental reasons. If you have made these careful considerations, you should still have permission from a land owner before releasing your captured pests on their property! Additionally, you should be familiar with the specifics for the species you are concerned with. Florida has provided a link (shared here) for their regulations related to " Taking Nuisance Wildlife " 10. Georgia Georgia, home of Birds of West Cobb , your backyard bird blogging friends! Georgia's Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division has a very helpful website and it state the following: "Need wildlife trapped and removed from your property? You can hire a nuisance wildlife control operator, remove the animal yourself during regulated hunting and trapping seasons , or obtain a nuisance wildlife control permit from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Always consult your local ordinances regarding rules related to discharging firearms." Pay special attention to the part about "you may need to obtain a nuisance wildlife control permit from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources." We don't want our readers getting into trouble with law enforcement! Additionally, Georgia has provided a number of helpful pest fact sheets (we've linked to a few of them, below. However there are more on their website): Squirrels Raccoons We didn't see a document specifically related to chipmunks so we have reached out to the GA DNR for clarification. After ~2 weeks we have received no response from them yet!! Rats & Mice can be removed at any time, by any means due to their classification as a pest and also likely due to the fact that they can be carriers of many diseases. 11. Hawaii Hawaii has very protective laws/regulations intended to keep their diverse ecosystem safe and thriving! Fun fact: Chipmunks, Raccoons and Squirrels are not native to Hawaii , and they are considered invasive if they ever did show up - meaning that they are dealt with very quickly. Raccoons have been known to make the trip as stowaways on ships or planes but due to the risk of rabies, they are removed as soon as discovered! For Rats and Mice, it is generally permissible to remove them with traps or euthanize them for safety of your person and your property! 12. Idaho While Idaho lacks a single “nuisance wildlife” definition, the state's Wildlife Services notes common conflicts—rats, mice, raccoons—with protections guided by policies that address wildlife-human conflicts. To put it simply, for squirrels you would need to contact the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and request their review of your situation. Contact information and more can be found at the following link: https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/file/ma/wld-3.0_handling_tree_squirrel_depredations.pdf 13. Illinois Illinois issues Nuisance Animal Removal Permits  when an animal causes “substantial property damage or serious public health or safety” issues. Non‑domestic protected animals that damage or inhabit private property are defined as nuisance wildlife. They have provided this page for this specific topic: Remove Nuisance Wildlife Once you are on the page listed above, there are two options available for how to deal with nuisance wildlife. You can either hire a NWCO (Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator), or you can request a permit to do it yourself. Links are provided for both as well! 14. Indiana Indiana requires a license or permit for taking nuisance wildlife on non‑owner land. Landowners may trap species like rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and more—which are causing property damage or threats, there are some specifics based on species but Indiana's Department of Natural Resources made a fantastic website to help guide you through their requirements and whether or not specialized permits are required! Gray Squirrels " Resident landowners and tenants can live-trap a gray squirrel that is causing damage on their own property without a permit from the DNR" Fox Squirrels " Resident landowners and tenants can live-trap a fox squirrel that is causing damage on their own property without a permit from the DNR" Chipmunks " Chipmunks can be captured or killed year-round without a permit or hunting or trapping license from the DNR, and there are no limits to the number that can be taken." Raccoons " Resident landowners and tenants can trap or shoot a raccoon that is causing damage on their own property without a permit from the DNR, but all local ordinances regarding firearm, archery, or air rifle discharge must be followed." A chipmunk emerges from a freshly made hole 15. Iowa Iowa defines nuisance wildlife as any wild animal that “causes damage or poses a threat to public health, safety, or property.”  Licensed operators (NWCOs) remove such wildlife per state regulations and these NWCO's are recommended by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. They have helpful links on their website related to becoming an NWCO or getting in contact with an existing NWCO. 1 6. Kansas Kansas’ Nuisance Wildlife Damage Control  program assists residents in resolving wildlife conflicts. While not giving a single definition, the state provides permits and operator lists to address animals causing damage to structures, crops, or safety concerns. Kansas has ruled Chipmunks as an unprotected species and this means they can be removed through trapping or other methods. In fact the NWCO web page for Kansas specifically calls out the types of traps to use for best results. 17. Kentucky Kentucky allows landowners to use exclusion, repellents, shooting, or trapping to manage nuisance wildlife. Licensed control operators handle more complex situations. Common nuisance species include skunks, squirrels, raccoons, and bats. We wouldn't suggest any homeowners attempt to handle bats or raccoons due to the high risk of rabies with those species. Their website was updated recently and no longer has a page dedicated to nuisance animals and the individual handling of specific species. This makes it seem like they are planning on directing people to local NWCO's as with other states above. They do however have a link for this information so you can find an authorized NWCO easily in your county. 18. Louisiana Louisiana uses licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators tasked with handling most nuisance wildlife—except deer, bears, migratory birds, and alligators. Additionally, any wild birds or mammals “destructive of private property” may be declared a nuisance and removed by authorized persons. However, they also state that an NWCO is not always necessary and they recommend using live traps and relocating the nuisance animal(s) at minimum 5 miles from the location they were captured to prevent their return. You can see more details about this at the following Link . 19. Maine Maine has a well-written document on their website which covers the various species of nuisance animals in pretty good detail. Squirrels, Raccoons, Chipmunks(ground squirrels) and others are mentioned specifically with different rules and other nuances that would be wise to understand before you attempt trapping and relocating them. Take a look on the following PDF 20. Maryland Maryland's Department of Natural Resources website very specifically says this: "Homeowners are strictly prohibited from trapping and shooting wildlife outside regulated seasons, unless the animal has been actively causing property damage or is an obvious threat to public health and safety. If this course of action is taken, homeowners must obtain a free landowner trapping permit ​by calling 1-877-463-6497 from Maryland or 410-349-8055​ from outside of Maryland. Relocation of rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, and fox) is prohibited under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 08.03.15.24 . This restriction is necessary to prevent human-assisted spread of this disease and is an important component of the state’s nuisance wildlife control program" 21. Massachusetts Massachusetts states on their website https://www.mass.gov that it is not legal to rap and relocate ANY animal, including squirrels and chipmunks! They also say on their website that this is not only the law, but it was put in place to protect the wildlife and the people as well. You can read additional information from the city of Salem, Massachusetts on their website, where they specifically mention " Safely Dealing with Wildlife Animals " 22. Michigan Michigan is a state with another well planned, and well executed website helping people become better educated about many types of wildlife. For Pests or nuisance animals such as woodchucks, raccoons, squirrels and more, they have a list of Prevention and control tips which are aimed to guide you (the homeowner) to effectively stop attracting these nuisance animals and keep your home and pets (and bird feeders, if applicable) safe from harm. (Pro-tip, they classify chipmunks as one of the 9 species of squirrels found in the state) Additionally, if you feel like you cannot handle the unwanted visitors yourself, they also provide a helpful list of " Nuisance Animal Control " companies - which was nearly 500 entries long when we checked! 23. Minnesota Some states focus on the word "trapping" as it has been used by hunters for centuries. Other states use the more general term "Taking" - we like this terminology as it applies to trapping in both the humane/live sense, and yet it still also applies if you are using a net to catch fish. Here is their definition: What does "taking" mean? "As defined in Minnesota statute , taking is defined as: "...pursuing, shooting, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, angling, spearing, or netting wild animals, or placing, setting, drawing, or using a net, trap, or other device to take wild animals. Taking includes attempting to take wild animals, and assisting another person in taking wild animals." You can take an animal using any method except poison, artificial lights, or a motor vehicle. The most common methods for taking an animal are by firearm or bow and arrow. Before you take an animal, make sure you check the local laws. In many urban areas or areas regulated by local ordinance, you may be restricted to live trapping." Taking of squirrels, raccoons, rabbits and more are included on the list. To find out if you are clear to do so, check their website but be sure to check into your city as well, to be sure you aren't breaking any laws. 24. Mississippi We found great information about trapping and relocating nuisance animals on the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks website related to a number of species, but not squirrels or chipmunks specifically. However, according to NWCO.net (the home of the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators), you can relocate nuisance wildlife as long as you have the permission of the property owner where you intend to release the animal. Because of the lack of clarity we found we would search by your city, specifically. 25. Missouri The state code for Missouri says that cage style traps can be used during hunting season (as they are classified as a game animal) if you are hunting.  However, it goes on to say that damage-causing squirrels can be trapped out of season without a permit. On the Missouri Department of Conservation website, you can find specifics for many species, including chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels and more. They recommend Cage-style traps for chipmunks and squirrels, and the rabbits too in the right conditions. 26. Montana Montana law classifies a “nuisance” as anything harmful to health or property, injurious to public usage of private or public works, including wildlife causing such interference. The Montana Conservation website has a VERY detailed breakdown of different animals and how to deal with each. This list covers ground squirrels , tree squirrels (including the invasive fox squirrel) raccoons and more! 27. Nebraska Nebraska counties may control “commensal and field rodents, nuisance birds, and other nuisance wildlife” when they cause property damage or pose health threats—however relocation of a pest animal or nuisance animal beyond 100 yards is prohibited  according to Nebraska Wildlife Rehab . 28. Nevada According to the Nevada Extension (the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources), nuisance animals are not permitted to be relocated in Nevada! We found this to be true from other resources as well. Don't do it! 29. New Hampshire New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department has laid out the rules pretty clearly. First they want you to call USDA Wildlife Services at (603) 223-6832 . They will give you direction based on the circumstances. The Fish and Game website also includes a helpful (and thoughtful) guide for using traps like the live animal traps we recommend, safely and as humanely as possible. You can view that link here: Live animal cage traps Now if you are not comfortable trapping and relocating animals, you can contact a licensed WCO by visiting this page . 