Birds of West Cobb

How to Discourage Grackles, Starlings and other Bully Birds at Your Feeders? This blog features some helpful & practical strategies for managing your bird feeder hogs so you aren't tempted to give up on feeding the birds altogether! When there are juts a couple of Common Grackles, things aren't so bad. But when you have 20 or more, they will bully the typical feeder birds away very quickly. You're here because... well, you know the score. You've just filled your feeders with fresh seed, settled into your favorite chair with a cup of coffee, and waited for the cardinals and chickadees to arrive. Instead, a black cloud descends on your yard - dozens of grackles, starlings, and cowbirds that proceed to empty your feeders in twenty minutes flat. This can be frustrating. It is certainly expensive. And it can make you want to take down your feeders completely. A European Starling - Usually where there's one, there are soon to be a dozen or more. They will clean out suet cakes, mealworms and even seeds faster than you can blink an eye! But here's the good news: you don't have to choose between feeding birds and feeding a mob. With the right feeders, seeds, and strategies, you can tip the balance back toward the songbirds you actually want to see - while still coexisting peacefully with the bigger, bossier species. Let's talk about how we manage the "bully birds" at our Birds of West Cobb feeders. Meet the Usual Suspects: The "Bully Bird Lineup" Before we discuss solutions, let's identify who we're dealing with. These are the birds that most commonly dominate feeders in our area: Common Grackle Grackles (Common, Boat-tailed and Great-tailed) are known to be feeder bullies. Read on to see what measures you can take to calm them down and let the smaller birds eat too Those iridescent black birds with the pale yellow eyes are the most frequent culprits in West Cobb. Grackles are actually native birds and quite beautiful in the right light - their feathers shimmer purple, green, and bronze. But they travel in large flocks, especially during fall and winter, and they're not shy about muscling other birds off the feeder. European Starling Starlings are non-native birds that show up in flocks of 4 or 5 to the thousands. There are a handful of feeders that are made to be "starling proof" we have a few listed below Starlings are an introduced species (released in New York in 1890 by someone who wanted America to have all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare - seriously). They're aggressive, loud, and will absolutely clean out a suet feeder in a single morning. In breeding plumage, they're speckled white; in winter, they're darker with less speckling. Brown-headed Cowbird Female and Male Brown-headed Cowbirds - they often travel with red-winged blackbirds, starlings or grackles to dominate your feeders (and yard!) These smaller blackbirds are infamous for their nest parasitism - laying eggs in other birds' nests - but they're also feeder regulars. Males have brown heads and glossy black bodies. They often travel with other blackbird species. Red-winged Blackbird Here in the South, a flock of red-winged blackbirds can descend on your yard and nearly black out the sun. Smaller, more timid birds will often struggle to find a seat at the feeder, especially in Winter and early Spring While beautiful (males have those striking red-and-yellow shoulder patches), Red-winged Blackbirds can become overwhelming when they show up in numbers. They're more common near wetlands and waterways, so if you're near a pond or creek in West Cobb, you might see more of these. Blue Jay (Sometimes) The Eastern Blue Jay, many of us just refer to as Jays or Blue Jays, can gang up against other birds of similar or smaller size. They'll even gang up against Hawks and Crows 4-5x their size! We hesitate to put Blue Jays in the "bully" category because they're native, beautiful, and genuinely fascinating birds. But there's no denying they can dominate feeders, scare off smaller birds, and eat more than their fair share. We'll include some strategies that work for jays too, though many birders are happy to accommodate them. (They love peanuts, black-oil sunflower seed, and suet nuggets.) American Robins (Is it just us?) American Robins are territorial, eat like crazy, and a half dozen or more can really bring the anxiety to your bird feeding experience. Trust us on this! Robins are some of the most beneficial birds to have in your yard. In the Winter a couple of years ago, we had about 60 Robins discover our feeding zone and brought their family along. This flock thinned in the Spring but many never left. Currently I'd say we still have 10 or 12 Robins that are locals, and now they are bringing their fledglings to feast as well. With a hanging "house style feeder" and 2 plates full of mealworms, they will take over all three and prevent Bluebirds and Warblers among others, from making it to the food. --- Why Are They a Problem? Let's be clear: these birds aren't doing anything wrong. They're just being birds - finding food efficiently and feeding their families. The issue is one of scale and compatibility with our birding goals. They eat a lot. A flock of 30 grackles can empty a large hopper feeder in a single visit. That gets expensive fast, especially with seed prices what they are. A fledgling starling begs for more food from the parents They travel in large groups. While a single grackle at your feeder is no big deal, they rarely come alone. Blackbirds and starlings are highly social and often move in flocks of dozens or even hundreds. An adult male red-winged blackbird feasts on suet They intimidate or bully the other birds. Many smaller songbirds simply won't approach a feeder when it's surrounded by grackles or starlings. Your cardinals and chickadees may be watching from the bushes, waiting for a turn that never comes. A tiny portion of the flock of red-winged blackbird females and juveniles in our yard during a quick snow storm They can spread disease. Large concentrations of any bird species at feeders increase the risk of disease transmission. This is especially true of starlings, which can carry histoplasmosis in their droppings. Solutions That Actually Work After years of experimentation in our own backyard and hearing from fellow birders across the south, here are the strategies that genuinely make a difference: 1. Caged Feeders (Our Top Recommendation) Caged feeders are exactly what they sound like: a tube or hopper feeder surrounded by a wire cage. The cage openings are large enough for small birds (chickadees, titmice, finches, small woodpeckers) but too small for grackles, starlings, and jays. This is the single most effective solution if you want to keep feeding sunflower seed. Smaller birds quickly learn to zip through the cage openings, while larger birds are physically excluded. Amazon: Woodlink Caged Tube Feeder Kingsyard Caged Seed Feeder **Pro tip:** Look for cages with 1.5-inch openings. This is the size of the entry hole on a standard Eastern Bluebird house. Smaller birds like Tufted Titmice, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Brown-headed and white-breasted nuthatches can all fit inside and get a bite to eat. 2. Upside-Down Suet Feeders Starlings are suet-destroying machines. A regular suet cage is an all-you-can-eat buffet for them. But here's their weakness: starlings can't cling upside down very well. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees? No problem. An upside-down suet feeder has a roof over the suet, forcing birds to hang underneath to feed. Starlings will try for a while and eventually give up, while your Downy Woodpeckers and Carolina Wrens feed in peace. Birds Choice Upside-Down Suet Feeder (Composite!) Kettle Moraine Upside-Down Suet Log This single change transformed our suet situation. We went from refilling suet every two days to once a week. 3. Switch to Safflower Seed Here's a well-kept secret: most "bully birds" don't like safflower seed. Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, House Finches, and nuthatches love it. Grackles and starlings? They'll usually try it once and move on. Red-winged blackbirds will absolutely still eat it, and prefer it on the ground though, so it's important to know your bully birds. Safflower is a white seed, slightly smaller than sunflower. It's more expensive per pound, but if you're currently losing most of your seed to grackles, you'll actually save quite a bit of money. Cole's Safflower Seed 20lb bag Cole's Safflower Seed 10lb bag Cole's Safflower Seed 5lb bag **Transition tip:** Birds may be slow to accept safflower at first. Try mixing it 50/50 with sunflower for a week, then gradually increase the safflower ratio. **Important note:** Safflower doesn't deter every bully bird. Grackles and red-winged blackbirds will still eat some if other foods have been removed, but it works in most situations. 4. Nyjer (Thistle) Feeders for Finches If goldfinches and Pine Siskins are your target birds, a dedicated nyjer feeder is naturally bully-proof. The tiny nyjer seeds require specialized feeders with small ports, and grackles/starlings simply aren't interested in them. Plus, watching a dozen goldfinches on a nyjer feeder is certainly one of birding's great pleasures. Kingsyard 2-pack of Thistle feeders for finches Happy Wings 5lb bag of no-grow Thistle Seed 5. Weight-Activated Feeders These clever feeders have perches that close the seed ports when a heavy bird (or squirrel) lands on them. Birds under a certain weight can feed normally; heavier visitors get nothing. The Squirrel Buster line is the best-known example, and while they're marketed for squirrel control, they work beautifully for excluding grackles and starlings too. Squirrel Buster Standard Adjustment tip: Most weight-activated feeders let you adjust the sensitivity. You may need to experiment to find a setting that admits cardinals but excludes grackles (or you may need to set up different feeder areas/stations). 