Birds of West Cobb

Identifying House Finches, Purple Finches, Gold Finches and Pine Siskins - the Finches of west Cobb! Greetings fellow birders! We’d like to introduce you to some of our most frequent guests here in Georgia (the state, not the country). Meet the Finch family! Finches are mostly seed eaters and will commonly visit your feeders if you have sunflower, safflower and especially thistle. They seem to love the hulled sunflower meats or whole safflower the most, with the one exception mentioned below. Let's get right into it: What are the various types of Finches of West Cobb? Let’s start with the most common, and most likely to nest in the grocery store or local home improvement warehouse signage: The House Finch. The male has a reddish purple head for the entire year but it becomes quite a bit more pronounced during the Spring and early Summer months as they grow their “breeding plumage” or the feathers that help them attract a mate. The female is identical in size and shape but completely lacks this red/purple coloration. She is entirely brown and off-white, with small streaks. Next, let’s introduce everyone’s favorite Finch: The American Goldfinch. The male is typically bright yellow with a very sharp, contrasting bit of black on the head, wings and tail. When perched or in flight, you’ll even see some bright white accents. The female American Goldfinch looks identical in size and shape, however her colors look quite a bit more dull or subdued. You may even notice a bit of brown mixed into the yellow. She also will lack the dark black on the head, wings and tail. If you see one that has some black, but not nearly as much as the adult male pictured here, it’s likely a juvenile male. Our next feathered friend is one that many people confuse with the House Finch. This is the Purple Finch. The male Purple Finch has more of a purple hue than the male house Finch, and there is also some brownish streaking/patterning on the head. Purple Finches are typically seen here in Georgia during the winter months when many have migrated South for the holidays. Now our least favorite here at Birds of West Cobb (kidding! Although they sure do leave a lot of tiny poop spots behind when they have visited in the past). Of course we are talking about Pine Siskins. These smaller finches travel in massive flocks in the Fall/Winter and we may not see them for several years, but then they will really show up in full force. During the Winter of 2020 we counted around 80 and then lost track. They are constantly moving and changing positions so we took a photo and tried counting them while they were still. These birds are mostly brown and off-white with small streaks much like a female purple or house Finch, however they will have small yellow accents on their wings and tails. The Male will have a bit more coloration.

That's right! It's Spring in the South, now it’s time to clean out your birdhouses! (If you waited until mid-March, play it safe!) Well folks, it’s finally Spring here in the southern United States. How do we know? Here in Marietta there are a few reliable signs of Spring: Woodpeckers have started drumming their beaks against trees (and chimneys) to attract their mates. The Cherry trees have bloomed already and immediately afterward we had another hard freeze. We’ve also seen 2 instances already of white-breasted Nuthatches building nests in old Bluebird boxes. These birds are usually the first of our backyard birds we see nesting. When the Cherry Trees bloom, we hope that this will be a reminder for you to clean out your birdhouses. That's what we mean when we say "It's Spring in the South!" It's just our reminder for you to clean them out before the nuthatches start building new nests! Certain birds like the Eastern Bluebird could have 3-4 broods per year and raise a lot of baby blues. However, other birds like the white-breasted nuthatch only breed one time each season. In either case, you should watch the nest box carefully. Once all the young fledglings have left the nest, it should be cleaned out carefully. Why is this important? I’m certain that you have seen the birdhouse placed on top of a fence in the neighbor’s yard, or maybe in the community garden nearby. But more often than not, people buy these and hang them and never clean them again. These old nest boxes will have a nest in them and they probably won’t be re-used. The old nests could also contain a bad egg, or even an entire clutch of eggs if something scared off the parents or worse. In addition, old nest material could contain bacteria mites or parasites that could harm your future tenants. Late Winter or Early Spring is definitely the best time to clean out the birdhouses in case you didn’t get to them at the end of Summer last year. But it is important to clean them out after each brood also. This way you could potentially have even more species of birds raise their young in your little birdie condo! It is very exciting!