30. New Jersey New Jersey lists nuisance wildlife (such as squirrels, raccoons, bats, geese, opossums, skunks) as animals that invade homes or property. Local licensing/ordinances govern their removal. Trap-and-relocate is generally discouraged or illegal based on the locale. However, we found that if you just "Google" this question the AI response flat out tells you that it's illegal. This is not the case currently, and the NJ Wildlife Relocation has all of the specifics. It says that relocation is possible if you meet the criteria, but any releasable adults should be placed on private property with the landowners permission, at a minimum of 10 miles from the capture site. 31. New Mexico New Mexico allows the removal of “nuisance animals” (e.g., wildlife occupying homes/property) under state permits. Transporting nuisance animals must also follow the permitting rules. This varies from one city municipality to the next and we strongly recommend checking your specific locale for rules. From our research so far squirrels don't seem to be much of an issue in New Mexico, but Raccoons could be problematic. If that is the case, they first recommend you remove food sources, and then try "hazing" or humanely chasing off the racoons with sound or water from a hose nozzle. If that fails, they then recommend you contact a licensed wildlife removal expert from your area. 32. New York New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (or DEC), administers a Nuisance Wildlife Control License permitting capture, transport, and release of wildlife deemed nuisance—i.e., those causing property damage or public-safety threats. Common species include raccoons, bats, beaver, deer, skunks, coyotes, Canada geese, and swans. If you are uncomfortable they also provide a list of licensed Wildlife Control Operators (WCO's) in your state! 33. North Carolina North Carolina's Wildlife Resources Commission states that wildlife that is causing damage to your home or property can be removed via permits, with licensed agents providing trapping and control of the nuisance wildlife. Local governments may enforce ordinances for animals that create public nuisances. That said, they list the animals that cannot be relocated on their website and say that squirrels CAN be relocated, to private property with the owners permission and you still need a Depredation permit before doing so. 34. North Dakota North Dakota Game and Fish Department mentions that hunting the following animals year round is acceptable and residents do not need a license to do so. Non-residents simply need a non-game license. ground squirrel prairie dog porcupine rabbit skunk For trapping and relocating tree squirrels in North Dakota, this is legal during the open hunting season from September through February, but we recommend checking their website as this could change year to year as far as start/end dates go. 35. Ohio Ohio has very detailed legislature that seems focused on hiring commercially licensed Wildlife Control Operators, or at minimum getting a permit and removing your own issues but you can only release these on private property with written permission. We'd suggest reading the full list of requirements on the Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules website located here . A young chipmunk perches on a root before making his chirping call 36. Oklahoma The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) was created to manage and maintain Oklahoma's wildlife. A Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator  permit allows capture, euthanasia, or relocation of specified species when causing human conflict, with releases limited to outside city limits and within the same or adjacent county. This is not a requirement for many species, however you may need help in your specific case and if that should occur the NWCO is there for you. If you want to take on the nuisance by yourself, you must first request a Wildlife Depredation permit from the ODWC to deal with the wildlife problems. Then, an ODWC employee will need to come and complete a wildlife damage complaint investigation, before they will issue a depredation permit to you. 37. Oregon Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s nuisance-wildlife program outlines trapping, relocating, or destroying wildlife creating conflicts—though rules vary by species and location  eugene-or.gov According to ORS 498.012, people may take wildlife that “is causing damage, is a public nuisance, or poses a public health risk. 38. Pennsylvania On the official website for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , there is a page dedicated to "Nuisance Wildlife". On this page, Live-traps are once again called out for being simple to use, and easy to release any unintended captured species quickly and easily. The even mention that " troublesome rabbits and squirrels can be relocated to another area ." Please keep in mind though, that you may accidentally capture a skunk. 39. Rhode Island According to several sources we found, it is illegal to trap and relocate any wildlife in Rhode Island. Including this link from the Coventry Policy Department They classify squirrels and chipmunks as "protected furbearers" and say the following This means that while you can trap squirrels on your property, you cannot release them in another location . Instead, RIDEM recommends exploring other options like exclusion, modification of your property, or contacting a wildlife control specialist.  40. South Carolina For Gray Squirrels and Fox Squirrels, a license may be required (and only authorized during hunting season). They also mention that it is not recommended to relocate tree squirrels, as it could be stressful on them. They also have specific rules for each species that you might consider to a pest from Raccoons, to woodchucks, but does not have a specific page mention of "Chipmunks, oddly enough. You can view the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources index of nuisance wildlife here. 41. South Dakota South Dakota's Game, Fish & Parks Department shared a PDF of the Hunting and Trapping Handbook 2025 on their site located here . However, we were unable to find strict rules or laws about this specifically. Google's Ai search tool says it is possible to relocate them as long as you have permission from the property owner where you are releasing them. We recommend calling the the South Dakota's Game, Fish & Parks Dept to clarify if you can do this or if it is illegal. (The answer may vary based on your city or town)! 42. Tennessee The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency has an amazing website with specifics about many different species that covers just about every kind of pest you can think of, from Squirrels to Nutria, wild boar, raccoons and even fox and more! They clearly state on their website the following (and plenty more as well!) TCA 70-4-115 Destruction and disposal of wildlife---Permit---Penalty.      (a)  The owner of lands may destroy any wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl when such wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl are destroying property upon such lands.  Any person, before destroying any big game under the conditions provided for in this section, is required to obtain a permit for destroying such big game.  Such permits shall be issued by an officer of the wildlife resources agency. NOTE:  If you are experiencing animal damage caused by a federally protected species, you must obtain a permit from USFWS  https://www.fws.gov/permits/#sthash.nSt3rzh7.dpufhttp://www.fws.gov/permits/  prior to destroying such wildlife. Can I relocate an animal I have trapped? No.  Because of illness and disease, it is illegal to transport any live wildlife (TCA 70-4-401) and release said wildlife (TCA 70-4-412) without a permit . 43. Texas For Texas we had to dig a little to find the accurate information from their state resources, but we found it for you! The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department mentions on their web page the following: Nuisance fur-bearing animals may be captured and relocated if the person has received authorization from the department and the owner of the property where the release will occur. A monthly report is required and must be submitted to the department on number and kind of fur-bearers captured, location of release site, name and address of person authorized to release. 44. Utah For Utah the rules are also quite specific about trapping and relocating nuisance animals, we recommend reading the legal information about trapping animals here: https://adminrules.utah.gov/public/rule/R58-14/Current%20Rules ? 45. Vermont In Vermont it is not legal to trap, transport or relocate wildlife. As with many other states, they require the use of a licensed WCO or NWCO's (Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators) to help you mitigate nuisance/pest animals. Unfortunately, most of these will be euthanized - In cases like these we always figured it would be more humane to trap and release but this is not allowed in many locations now, for fear of spreading disease, causing distress for the animals etc. Vermont's legal information related to trapping can be found here: https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/furbearers-and-trapping/furbearer-hunting-and-trapping/revised-regulated-trapping-rule-overview 46. Virginia In Virginia, it's also illegal to trap and relocate nuisance animals. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has however put together a very detailed website with information about all the alternative steps you can take to prevent the nuisance animals from visiting, or returning to your property to cause additional damage to it. Here is the link for your viewing pleasure! 47. Washington Nuisance wildlife rules allow you to remove wildlife (remove=euthanize in this case) animals which are causing damage to your property. However, it is unlawful to capture a wild animal and relocate it to a different property. Further, as with any animal be it snake, bird, plant etc., you should be aware of exactly what species you are dealing with so that you can understand the correct legal rules related to it. Washington details on tree squirrels, specifically, can be found here. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/tree-squirrels#additional-info 48. West Virginia Wildlife causing economic harm, safety threats, odors, waste, or property issues. Management requires a Wildlife Damage Control Agent license; onsite release is mandated unless approved 49. Wisconsin DNR intervenes when an animal or its structure causes damage or nuisance; removal—including trap/kill/relocate—is allowed under permit, often within 48 hours of complaint  youtube.com + 2digitalcommons.usu.edu + 2animallaw.info +2 50. Wyoming Any wildlife posing threats to health, safety, property, or the environment is considered nuisance wildlife—authorizing capture, humane removal/relocation, or enforcement Our Recommended live-animal traps for removing pests or "Nuisance Animals" from your property Very Small Traps for mice, voles or moles Havahart x-small HOMESTEAD no kill mouse trap Small traps for Chipmunks, rats, or flying squirrels (we would not use this size for adult tree squirrels) Havahart Small 1-door Trap 2-pack of Wanqueen Chpipmunk or rat traps Medium Traps for Tree squirrels, Skunks, Rabbits Little Giant Double Door live trap HOMESTEAD Professional Style One-door trap Large Traps for Raccoons, Fox, Opossums, Woodchucks, Bobcats, Beavers or Feral Cats Havahart Large 1-door trap Havahart Large 2-door Trap X-Large Traps for Coyotes VASALAID Live Animal Trap (Dogs, Coyotes, Foxes, Large Raccoons) We also Recommend the following accessories to assist you with your live-animal trapping and relocating (where legal) Trap Covers Trap Covers come in a variety of sizes, they are designed to reduce the stress of the transportation to release sites, and also to prevent the animals from reaching out and clawing, scratching or biting the person handling the animals in the traps. Rubber Mats for Transport Protect your vehicle and prevent the cage from slipping and sliding around during transport to the drop-off location. This also prevents injury and stress in the animal as well. Protective Gloves The last thing you or anyone else needs while handling wild animals, is scratched or punctured skin. Rodents can carry a large number of viruses, fleas, mites, ticks, some have a potential risk of carrying rabies