6. Strategic Timing In our experience, grackle pressure is highest in late winter through early spring (February-April) when large flocks are moving through, and again in fall (September-November) when birds are gathering before winter. If the pressure becomes unbearable, consider taking feeders down for a few weeks during peak invasion times. The grackles will move on to easier pickings. When you put feeders back up, your regular songbirds will return quickly - they haven't forgotten where you live. Some folks also bring feeders in during midday, when blackbird flocks are most active, and put them out early morning and late evening when cardinals and other songbirds prefer to feed. What Doesn't Work So Well... Let's save you some money and frustration with things to avoid: Ultrasonic deterrents: These devices claim to repel pest birds with sound. They don't work. Birds don't hear the frequencies, or if they do, they don't care. Fake owls and hawks: Plastic predators might help for a day or two. Then birds realize they never move and ignore them completely. Our neighbor has had a fake owl on his front porch railing for 3+ years. Birds, Chipmunks and Squirrels don't mind it one bit. Maybe if it was motorized? Removing all feeders permanently: This punishes the birds you want to see along with the ones you don't. It's not necessary. Getting angry and chasing birds: Aside from the fact that you'll look silly running around your yard in your pajamas, shaking a broom in the air and yelling at grackles, it doesn't work. Ask us how we know! They'll just come back in ten minutes, or in our case, 2 minutes. But if you need broom or pajama recommendations, drop us a comment below! Finding Peace: The Coexistence Approach Here's a perspective worth considering: you're probably not going to eliminate grackles and starlings from your yard entirely, and that's okay. The goal is management, not eradication. Consider setting up a two-zone feeding system: Zone 1: Protected feeders for your target birds - caged feeders with safflower, upside-down suet feeders, nyjer feeders. Put these where you can watch them from your favorite window. Zone 2: A sacrifice feeder - a basic platform or hopper feeder farther from the house, stocked with cheap mixed seed. Let the grackles have it. They'll often concentrate there and leave the good feeders alone. Some birders even come to appreciate the bully birds over time. Grackles really are stunning in good light. Starlings are incredible mimics. Red-winged Blackbirds are gorgeous. They're all part of the ecosystem, even if we have to manage their impact on our feeding stations. Our Recommended Setup for Bully Bird Control If we were starting from scratch with bully birds in mind, here's what we'd install: 1. Caged tube feeder with safflower seed (for cardinals, chickadees, finches) 2. Upside-down suet feeder (for woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens) 3. Nyjer tube feeder (for goldfinches) 4. Weight-activated feeder with black oil sunflower as a backup This setup excludes or discourages most bully birds while welcoming the species most backyard birders want to see. The Bottom Line Bully birds are frustrating, but they're manageable. You don't have to give up on backyard birding just because grackles discovered your address. With the right combination of feeders, seeds, and strategies, you can enjoy a yard full of cardinals, chickadees, and woodpeckers - even in the heart of West Cobb's blackbird territory. Start with one or two changes (safflower seed and an upside-down suet feeder are great first steps) and see how it goes. You'll likely see improvement within a week. And remember: those grackles emptying your feeder aren't villains. They're just hungry birds doing what hungry birds do. We can outsmart them without hating them. Happy birding and Thanks for Reading -Lisa & Dan @Birdsofwestcobb *Have you found a strategy that works in your yard? Dealing with a particularly stubborn flock? Leave a comment below - we'd love to hear what's working (or not working) for other West Cobb birders.*

In this blog post we'll discuss the NetView Birdfy Smart Bird House with Solar Charging. We have several birdhouses in our yard and each year we have to be careful about adding reducers when smaller birds take up residence in a house made for a Bluebird. This year was no different! Carolina Chickadees moved into this nesting box just a few weeks after mounting it to a pole. Each year, for at least the last 4-5 years, we've been lucky enough to have Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice and White-breasted Nuthatches nest in our yard. Between our yard and our neighbor's yard we have a tree that has hosted Red-bellied Woodpeckers for several years. Carolina Wrens have lived in a glass vase on our porch that we bought for some fake Spring flowers to sit in, and American Robins have lived in a Sweetgum tree or our enormous Camelia bush for many of the last few years. We LOVE to see the growth phases of the babies when they hatch and initially we just purchased a flexible mechanic's boroscope camera that has dual lenses, and an adjustable LED light. This has helped us volunteering at Kemp Park for the Nest box checks as it is good enough to peak inside and count the eggs, and usually we can differentiate between 4 hatchlings and 5, but sometimes it's tough depending on lighting and the positioning of the hatchlings. This year we wanted to try another route - as we have tested the Netview Birdfy Hum Feeder Duo and the classic Netview Birdfy Smart feeder, we figured that without the direct sunlight issues flaring the lens we would have much better results - so far, we have! Unboxing the Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse with Solar The packaging is well thought-out and really pops when you see it. The graphics and text on the carton are easy to see and read, and a good bit of detail is provided. It's also easy to open and once you've pulled out the Birdhouse, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how little construction is required on your behalf. Unwrap the batter and camera, remove the film from the solar panel on the roof, slide the camera into it's mounting bracket within the roof of the birdhouse, power it on, and you are basically ready to mount it onto a pole. For a pole & baffle recommendation, scroll to the end of this blog and we'll provide some accessories that we would use (and already do!) We initially assembled the birdhouse, (It's mostly assembled already, you just need to connect the camera to the solar panel which is a snap, sync the camera with your smart phone, and set the birdhouse out on a birdhouse pole with a baffle.) This is a crucial detail folks! The right baffles can prevent rodents like squirrels or even rats, from climbing to the feeder and gnawing on the birdhouse or destroying the nests. Further, Raccoons and Possums also enjoy getting a quick and easy meal by reaching into a bird nest box and grabbing some quick protein snacks. For these reasons it is very important to refrain from mounting your nest box to a tree trunk, avoid mounting them on fence posts or even your deck. By doing so, you're decreasing the chances of survival for any hatchlings! A Carolina Chickadee fills our Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse with moss before laying her eggs When we mounted the Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse, the battery was only charged up to about 53%. It was overcast outside for several days, even a little rainy. We had our doubts that the battery would charge up enough once we finally had a sunny day. But 3 or 4 days in, we had a bright, beautiful morning and within a few hours I checked the status of the charging with my Birdfy app on my phone, and was shocked (pun intended) to see that the battery was up to 100% charge. That is outstanding! Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse with Solar - Construction Quality I won't say that we are bird snobs but over the years we have learned quite a bit about birdhouses/nestboxes and this ticks all of the right boxes. For example, the dimensions of the box are correct for an Eastern Bluebird box, there is ample ventilation at the top and the bottom there are mitered corners so that rain (or other fluid) can easily drain out. The bottom of the box has a removable metal screen that raises the nest a tiny bit off the floor as well, so there is more ventilation and nesting material can remain more dry. All of the corners of the box are neatly cut and there are no splinters hanging out in your way when handling it. The front door pivots open for easy nest clean-out or camera wipe down. It latches closed easily as well, so you can sleep easy knowing that your bird family doesn't fall out of a loose door. Another great note is that on the inside of the door is a series of shallow grooves cut into the wood so that parents and fledglings have an easier time climbing out of the box. See our image gallery below for these features and more! Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse Initial Activity captured in March 2026 We intentionally mounted the birdhouse at the end of February. Here in Georgia, birds are curious and throughout each of our 17 or 18 "fake Spring" seasons, they get active and start looking at the bird houses that are available. Then a cold snap strikes again and they go back to their normal fluffy, hoarding food and trying to survive, Winter ways. It took about 3-4 weeks before we started to see regular activity but as soon as we did, there was some drama! A Carolina Chickadee flew to the entrance and started inspecting the nest box construction for suitability. After a few trips, it flew up to the roof, looked below the house upward toward the floor from the top of the baffle, then flew off. A while later the Birdfy started alerting me that there was activity at the birdhouse. The first few notifications were triggered by shadows, where the Chickadee stood in the opening and blocked some sunlight, poked her head inside, and then flew off again. But finally she flew inside. After a couple of trips inside, Bobby (our resident male Eastern Bluebird) spotted the activity and immediately flew across the yard to defend his territory. He flew straight into the nestbox, cornering the Chickadee and for a moment stood over her. Watching from the camera across the yard (on our phones) we were terrified for a moment. Then DeeDee flew out from under Bobby, made it out of the box, and flew to safety. This is the part where we tell you that you should keep hole reducers, at least 1-2 of them, ready to go for these situations. Bobby and Bella, the Bluebirds, already had begun to move into another nest box across the yard. Eastern Bluebirds require ~300ft between nest boxes or they become territorial and will fight other blue birds, or, if they can fit into the opening they will rough up smaller native birds too. This includes Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice which are all native. Chickadees and Nuthatches only have one brood per year, tufted titmice may have 2 in the South - so it's very important to keep them safe by installing that reducer as soon as you see them go inside. Once it's installed, the Bluebirds and other birds give up and move on. Mobile App Usability, features and settings We are Android users and have been for some time. The phones are relatively new/current models and we work in IT/Software so we keep them patched and up-to-date. Downloading the app from the Google Play store was quick and easy, and creating an account just takes a minute. We had an account already from testing the Netview Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder and the Netview Birdfy Hum Feeder Duo last year. The app instructs you on how to setup the camera. A QR code will appear on your screen and you simply hold that in front of the camera until it beeps and pairs. You will need to have a 2.4Ghz wifi network available to download software updates and keep the connection from your bird house to your router back to your phone. Once you're paired to the birdhouse, you can open the app anytime, select your