Each April, we look forward to seeing Ruby-throated hummingbirds have arrived back at our feeders The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is an incredible creature, and we are very lucky to see them so frequently in the Spring and Summer months. These are tiny birds that can fly forward, in reverse, and in basically any other direction they choose. They have a top speed of around 22mph, and with that in mind, it is truly incredible that they migrate to South America each year for the Winter months. We generally see the first few “hummers” arrive in April. My theory is that these are usually just passing through on their way to their northern summer homes. Generally, by April/May, our resident Hummingbirds have arrived and start to frequent the feeders around our house. Lisa makes her own Hummingbird Nectar from scratch using 1 part sugar and 4 parts water. No food coloring or other chemicals are necessary and in fact, can cause harm to the hummers. Please don’t use the “pre-mix” red fluid they sell at most major stores like Home Depot or Lowes or Walmart (to name a few). Take a few minutes and mix your own! How can you get these amazing tiny birds to your yard? Flowering shrubs and trees are a good start, but we found that purple salvia is an amazing plant that returns year after year here in Georgia, even though it’s labeled as an Annual. In Marietta, we are considered “North of Atlanta” in case you are looking at planting zones on a label while shopping for Hummingbird-friendly plants. These start to pop up in our flower beds in early late March or early April, and by mid-May, our first blooms are starting to open. These plants can grow over 4′ tall and make a great colorful privacy plant but also attract loads of hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, bees and more! We like to support ours with tomato cages (when the plants are small and growing still) and these double as perches for the little hummers. When the hummers first arrive, they are pretty thin, very quick, and difficult to capture up close. They are also extremely territorial birds and generally, a single male ruby-throated hummingbird will claim a feeder or a perch as his own, and chase other hummingbirds away constantly. However, over the course of the Summer, these birds increase their body weight significantly as they store up fuel for their Autumn journey back to Central America. As a result, they fly a bit more slowly, perch more often, and sometimes you’ll even see 3-4 of them on a feeder at the same time! Considering that only 2 months earlier they wouldn’t be happy in the same zip code, this is pretty amusing! If you follow this blog we’ll try and make a point to capture this later in the season for you and our other readers! If you are interested in reading more about Hummingbird feeders, and selecting the right one to get the most birds, check out our other Blog Post here on this topic: https://www.birdsofwestcobb.com/post/which-feeder-attracts-the-most-hummingbirds

A quick introduction to the Carolina Chickadee with photos for reference to help you identify the Carolina Chickadee on your feeder and in your yard. The Carolina Chickadee is probably one of the smallest “feeder” birds (close to the size of a ruby-crowned kinglet) and one of the most frequent to visit our feeders as well. We published this blog to provide you with an introduction to the Carolina Chickadee so you can identify them when they visit your feeder and your yard. While primarily interested in sunflower or safflower seeds, occasionally they need a higher protein fix and go for some dried mealworms instead. We just call our Chickadees “Dee” or “Dee Dee” for short, partly due to their name but also because you can hear them calling out from the trees whenever the feeders get low: “Dee Dee Dee Dee Dee”! Carolina chickadees are quite a bit smaller than Eastern bluebirds, however, they have nested in our bluebird boxes several times over the past 6-7 years. This is always a pleasant thing to discover and you will see these little birds way more often than when they aren’t nesting nearby. They are pretty timid typically and hard to capture up close! Feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think about these adorable little birds! Carolina Chickadees have a great personality. They never bully smaller birds. They wait their turn for food and water so it’s important to have a good water source nearby. We use a terra-cotta plate, 12″ diameter or larger, and change the water out daily. After a few weeks of the plate of water existing in the same location, birds of all types will come and drink and even take baths. The Chickadees however are small enough that they can basically duck their whole heads under the surface for a moment, and then splash and shake the water out of their feathers. When it gets hot outside (80+ degrees Fahrenheit) you will see more and more birds taking baths. I’ll dig up some more photos, but here is a picture with a male in the early-morning glow of the sun. Thanks for reading! Carolina Chickadees will also drink from water in overflow trays below potted plants, and often we see them drinking from our Hummingbird Feeder Ant Traps as well! In the image below however, we captured a Carolina Chickadee eating from a freshly cleaned tube feeder.