Introducing the American Robin In this blog post we are excited to be Introducing the American Robin to our readers Personally, I feel these birds are extremely undervalued members of the bird community. They have a TON of personality, play games, chase each other often, and their fledglings are absolutely adorable! It is hard to drive down any residential street in the Southeastern United States without seeing at least a few of these bright, beautiful & beneficial birds, hopping around in lawns and gardens, pecking at worms or other snack-worthy insects. An American Robin chases away a European Starling What do American Robins typically eat? We find that American Robins (members of the Thrush Family of birds) generally prefer live insects and worms for much of the year, however, in the Fall and Winter months when insects are not (usually) very active, they will eat the Dried Mealworms we put out for the other songbirds. But when there is a lot of crowding going on, some of the Robins will then begin to eat Suet Cakes or even sometimes grab a few Suet Nuggets. (I'll add links to the end of this blog for those brands that we recommend based on our successful experiences). In addition to the insects and suet, American Robins can also be found eating wild berries including Blackberries, Raspberries, Dogwood Tree berries and more. Here is a short video of a flock of Robins in the woods I captured at nearby Allatoona Creek Park. What do American Robins sound like? In Spring, the rapid, cheery calls of the Robins can be heard from dawn until dusk. You can hear them calling out with loud Cheap Cheap Cheap Cheap sometimes when they are being defensive, or you can hear them sing "Cheerio Cheerio Cheerio Cheerio" which makes us wonder if these are not actually English Robins in disguise? Where do you see American Robins? The American Robins are typically found in large lawns, golf courses, meadows and pastures. We have also spotted them chasing down worms in the rain gutters along the roadways in the South, or along bicycle trails where puddles have formed and there is lots of standing water to drink or bathe in. Normally, you'd seldom find them at the feeders as there are so many insects, spiders and worms around. It seems that anyone with a Sprinkler running in their lawn will also find flocks of American Robins as they will gather to eat any earthworms that come to the surface while the sprinkler runs, and the water penetrates the soil's surface. They will hop along the edges of driveways, curbs and streets and pause, waiting for any motion from the worms before immediately jumping on top of their location and pulling them out of the soil like spaghetti noodles! It's pretty entertaining to watch! An adult male American Robin jump out of the bath to dry off How can you tell the male American Robin and the female American Robin apart? How can you tell a male from a female American Robin? The male bird in most species of birds is going to have brighter colors, or deeper color, or more contrasting colors. Female birds will typically look similar in coloration & pattern however this is not always the case. Robins however, are very similar and it can be tough to tell them apart at times but the male does still have darker feathers. Even the fledglings have more pronounced dark feathers on their heads and more bright, rich orange on their breast and undersides of their shoulders. In the image below, You can see pretty clearly the differences in the male and female American Robin coloration between the males and female. (If you are having trouble still, the female is the one in the Top-Center, and the males are on both sides of her.) A Winter flock of American Robins visit to eat dried mealworms Are American Robins very territorial? Yes, American Robins can be quite territorial when it comes to (certain) other birds, and even other American Robins. In the Winter months they seem to flock together well and for the most part, and play quite nicely. However, in Spring when they are breeding, or if a nest is nearby, a pair of Robins will often chase off any birds that compete for the same food. There are some exceptions of course, as they don't seem to bully any birds that are larger than themselves. We have seen them chase (temporarily) Eastern Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, Carolina Wrens and a few species of Warbler (Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tennessee Warblers). However, Eastern Blue Jays, Brown Thrashers, Common Grackles have no issue standing firm and don't seem to be intimidated much, if at all. An American Robin eats nearby an Eastern Bluebird Do American Robins East Berries? Take a look at the short video below, which shows a flock of Wintering American Robins feasting on berries that are growing in a forested area a Allatoona Creek Park . Where do American Robins typically Nest American Robins most frequently nest in small or mid-size trees, with nests 5 feed above the ground or higher. We've seen them 30 feet or higher as well! Sometimes they will be found in mature Crepe Myrtles or Dogwood Trees which can be found all across the Southeast! What is a Robin's nest made of? The American Robins seem to prefer using Pine Straw for the bulk of their construction materials. There may be a few tiny twigs mixed in for support. When do you typically see the first American Robin Fledglings? We find that American Robins have already built their nests at the end of March or early April, and after another 6-7 weeks the babies are ready to leave the nest and follow the parents around for food and water needs. Just last week we were lucky enough to spot the first fledglings, visiting our water bowls and "shadowing" their parents when digging through our flower beds and lawn. Here is a photo and a video of "little Richard", as we like to call him. A fledgling American Robin visits our feeders for the first time What does a fledgling American Robin look like? With the image above, as well as the short video clip below, you can see a very recently fledged American Robin, visiting a plate of mealworms and then grabbing a sip of water from one of our tiny bird "pools". He's still figuring it out, as he is both cautious and inquisitive! Thanks for reading our Birds of West Cobb blog! We hope you enjoyed this topic an you value these wonderfully beneficial garden guardians as much as we do! Below we have shared a few links to the products mentioned above or pictured in the images that we captured. What are some helpful products that will help me feed American Robins? Dried Mealworms (5lb bag) Suet Nuggets from C&S 10" Terracotta plates for bird feeding or bird baths Suet Cakes for insectivores You can also find us on TikTok , I nstagram , and Youtube ! Thanks for reading and for your support! -Lisa & Dan ( BOWC )

You asked: What is that black bird on my bird feeder? This page is intended to help our fellow “backyard birders” identify those black birds on, under or nearby their bird feeders. Here in the Southeastern United area, we have a number of birds that appear black at some angles or in certain lighting. It’s pretty interesting that most of them look very different in direct sunlight than they do on a very overcast day. I’ve compiled a list of those that we have seen at our feeders in the past several years. We are hopeful that these images help you identify your mystery bird(s) and help further your knowledge of the birds in your backyard. What is that black bird on my bird feeder? One of the most common black birds you'll find on your feeder is the aptly named "Common Grackle" The Common Grackle is one of the most common black birds to visit bird feeders in the Southeastern United States (as well as the Northeast and Midwest.) It is a species which is native to the United States and parts of Canada. You will typically see Common Grackles more frequently in the Fall and Winter months, often arriving with huge flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings and even Brown-headed Cowbirds. A Common Grackle poses for his photo on a makeshift bird feeder. What do Common Grackles prefer to eat? We've attracted Common Grackles (including the one photographed above, which we named "Gru") by offering a mixture of various seeds and protein options. We have provided C&S suet nuggets, but they seem to really enjoy peanuts and black-oil sunflower seeds that are included in the Special Feeder Mix from Cole's wild bird foods. A Common Grackle pauses between bites of his breakfast. The Common Grackle may appear black in certain lighting, but on cloudy days or in early morning light, many more colors will appear and it may surprise you how many shades of purple and blue that will appear. The Common Grackle is relatively the same size as an Eastern Blue Jay. When they are young, they appear brownish-grey and as they mature the contrast gets more intense. The adults not only have very dark feathers but the adults have bright yellow eyes with very contrasting black pupils. Grackles make some interesting sounds too, and we were lucky enough to capture a video of that here (below). Another really common black bird that you might find at your feeders or in your yard is the American Crow The American Crow prefers open-faced plates or platform feeders. We like to put suet nuggets and dried mealworms out for other bird species but luckily we only have a couple of Common Crows, as they are large and scare off a lot of the smaller birds just by being around. They are gentle though and are not aggressive to the smaller birds. Common Crows will however pillage an open nest for eggs or hatchlings in the Spring. Another great thing they will do for the bird feeding folks out there: Common Crows will gang up on birds of prey such as Hawks and Owls and chase them out of the area. They are also very vocal when predators are nearby like feral cats! An American Crow perched on our deck railing for a snack A fledgling American Crow already feeding itself at our dried mealworm plate. Crows can be seen as a nuisance in some circles, but we find them to be very timid, intelligent and playful. Around 4-5 years ago, we started seeing a pair of crows early in the morning and later in the afternoon. They would arrive cautiously, and one would keep watch high up in a nearby tree as the other flew down and quickly gobbled up some C&S Suet Nuggets . After a bit they would swap positions and the other would come down for a bite. Around 2 years ago they had one baby and now the 3 of them come visit us nearly every day. They are actually very quiet unless there is a predator nearby. Crows also make some hilarious sounds and there are countless videos out there on YouTube about Crows and their ability to use tools to access food, remove threats and more! Here is a quick video of an American Crow we captured in our yard, eating dried mealworms: An American Crow fledgling visits Birds of West Cobb for a fresh mealworm snack! Another native species and very common black bird you might find at your bird feeder is the Brown-headed Cowbird (Male pictured on right, female on left) The adult male Brown-headed Cowbirds appear black at a distance, and even up-close they appear largely black except for their namesake brown head! The male is quite a bit darker, the female is more of a brownish color throughout and, to us resembles a large female house finch except the color is smoother and there are much more subtle streaks on the breast. A male and female Brown-headed Cowbird perch together. In our experience the Brown-headed cowbird is a very quiet bird, which often moves in flocks of other mixed species like Common Grackles and European Starlings. The Cowbirds will typically arrive in late Fall or early Winter, and stay until early Spring. Brown-headed Cowbirds are native birds that get a pretty bad bit of publicity because they lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, forcing these unwilling hosts to raise these offspring as their own. These birds are known as Here is a video of a young female Brown-headed cowbird which may aid in your ability to identify this species. Our Least Favorite but most common black birds you might see at your bird feeder is the European Starling European Starlings are very common black birds for us to see in our yard and can often be seen as pests, especially around your bird feeders. They are noisy when arriving in groups, and they will hiss and snap at other birds. Additionally, the European Starling will not only nest in bluebird nest boxes but will seek out any sort of cavity, whether it's in a tree or a vent pipe for a house, or an empty porch column cavity. But, they will also find other birds nesting in these places and drive them out, even evicting them forcibly and destroying eggs or viciously attacking the parents. An adult male European Starling perches momentarily for a photo. Two Juvenile European Starlings wait for food from their parents, as a Grey Catbird looks on from behind them. Starlings have very impressive coloration and patterns on their feathers. People have raised them as pets (which is illegal for native bird species). They can mimic other bird calls and even automotive alarm sounds and more. This is possibly how they have continued to breed at a staggering rate and now exist in much of North America. European Starlings were literally brought over from (you might have guessed it) Europe, back in the 1890’s. It was a science experiment that went a bit sideways. Initially there were only 100 birds and it was expected that these wouldn't probably make it. Before long these birds formed massive flocks and were notorious for eating entire crops of grains. To this day, they are considered pests by many although you have to admit that they have very unique colors in the right lighting, and once you have seen up close it is hard to mistake them for other birds. They are noisy, and sometimes flocks will cover your feeders and often you will find them on the ground beneath your bird feeders in groups, walking erratically and moving a bit like chickens. If you feed Bluebirds and other birds as we do with dishes of dried mealworms, you may need to put these dishes away for a few days to get rid of these birds. Another common black bird species you'll find on your feeders is the Red-Winged Blackbird RWB's or Red-winged Blackbirds are beautiful black birds that can be commonly found on your bird feeders, or in flocks in your