birdhouse and watch a live view of the inside of the box. You can toggle between SD (standard definition) or HD (high definition) video, and start a recording while you watch. What's better? The app can send you notifications (which we muted, but kept visible). To give you an idea, we received over 600 alerts during the nest building process alone! I don't want to hear notifications that often! Network Range of the Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse with Solar We have a 1 year old nighthawk router with 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz and once 2.4Ghz is enabled, it works quite well. If you didn't know, the reason many smart device manufacturers (cameras) prefer 2.4Ghz is that the range is much better than 5Ghz, and it penetrates walls/structures better. Our router is on the side of the house closest to where the birdhouse is mounted, ensuring good connectivity. Well what about the range? We have estimated our birdhouse is ~115 ft from our router and works well. Netview claims it works up to 100ft but we believe that this definitely exceeds the claim from them. We have had solid connections and live videos start streaming quickly and playbacks of recorded videos load quickly too! Would we Recommend Buying a Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse with Solar? We approve this product and have many great things to say about it. We have one quirk with the app where it seems to not show your activity until you swipe down to refresh the screen. After it populates you can go back through the list of options and play back videos from ~21 to 45 seconds long. If you're in the market for one, and having this type of insight into the nest box life is exciting to you, we defintely recommend getting one. If you're shopping in April, May or even June it's not too late - Eastern Bluebirds have multiple broods per year, especially here in the Southeast. We've had them brood in one box, move to another box and have their next brood. What are you waiting for? Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse with Camera: Product Links and Must-Have Accessories We used the "as-built" solar and the included battery pack and got up and running quickly. As mentioned above, you will definitely want a few additional items to set this up properly and safely, but here are the links for the key pieces mentioned here today: NetView Birdfy Smart Bird House (Wood) with Solar (At the time of writing this the listed price is $169 and from time to time it goes on sale slightly. Here is the Amazon product link While the birdfy Smart Bird house includes mounting brackets, it does not include a mounting pole or a baffle. Here is a recommended pole and baffle with great reviews from other users. Product link Hole reducers - it's not a matter of if, but when - a smaller bird species will take up residence in your box. To protect them against territorial blue birds, or European Starlings, House Sparrows or other nest pillagers, you'll want to reduce the hole size to a 1 1/4" hole. For that, we strongly recommend getting a few of these and keeping them ready during nesting season. Product link Sneak Preview - The Carolina Chickadees moved into our Netview Birdy Smart Birdhouse with Camera Take a look as a Carolina Chickadee just gets started on her nest construction - video brought to you by Birds of West Cobb with the use of the Netview Birdfy Smart Birdhouse with Camera

Are you tired of finding your hummingbird feeder covered in ants? Here are some proven methods to protect your hummingbird nectar and keep those tiny insect acrobats away for good. If you've ever walked outside to find your hummingbird feeder swarming with ants, you know the frustration. There's nothing quite as disappointing as watching ants march down your feeder hook while hummingbirds hover nearby, unwilling to approach. Trust us, we've been there plenty of times in our West Cobb birding oasis. Well, at first... The good news? This is completely solvable. After years of battling ants at our feeders, we've figured out what actually works. Let's get your feeder ant-free as well so you can get back to enjoying these amazing little birds. --- Why Ants Love Your Hummingbird Feeder It comes down to one simple fact: ants are hardwired to find sugar, and becuase of that, your hummingbird feeder is basically an ant all-you-can-eat buffet. The standard nectar recipe (4 parts water to 1 part sugar) creates a sweet solution that ants can detect from impressive distances. Once they communicate the location to their colony, you're likely to stumble on a literal highway of ants leading straight to your feeder. Here in Georgia, our hot, humid summers make this problem even worse. Warm temperatures increase ant activity significantly, and the heat causes feeders to expand and contract, creating drips that attract scouts. Once a scout ant finds the jackpot, hundreds (if not thousands ) more will follow. Why It Matters: Ants Are More Than Just an Annoyance You might wonder if a few ants are really a big deal. Unfortunately, they are: Hummingbirds will avoid ant-covered feeders -They don't want to compete with insects for their food source Ants contaminate and spoil nectar faster - Their bodies break down in the sugar water, creating a less appealing (and potentially harmful) mixture Dead ants clog feeding ports This prevents hummingbirds from accessing the nectar at all Large ant invasions can actually harm hummingbirds Fire ants in particular can bite and injure these tiny birds The bottom line: if you want hummingbirds at your feeder, you need to keep the ants out. Solutions That Actually Work (Ranked by Effectiveness) 1. Ant Moats: The Gold Standard An ant moat is a small cup that hangs above your feeder and fills with water, creating a barrier ants cannot cross. Elegantly simple and incredibly effective. Ants can't swim, so they hit the water and turn back. How to use an ant moat: - Hang the moat between your hook and the feeder - Fill with plain water (no additives needed) - Check every few days and refill as water evaporates (which happens quickly in Georgia summers). Also, some birds will find this water source and start drinking from it, including finches, bluebirds, nuthatches and wrens! - Empty and refill if you see dead ants accumulating (or any sort of slimy/mildewy film forming) Are you looking for one of the top selling hummingbird feeders with a built-in ant-moat? Here are our picks: Amazon: Kingsyard 24oz glass feeder WITH an Ant Moat link here Or... The Vintage-styled ant-moat which you can add above any hummingbird feeder (or other nectar feeder like Oriole feeders etc.): Check out the link here (Pro-tip... this is a 2 pack). Pro tip: In the peak of summer, we check our moats every other day . The Georgia heat can evaporate that water faster than you'd expect, and a dry moat is useless. When water evaporates, you're essentially reducing the solution making the sweetness more intense. This attracts more ants and if the ratio is too strong (on the sugar-side) you can even cause harm to the hummingbirds! 2. Feeders with Built-In Ant Moats Why add a separate moat when you can buy a feeder with one built in? This is the route we recommend if you're buying a new Hummingbird feeder anyway. Cost-effective, you'll be (hopefully) pulling the feeder down every 2-3 days anyway to clean out and refill the feeder The More Birds + is an easy favorite. It's an easy to clean glass feeder with a built in ant moat, and it has several other advantages: it doesn't drip, it's easy to clean, and it's pretty inexpensive - at only $ 18.99 Another option is this feeder from Kingsyard - it's another 2 pack with glass filling tubes, but also includes yellow drink port "blossoms" and includes the hanging feeder hook included as well. It's a great option to bring the hummingbirds in with a small expense, 3. The Fishing Line Hanging Method Here's a clever trick that costs almost nothing: hang your feeder using thin monofilament fishing line instead of a chain or hook. The line is nearly transparent, it's pretty slick and ants actually have a hard time walking up/down it to get to the feeder and the nectar within. Online sources recommend 10-20lb test line for this. Keep reading though, because there is one major caveat to this trick. How to do it: - Use 10-20 lb test monofilament fishing line - Tie it securely to your existing hook or shepherd's hook - Hang your feeder from the line - Make sure the line is the only path to the feeder (make sure there are no nearby branches, shrubs or salvia leaves touching it, for example) This method works best in combination with other strategies (make sure that you do have an ant moat in place). Here's the caveat - UV rays damage fishing line. (Ask any serious fisherman or fisherwoman). Because of this, the strength and even the texture will degrade until it can either snap under the weight of a glass hummingbird feeder, especially with it being half full in the summer heat - or the texture will change and ants will be able to grip it, make it to the nectar and sip it. 4. Relocate the Hummingbird Feeder to avoid the Ants Sometimes the simplest solution is moving your feeder to a new location. Ants follow scent trails, often tracking the scent on the ground from , so a new spot forces them to start their search over. In a yard where ants are not typically a problem this can work well for a few days. If the wind is blowing a lot the feeder can swing, and this swinging motion can cause drops of nectar to fall to the ground. Ants are quick to track down these droplets, especially in warm weather when they are more active - and then track down the source. So this idea of moving the feeder may become a daily game before you need to try a different solution altogether! Tips for relocation: - Move the feeder at least 10-15 feet from its original location - Choose a spot away from trees, fences, or structures that ants can climb - Hang from a pole rather than a tree branch if possible get a shepherds hook for hanging the feeder would be a great idea. - Check that nothing is touching the feeder that ants could use as a bridge Don't worry about your hummingbirds finding the new location. They're remarkably good at rediscovering feeders, usually within a day or two. 5. Keep Your Feeder Clean and Drip-Free Just like we mentioned above, drips create a trail that ants will follow. Prevention is half the battle. A feeder that drips nectar is sending an open invitation to every ant in the neighborhood. We are not even kidding - you'll walk outside one day and find an army of ants carrying your feeder off into the woods! OK that may be a little extreme but when you see a few hundred ants you'll get that feeling without question! Minimize drips by: - Never fill your hummingbirds completely (liquid expands in heat - we recommend only filling it 1/4 of the way. It needs to be changed often in warmer weather anyway, and if you refrigerate your unused nectar you can make this process faster and easier) - Checking seals and gaskets for wear (cracks or mold growth) - Choosing