A photo reference guide by Birds of West Cobb, to assist you with identifying baby birds at your feeders in the Spring and Summer months. Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by our Blog "Birds of West Cobb". This blog post is all about "identifying baby birds at your feeders". This a fun topic and we look forward to it every Spring. I’m hopeful that the images included below will help you identify the species of fledgling / juvenile birds at your feeders and in your yard. Some of them are generally easy to spot, and others you may need to watch their behavior to determine which species they are because they look so different as juveniles. The photo below showing a young poult (juvenile Eastern Wild Turkey) is a great example. We are located in Marietta, Georgia. It’s a suburb of Atlanta which is famous for several things – ironically one of them is “the big Chicken”. We have no affiliation with the KFC mascot and to our knowledge the “Big Chicken” has no offspring. I just wanted to clear this up in case you were reading in a different country and wondered about the birds you were seeing here on our blog. What types of baby birds or fledglings will come to your bird feeders? Near Atlanta, GA you might see the following birds: Northern Cardinals, Rufous-sided towhees, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, House Finches, Gold Finches, Brown-headed Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Grey Catbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, Blue Jays, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, European Starlings (invasive), Common Crows, Mourning Doves, Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Brown Thrashers and more! Its a wonderful time of the year! I’ve included a photo of the adult and a few photos of the juvenile to help you with the photo gallery below!

That's Right! A Barred Owl visited Birds of West Cobb 3 days in a row! As Cobb County (Marietta, Georgia) continues to be developed and new subdivisions, shopping plazas and convenience stores are built, there are less and less mature forests in the area. We are lucky to live in an "older" subdivision that was built in the 1970's, and many of the trees were not removed during construction. I believe this is a great reason for our very diverse bird environment. In fact we have counted over 50 species of birds and at least a dozen mammals in our yard alone! On occasion, (during late Spring and early Summer) we hear owls at night, but we rarely get to see them. A few days ago I went outside to try and capture some photos of American Goldfinches, at least 45 minutes before dusk. Periodically I look around and zoom in on different areas of the yard when something catches my eye. In this case I saw something with my naked eye that looked like a brown ball of fur or feathers, sitting directly on the fence pickets. I thought "that seems like a really big squirrel" for a second and had to zoom in with my camera to see what it was. I was surprised to find out that it was a Barred Owl! That's right, a Barred Owl visited us. But it gets better! The Owl, (we named it Owlexander ) has now been back multiple times over the past few days! (This is the photo I captured the first time I saw Owlexander on the fence, below!) Luckily we have not seen Owlexander chase any birds so far, perhaps because Barred Owls have a pretty diverse diet and while birds may be a piece of this, they certainly enjoy other cuisines also! We have a decent number of squirrels, chipmunks, spotted a mouse on one occasion, and have also seen flying squirrels in the past. Owls prefer to eat small rodents but will also eat reptiles, amphibians, small birds, and even large insects! Here is a quick video of Owlexander on our fence (nearly 110 feet from the back door where I was standing with the camera!) Are Barred Owls Active at Night or During the day? So you may wonder if Barred Owls are active at night or during the daytime? Read more below! At several local parks (Kemp Park, Allatoona Creek Park and Green Meadows Preserve) I have spotted Barred Owls in the past. Usually perched somewhat low in large trees, and they tend to land fairly close to the trunk of the tree. They blend in really well and their feathers help with this camoflage. In fact, as I was watching Owlexander yesterday, he flew from one tree to another and after perching, he took several side-steps directly toward the trunk, before freezing and essentially vanishing from sight. The coloration of the feathers nearly matched the tree bark perfectly and within moments bird activity resumed around him as if he wasn't even there. Barred Owls can be quite active during the daylight hours, depending on their food sources, if it's breeding season or not, and there is always the chance that they were simply disturbed from their roosting place by someone making a lot of noise (cars, motorcycles, leaf blowers, etc). Where do Barred Owls Nest? Barred Owls typically nest in natural tree cavities, where limbs may have fallen off or there is an opening in the trunk due to a variety of natural causes (storms, insects, fungus, even lightning!). However, it is possible that they will also nest in a species-specific Birdhouse with very precise measurements for a bird of this size. As an example, A bluebird nest box may only measure 11" tall and 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" floor and a 1 1/2" entry hole. A Barred Owl house however, would need to be approximately 30" tall, with a 24" x 24" floor, and an entry hole measuring 6" across! Look, that's a pretty large bird! Are Barred Owls Territorial? Barred Owls, like many other birds, can be quite territorial. They may quarrel over a certain feeding area but most of the time they will mind their own business. However, if they are nesting nearby they may be a bit more intimidating and lash out, especially if they have fledglings nearby and they are in a "protective parent" mode. I was once mountain biking in the woods with friends in Woodstock, Georgia and a Barred Owl starting chasing my friend, right in front of me! We can only assume that we got a little too close on our bikes to a nest or some young owlets. Thanks for reading our blog about the Barred Owl that visited us this week. It is very impressive that so many birds visit us here in Marietta, and we see far less cross-species fighting than you might expect! Just this week we also had visits from a Red-tailed Hawk and a Cooper's Hawk. It's almost like the birds have Yelp! and use it to find a good meal in a safe place. Thanks for reading our blog, bird friends!