yard or on your lawn. The Male of the species is a very crisp, dark black with red, orange, or possibly yellow shoulders. These colors turn to a much more clearly defined red as the birds mature. The juveniles and the females look very different, with no black at all on their feathers in their bodies. See below for some examples! An adult male Red-winged Blackbird perches on a leafy branch. A group of Red-winged Blackbirds gather to eat black-oil sunflower seeds and peanuts in the Winter. Red-winged Blackbirds are considered songbirds and often arrive in flocks from 20 birds to well over 300. They move around in tight formations on the ground and can also cover the tops of multiple trees simultaneously. One chipmunk or Squirrel quickly moving across the yard can startle them and cause an incredible burst of flight (and sound of all the wings beating) as they vacate the area. The female looks very dull in comparison to the male red-winged blackbird. The male is mostly black and when they spread their wings you can see Red, Orange and or orange-yellow on the wings. It is truly a sight to behold when they all take off at the same time (not to mention the sound of it!) A pair of juvenile Red-Winged Blackbirds enjoy some Safflower Seeds in Marietta, Georgia Another black bird species that you'll see regularly at or near your bird feeder is the The Rufous-Sided Towhee, more often referred to as the “Eastern Towhee” The Eastern Towhee is a very common black bird to see on or near your bird feeders. They will occasionally land on a tube feeder or a platform-style feeder, but for the majority of the time they will be seen on the ground at the base of your feeder support pole, or in low-lying brush, shrubbery or even a crepe myrtle or privet grouping. While not totally black, there is a large amount on the head and chest as well as wings and tail to include this beneficial songbird in our list! An adult male Eastern Towhee landed on a plate full of safflower seeds A female Rufus-sided Towhee stands in the sunlight on our deck railing. The Towhees are quite beneficial in gardens. They can be heard whistling what sounds like “Tow–Heee” or as we prefer to call them “Toby”. On or near the ground they will be seen flipping leaves and looking for a variety of insects, grasshoppers, earthworms and more. The male appears black with “rufous” or a rusty orange color beneath the wings, with a white stomach and a bit of white on the tail and wings which can be seen more easily while in flight. The female is More of a muddy-brown color instead of black, but similar in other ways. The adults have Red eyes with black pupils. It’s super cool to see them up close, with those piercing red eyes. They enjoy eating C&S Suet Nuggets , or dried mealworms sprinkled on the ground in Winter, and many live insects found naturally in your yard. We also have another blog post written completely about the Eastern Towhee, you can find it here . The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is another black colored bird that you can find on your feeders (seasonally) here in the Southeast United States . The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak has a large amount of black feathers, but the standout feature of this bird is the massive beak designed for cracking open large seeds. (Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak pictured on the right with female on the left.) A female (left) and male (right) Rose-breasted Grosbeak share a meal. An adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak shows off his crisp black, red and white colors. An adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak enjoys Suet Nuggets. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a larger songbird with a beak that resembles that of a finch or a cowbird. They are huge fans of safflower seeds or a mixture of safflower and hulled sunflower seeds. The female is the same size of course but looks completely different – she has lots of brown, splashes of white and streaks of brown on the belly in different shades. The juvenile male looks like a combination of the two birds, but clearly has more black and sometimes a touch of the rose-breast feathers can be seen also! Have you checked out the latest Birdfy Smart Bird Feeders? These things are really cool, and take high quality photos that can identify over 6,000 species worldwide and can send you text notifications about the new species that was detected / photographed at your feeders! How cool is this? Birdfy Smart Feeder on Amazon Top Bird Feed mentioned in this post: C&S Suet Nuggets (Peanut Butter Flavored) Dried Mealworms (10lb bag) Safflower Seed (10lb bag) Hulled Sunflower Seed (10lb bag) Cole's Special Feeder Mix (20lb bag) Thanks for reading our blog, we hope you found this information useful and we wish you happy birding! - Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan)

We recently had an exciting snow day at Bird of West Cobb which is located in Marietta, Georgia. It became quite the backyard birding party for our feathered friends! Recently we had a Snow Day at Birds of West Cobb and all of our favorite backyard birds came out to play (and eat!) in the snow! We were well-stocked with Dried Mealworms, a heated bird bath, and suet cakes as well as bird seed mixtures, basically all of the top bird food options for birds in the Southeast United States. An adorable male Pine Warbler clings to a solar light fixture while searching for food in the snow The forecast is always questionable, and many people joke that it must be nice to have a job where you are wrong 90% of the time... like the weather forecasters. However, January is statistically the coldest month of the year for Georgia residents and it's been a few years since we've had snow that stuck around for more than an hour or two. Here in Marietta, it felt like it was time so we stocked up and planned on not leaving the house for a few days with the iced roads and the countless bird visitors coming to the yard for sustenance. A Brown Thrasher (Georgia's State Bird) discovered our dried mealworms in the snow The weather really made for some entertaining bird watching when snow turned to ice and the birds slide to the food instead of gracefully perching We woke up early and by around 7AM EST the yard was already turning white. It kept coming down for a few more hours and we had between 4 and 5 inches of fresh powdery snow, before the temperature rose slightly and it actually rained softly for a bit. This made the top of the snow turn into a slick crusty layer that was difficult for us to walk on, but I have to admit it was slightly fun to watch the birds coming in for a landing and sliding for several inches before stopping fully. Northern Cardinals and House Finches crowd the tube feeders during the snowfall Why is it important to feed wild birds when it snows? Many Wild birds rely on insects or native seeds and berries for either the majority of their diet or their complete diet. In the southern states where snow is pretty rare, many species of birds have already traveled hundreds, or even thousands of miles to get to a warmer place for Winter months, where they can usually find plenty of nourishment. When temperatures plummet and food gets scarce, it's already difficult enough for the birds to find enough food to survive. But when you think of 3-5" of fluffy white frozen powder on top of the insects, leaves, seeds and berries it just becomes that much more difficult. There are parts of Georgia that are pretty barren and full of trees and streams. But much of metro Atlanta has been turned into suburbia and thousands of new subdivisions have been built with few trees. Coupled with manicured lawns and pesticides (or herbicides) being applied regularly, the backyard birding people like you and us DO make a difference. Bella the Eastern Bluebird enjoys fresh dried mealworms during a snowstorm How much does a bird have to eat to survive in colder weather? According to All About Birds , the smaller the bird, the higher the percentage of their body weight they must consume each day just to make it in this type of weather! It is estimated that tiny birds like Carolina Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Tufted Titmice, House Finches, Gold Finches and small Sparrows may have to consume as much as 35% of their body weight EACH DAY just to survive! How difficult that must be, when it's covered in snow or frozen in a layer of ice! Medium-sized birds like the American Robin, Eastern Blue Jays or Northern Cardinals may require around 20-25% of their weight in food each day. Cooper's Hawks and Crows are estimated between 12% (small hawks) and as little as 4% for the Crows. A handsome Carolina Wren emerges from a brush pile to snack on some fresh mealworms How much food should you put out for the birds when it's cold? I'm certain that Lisa refilled the feeders 4 times on our snow day, and the next few days as well, because we had so many visitors that rely on insects and flipping leaves over to find their next meal. When snow falls it becomes a lot more difficult to find food, as well as fresh water that isn't frozen solid. We saw everything from House Finches to Brown Thrashers, and even had a couple of pretty rare guests swing by for food or water; the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the Cedar Waxwing! Not only are they pretty uncommon here, they are beautiful birds with tons of character AND style! A female White-Throated Sparrow forages in the snow and frozen leaves What is the best bird food for wild birds in the Winter? Birds require energy to keep warm, just like you or me. The best foods to provide wild backyard birds with this energy are the ones which are high in fat and protein. Avoid processed foods! Stick with raw seeds or nuts, dried or live mealworms and especially suet! For our top picks, scroll to the end and we'll share our favorite performing picks for Winter Bird Feed! A female American Robin perches in the snow and ruffles her feathers to keep warm, after eating 1/3 of her body weight in dried mealworms! Which birds will visit my birdfeeder when it snows? Over the course of the snow day and the following few days, we had visits from MANY of our favorites! Which is yours? This is the list of all of the wild bird species we spotted in just a few of those cold (and bright, white) snowy days! Of course, your results will vary based on the food you select! Tufted Titmouse Carolina Chickadee House Finch Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Carolina Wren American Goldfinch Purple Finch Northern Cardinal Eastern Blue Jay Northern Mockingbird Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Blue Bird Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Cedar Waxwing American Robin European Starling Brown-headed Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Ruby-crowned Kinglet Brown Thrasher Cooper's Hawk Common Crow A Common Crow (Crowzie) new where to visit for snacks in this frigid weather! We may have missed a few but you can certainly see that the list is pretty long! To keep driving this point home, and also because our readers may find this particularly interesting, many of these birds would not have visited us if we only provided bird seed alone, and on the flipside if we had suet or mealworms only, we would have missed many of the seed-eating favorites. If you are new to bird feeding (or bird watching) a great way to diversify, or see more variations of the bird species in your area, is to offer more options to the wild birds when it comes to the food sources. Some species only eat insects/spiders. Some will only eat seeds. Some birds are only predacious and will only choose on rodents or (gasp!), other birds. If we think of any other bird species we missed last week we will update them above! An adult female Northern Cardinal snatches a crisp fresh safflower seed in her beak As always, thanks for reading! -BOWC ( birdsofwestcobb ) Here are the top Winter Bird Feeding Products which you may have spotted in the photos above, (along with the birds of course): TOP WINTER BIRD FEED PICK 1 : C&S Suet Cakes (don't forget the recycled composite feeder!) TOP WINTER BIRD FEED PICK 2 : Crunchy, delicious Dried mealworms . Look, you don't have to take our word for it but you'll likely more than DOUBLE the number of birds visiting your feeders for this delicious birdie snack! TOP WINTER BIRD FEED PICK 3 : Cole's Special Feeder Mix far better than just seeds alone, you'll definitely see an increase in your feathered visitors with this seed and nut blend! TOP WINTER BIRD FEED PICK 4: Safflower Seed - this favorite of ours is great for songbirds, and is NOT a favorite among the neighborhood squirrels. They'll still eat it if food is scarce, but they'd much rather dig up your lawn trying to find that last acorn. TOP WINTER BIRD FEED PICK 5: C&S SUET NUGGETS (Peanut Flavored) TOP WINTER BIRD FEED PICK 6: Hulled Sunflower Seed (also known as the Sunflower "meat" only, or "shelled seed"). A Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Enjoys C&S Suet Nuggets at Birds of West Cobb TOP HEATER FOR BIRD BATH: We've been using this small bird bath heater for the last 3 years and it works very well! TOP HEATED BIRD BATH: If we decide to get a new upgraded model we'll likely go with this 14" terracotta bird bath with integrated heater element.