saucer-style feeders (they rarely drip compared to bottle-style) - Cleaning feeding ports regularly so they don't get sticky - Wiping down the outside of the feeder when you refill it What NOT to Do: Methods That Can Harm Birds In your frustration, you might be tempted to try shortcuts. Please avoid these methods that can harm the hummingbirds you're trying to attract: Never Use Petroleum Jelly or Grease This terrible advice still circulates online. Petroleum jelly, Vaseline, or other greasy substances can get on hummingbird feathers. Once that happens, birds can't regulate their body temperature or fly effectively. It can be fatal. Never Use Insecticides or Pesticides Near Feeders Spraying bug killer near a feeder that birds eat from is extremely dangerous. Even "natural" pesticides can harm hummingbirds. Keep all insecticides far away from your feeding station. Avoid Cooking Oils Some people suggest coating the hook or pole with cooking oil. While less harmful than petroleum jelly, oils go rancid in the heat, smell bad, attract other pests, and can still get on bird feathers. Stick with the water moat method instead. Summer Maintenance Tips for Georgia Hummingbird Feeders Our Georgia summers are brutal, and they require some extra attention to your hummingbird feeding routine: Change nectar every 2-3 days in summer - In temperatures above 90 degrees, nectar ferments quickly. Fermented nectar can make hummingbirds sick. Clean feeders thoroughly at each refill - Use hot water and a bottle brush. A diluted vinegar rinse works well for stubborn residue. Keep spare feeders - Rotate between two feeders so one is always clean and ready while the other dries. Place feeders in afternoon shade - This keeps nectar cooler and fresher longer. Check ant moats frequently - Evaporation happens fast in July and August. Homemade Nectar Recipe : Mix 1 cup white granulated sugar with 4 cups water. Boil briefly to dissolve sugar and remove chlorine, then cool completely before filling your feeder. Never use honey, red dye, or artificial sweeteners. Avoid the pre-made nectar concentrates - they have preservatives that can harm the hummingbirds long-term. When to See Hummingbirds in Georgia Timing matters when it comes to hummingbird feeding in our area: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (our primary species) typically arrive in Georgia in mid-March to early April - Peak activity runs from April through September - Males often leave first in the beginning of Fall, with females and juveniles following a few weeks later, typically in September and October - Keep feeders up until at least Early-November to help late migrants - Occasionally, western species like Rufous Hummingbirds show up in late fall and winter, so consider leaving a feeder out year-round Having your ant problem solved before peak season means more hummingbirds will visit and return year after year. The Bottom Line Ants at your hummingbird feeder are annoying, but they are completely manageable. Our top recommendation: invest in a higher-quality hummingbird feeder with a built-in ant moat (like the Hummingbird + or the Kingsyard feeder 2 pack) or add a separate moat to your existing feeder setup. Combine that with regular squeegee cleaning, strategic (shade) placement, and frequent nectar changes during our hot Georgia summers, and you'll have an ant-free feeding station that hummingbirds will flock to. A few simple steps and you'll be back to enjoying one of nature's most amazing creatures right in your own backyard. Happy humming-birding! Do you have a hummingbird question or did you spot an unusual species at your feeder? We'd love to hear from you in the comments down below! Thanks for reading! -Birds of West Cobb @birdsofwestcobb (Lisa & Dan)

Click the image below to navigate to the video we captured! CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE PILEATED WOODPECKER VIDEO The Pileated Woodpecker visited Birds of West Cobb Just the other day Lisa asked me to take some fresh photos for Instagram. Usually she doesn't have to ask, but in the last few weeks with us both being sick, Christmas shopping for family, a crazy work schedule, there has hardly been any time to sit outside with my camera. A couple of days after Christmas though, and I was able to make some time for the birds. As I focused on the smallest Woodpeckers in North America (the Downy Woodpecker), I also noticed a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers, a pair of Northern Flickers, several Carolina Chickadees and our usual white-breasted Nuthatches. Looking away from the camera for a moment and I saw something BIG move in the far back corner of the yard, just beyond our fence. It called out briefly before flying away and for a moment I thought I was caught in the recording of a jungle soundtrack! Once you've heard the call of the Pileated Woodpecker, you won't soon forget it. A Female Downy Woodpecker climbs a tree How can you tell a Male Pileated Woodpecker from a Female Pileated Woodpecker? While both the female and the male Pileated Woodpecker adults have a very bright read mohawk on top of their head, only the male will have red behind and under the beak along the jaw line. While watching the tiny female Downy Woodpecker, which had just come from behind the trunk, and recently came back into focus, (image above) something large flew right across the yard and I didn't even have to guess what it was. That size, that flash of red, black and white. I knew right away that the massive Pileated Woodpecker was back! I zoomed in with my Nikon and quickly noticed that this was a male, as there is some red near the beak, instead of just the giant red mohawk on the top of his head. I walked a dozen or so steps towards him, careful to stay behind another tree while moving in that direction. Then I would very slowly peak around the tree in front of me to make sure it was still there, and start snapping photos (as well as videos). A pileated woodpecker tears bark from a dead tree. What do Pileated Woodpeckers Typically Eat? Pileated Woodpeckers will naturally enjoy a diet of insects, grubs or other insect larvae including ants, carpenter bees, cockroaches, nuts, berries and even tree sap in the early Springtime. How Can I Attract Pileated Woodpeckers to my Bird Feeders? While we have had some success with C&S Suet Cakes (Woodpecker Treat), we have read other posts where people use "Bark Butter" and spread on a hanging limb or section of open tree trunk. Here is a link to the C&S Suet Cakes for Woodpeckers that we use consistently: C&S Woodpecker Treat Suet If you are interested in Bark Butter , here is a link for this as well: Bark Butter for Woodpeckers (Our only warning for you on this, would be to avoid using bark butter if Squirrels are already an issue for you.) How did you Attract Pileated Woodpeckers to Your Yard? Woodpeckers are naturally attracted to dead trees, which will act as housing for many insect species, including ants, spiders, carpenter bees, beetles and beetle larvae (and more!) which are great natural foods for these incredible birds! In our case, we noticed that we had a tulip poplar tree with a large hollow spot in the base. The tree was slowly dying but at the time still had leaves in the Spring and so we decided to leave it. While the tree is probably at least 40 feet tall, it is placed at least 30-35' from the nearest fence and any damage would be minimal if it fell during a storm. Luckily that hasn't happened so far, and since then it has died, some branches have fallen and the very top of the tree broke off at some point as well. There is still at least 30' of tree remaining though, and between the hollow opening at the bottom and the bark being peeled away from the top, this tree gives us lots of bird-watching enjoyment. Red-bellied woodpeckers love to peck near the top, while white-breasted nuthatches like to fly to the bare hard wood and crack seeds open on it. I was hopeful that this dead tree would eventually attract a Pileated and it finally did! (more than once!) How Tall are Pileated Woodpeckers? The enormous Pileated Woodpecker (standing over 18" tall) first perched on a neighboring tree, but quickly spotted this dead hardwood with a crack and some fungus appearing on the surface. He was ted no time at all pecking and prying and before a minute had passed, many large pieces of bark were flying off to the sides exposing many tasty morsels below the surface. For a moment I visualized this Pileated Woodpecker as a cartoon woodpecker and held back the urge to call out like Woody the Woodpecker (which probably would have terrified the poor bird anyway!). What is the Wingspan of a Pileated Woodpecker? A typical Pileated Woodpecker has a wingspan of approximately 30 inches, or 2.5 feet! To put this in perspective, it is very similar to that of an American Crow! Close-up photo of a Male Pileated Woodpecker In new subdivisions or young forests you are much less likely to see a Pileated Woodpecker. You may get lucky with Suet feeders but we have not had one visit ours, nor eat the C&S Suet Nuggets that we prefer to feed the other species of Woodpeckers in nearly 8 years. These are such large birds, that you will most likely spot them in forested areas with large, mature trees. They bore holes in the trees for nesting so the limbs and trunk would have to be quite large in order to support nesting requirements for these enormous birds. I have spotted them in the Brushy Mountain Wilderness near the Silver Comet Trail (close to Raccoon Creek), we spotted a female Pileated at Leone Hall Price Park , and we also saw one while hiking the Iron Hill Trail near Red Top Mountain State Park . This female Pileated Woodpecker visited us 2 years ago Lisa watched from inside the house as I stood there at the edge of our deck, taking dozens of photos and a few short video clips of this enormous bird. We're very happy it wasn't startled and it seemed to get a full meal out of this tree. I hope you enjoy the blog post and please feel free to share with your friends and fellow bird enthusiasts! More details about the Massive Pileated Woodpeckers can be found at the following pages: All About Birds (Cornell) - Pileated Woodpecker National Audubon Society - Pileated Woodpecker American Bird Conservancy - Pileated Woodpecker Camera information: We currently shoot our wild backyard bird photography with a Nikon P1000 , which is the largest "point-and-shoot" camera of it's kind (currently). It is also referred to as the Nikon Superzoom camera because it has a zoom of up to 3,000mm effective focal range. For our purposes, this giant 2.2lb camera does a pretty good job and takes great photos, videos and audio. I wonder what the cost (as well as the weight) would be if I had instead purchased a comparable digital SLR body, and enough lenses to cover the same range that this camera covers? The P1000 allows for remote shutter control via the Nikon Snapbridge App, although we don't use it often. I prefer to sit behind the camera and have the freedom of moving around and capturing things as quickly as possible.