The Rufous-sided Towhee is an adorable (and friendly) backyard bird that is frequently spotted by bird watchers in the Southeastern United States. With its bold Black and Rufous (rust colored) and White appearance, it's easy to spot and often times is even easier to hear. The Towhee's distinctive calls, which sounds like "Drink your tea" or "Tow Heeeee", the Rufou-sided Towhee is a wonderful bird to have in your yard. What does a Rufus-sided Towhee look like? Male Rufous-sided Towhees are easy to identify with their bold black head, back, and tail, contrasted by bright white underparts and rust-colored sides. Females, while less vivid, display a beautiful warm brown instead of the crisp black feathers of the males, but still maintain the same rufous-colored border between the wings and the bright white belly. Fledgling Towhees lack the obvious and crisp/bold colorations of their parents, but instead have mottled brownish feathers with streaks that easily mimic natural colors from their environment. Males do have more dark contrasting feathers though and you will be able to tell them apart with a close encounter or good quality binoculars (or digital camera) What do Rufus-sided Towhees eat? (What does the diet of Rufous-sided Towhee consist of?) Rufous-sided Towhees primarily forage on the ground, searching for insects, seeds, and berries. They have a particular fondness for sunflower seeds and cracked corn. Offering these foods in your bird feeder can attract these charming birds to your yard. Where do Rufous-sided Towhees migrate to in the Winter? In the Winter months, Rufous-sided Towhees favor dense brushy areas, woodland edges, and overgrown fields. These environments provide ample cover and food sources, making backyards with shrubs and low trees ideal for their winter habitat. Here in Marietta Georgia we have them year round. Where do Rufous-sided Towhees spend their Spring and Summer months? Summer HabitatDuring the summer, these birds frequent similar habitats but may also be found in more open woodlands and forest edges where they breed. They build their nests low to the ground, hidden among the underbrush, which offers protection for their fledglings. Are you still wondering about details not listed here? Let us know in the comments! We are always excited to delve deeper into the world of backyard birds for you and for us as well! In the short term though, maybe check out the following pages: visit Audubon 's Eastern Towhee page here : All About Birds has a great read about Towhees also! If you want to get up-close and personal with Rufous-sided Towhees and other amazing backyard birds, we have a few recommended products that can certainly help enhance your experiences: Platform Bird Feeder Premium Sunflower meats (no shell) Wild Bird Identification Guide for Georgia, United States

In this Blog post, we will take a look at one of the common backyard (and sometimes front yard) birds of the Southern United States: The Northern Mockingbird. The Northern Mockingbird, while fairly common, is actually quite an interesting species found throughout the Southeastern United States , Midwest, and even throughout the Southwest. Mockingbirds are well-known for its impressive vocal range. These birds can mimic the calls of other birds, animals, and have even been recorded mimicking mechanical noises, car alarms and more ! Let's dive into some of the more fascinating aspects of the Northern Mockingbird's life including their habitat, behavior, and some other very unique traits. Northern Mockingbird Habitat Preferences Northern Mockingbirds have the ability to adapt and thrive in a variety of environments, from suburban areas near shopping centers and malls, to open fields and brush along the outer edges of forested areas. They prefer habitats with dense shrubs and trees, which provide ample nesting sites and protection as well as a variety of food sources. You might spot them perched high on top of a telephone pole, or on a fairly open, obvious branch, singing their little hearts out. Does The Northern Mockingbird Have An Incredible