In this blog, Introducing the Carolina Wren , we will share photographs and information about one of our favorite backyard birds: the Carolina Wren. These tiny brown birds are entertaining for sure, but sometimes you cannot help but laugh out loud with some of their silly poses and quirky behaviors! An adult Carolina Wren perched in the morning sunlight What makes Carolina Wrens so entertaining to watch? Carolina Wrens are some of our favorite birds here at Birds of West Cobb ! The tiny Carolina Wren seems like a little feathered ball of energy, quietly flitting in to a shrub or other dense foliage. Then, switching to "hop" mode and bouncing all over the place with it's little tail generally pointing upward. What does the Carolina Wren bird call sound like? Carolina Wrens sing a series of fun, cheery songs in the morning during Spring and Summer. All of them are SURPRISINGLY LOUD but we welcome them anyway. Their typical happy song sounds a lot like they are singing "CHEERIO, CHEERIO, CHEERIO, CHEERIO". They will usually be perched in a stationary position like a porch railing or a low-limb in a small tree like a Dogwood or Crepe Myrtle. They find a good spot in the sunshine and let this call out, sometimes for 10-minutes or more! On the flip-side, if you hear the alarm call of the Carolina Wren, it could be because either you are too close to their feeders or their nest, or another predator is nearby. Perhaps a Cooper's Hawk, a domestic cat, or even a snake that you haven't even noticed yet. Birds have fantastic eye sight and listening to them can even inform you about your surroundings! This alarm call sounds more like someone "rolling their R's". This will be a short, shrill call repeating many times until they feel the threat has passed! We like to think of it as natures “backyard warning system”. What do Carolina Wrens eat? Carolina wrens are extremely beneficial in the garden (one more reason to use as little pesticides as possible, if you needed another one) as they consume a TON of small garden-variety insects, spiders, caterpillars, and butterflies & moths, and we've even seen them perch in a location which allowed them to eat small ants on certain occasions. Additionally, they will also eat earthworms or larvae of insects if given the chance, for example if a sprinkler is running and earthworms all come to the surface, you may spot a Carolina Wren flying in for a quick bite to eat. What type of bird food will attract Carolina Wrens to my feeder? Carolina Wrens have a high-protein and high-fat diet, which they rely on to sustain their energy levels and all of their entertaining behaviors. So when they are not eating insects, spiders, caterpillars or worms, they'll be visiting well-stocked bird feeders that have Suet Cakes, Suet Nuggets, or mealworms. We'll add a few links at the bottom of the blog to help you order some of our favorite options for these. An adult Carolina Wren inspects my Nikon Camera while I interrupt his mealworm breakfast. Carolina Wrens built a nest in a glass vase on our porch When we first started feeding the local wildlife at our home, we had a small chair and table set on our covered front porch. On the top of the table, we had a small glass vase with some fake flowers in it. This vase and fake flowers had been here for several years and had never moved, aside from us washing the pollen off each spring. Often, we enter and exit our house through the garage so we didn't even notice when something had changed. So it was likely being ‘updated’ by our new tenant for a couple of days, maybe even a week before we noticed the modifications made by the Carolina Wren couple. An adult Carolina Wren sits on a plate of dried mealworms on a chilly Winter morning Mid-Spring that year we noticed that the glass vase suddenly had some pine straw sticking out of the top. Upon further inspection, we realized that birds had built a nest down inside this vase, between the fake flower stems! We were so lucky to have this table sitting directly in front of one of our windows so we could peer out between the blinds, from our living room and watch Wren E. Wren and Mrs. Wren E. Wren incubate and protect the eggs, and then later fly in and out constantly feeding the children over the next few weeks. One evening while the birds were away briefly, I counted 5 eggs in the nest. They were so small that it was incredible to think they would be bouncy, animated little birds in barely a month. This time they ended up with 3 happy healthy young Wrens. Close-up photo of a Carolina Wren which visits daily for his nutritional requirements (eating dried mealworms). When our Carolina Wrens first left the nest They grow up so fast! I was washing our cars in the driveway a few weeks later and looked around the corner toward the porch and noticed one small juvenile wren was on the deck floor, under the table! I was afraid that something happened to the nest at first and I wanted to help somehow. I heard the parents making their alarm call at this point and realized they were alarmed by me, being so close to their young. I took a step back and the fledgling flapped a few times and was mid-air in the blink of an eye. This little wren flew right past my face and landed on the roof rack on my car. A few minutes later the other two fledglings popped out of the top of the vase and followed suit. A Carolina Wren looks like an Angry Bird character while choosing the best dried mealworm from the plate. Where do Carolina Wrens typically build nests? Some birds are tree or branch nesters, and others are cavity nesters. Some birds even prefer ledges or platforms. However, Carolina Wrens fall into the cavity nesters category. While they will sometimes nest in a birdhouse, they seem to enjoy small spaces and more, let's call it "unique construction". We have seen them nest in a vase, a barbecue, the base of a patio heater, and even an old work boot that was left on our neighbor's porch for too ling. Naturally, they will nest sometimes in low-lying shrubbery, or brush piles. We have enough property that we keep a brush pile out there for them to nest in or forage in, and it has worked well over the years to keep the Carolina Wrens around. Carolina Wrens sound the alarm call In the video clip below, Wrenny Wren starts off with one of those shrill, alarm calls, but then switches to his happy "Cheerio cheerio cheerio call". Enjoy! A Carolina Wren with suet crumbs on top of his beak perches before flying down to the deck to look for bugs. In this video, we found that Wrens absolutely ADORE small terracotta plates for small plants, as long as a little bit of water has been added. Take a look as he takes a very long enjoyable bath, after digging around and flipping leaves all morning! What birds are similar to the Carolina Wren? This photo (below) shows a “Winter Wren”, which is a different species entirely from the Carolina Wren. The Winter Wren often can be seen during migration, or over the Winter-to-Early Spring period where they will generally be found in the Southern states. They are shaped and sized very closely to the Carolina Wren, however they are a different species and almost appear as if they were dirty or have mottled feathers like a fledgling Carolina Wren might have. A Winter Wren sings while perched on a branch How Many Wren Species are their in the North America? There are NINE species of Wren in North America. While they have similarities between them, they are all unique in their size, coloration, calls and esapecially their diet! While 9 species may seem like a lot, there are actually 88 species of Wrens worldwide! ( link to referencing material on wikipedia ). Carolina Wren's can be attracted to your feeder with the following Bird Feed Options C&S Suet Cakes and a Kingsyard Composite (recycled plastic) suet feeder C&S Suet Nuggets : these can be used in a plate or a platform feeder like this one Dried Mealworms : Note: we tested these and they came out way ahead of "black soldier fly larvae" which apparently have a different taste that our local birds do not enjoy. A Carolina Wren finds some dried mealworms we sprinkled in the fresh snowfall in Marietta, GA Jan 2025 Carolina Wren Bird House Here is a great option for a Carolina Wren Bird House Nest Box We selected this model because it has the Audubon stamp of approval and it has adequate ventilation. Many of the birdhouse options out there do not have enough airflow and this is very important for the safety of the parents and the young when they nest! Need more help identifying a Carolina Wren in your yard or at your feeder? These options are sure to help you identify that energetic bouncy brown ball of feathers in your yard (or on your feeder!) Peterson's Field Guide to Birds Smithsonian's Handbook: Birds of North America -- Eastern Region Thanks for reading our blog and watching our videos! -BOWC (Lisa & Dan)

In this blog, we answer the question "What is Georgia's State Bird?" You may have guessed that it was the mosquito, but it’s actually the Brown Thrasher. So, what is Georgia's state bird? Traveling through Georgia, or even living here as a resident and you may wonder "What is Georgia's State Bird?" The Georgia State Bird is the Brown Thrasher. It was selected to be the state bird by the Governor of Georgia in 1935 ( Eugene Talmadge ), however, it wasn’t officially recognized as such until 1970 after being pushed by the Garden Clubs of Georgia! You can read more about it here in this article by AJC . A Brown Thrasher (Georgia's State Bird) perched in a tree above it's nest. Do we have many Brown Thrashers in Marietta, Georgia? Since we started feeding backyard birds years ago, we have almost always had a Brown Thrasher or a pair of them, visiting our feeders. The first year it was just one Thrasher, but we got to know him a little bit and then we named him “Thor” because he absolutely dominates the feeding area when he is present. Thor is not scared off by Robins, Towhees, Blue Jays or Grackles. I'm pretty sure with his attitude, he'll probably even take a stand against a small hawk. Where do you usually see Brown Thrashers? Brown Thrashers are usually spotted near dense shrubbery, low tree limbs, or under the protective cover of small trees like Dogwoods or Japanese Maples. Often, you will hear a Brown Thrasher rustling around in the leaves well before you spot them. In our case, our resident Thor will glide in effortlessly (and quickly) and perch on or near the ground. After a quick safety check (hawks, cats, people) Thor the Brown Thrasher will start the search for insects or mealworms we tossed out for he and other birds. He will sometimes grab the leaves with two feet and flip then out of his way, other times he will use his bill to toss them. Either way, it’s pretty entertaining to watch Thor looking for food. Towhees, Bluebirds, and even Carolina Wrens better look out because Thor isn't afraid to chase them away from his food source! An adult Brown Thrasher perches while selecting the perfect mealworm snack. Can you attract Brown Thrashers with a bird feeder? So, can you attract Brown Thrashers to your yard with a bird feeder? Absolutely. You have to keep in mind that Thrashers are primarily after high-protein diets like insects, spiders, caterpillars, and earthworms, similar to warblers, thrushes