In this blog post, Birds of West Cobb shares some information to help you when identifying the common woodpeckers of the Southeastern United States If you're interested in what to feed these incredible birds, please click here or scroll to the bottom of this blog for more detail! ~BOWC Red-Bellied Woodpecker 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”. Everyone, meet "Scoob"! He's our resident Red-bellied woodpecker. We've now had 3 generations of little Scoobers running around our feeders in the Spring! Red-Headed Woodpecker 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 : Meet "Woodrow", his ancestors influenced the original "Woody the Woodpecker" cartoons! Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Another woodpecker 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. A yellow-bellied sapsucker perches before grabbing some suet from a feeder While the Yellow-bellied sapsucker is an occasional visitor, the next woodpecker species are far more common. Downy Woodpecker 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. Note : If comparing these woodpeckers with the larger Hairy Woodpeckers, it is important to note the beak size here is quite small and pointy. The Hairy woodpecker is larger by easily double, and the beak is much larger proportionally as well! Adult female (left) and male (right) Downy Woodpeckers perch on the same tree trunk Hairy Woodpecker 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 Woodpecker. These two are females , you can tell this easily because there is no red visible on either of their heads. Hairy and Sally share a treat: (Hairy woodpecker on left, Downy woodpecker on right). Photo showing a size comparison between Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers. Pileated Woodpecker On some occasions, you may even get a chance to see the largest Woodpecker in North America in your yard, which would be the massive Pileated Woodpecker! This bird is absolutely massive and makes the Red-bellied, Red-headed, Hairy 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, as the male will have red coloration along the beak line whereas the female will only appear white/black. An adult female pileated woodpecker perches on a tree trunk. Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted variety) 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. Male Northern Flickers have a very defining "mustache" or dark feathers along the beak line. Females will not have this line. An adult male Northern Flicker climbing on a pine tree trunk, while looking for food. What type of Bird Feeders should I use for attracting Woodpeckers? We've made this part easy for you - just click any of the images below and we'll navigate you to the product page on Amazon and you'll be able to add it to your cart! Basic Cage feeders or Composite Cage-Style Suet Feeders A composite feeder is easy to clean, less likely to deteriorate/decay/rot, but also last a long time for these same reasons. The "Cage" is just to hold onto the suet cake so that it doesn't fall out, meanwhile the woodpeckers (and other species like nuthatches and warblers) can still reach in through the cage structure to access the suet. Standard/Basic style metal Cage Feeder (includes a hanging hook/chain) Kingsyard two-sided composite suet feeder with roof Upside-down Suet Feeders Suet feeders are great, and we strongly recommend adding one to your feeder mix. However, sometimes they can be a bit problematic. Grackles, Starlings, Cowbirds may congregate on these vertical feeders and chase off the birds that you hope to see. They can be seen as pests because they will eat ALL of the available food very quickly and even chase off the smaller birds. How do you handle this? Seasonally, you may need to swap out your vertical feeders with hanging upside-down feeders that only the woodpeckers can cling onto to access the suet above. When the pesty flocks move on, you can swap them out again. Usually late spring here in the South, most of these pesty flocks have left the area. Kingsyard composite hanging upside-down feeder Suet Nugget Feeders Suet Nuggets are small round balls of suet, and they make them with different "flavors" including berry or insect or peanut butter. But how can you dispense these suet nuggets easily? We often use a ceramic or terracotta plate, but they make some cool feeders that are designed specifically for this type of bird food. This way you can safely hang them on a post with a baffle, away from ground-rodents or tree squirrels! 24oz Suet Nugget Feeder What is Suet exactly? Suet is essentially a mixture of beef fat, peanut butter, nuts, and sometimes even insects. You can make your own, or buy it very, very cheaply. We prefer to buy it because the cost:time ratio is significantly higher if you DIY. Just look at the price of nuts and peanut butter these days! For that reason, Suet Cakes and Suet Nuggets (balls) are the most typical types you'll see us using in our photos and videos. Are all suet cakes the same? No, suet cakes can vary widely by manufacturer! They aren't regulated like Food and Beverages are for people, but like most things in life you actually get what you pay for. We generally prefer to use C&S products Suet, but the store brand from Wild Birds Unlimited is also quite excellent. In the Winter months, we use C&S Woodpecker Treat suet cakes . In the Summer months where the temps are much higher and suet has a tendency to "melt", we opt for the C&S No-melt suet cakes instead. The birds don't mind it and it stays in place much better than the softer density food in the hot weather. Some of the issues you could face with using super cheap / low-quality suet? We've seen moldy seeds, furry suet cakes, and once even found pantry moths. These tiny insects are a REAL pain to get rid of once they've made their appearance. Any bird seed, suet etc should be stored in very thick air-tight containers to prevent these sorts of pests from getting in, or getting out!

What is that yellow bird on my feeder? Is that an American Goldfinch, a Pine Warbler, a Pine Siskin or something else altogether? In this blog we try to assist you with identifying the yellow-feathered visitors that may appear in your yard or on your feeder. This could be a frequent visitor or a bird that only stopped by in the midst of a 3,000 mile migratory journey. We'll also provide some of our bird food recommendations as well! Let's dive right in! A bright Yellow Pine Warbler visits our mealworm feeder plate in early Spring. I’ve spoken to many people that see yellow birds on their bird feeders and assume they are either American Goldfinches or someone had a pet parakeet that escaped. While it's certainly not impossible, it is pretty unlikely that a parakeet would show up at your feeders. An adult male American Goldfinch loves to eat Safflower on a Tube Feeder from Wild Birds Unlimited. Is that yellow bird on my feeder some type of Warbler? Warblers are carnivores and love to eat live insects, spiders, caterpillars, dried mealworms and even suet cakes. The shape of their beak is narrower and longer than that of a finch. In contrast, finches have wider, taller beaks made for cracking open seed shells. Take a look at the photos below of some of the Warblers we’ve seen so far at our feeder and you’ll quickly see the difference when you look at finches in the future! A pair of Yellow-Rumped Warblers grab a bite to eat before migrating further South for the Winter. An adult male Yellow-rumped Warbler with breeding plumage growing in, Early Spring Is that yellow bird on my feeder a Yellow-rumped Warbler? (shown above)Yellow-rumped Warblers migrate from much further north in Fall, and stay with us from late Autumn until mid-Spring (typically April). When they arrive their feathers have already grown in for Winter warmth and these feathers have much less color and contrast, see the photo above of the pair. In February through April though you can witness the transformation with the “breeding plumage”. The photo below shows a male with the majority of his breeding colors in place. The Yellow-rumped Warblers will now have 2 very bright yellow patches on the sides of the breast, and a bright yellow spot between the wings as well, which is how they earned their nickname "Butter Butt". Maybe you saw a warbler, but it had more yellow on it than the Yellow-rumped variety. Keep scrolling down and let's see if we can help you identify what you saw! Adult male Pine Warbler perches on a plate of mealworms A Pine Warbler visits our suet feeder for a tasty bite of suet. Is that Yellow bird on my feeder a Pine Warbler? Pine Warblers (shown above) are also migratory but we have some year-round here in Marietta, Georgia. They will look a bit more dull in the winter, and will appear with a mustard-brownish yellow, (especially the female Pine Warblers), but their colors brighten up dramatically in the males in early Springtime, for breeding / attracting their mates. They are quick, flying in and grabbing a mealworm or two before flying back into brush or tree limbs nearby for cover. Pine Warblers have a very high-pitch whistle for a bird call which may be your only clue they are nearby for most of the year. But in Winter when their live insect food sources are scarce, a plate of dried mealworms or a high-fat and protein Suet Cake can work wonders to bring them to your yard. (Product Link below, near the bottom of this blog post) Pine Warbler identification tip: Pine Warblers will have 2 parallel white bars on their wings. Their coloration is much more evenly spread from head to neck to breast. When compared with a yellow-rumped warbler which will also have 2 parallel white bars, the yellow coloration is only seen in a few spots on these birds, and there are more streaks of black over their white bellies. Pine Warbler bellies are yellow! A Tennessee Warbler photographed during Winter in Marietta, Georgia Is the yellow bird on my bird feeder a Tennessee Warbler? Tennessee Warbler: We didn’t even realize we captured this photo and found out a few weeks later that the “pine warbler” we were photographing from a distance was in fact, a Tennessee Warbler. There are no visible bars of white along the wings or tail, and the subtle yellow color is much smoother and there is even a touch of brown at the corner of the wings/shoulders. The colors of this bird change from the subtle yellow to a warm grey right above the breast up to the eyes. This may be one of two we’ve ever spotted at our feeders to date! We will definitely keep looking for more though! How do you attract Tennessee Warblers to your bird feeders? In our case, we photographed one Tennessee Warbler eating C&S Peanut Suet Nuggets. In the other case, this beautiful warbler was attracted by dried mealworms and fresh water. Don't worry, we'll add the links for these products at the end of the blog for you as well! A tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet looks at a tall stack of Suet Nuggets A Ruby-crowned Kinglet peers into a bowl of dried mealworms Is that yellow bird on my feeder a Ruby-crowned Kinglet? Ruby-crowned Kinglet (photo above) : These are tiny birds, relatively close to a Carolina Chickadee or a Pine Siskin (keep reading to see some photos of the siskins). Often in the Winter months they will fly in very quickly and snatch a small chunk of suet or a piece of a mealworm and then retreat to the cover of small shrubs or brush. We managed to capture a few photos of them for you to help you identify these adorable and energetic birds! They are