Vocabulary? One of the most remarkable (and well-known) features of the Northern Mockingbird is its extensive vocal range and seemingly endless supply of songs. A single bird can learn and mimic over 200 different sounds in its lifetime! These birds are not just talented mimics; they also use their songs to establish territories and attract their mates. What Is The Lifespan Of A Northern Mockingbird? In the wild, Northern Mockingbirds typically live around 8-10 years, although some have been known to live longer. Their longevity is aided by their ability to adapt to various habitats and their aggressive behavior in deterring predators. Do Northern Mockingbird's Eyes Change Colors As They Mature? An intriguing aspect of Northern Mockingbirds is their eye coloration, which changes as they age. Juveniles have blue-gray eyes that gradually turn to yellow as they mature. This change in eye color can be a helpful way to distinguish between young and adult birds. How Do Northern Mockingbirds Defend Their Nests? Northern Mockingbirds are fearless when it comes to protecting their nests. They are known to chase off predators many times their own size, including cats, hawks, and even humans. This bold behavior ensures the safety and survival of their young and also maintains their territory. Sometimes you can look up into the sky and see a pair of mockingbirds chasing a Red-shouldered or Red-tailed Hawk, or even a Common Crow! It's quite impressive! What Is A Little-Known Fact About Northern Mockingbirds? A little-known detail about Northern Mockingbirds is their unique "wing flash" behavior. When foraging on the ground, they often spread their wings to display the white patches. This behavior is thought to startle insects into revealing themselves, making them easier to catch. Enhance Your Bird-Watching Experience With These Products: To attract Northern Mockingbirds to your backyard, consider adding these products: Bird Feeders : Hanging Suet Feeder (just like the one shown above in this blog!) Bird Baths : Check out this amazing bird bath Bird Feed : Dried Mealworms Additional Resources for Attracting Northern Mockingbirds: Perhaps you came to this blog searching for the famous book with multiple references to Mockingbirds, consider downloading the classic novel " To Kill a Mockingbird " on Amazon . By understanding and appreciating the Northern Mockingbird, we can ensure that these extraordinary birds continue to thrive in our backyards (as well as our front yards). References Audubon Society - Northern Mockingbird All About Birds - Northern Mockingbird

I'm sure you have all heard the song "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day but what other songs related to birds can you think of? We put together this fun list that includes 5 or more bird-related songs from each decade starting with the 1950's. We hope you enjoy listening to them and feel free to list others in the comments below! Also, if you'd prefer we add some for earlier decades please let us know in the comments below! 1950's Bird-Related Songs "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day (1958): This one is an absolute classic with an upbeat rhythm to kick off the list. (Click here to download the song on Amazon Music!) "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along" by Harry Warren & Al Jolson (1955): A cheerful tune about the red robin. (Click here to download the song on Amazon Music!) "Mockin' Bird Hill" by Les Paul and Mary Ford (1953): This song features a sweet melody inspired by the sounds of mockingbirds. "Bird Dog" by The Everly Brothers (1958): While you may be more familiar with "Bye Bye Love", this one is more upbeat and of course, it's bird-related too! You can also download this one on Amazon Music with this link, enjoy! "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" by Ersel Hickey (1958): A softer, dreamier tune for bluebird enthusiasts. This one is also available for download here on Amazon Music. 