and even woodpeckers. So how do you attract Brown Thrashers to your feeder? Match their natural diet as closely as possible. We PREFER using dried mealworms, but they will also come visit your feeders in search of Suet when insects are scarce, and they will also visit your bird bath as well! Like most Southerners, we've had Brown Thrashers in the yard long before we started to feed the birds, although feeding them brought them closer than we had been to them before. If you are ever outside and near some thick, dense shrubbery and you hear something flipping leaves, and you catch a glimpse of a brownish bird about the size of a Blue Jay or a Common Grackle, it’s probably a Brown Thrasher. A Juvenile Brown Thrasher easily blends with his surroundings What Color eyes do Brown Thrashers have? Here is an interesting note about the eyes of a Brown Thrasher. I read in several blogs and social media posts that some people believe that when Brown Thrashers are very young, juveniles or fledglings, their eyes appear grey or blue/grey. As the story goes, when they mature their eyes begin to turn brighter and brighter yellow. It was interesting that for most of the articles I read this was all based on theories, but I couldn't find anything at the time with proof. Well, here at Birds of West Cobb @birdsofwestcobb we have seen it to be true. We've now witnessed this natural "phenomenon" if you will, over a dozen times. The image below shows a very early fledgling, which just started visiting with his parents. Take a look at the light gray eyes! A juvenile Brown Thrasher perches momentarily, before disappearing into the Salvia flowers below the deck. Is it true that Brown Thrashers have a larger vocabulary than Mockingbirds? Brown Thrashers have an INCREDIBLE vocabulary. Years ago, I experienced a Northern Mockingbird that seemed to have an endless list of calls and sounds. While impressive, I have now seen several Thrashers do the same and with at least 4-5x as many calls and sounds as the mockingbird. Brown Thrashers can mimic or call with over 1,000 sounds, and research shows that this could actually be a lot higher still, (as much as 3,000 different calls!) That is insane to think of, and it may be more vocabulary than some people I know… ha! There is an article on the Georgia Department of Natural Resources website that talks more about it, and gives a lot more information about the Brown Thrashers in general. This adult Brown Thrasher was photographed while hunting for breakfast on a chilly Winter morning in Marietta, GA. Can you share a video of a Brown Thrasher? Check out this recent video clip below of a Brown Thrasher taking a bath on a warm day! We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping a clean fresh bird bath for ALL of your birds. We actually have 3 different sized plates or terracotta plant dishes that work incredibly well as bird baths. Thanks for reading our blog here at Birds of West Cobb! -Lisa & Dan Attracting Brown Thrashers - Top Product Links: When it comes to attracting Brown Thrashers to your feeder and your yard, the products below will work wonders. They may not work overnight, but with consistency you'll be very impressed how well these options work! Composite Platform Feeder Crispy Dried Mealworms High-Energy Suet Cakes and a Hanging Suet Cake Feeder to hold it C&S Suet Nuggets (another favorite of Thrashers in our yard!)

We picked 5 of the Best Tube Feeders to help you in your search for products that are durable, easy to clean, and stand up to the elements for years of future bird-watching bliss. Keep reading for links to these products (below) Droll Yankees New Generation Droll Yankees Classic Feeder Perky-Pet 325SCOMBO Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper (This one is fun!) Audubon Kay Home Products Die-Cast Aluminum Finch Tube Feeder A tufted titmouse perches on a droll yankees tube feeder. Tube-type bird feeders provide lots of perch space for your feathered friends, holding up to the elements. A few of the feeders listed below even have extra benefits! A Mourning Dove perches on a Perky-Pet tube feeder with a large base and 360-degree perch! Introduction: "Tube Feeders" are a staple in every serious (and amateur) backyard birder's feeding toolkit. There are several benefits to using a tube feeder, let's look at some of the most common reasons first, and then take a look at the 5 feeders we picked: Visibility: You can see from a distance when the food level is low and needs refilling. You will also be able to see more birds perched and eating in a smaller footprint, thanks to multiple perches on each side of the feeders. Versatility in attracting various bird species: We have seen Northern Cardinals, House, Carolina & Gold Finches, Mourning Doves and more on our tube feeders, all at the same time!! The birdseed placed in a tube feeder generally stays dry (or mostly dry) when compared to several other feeder designs. This helps the feeder stay clean for longer periods of time and provides more fresh food for your backyard birds! Ease of maintenance and cleaning: This is a deeper topic we'll explore a bit further in a bit. NOT all tube feeders are created equally! An adult male American Goldfinch perches on a tube feeder for a meal. Related to the last bullet point, and also the topic of durability: Many cheap, low quality feeders from online shops and even some local stores simply will not last. They use cheaper acrylic / plastic which will fade and yellow after only a year or two, and you won't be able to see the feed levels or tell if the feeder is clean or not. Additionally, some feeders are made by companies that didn't exist 3 months ago, and likely will not exist in another 3 months. This means that if you have a part that breaks or a screw that went missing, you'll likely not be able to get it from the customer support team (because they don't exist!). With that being said, we stuck with the top 5 BEST TUBE FEEDERS on the market that are also from top-tier companies that have been around for YEARS! Top 5 Tube Feeders for Backyard Birding 1. Droll Yankees New Generation Tube Feeder Droll Yankees has been producing very high-quality bird feeders for many years. In fact, they've been doing so since 1969, and they produced the FIRST commercially sold Tube Feeders. It's no wonder that this is our Number One pick on our list! This is an ideal feeder for an amateur, or an absolute bird fanatic (if there is one in your family it would make a great gift as well). This feeder features the following: 1 pound of seed capacity 4 perches / seed ports UV "Stabilized" polycarbonate tube ( prevents fading and yellowing! ) It comes with a metal hanger and a metal cap Made in Connecticut! For the model described above - it is priced currently at 39.99 on Amazon! (Please note that this is subject to change!) Droll Yankees New Generation tube feeder 2. Droll Yankees Classic Tube Feeder This feeder is a BIG step-up in size and capacity from the prior feeder in our list. The 30" long tube feeder variation ( currently 25% off on Amazon ) has the following features: 4 Pound Capacity means you'll need to refill less often! 12 metal perches / feed ports means you'll have seating for way more birds! Another top quality feeder made in Connecticut! The current cost for this feeder is listed at $89.99 (25% off!) which is a great value when looking at the product durability, capacity and a brand name/history to back this product up! Droll Yankees Classic 12-perch feeder 3. Perky-Pet 325SCOMBO: This feeder is one we've owned also. We love that their are two tiers of small reservoirs with a perch that goes all the way around the feeder. This allows larger birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Mourning Doves to be able to sit more easily and comfortably while they feast. Here are some additional features: The filler cap locks down to prevent squirrels from simply just prying it open and getting a nearly unlimited buffet! LARGE capacity: This tube feeder maxes out at 4.5 pounds! Metal Parts are powder coated for durability (The same finish that is used heavily in automotive and commercial machinery applications) Bronze finish (while plastic) looks great and holds up well! The Perky Pet 325S Combo provides 2 tiers of 360-degree perching 4. Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper (Definitely one of the best tube feeders in our book) Guys & Gals, this is a truly iconic feeder. While some might consider it pricey, it has a very unique (Not to mention FUN) bonus feature. Below the feeder perches is a battery and an electric motor. When a large amount of weight pushes down on the perches, the motor engages and the perches at the bottom of the feeder begin to spin. Squirrels don't stand a chance. Incorporate an affiliate link to this feeder. Some additional features for you below, but first, a classic video clip showing this feeder in action! We are talking about HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT! Video credit goes to the Droll Yankees team for this gem. Extra-Large Capacity: 5lbs seed capacity! Powder coated metal components 100% Squirrel Proof! Battery lasts for YEARS. A fully charged battery lasts for weeks in most cases. Made in Connecticut! Currently on sale, (11% off!) and priced at $153.78 on Amazon The Yankee Flipper from Droll Yankees is exteremely entertaining and can save you money on wasted seed! 5. Audubon Kay Home Products Die-Cast Aluminum Finch Tube Feeder: This feeder is on the opposite end of the price spectrum from the Yankee Flipper. However, it still has some entertainment value! House Finches, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins natively enjoy eating Thistle in the Fall/Winter months in large meadows and pastures. A lot of property owners these days mow the thistle plants down though and so there is less food available to the finches and siskins. You can change that, with this Audubon Licensed product! This feeder holds up to 1 pound of Nyjer Thistle seed or finch food seed mix. There are 6 feed ports / perches, specially designed for Finches and siskins Bright yellow color is the standard for Finch feeders There is an EZ Clean button, which opens the base and makes cleaning out the feeder a snap! The Audubon Kay Finch Feeder is perfect for dishing out thistle to your small finch friends! Tips for Choosing the Right Tube Feeder We recommend you decide which birds you like to target. Most of the feeders we have listed can be used with a wide variety of foods, from Sunflower to Safflower, to Dried Mealworms and lastly, Thistle (which is a tiny seed in comparison to Sunflower). We prefer feeding multiple species and are sure to include a feeder more specific to the finches and siskins, and have a separate feeder for Blue Jays, Cardinals, Doves and other larger birds. For more info about our favorite feed, you can view our blog post here. Conclusion Tube feeders provide a Fast-Fill method for bird feeding that keeps your feathered passerine friends well-fed, and provide multiple perches so even if the feeder turns, or twists in the wind, you'll likely have a good vantage point to see your favorite birds in action chowing down! Do you have a favorite Tube feeder? Drop a comment below and let us know why you love that particular model!