only mildly yellow/brown but we wanted to be sure to include them here in case it helped you! Much like the warblers above, they do get more colorful and bright in the Spring. The easiest way to identify a Kinglet, is by the single white arm bar, and the yellow wing feathers which follow back to their tail feathers. At the right moment, you may even get a chance to see the "Ruby Crown" feathers as well! A Pine Siskin eating fresh Safflower Seeds Is that yellow bird at my feeder a Pine Siskin? Pine Siskin: at a glance you might believe you have a bunch of female house finches but at a closer look, they are a bit smaller and they have a splash of yellow on their wings and tails. They usually travel in flocks and we’ve seen 2-3 of them at once only a few times, otherwise there were over 50 birds. They love to east Safflower seeds and hulled Sunflower meats as well. We'll add these products to the list at the bottom for you too! An adult Male Scarlet Tanager in Winter Plumage visits our large pool (or dish with water in it). A Scarlet Tanager visits our feeder during Autumn Migration Is that yellow bird on my feeder a Scarlet Tanager? While flipping through our photo archives we realized that we had a photo of another Yellow bird. This time it is a Scarlet Tanager in it’s Winter or migratory plumage, that stopped by for a snack and sip of water! It is pretty exciting to see all the different bird species that will come to your yard if there is a fresh, clean water source. Thanks again for reading and we hope you’ll follow us and share our page with your bird people 🙂 Is that a Summer Tanager on my bird feeder? How can you tell the difference between it and a Scarlet Tanager? Updated on 10/9/2024 - We now also have recent photos of another yellow bird: The Summer Tanager! Note the black wings on the Scarlet Tanager (pictured above) and the yellow/brown wings on the Summer Tanager, below! Both were photographed in the Winter months in Marietta, Georgia. A Summer Tanager visits for water Is that yellow bird on my bird feeder an American Goldfinch? An adult male Goldfinch perches above the feeders Attracting Yellow Birds: Our Top Product Recommendations below for Bird Food For attracting Warblers (Pine Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tennessee Warblers) as well as Kinglets (Ruby-crowned kinglets, Golden-crowned Kinglets) we suggest you try the high-protein & high fat foods below. These birds expend a ton of energy as they are constantly on the move and also trying to stay warm (during the Winter months) C&S Suet Cakes link here C&S Peanut Suet Nuggets link here Dried Mealworms ( we have nearly doubled our bird-species count since starting to offer mealworms as well as seed and suet! ) link here American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins really enjoy seeds and use their seed-cracking beaks with great success for the following: Hulled Sunflower Seed link here Safflower Seed link here Thistle Seed (seems to work best in Winter months) link here Why you might see more yellow birds in Winter Even though you might think Winter is “quiet bird season,” your feeders can actually turn into a little yellow-bird hotspot. Birds like Pine Warblers, Tennessee Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets will expand their diets to include seeds, suet, and dried mealworms when their usual insect buffet is hard to find. By offering a variety of foods — a plate of C&S Suet Cakes , some peanut suet nuggets , or a small bowl of dried mealworms — you might be surprised at how many extra visitors show up. Not only is this a lifesaver for the birds during cold snaps or snow, but it’s also a front-row ticket for you to watch their Winter plumage and see subtle color changes you might otherwise miss. Tips for spotting and identifying yellow birds at your feeder Yellow birds may all look similar at first glance, but a closer look at beak shape, wing bars, and markings can help you figure out who’s who. American Goldfinches have chunky, cone-shaped beaks for cracking seeds, while warblers’ thin, pointed beaks are made for snatching insects. Watching how they behave helps too — Goldfinches are happy to linger and feed in little groups, whereas Kinglets and warblers usually dart in for a quick snack before heading back into cover. (Pro tip: snapping a quick photo with your phone can be a lifesaver when you’re trying to identify a fast-moving visitor.) Switching up your feeder offerings — hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, thistle  — is an easy way to attract a wider variety of yellow visitors and keep your backyard birding exciting all Winter long.

In this blog we help with your question: "Do Yellowjacket Traps actually work? " We feel they work very well, however, we noticed that Yellowjacket Traps work best during late Spring and throughout the warmer Summer months. While Bees and Wasps are beneficial pollinators, yellowjackets are particularly obnoxious. They seem to be the only wasps that climb onto our hummingbird feeders regularly, they can be found in our terracotta plates full of dried mealworms, and we have even seen them drive away birds from a meal in some situations. Of course, running over a nest with a lawn mower is never fun either. But what can we do about it? How can we reduce the number of yellowjackets and also keep the majority of these pests from interfering with your backyard birding adventures? A yellow jacket trap with lots of dead yellow jackets! I strongly recommend yellowjacket traps for this! If anyone asks you the question "Do Yellowjacket Traps actually work?" You'll be able to tell them with certainty - They really do work . In fact, this year so far I have likely dumped out well over a hundred yellowjackets from our single trap. Here’s how a Yellow jacket trap works: There is a small cotton ball or cotton pad that you pour special, concentrated nectar attractant onto. This cotton ball/pad is inserted inside the plastic trap, which is essentially a funnel with holes at the bottom which are the exact size of a yellowjacket. Smaller pollinators like bees or even larger wasps will not fit or are small enough that they won’t get stuck and can climb back out. ( We have verified that no honeybees or other wasps have been found inside our trap after 2+ years using these! ). The 3 pieces of the trap snap together and can be quickly hung from a hook, cable, or low-hanging tree limb. You’ll want to position this someplace fa bit further from your house and feeders. It doesn't have an odor or anything that would bother you, but you don't want to lure the pests to your door! I’d recommend 30-50ft or further from your porch/deck or feeders if you have the space. This yellow jacket trap has just attracted it's first customer! Here is the direct link to the product on Amazon: Yellow Jacket Traps (2-pack ) If you intend to empty out the trap of all the dead yellow jackets, do so at dusk, as they are typically less active at this point in the day and you are then also far less likely to encounter any live ones. The nectar slowly loses its effectiveness and typically you will want to replace the cotton ball, or at least refresh the nectar once each month or month and a half. An under-side view of the Rescue Brand Yellow Jacket Trap The Rescue! brand Yellow Jacket traps allow the insects to crawl inside from the bottom of the trap, but they find it impossible to leave. The hole sizes have been engineered to allow Yellow Jackets specifically, but larger and smaller wasps either won’t fit, or won’t get stuck! In fact, we have tested this and only have found dead yellow-jackets inside of our trap, now in the second year of usage! A lot of yellow jackets were captured with this Rescue Brand trap This trap has been busy for about a month. (May-June) It is time to take it down, ideally at dusk before the Yellow Jackets are too active, clean it out and refill the attractant concentrated nectar. This is our 3rd or 4th trap full of them this year! Another view of a well-used yellow jacket trap Once again, here is a link to the yellowjacket trap we use, and it has been working even better than we expected! Direct Product Link: Rescue! Brand – Yellow Jacket Traps 2-pack The package indicates that this trap is ideally placed in early Spring to eliminate future Queens and prevent them from building new nests. We didn’t catch any queens this time around, but we are hopeful for next Spring. Also, the activity was slow at first. Maybe only 3-5 yellowjackets per week were trapped for April-May. But once the weather became warm, and eventually just hot, there were fewer food sources available and the trap quickly began to fill with these pesky wasps! After a couple of months the nectar attractant goes stale and doesn't attract more yellow-jackets. Can i order refills of the attractant? You sure can! If you need to order some now to get ready for Spring/Summer, here is a link to the attractant Does Rescue! make any other traps for garden pests? You bet! They have an entire arsenal to help get rid of various Wasps, Gnats, Fruit Flies, House Flies, Japanese Beetles, Ants, Moths, Carpenter bees and more! Check out their Amazon store here: Rescue! Amazon Store link . Have you tried another brand or style of trap from Rescue! or another company? We’d love to hear about your experience! Please leave us a comment below! Thanks for reading and supporting your local backyard bird nerds! - Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan)

In this blog, we'll share some hilarious Bird Memes and Bird-related comics that we have found while out scouring the world wide web. Feel free to re-share with your friends (and be sure to give credit to the artists!) We hope you enjoy these as much as we do! Also, be sure to check back periodically as we will be adding more as we find them! This hilarious meme showing stork that just delivered a baby, but also employing the modern-day methodology of snapping a "proof of delivery" photo, likely to send to the new parents. We love this sort of humor, well done Nate Fakes, well done! You can follow him on Instagram here: Nate Fakes Stork delivery a baby meme / cartoon by Nate Fakes Here's an instant classic depicting the timeless competition for birdseed between a bird and a squirrel. But this time, in the "Corporate America" breakroom space. We love this! To see more from this comic, check out Off the Mark (by Mark Parisi). In this comic, a Turkey Entrepreneur has started selling T-shirts that make turkeys look skinny so they will likely not be hunted or eaten on November 28th, America's Thanksgiving Holiday. We're not sure of the artist for this one, but we have seen it on a t-shirt from a major retailer and also on Instagram. If you know the artist, please let us know and we'll be sure to edit this post to reference them appropriately! One enterprising turkey sells "skinny tees" to the local turkeys before Thanksgiving The irony... an innocent hobby just feeding a few backyard birds can go terribly, terribly... RIGHT! Soon you'll have a flock-worth of feeders, bird baths, organized containers full of the various types of bird food and even bird-safe cleaners you didn't know you needed previously. This cartoon (unknown artist) shows just how the birds will take advantage of their new found humans. Birdwatching can quickly turn into an obsession if you're not too careful In this cartoon, some eggs perform an egg-corcism on a very clearly "deviled" egg. That's funny stuff for sure, we hope you enjoy as much as we do! You can check