1960's Bird-Related Songs We are pretty certain that if you've ever been to the beach, watched a classic surfing movie, or just enjoy surfing music you have heard the famous song "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen (from 1963): This is definitely a classic Surf rock anthem with infectious bird-related chants. Caution: You may actually get it stuck in your head like we did. "Birds" by Neil Young (1969): this is a late 60's Folk-rock style masterpiece with Neil Young's distinctive voice. "And Your Bird Can Sing" by The Beatles (Released in August 1966 on the Revolver Album): this song is fun and jovial and mentions "birds" multiple times. "Little Red Rooster" by Howlin Wolf (1962): this is classic Blues Track, and if you've never checked out Howlin Wolf you definitely should. They inspired none other than the Rolling Stones! "The Birds and the Bees" by Jewel Akens (1965): this track includes soulful, charming and catchy melodies. 1970's Bird Songs "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973): This classic Rock anthem is known near and far and includes a legendary guitar solo. "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley & The Wailers (1977): Reggae vibes and positive messages. "Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band (1976): This Iconic track really aimed at capturing the spirit of freedom. You've probably heard this song at sporting events, in multiple movies and on your favorite classic rock station on FM radio or Sirius/XM. "Bird on the Wire" by Leonard Cohen (1971): Poetic and soulful addition. "Birdland" by Weather Report (1977): which is a "Jazz fusion" instrumental piece that you should definitely enjoy. 1980's Bird Songs "Black Crow" by Jamiroquai (1980): Smooth blend of funk and soul with avian inspiration. "The Bird" by The Time (1984): Funky track from the Purple Rain era. "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac (1983): Instrumental piece letting you soar with the majestic albatross. "Cuckoo Cocoon" by Genesis (1981): Prog-rock journey featuring a nod to the cuckoo. "Wings of a Dove" by Madness (1983): Upbeat ska track with lighthearted avian theme. 1990's Bird Songs "Black Crow" by Beyond (1991): Rock anthem with a powerful chorus. "The Nightingales" by The Beautiful South (1994): Melodic track with a nod to enchanting nightingales. "Black Swan" by Thom Yorke (1998): Atmospheric and experimental piece inspired by black swans. "The Raven" by Alan Parsons Project (1990): Progressive rock track inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. "The Kingfisher" by Emily Portman (1994): Folk meets storytelling celebrating the vibrant kingfisher. 2000's Bird Songs "Birds" by Kate Nash (2007): Whimsical pop-infused track capturing the charm of birds. "Seagull" by Bad Company (2009): Rock anthem paying homage to the coastal beauty of seagulls. "Little Bird" by The Weepies (2006): Sweet and acoustic ode to little birds. "Swallow" by IAMX (2009): Electronic and alternative piece with a unique take on bird symbolism. "Magpie to the Morning" by Neko Case (2009): Hauntingly beautiful song featuring the clever magpie. 2010's Bird Songs "Blackbird Chain" by Beck (2014): Unique blend of folk and rock exploring the symbolism of blackbirds. "Birds" by Coldplay (2015): Dreamy and atmospheric track adding a touch of magic. "Bird Song" by M.I.A. (2016): Electronic and experimental piece with a global and bird-inspired vibe. "Bird Set Free" by Sia (2015): Powerful vocals in a song that feels like a bird breaking free. "The Owl and the Tanager" by Sufjan Stevens (2015): Gentle and folk-infused piece with a nod to the owl and tanager. 2020's Bird-Related Songs "Birdsong" by Claptone, Zola Blood (2020): A deep house track that infuses electronic beats with the magic of birdsong. "Sparrows" by Jason Mraz (2020): A heartfelt acoustic track celebrating the resilience and simplicity of sparrows. "Birds of Prey" by SZA (2020): R&B vibes with SZA's unique sound, exploring the theme of birds of prey. "Magpie" by BC Camplight (2021): An indie-pop track with a nod to the charming and clever magpie. "The Birds" by Protomartyr (2020): A post-punk track offering a unique take on the theme of birds.