Introducing the Brown Thrasher: The Melodic Mimic of the Southeast The Brown Thrasher, known for its rich, melodious song and striking brown appearance, is a captivating bird found throughout the Southeastern United States. This sometimes elusive, yet enchanting bird offers birdwatchers and backyard enthusiasts a delightful experience. Brown Thrasher Identification and Appearance: Brown Thrashers are medium-sized birds with a distinctive reddish-brown upper body, head and tail with streaked breast. They have a very slightly curved bill and mature adults have piercing yellow eyes with black pupils that give them a somewhat fierce expression. Their long tails and strong legs are perfect for ground foraging, where they spend much of their time searching for insects and other small prey. They can often be heard in the brush flipping leaves around with their long beaks and legs. Where do Brown Thrashers Live? (Brown Thrasher Habitat) Preferring dense shrubs and thickets, Brown Thrashers are often found in gardens, woodlands, and hedges. They seem to prefer the thicker brush for foraging as well as nesting, although they make their way out of the brush from time to time, to grab a snack, or to fly to a low limb where they will sometimes sing for hours. Are Brown Thrashers good at mimicking other sounds? Thrashers are highly-skilled mimics, capable of imitating the calls of other bird species, making their songs a complex and varied composition. Not only are they excellent at mimicking other birds and sounds, but they have the largest vocabulary of any songbird in the United States! These birds are generally solitary and can be quite secretive, often heard more than seen. However, we often see 2 of them feeding in close proximity of each other, and sometimes one will even chase the other away! Brown Thrasher Feeding Habits: Brown Thrashers have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, and nuts. To attract these birds to your backyard, consider setting up a bird feeder with a mix of seeds and suet, and plant native berry-producing shrubs. Providing a water source, like a bird bath, can also help entice them. Additionally, our resident Brown Thrashers seem to really enjoy Dried Mealworms as well as Peanut Suet Nuggets. ( We've added some helpful links below for you, for these products ). When do Brown Thrashers typically Breed and Nest? During the breeding season, which typically spans from April to July, Brown Thrashers build their nests in dense shrubs or low trees. They lay 3-5 eggs, which both parents take turns incubating. The young fledge after about two weeks, and the parents may raise two broods per season. Conservation Status: Brown Thrashers are currently not considered threatened, but their populations can be affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. Planting native shrubs and maintaining a bird-friendly backyard can help support these beautiful birds. Bird Watching Tips To maximize your chances of spotting Brown Thrashers, listen for their varied songs early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Keep an eye on dense shrubbery and ground-level foliage, where they are most likely to be foraging. Enhance Your Birding Experience Bird Feeder:   Composite Suet Feeder C&S Suet Cakes (we recommend these for Woodpeckers, Thrashers and more!) C&S Suet Nuggets (I've seen our resident Brown Thrashers feasting on these many times) Hatortempt Dried Mealworms ( Best value in the 10lb bag !) Field Guide:   National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America Brown Thrasher information / fact References Audubon Guide to North American Birds All About Birds - Brown Thrasher Bird Watching Academy - Brown Thrasher This blog post related to Brown Thrashers not only provides valuable information for bird enthusiasts but also includes affiliate links to products that enhance birding experiences. This approach ensures the blog is educational, engaging, and monetized effectively. Thanks for visiting!

In this blog, we'll take a closer look at the Top 10 Myths about Hummingbirds. Some of these are simply false and would mean no harm to our tiny feathered friends. However, some could pose a threat to the health and safety of these amazing creatures. We hope you find it educational and informative! Myth one:  Hummingbirds migrate on the backs of larger birds. Let's face it, Hummingbirds are very tiny creatures. They have a maximum flight speed of around 25 miles per hour. Couple these facts with the idea that they have to travel hundreds, and sometimes THOUSANDS of miles and it's no wonder someone came up with this MYTH . It is false, however. To answer your question, "Do Hummingbirds migrate on the backs of larger birds?" The answer is a very clear "No.". Hummingbirds drink flower nectar eat tiny insects throughout Spring and Summer, and gain as much as 30% of their body weight in preparation for their multiple day journey South in Fall, and North-bound again in Springtime. (Bonus fact: They also migrate alone, not in flocks!) Myth two: Hummingbirds Will Die if They Stop Flying . Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds do NOT die if they stop flying. They often perch to rest, and at night, they enter a state called torpor to conserve energy, typically this occurs when it's colder outside, see Myth 8 below for more details on this! (Reference: Audubon Society ) Myth three: Red Dye in Nectar Attracts More Hummingbirds. Red dye is actually completely unnecessary and studies have been shown it to be harmful to hummingbirds. They are attracted to the color of the feeder itself, not the nectar. Stick to a simple sugar-water mixture (1 part sugar to 4 parts water (link to prior blog post) (Reference: Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center ) Myth Four: Feeding Hummingbirds in Fall Prevents Them from Migrating. Providing man-made nectar or natural flower-based nutrition for these Hummers in Fall will NOT stop hummingbirds from migrating. Migration is triggered by changes in daylight, not food availability, so keep your feeders out as long as hummingbirds visit and we even recommend leaving them out several weeks after you think they have moved on, just in case there are any stragglers or birds that were re-routed due to major storms, or released by a rehabber! (Reference: Audubon Society ) Myth five: Hummingbirds Only Feed on Nectar. While hummingbirds do certainly love their nectar, they also eat small insects like gnats, fruit flies, tiny aphids and even small spiders, which provide protein and other essential nutrients. (Reference: National Geographic ) Myth six: Hummingbirds Are Aggressive and Fight Constantly. Hummingbirds are definitely territorial, but they aren’t inherently aggressive. What does this mean exactly? Their "fighting" is usually about defending food sources, which is crucial for their survival, and this is largely due to their high energy needs. Additionally, some species are very social and gather in huge groups around food sources (Western United States and Canada), while the Eastern Ruby-throated hummingbirds are far more territorial and do seem to give chase to one another constantly. (Reference: Audubon Society ) Myth seven: Hummingbirds Are Attracted to Scented Flowers or Sugar Water. This is a pretty big Myth, folks! Did you know that Hummingbirds have NO sense of smell . They rely on their eyesight, and navigate toward bright colors, like red, to locate flowers and hummingbird feeders! (Reference: Georgia Department of Natural Resources ) Myth eight: Hummingbirds Can’t Survive Cold Weather. While hummingbirds prefer warmer climates, some species, like the Anna’s Hummingbird, can actually survive cold temperatures by slowing down their metabolism during torpor (a deep restful state.) (Reference: Birds & Blooms ) Myth nine: Just before hummingbirds migrate, you should add some additional sugar to their nectar to give them a "boost". This one has potential to harm our hummingbird friends. Multiple publications and universities have studied the man-made nectar equivalent and found that it is the closest formula to the level of sugars naturally occurring in flowering plants. Hummingbirds have been around for millions of years, and they have been drinking nectar all along. Who are we to mess with their proven methodology of feeding? In fact, too much sugar can harm the hummingbird's kidneys, not to mention a ration of more than 1 part sugar to 4 parts water will also be much more likely to attract bees and wasps to your feeders! Myth ten: Hummingbirds Only Live for a Year or Two. Look, hummingbirds certainly do have rapid metabolisms, and while that might suggest that they have short lifespans, hummingbirds can live much longer than that. Some species, like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird which we have in Georgia as well as along the whole East Coast, have been recorded living over 9 years! (Reference: A stellar list by hummingbird species, brought to you by the American Bird Conservancy ) We hope this list has been educational and has helped you dispel some common myths that you may have spotted on social media or heard about from a friend or family member. Our goal is to educate our birding friends and to protect our sweet hummingbird buddies at the same time! If you enjoyed this post, we would appreciate a comment, a like, or if you took the time to share it with a friend! -Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan)