out the other comics by this artist on their Instagram page: Quickies "Deviled" A cartoon by Quickies There's one you don't see every day! A couple of Hummingbirds up to no good, passing around a hummingbird feeder shaped bong. Maybe this is what they're up to when we don't see them for months and months at a time? This is a fun comic from artist Will Santino, and you can check him out on his website here In this meme, likely created by the instagram page "@JDM CARS", 3 of the fastest things on earth are depicted. A B-2 Bomber diving from the stratosphere, a Peregrine Falcon (one of our favorite birds) likely diving after prey, and a mechanic's hand shooting down into an engine bay after they drop that bolt that they were either in the process of extracting or reinstalling. If you've ever worked on a vehicle you know how true this is... there is no question - a mechanic's hand is the fastest thing on the planet when they drop a bolt or that 10mm socket during a job The comic below includes some (teenage?) squirrels getting a little wild with the tube feeders out in the yard, while the resident human looks on. Good times brought to you by Jim Benton - you can see more of his stuff at the Go Comics page . We also love the hand-shaped Turkey drawing... that one brings back memories for sure! In this cartoon, mischievous squirrels convert a bird feeder into a bong This cartoon brought to you by Rosemary Mosco and her wonderful page located here birdandmoon.com shows the (somewhat frightening) stages of a male Northern Cardinal molting between seasons. When are you fixing that dripping spigot? Why isn't the grass cut yet? Honey, relax I'm watching the game and I'll get to it later - this meme may strike a nerve, be prepared! In some species it is very difficult to tell the male from the female bird. Within coffee shops there are all sorts of people, but usually you don't see Herb and Fran out Human Watching. Although, I'm sure it would be a heck of a time! Thanks for creating this one Scott Metzger ! Be sure to check out his page and his other hilarious comics here https://www.metzgercartoons.com/ This meme shows what happens when the mafia is out to get your Rooster... and maybe they are employed by a large-scale fast food chain. What can I say, sometimes you really just need to be creative in order to blend in! Ever wonder if a rooster could hide from the KFC Mafia? Now you know how it might look While not a bird, per se, this is funny on so many levels knowing that a gray squirrel would probably react this way, before trying to bury this giant nut in your lawn. A gray squirrel captured in a photo hugging what may be the worlds largest acorn We've scouted the web and found even more hilarious Bird-related Memes and comics below! Did you know that 'smart' bird feeders are a real thing? Check out this Netvue Birdfy Smart Feeder with auto-capture, motion detection, a mobile app and live streaming capabilities! Click the image to find out more about the Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder and purchase one from Amazon.com - it makes a fantastic gift! The next to cartoons are related to the action we are all most familiar with, birds target-practicing on our shiny, freshly washed and detailed vehicles. If you've even spent time parked under a tree or power lines, you know why these are spot-on! By artist Dave Coverly (from the comic strip known as " speedbumpcomic ", here's the first one we love! That link was for his Instagram page but here is also a link straight to his website ! Have you ever thought to yourself that the birds must be training their young to aim for your car? We can confirm that they most certainly do! This next comic from " BizarroComics.com " and artist Dan Piraro , this is a classic potty-training bird joke that we've seen shared a few times over the years. Well done Dan! Another parent bird trains it's young to hold it until they see a parked car Every household has that one person that just has to carry all of the groceries into the house. In this next comic, (also from Dave Coverly and Speed bump comics , this is wonderfully captured from a bird-grocery delivery perspective. Do you want to attract more species to your bird feeders than you've been getting with bird seed alone? Pro Tip: Try using dried mealworms! They provide lots of protein and calcium and this is critical for birds that are active searching for insects and even those migrating or reproducing. We've found that birds love them and we nearly doubled our "life list" after using mealworms! Click this link -> 5lb bag of dried mealworms to order some today and give it a try! Our next hilarious comic from Dave Coverly features the drawings of the Largest Woodpecker in North America - the Pileated Woodpecker! This hilarious comic shows a neighbor or friend coming over to another woodpecker's house and apparently instead of ringing the doorbell, he just pecked right through the front door! Be sure to check out Speedbump.com for more of these well-thought cartoons. Another theme for birds that people often wonder about, would be the subject of nesting and eggs hatching. while incubation can range from species to species, maybe adults just get tired of waiting and want to induce labor?! OK that's pretty funny to think about from a bird-perspective Well done Off the Mark Comics (artist Mark Parisi ) Artist Scott Metzger from ScottMetzgerCartoons (<-Instagram) made a fantastic reference to seagulls fighting over food and the main character snagged a chip - turns out it was a Kale chip which was not something he was interested in! We've all been there, whether it's a kale chip or a jelly bean of the wrong flavor - we can certainly relate! Our next comic has some very well drawn American Goldfinches perched in a nest high in a tree, and one is explaining to the other that they now have some downstairs roommates. Cartoonist Scott Johnston did a great job with this one! Take a look at more of his work here What can we say, Dave Coverly is probably our favorite bird comic - Here is another fun one of a parent bird telling their small child that they are going to have to learn to fly the old-fashioned way, and NOT with the help of a flight simulator on their computer or tablet. Well done, Dave! Once again that link to view more great works by Dave can be found at Speed Bump Comics Could you imagine the classic fairy tale about leaving a trail of breadcrumbs but narrated by birds, hiking through the forest? Yeah, I'm sure that would end well... but it sure makes for a witty cartoon! Thanks for the laughter, Dave Blazek @ LoosePartsComics ! i think we have all heard the story about the "breadcrumb trail" Thanks for stopping in and checking out some of our favorite bird memes, cartoons and comics, and most importantly, artists! - Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan)

Is Red-Dyed Hummingbird Nectar Safe? You know the stuff… that bottled, cheap red liquid you see at Walmart, your local home improvement store, or even your grocery store. You may even see a neighbor giving it away on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Nextdoor. But what’s the deal? Is it even usable? Is it safe for hummingbirds? Let’s dive in and find out - Is Red-dyed hummingbird nectar safe for your hummingbirds? Several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds gather at a feeder before migrating south The Best DIY Hummingbird Nectar Recipe Before we break down the safety of red-dyed nectar, let’s talk about the best homemade hummingbird nectar recipe. It’s incredibly simple! A juvenile ruby-throated hummingbird enjoys DIY nectar from a red-glass hummingbird feeder The Best DIY Hummingbird Nectar Recipe How to Make Safe Hummingbird Nectar: Add 4 parts water to a small pot and bring to a boil. Stir in 1 part plain white table sugar until fully dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. (For faster cooling, refrigerate briefly.) Thoroughly clean your hummingbird feeder before refilling with fresh nectar. Hang your feeder back up and enjoy watching the hummingbirds! This method is clean, safe, and quick. You don’t have to take our word for it—check out this resource from the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute : DIY Hummingbird Nectar Recipe White table sugar mixed with boiling water is a much safer option when it comes to DIY Hummingbird food A female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird perches for a drink Is Store-Bought Red-Dyed Hummingbird Nectar Safe? Examining Popular Brands One of the most common store-bought nectar products is Perky-Pet Concentrated Hummingbird Nectar Sugar , which claims to be 100% sucrose. Since sucrose is metabolized efficiently by hummingbirds, this seems like a great option at first glance. However, there’s a major issue—it’s dyed red. The Smithsonian and other experts recommend avoiding red dye in nectar . So why do companies like Perky-Pet continue using it? It’s likely a marketing tactic— humans are drawn to the red color , even though birds don’t need it in their nectar. A silhouette of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a feeder Why Red Dye is Bad for Hummingbirds? Hummingbirds are naturally attracted to red flowers and feeders, but that doesn’t mean they need red-dyed nectar. Many experts, including hummingbird researcher Sheri L. Williamson , have publicly criticized the use of red dye in commercial nectar, noting its potential harm to birds. Despite concerns, some manufacturers continue producing red nectar without sufficient safety studies. What are some safe alternatives to Red-Dyed Hummingbird Nectar Instead of using commercial red-dyed nectar, opt for these safe alternatives: Homemade or DIY nectar  (recipe included above) Clear, dye-free commercial nectar( product link here ) Decorative Hummingbird Feeders with red accents instead of red nectar (We've included the top options below for durability and review rating!) Billion Sky Lantern Style Hummingbird Feeder with Red Glass (product link here ) Red glass lantern-style hummingbird feeder Netvue Birdfy Smart Hummingbird Feeder with Solar Charging (product link here or click the image below) We recently reviewed the newer Netvue Birdfy Hum Feeder Duo camera as well, if you're interested in reading about the cool features and possibly shopping for one as well - give the blog a quick read ! Netvue Birdfy Hummingbird Feeder with Solar Charging A gorgeous adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched at a feeder. Our Final Thoughts about Premade or Red-dyed hummingbird nectar So, is red-dyed hummingbird nectar safe ? The answer is no .  While some brands claim to be safe, red dye is unnecessary and likely harmful. Instead, opt for a simple homemade nectar recipe  or a clear, dye-free alternative  to keep your backyard hummingbirds healthy and happy. Are you curious to learn more about hummingbird feeders, nectar, or other backyard birding tips? Let us know in the comments! Thanks for visiting and reading! Is the Premade Clear hummingbird nectar safe for Hummingbirds? Let's talk about this since more and more brands of store-bought nectar are emerging with clear hummingbird nectar products. What's more, they all claim to be safe for the birds. However, if you make your own following the simple recipe above in this blog, and you know that you need to change it every 3-4 days or more frequently than that based on the warm outdoor temps, how can a 'perfectly safe' nectar sit on the shelf for months at a time? Preservatives. Just like a twinkie that would last for years on a shelf - is that something you really want to feed to your feathered visitors? I saw the clear nectar on sale at my local store. is it worth buying while on sale? We did a quick cost-analysis for you. The average cost nationwide for a 4lb box of white table sugar is just a bit more than $3.00. With this one box of sugar you'll be able to mix 2.84 gallons of DIY nectar, and if you only fill your feeders 1/4 full (to reduce the amount of sugar water in your feeders also reduces the spoilage/mold growth!) you can expect to get around 91 refills for your feeders! 91! That's a cost of only $1.08 per gallon. Now if you were to do that math for the leading clear nectars from Perky Pet, Pennington, Kaytee and others, they would be between $9.87 and $63.68 per gallon! So, when you combine the 10-60x more expensive nature of these products and the preservatives - we believe the case is very clear - to make your own hummingbird nectar, every time! With that said - if you're still in the mood to buy some mix instead of the bottled premade solutions, we'll still share a couple of top options below for you: BIRDBROS Nectar Powder - All natural, dye-free, no boiling necessary Hummer's galore USA-made all natural, dye free, preservative free - Birds of West Cobb (Lisa & Dan)