In this blog, we share a video and a few photos from our quick Cedar Waxwing Visit. Above this text is a quick video of a Cedar Waxwing drinking fresh water from a dish on our deck! We change the water out 2x per day typically, as it only requires a Robin, Brown Thrasher or other large bird to make it filthy. The birds need to take baths to wash off dust, mites and soil, but they need to drink it too! So fresh water is a MUST. That is how we attracted these beautiful Cedar Waxwings (We've now seen them in the Winter 3 years in a row!) Here in Marietta, Georgia we have had a couple of Winters in a row where a flock of American Robins have appeared and basically stay through the Winter months. While they are here we put out a lot of Mealworms and let them eat until they are full, a few times each week. There are a few fights between birds over who gets the best perch or who gets to sit "IN" the mealworm plates instead of "ON" the edge of them. Overall, it's pretty entertaining. In the midst of this year's edition of the American Robin invasion, I was sitting outside in a hoodie, peering through my camera straight down our deck handrail where the plates of food are placed. I try to catch close-ups of Eastern Bluebirds in the morning light (Which is incredible when it is pulled off) and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Carolina Wrens and occasionally a Towhee or a Brown Thrasher will appear and grab a mealworm also before flying off. It was quite a surprise when I was focusing the camera through the crowd of Robins to find an uncommon visitor peering back at me through the viewfinder. A Cedar Waxwing! To me, this has always been one of those birds that looks like it came from a different planet, or some sort of sci-fi realm. The colors are so smooth and blend together like they were almost airbrushed that way. They have yellow, brown, black, white, and orange or red tips on their tail feathers as well. Once you have seen one, you'll never forget it. As I was shooting photos, this particular Cedar Waxwing flew directly toward me and landed within a foot of my Nikon P1000 camera lens. Cedar Waxwings are known to be very social birds and as I slowly pulled my head back from the camera I could see there were now 2 on the railing, mixed with a dozen or more Robins. I heard their high-pitched calls above and realized there were more in the trees of the backyard also! This wass super exciting, although I couldn't get a count of the additional birds due to all of the American Robin activity! Cedar Waxwings sometimes travel in large flocks of 50-100+ birds and Lisa and I have only spotted one of these flocks previously, while staying in a hotel in Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas). From what I have read over the past 10+ years the number of these birds have been declining. One reason in particular that has come up in my research again and again: Non-native species of plants that have toxic berries. I found an article published some years ago which describes one plant in particular which is used heavily for Landscape design. It is a species of bamboo with ornamental leaves and bright red berries. These plants are called "Nandina". Whatever you do, don't plant these in your yard! Here is the article I was referring to: Link to article Have you ever seen Waxwings before? For more information about Cedar Waxwings diet, migration patterns, mating season and more, check out this link for Audubon Society's field guide to Cedar Waxwings.

In this blog post we look at the common woodpeckers of West Cobb and the Southeastern United States First, I’d like to introduce you to Lisa’s favorite of our local Woodpeckers. When we first started feeding the backyard birds together, this one stood out so much that she had to name him. “Scoob”. Scoob is our resident Red-bellied Woodpecker. He comes down from a tall skinny hardwood tree by our deck and then lands on the handrail. From here he usually scoots along or hops over to the food plate. He sometimes scarfs down 5 or 6 suet balls (C&S Suet Nuggets) before flying back up into the tree. He ate so many of these in that first year that we nicknamed the Suet Nuggets “Scoob Balls”. You might be surprised to know that the old Looney Toon “Woody Woodpecker” was modeled after a real-life creature. You may be even more surprised to know that this is another species we can actually see on our bird feeders here in Marietta Georgia! This one was outside of Marietta (Duluth) however, we have seen them nearby at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park also. Meet “Woodrow” the Red-headed Woodpecker: Another you might see in the Winter months but also similar in size: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We didn’t make up the name either! We’ve only captured him a few times, usually on cold, windy days when there aren’t many insects out. He is very shy and flies away quickly at the slightest sign of people. While the Yellow-bellied sapsucker is an occasional visitor, the next woodpecker species are far more common. We even see them taking turns on the suet-cake feeders we put up. Robert and Roberta are our resident Downy Woodpeckers (Robert is shown below with red coloring on his head, Roberta is the female on the left which lacks red) These are the smallest woodpeckers in North America! The male always has the small red patch, while the female is completely black and white. Just as common as the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker (shown below on the left-side of the feeder), which looks nearly identical at a glance but is almost twice the size of the Downy. These two are females, you can tell this easily because there is no red visible on either of their heads. On some occasions, you may even get a chance to see the largest Woodpecker in North America in your yard. This bird is absolutely massive and makes the Red-bellied and Yellow-bellied sapsuckers look small in comparison. We used to joke that it seemed like a Pterodactyl was visiting the yard! These giant birds require large mature trees to nest in, so national parks or very old subdivisions are good places to spot them. Lucky for us, we are very close to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park, and there are hundreds of acres of trees which provide food and shelter for these amazing birds. The male and the female both have red on top of their heads, but the male has red below the beak as well. The photo below shows a female. While the next one is not a “Woodpecker” by name, it’s definitely in the family. The “Northern Flicker” is usually found on tree trunks near the ground, and sometimes even hopping around in flower beds or near rotting log piles. We named our first flicker that visited "Norbert", but he prefers “Norbie” for short. Here you can see Norbie watching the Suet feeder, awaiting his turn. #birdsofwestcobb #southeasternwoodpeckers #downywoodpecker #CobbCountyBirds #northernflicker #pileatedwoodpecker #mariettabirds #hairywoodpecker #backyardbirds #redbelliedwoodpecker #yellowbelliedsapsucker #mariettawildlife #woodpecker

How to stop your Bird Bath from freezing this Winter: And we pick our favorite inexpensive bird bath de-icer/bird bath heater It's that time of year again folks, and the temperatures just dropped by a pretty large margin from the low 80's to the 40's overnight. It won't be long before we are seeing 20's and even teens for a couple of months here in the Southeast. So you might wonder what the birds drink when they eat so often. Unless you are putting a bird bath out with some sort of heater in it to keep the water from freezing, the birds have a pretty limited selection of water sources to choose from. Our BEST choice for an inexpensive but very effective bird bath heater: We'd like to share a fairly inexpensive but effective bird bath heater that we have tried We purchased and used it last Winter (2022-2023 season) which was pretty darn cold for a week or so here in Marietta, Georgia. We had lows near 5 degrees Fahrenheit which is about 10-15 degrees colder than we have seen in the past 10 years. We purchased this one on Amazon and had it delivered a couple of days before the cold front hit us (luckily). Please note: It will require an extension cord to reach the location of your choosing. What we like about this bird bath heater: It blends a bit with surroundings (and is available in a few plain-color options as well). It shuts off at a certain temperature which is helpful when the weather is just below freezing in the morning but warms up later in the day - you wouldn't want to keep heating the water and wasting energy, or boiling it! It's small enough to fit in a variety of bird baths! Just drop it in and keep it covered with water to be sure it functions properly. It cleans easily. If it becomes dirty it can be quickly wiped down or washed and scrubbed and the color doesn't leech into the bird bath. It's effective! The birds will come from all over to find a safe, warm watering hole and bath and drink. You will need to add water more often because of the amount the bird bath gets used! Are you worried because you don't like extension cords? Are you looking at Solar-powered bird bath heaters? Keep in mind that heaters require a pretty decent amount of energy to function. Solar could possibly supply enough power, but would require larger panels, batteries to provide a charge when the sun is down, (and batteries do not function well in the cold) and they certainly don't appeal to many with their aesthetics. We recommend sticking with a plug-in model which has a thermostatic controller like the one above. Here are some American Robins and some Brown-headed Nuthatches enjoying our bird bath with this heater installed: Next, let's look over the natural environment and what options the birds have to choose from if you were to go the other route and simply pass on the idea of providing a warm water bowl or bath for our feathered friends. Streams / Rivers - both of these options for birds are likely to be used as water sources for drinking and bathing. However, the water here can be nearly just as cold as the ice that forms nearby when the water does not flow. While natural (as natural as any streams and rivers are these days) they may not be the cleanest water source and could have long term negative affects on the health of the birds. Ponds / Lakes - very common places for geese and ducks to gather and eat/drink but you might be surprised how many songbirds will also fly to low overhanging branches and sip water from the surface of a pond or lake. The downside to this is also one that can be said for streams and rivers as well: predators. Various species of Bass live in lakes, ponds, and rivers that would not hesitate to make a meal out of a small or medium songbird. The more rural you are, the chances of other predators also increases and coyotes, fox, bobcats will all be on the prowl for a quick meal.