In this Blog Post, we are pleased to introduce you to one of our backyard favorites: the Tufted Titmouse! We’ve included photos and information about these energetic little birds for you! Everyone, we’d like you to meet Mickey. He’s our Tufted Titmouse friend from the Marietta, GA area. He wakes us up in the morning with a couple of high-pitch calls and tells us that we need to refill the Safflower seed and the C&S suet nugget s (aka Scoob balls). Mickey is not much for hanging around and conversing with the other birds, but when it’s hot enough outside he has been known to dive into a birdbath and play around like a puppy in a kiddie pool! We are lucky in Marietta to see these birds year-round. They are very quick and their aim (for grabbing a single safflower or sunflower seed, or a C&S suet nugget ) is definitely something to witness firsthand. The tufted titmouse has the ability to fly in from a ridiculous angle, perch for a moment, and grab a seed from a tube feeder and fly away again in only a matter of seconds. You have to be patient to capture it, and hopeful that you grabbed a frame or two of them while they are paused and trying to find that perfect seed. Tufted titmice (plural form of Titmouse) often nest in bluebird nest boxes or boxes with similar size and shape. You can hear their call all over the Southeast United States whistling for their mates. What does the Tufted Titmouse eat? Well, we already mentioned Safflower seed and black-oil sunflower seeds, but we’ve seen them eat small chunks of peanuts, Suet Nuggets from C&S , and in the coldest months during Winter they can even be seen eating dried mealworms. Do you love Mickey and the Titmice as much as we do? Feel free to drop a comment below, we’d love to hear from you! Thanks for reading @birdsofwestcobb Don’t forget to share this with your friends and neighbors that love wild birds as much as we do! (-Lisa & Dan)

In this blog " How to attract Eastern Bluebirds to Your Yard " we'll share our recommendations for food, water and housing for these beautiful birds! The Male Eastern Bluebird is truly an amazing sight to behold. With the bright orange breast and nearly-neon Blue head, wings, and tail, not many other species stand out this significantly. Bluebirds are very beneficial creatures to have around your garden, eating tons of insects, spiders, and grubs each day. It’s pretty incredible that this species of birds were nearly wiped out of existence. They have made a strong comeback in many regions though thanks to volunteer efforts and backyard “birders” feeding them and putting out houses for them. Some of the reasons why they were almost wiped out are included below, so keep reading! What caused the decline in these incredible birds to begin with? Eastern Bluebirds are somewhat unique in that they will not create a new hole in a tree or a cavity in the side of a barn. Naturally, they would seek out vacant woodpecker holes near the edge of a field or pasture. However, the more people clear out old, dead trees on their properties, the fewer trees are available for the birds to move into. Another more serious issue was that over the years, thousands of people’s pet cats were released into the wild or left to be “outdoor cats”. This was very unfortunate for the bluebirds which often perch only 5-10ft from the ground on fences and low limbs, Eastern Bluebirds were (and still are) easy targets for the average cat which loves to climb and stalk prey near the ground. You can certainly take part in the efforts to bring them back! Our top 3 requirements for attracting the Eastern Bluebird to your yard are included below: To attract Eastern Bluebirds, you need to provide the right type of food : While Eastern Bluebirds have been spotted eating suet from a hanging suet cake feeder or from small suet chunks/balls, however, they are most likely to be spotted at your feeder if you put out dried mealworms or live mealworms. A fresh water source is another requirement for attracting Eastern Bluebirds : You do NOT need to go wild and buy a giant water fountain with multiple tiers and a filtration system. You could, but just imagine how many mealworms you could purchase with the money you save! A simple terracotta plate, 10″ or 12″ in diameter will do nicely. They are fairly inexpensive and can be placed on a wide deck or porch handrail, on a small table, or even on the ground. However, there are some very nice (decent enough) bird baths to be had for under 200.00 also. Another way to attract Eastern Bluebirds is providing the perfect Bluebird house : The National Audubon Society has a number of downloadable designs so you can print them and go down to your wood shop and build your own house for Bobby and Bella. However, we have done the work for you and also provided a few popular models that are already assembled and ready for hanging. See below! Also, we will add several posts in the future for Birdhouse design requirements. We hope you will view them, build them and share the results with us as also! Where should I put my new birdhouse though? Relax, we have a lot of insight about this topic as well. We’ll be sure to add another post with these specifics. Our best tip for now though: Bluebirds love to have lots of open space around their nest boxes. Here are some additional photos of Eastern Bluebirds we have captured in our yard for your viewing pleasure!

Birds of West Cobb has assembled some tips for attracting Winter Bluebirds to your Bird Feeders! It's no secret that we absolutely love our Eastern Bluebirds. From the very beginning of our bird-feeding adventures and posting our photos for the world to enjoy on Instagram , we hoped that we would see a Bluebird. Within a few weeks or a month, we were lucky enough to have one visit. And then another... and another. Of course it helps significantly that we are very near " The Green Meadows Preserve " (which is located approximately 1 mile from our home.) However, some of our neighbors came to us and asked how we are able to attract so many Eastern Bluebirds when they have tried just about everything, and they have rarely, if ever, seen one in their yard. So we've put some tips together for attracting Winter Bluebirds to your feeders! We hope you find this information helpful! Tip Number 1 for attracting Eastern Bluebirds: Bluebirds prefer open meadows/fields considerably over forested areas. If you live in a heavily forested area you will simply not be as likely to see these birds (typically). In the Eastern United States, the (aptly-named) Eastern Bluebird can be found from Canada on the North, throughout the Eastern United States, all the way into Florida to the South. In the Spring and Summer months, Bluebirds can be seen along fence posts, wires or pickets, perched on the roof tops of bird nesting boxes, flying quickly down to grab insects, spiders or worms, and then right back up to feed their young. So if you live near a pasture, farm, or have a large lot with grassy fields nearby, these areas would be your best bet in spotting them during the warmer months. Tip Number 2 for attracting Eastern Bluebirds: Bluebirds depend on insects, worms, caterpillars and spiders for their high-protein and fat diets. Once the temperature starts dropping however, the insects that these amazing Eastern Bluebirds depend on for such a large part of their diet start to move much more slowly, eventually not moving at all. These incredible birds hunt primarily by sight, so without the motion, there is much less food obtainable for them. As temperatures approach freezing (or plummet well-below freezing), most birds foraging for insects (especially those in the Thrush family like the Eastern Bluebird) will toss leaves around looking for anything tasty, but there are far fewer morsels to be found. If they cannot find anything appealing, they move on to the next leaf (or next area.) For those of us that like to feed wild backyard birds this is an excellent opportunity to attract Bluebirds. Adding a high-protein option to your bird feeding offerings such as dried (or live) mealworms , will provide these gorgeous Bluebirds with the nutrition they are lacking and they will come back again and again. Additionally, there are some Suet cakes we can recommend (further down) which also have a large content percentage of mealworms or other insects which woodpeckers and warblers will also enjoy thoroughly. Here are a few photos of Male and Female Eastern Bluebirds captured recently (January 2024) enjoying their mealworms that we put out for them. Tip Number 3 for attracting Eastern Bluebirds: Eastern Bluebirds will eat from multiple types of feeders including platforms, tube feeders, and suet feeders. However, ours seem to enjoy eating from a plate the most! Now the next most important thing to keep in mind besides their food requirements for protein and fats, is their need for fresh water. Colder air is typically more dry, and birds certainly use a TON of energy trying to stay warm, foraging for food, avoiding predators and even chasing other birds away. So while the food is great (and greatly appreciated we promise), they need to drink water quite often! In the past we only had one water source but found that in the winter months larger birds like Robins, Grackles and Blue Jays will essentially take ownership of the larger bowl/bird bath and so we needed to provide them with at least one more option. We now have a couple of small hanging iron/glass water bowls (photo below) placed on our front porch, and one Large and one medium Terracotta plate that we use for bird baths on the deck behind our house. Lastly, Lisa thought it was cute to put a tiny 3" water plate out as well and this one turned out to be one of the ABSOLUTE FAVORITES for the Bluebirds as well as smaller birds like Wrens, Chickadees, Waxwings, Titmice, Warblers and even Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. Product Links have been included below to help you attract Eastern Bluebirds: Dried Mealworms ( Please Note: We have found that some brands of "mealworms" are actually marketed more as Chicken feed. Some of these brands will include black soldier fly larvae. We have found through EXTENSIVE testing, that soldier fly larvae is not nearly as popular with the wild birds, so try to avoid those if you want more birds at your feeders! These options below are only dried mealworms, which come from a beetle species and it is very popular with the bluebirds!) 5lb Bag 10lb Bag (Our preference AND a deal when compared with the 5lb bag!) Hanging Glass water bowl C&S Suet Cakes with Mealworms (for Bluebirds) 3" Terracotta Plate (tiny birdbath) 10" Terracotta plate (used for excellent food presentation) Additionally, we captured a couple of video clips for you of the Winter Bluebirds eating and drinking at our feeders. We hope you enjoy! In the video above, a male Eastern Bluebird chooses a specific mealworm to snack on. In this video (above) multiple Eastern Bluebirds visit West Cobb including fledglings!