Netvue Birdfy Feeder packaging, front side view. Part of the in-depth product review by Birds of West Cobb In this product review of the Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder , we'll take a look at the product build quality, capacity of the feeder, mounting options, claims made on the packaging and most importantly, the image quality that you can expect from this product as well as a few additional items we found interesting. Please note: Birds of West Cobb is not directly affiliated with the Netvue brand, however we will add a product affiliate link to Amazon at the bottom of the blog post in case you wish to purchase one for yourself, for a friend or relative! Netvue Birdfy Packaging side view, part of the in-depth product review by Birds of West Cobb Netvue Birdfy packaging photo, part of the in-depth product review of this bird feeder by Birds of West Cobb Netvue Birdfy Feeder: What comes in the box? When first unboxing the Netvue Birdfy feeder, you'll notice several main components as shown in the image below. The main feeder body is the white object on the right side of the image, which has the antenna already installed. Below that in the center, is the roof (light blue dome shaped object). On the left-side of the image there is another blue object inside a bag, which is the feeder perch. You'll also see a couple of mounting options are included as well as a small (in our opinion) black plastic baffle. Finally, there is a small box of hardware as well as the Birdfy assembly guide. With help from the assembly guide, you can have the Netvue feeder up and running in under 15 minutes from the time you take it out of the box! The Netvue Birdfy packaging does include a mounting bracket which snaps easily into place and allows you to either mount the Birdfy feeder to a wall, a post, or on top of a pole! In addition, it comes with a long Velcro strap which you can use to mount this feeder (temporarily at best) to a tree or a large post. This is what we used when we tested this Netvue feeder. We would not recommend using it long term because when directly mounted to a tree, squirrels and raccoons can easily climb onto the feeder and can quickly damage it with their razor sharp teeth and claws! Unboxing the Netvue Birdfy Feeder and looking at the contents for the first time - part of the in-depth product review by Birds of West Cobb In the image below, you can see the perch assembly simply slides into place on the front of the feeder, and an included screw that doesn't even require a screw driver binds these together very quickly and easily. We found the assembly of the Netvue Birdfy Feeder to be a breeze thanks to fairly clear instructions and optional components for various mounting options Netvue Birdfy Feeder: What DOESN'T Come in the Box? A Micro SD Card is not included with the feeder (A Micro SD card is necessary for capturing images and video playback on the device). We recommend the SanDisk 128gb size SD card to ensure you have ample space on the card for videos, which will consume storage pretty quickly in contrast to images. Bird Seed or other Bird feed is not included. While this may seem obvious to some, perhaps a small baggie of seed like sunflower or safflower would be helpful for some to get started feeding their feathered friends. Interested in our top bird feed picks? Check out our blog on this topic! (mealworms, suet, seeds and more are discussed.) A Feeder Support Pole is not included with your purchase. If you need a solid pole to mount the feeder to, you can also purchase one from your local bird stores like Wild Birds Unlimited or Birdwatcher Supply Co., but if that is not convenient for you, amazon can deliver one of these to you in a day or two! Netvue Birdfy Feeder: Is Product Assembly Difficult? We found the Netvue Birdfy feeder to be very simple to assemble, charge and install. The perch installs in seconds to the front of the feeder, the roof snaps into place and then rotates downward which locks it securely to the back side of the feeder. The mounting bracket literally installs with a snap, and gives you flexibility into how you can mount it. How would you rate the build quality of the Netvue Birdfy Feeder? We believe the Birdfy feeder is made of a good quality of plastic and acrylic which will hold up to most weather conditions with ease. We had a visit the first night from a sizeable raccoon and the feeder survived with no damage from this visit. (Although we did relocate it afterward for the sake of safety). The battery charged fully in an hour and this also seemed to maintain a decent charge level after several days of use and over 100 visits from our Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins. Netvue Birdfy Feeder: How much bird seed does this feeder hold? The Birdfy camera has a "fill capacity" of 1.5L or 50 ounces. To put this in perspective, this is a bit less than half a gallon. The structure of the feeder is solid and can hold this with ease. Netvue Birdfy Feeder: What is the Image Quality like? Daytime Image Quality? Netvue advertises this camera as a 1080p capable device. Having said that, we were a bit underwhelmed with the overall image quality of the camera. Having used a few $35.00 Wyze home security camera in the past, I would say that the camera quality is about equal to this feeder camera. As close as the birds get, they never seem to be as "in focus" as you might have hoped for. We tested in overcast conditions and direct sunlight, at various times of day. It is our opinion that the camera could be better focused at objects (birds, mammals etc.) which are either on the edges of the perch, or closer. Instead, it seems like the whole image is in focus, including the trees, fences and houses in the background, but the birds which are up very, very close to the lens just aren't quite clear enough. Here are a few samples from our camera, at different times of day. A pair of male Eastern Bluebirds enjoy fresh dried mealworms on a Netvue Birdfy feeder during our product review. Notice the grainy imagery of the birds in this example One issue that we encountered was the resolution defaults to "SD" or standard definition. This equates to 720p which is much more grainy and pixelated when compared to 1080p which is advertised. When you are using the mobile app to "Live View" the feeder camera, you'll need to toggle this to "HD" to get the best results. However, if you set this once and then exit the "Live View" mode, your next visit back will require you making this settings change once again. This is a little frustrating but we felt it could still be tolerable enough to keep it. What made it more difficult for us however, was the fact that whenever the motion sensor is triggered and a video is recorded automatically, this video is always going to be recorded in "SD" or standard definition, and we could not find any setting or help documentation that would allow you to set this permanently to "HD" or High Definition. So this means that while HD viewing is possible, it's a bit of a chore to get it to work and it won't work for any of the automatic recordings. A female Eastern Bluebird inspects the new Netvue Birdfy feeder before eating The images above and below of the female bluebird (above) and the male American Robin (below) were both captured in "HD" or High Definition mode. You can see a pretty significant difference between the quality of images for these compared to the first image of the two male Eastern Bluebirds, but there are some minor color issues (look at the blue sky in the right side of the images) and blurry spots in the field of view (lower-right side of the images). A male American Robin notices the dried mealworm buffet at the new Birdfy Feeder Night Vision Image Quality? Netvue also touts this feeder as having "full color night vision" among it's features. In our tests we found that this is only possible to achieve by turning on the small light that is built into the feeder, by using the mobile app, and then the camera can view and record in color (but only in "live view"). The Night Vision quality is pretty poor for the camera in both black and white (default for recording and live view) and only marginally better with the light turned on temporarily. On this topic, the $35.00 Wyze v3 camera would do a much better job, not to mention it has multiple settings for strength of the IR lighting to illuminate things, while the Birdy camera seems to only have one adjustment which doesn't do much for improving the image quality unfortunately. Netvue Birdfy Feeder night vision review from Birds of West Cobb In the image above, the Netvue Birdy camera alerted me via the mobile app to some motion being captured on the feeder. I opened the app and switched to the live view and noticed first that it was in black & white, and second that you could make out the shape of the creature fairly well but you can almost not see any detail beyond a few long whiskers and the eyeball. Notice that you cannot see a single leaf on the ground below this feeder or any of the nearby trees in the background. Things improved somewhat when I enabled the light, which also allowed the camera to then display the images in color. (But notice "SD" is selected also in the lower portion of the screen). Night vision on the Netvue Birdfy camera looks better in color, a product review of the Netvue Birdfy feeder Could you use the Netvue Birdfy camera as a Security Camera also? Based on the image quality for both the daytime recordings and photographs, as well as the night vision imagery, we would definitely not recommend this bird feeder to be used as a security camera. If the videos or photographs ever made it into court it would be very hard to prove the identity of these persons were accurately captured by this bird feeder camera. Can the Netvue Birdfy Feeder be powered by Solar or a rechargeable battery? In our case, we opted for the rechargeable battery (which is built-in to the feeder). The reason for this is because our yard has nearly 50 trees and there is always shade, even in the winter months. Solar cells need direct sunlight to operate properly and provide the built-in battery pack with enough energy. Both are available though and the price is pretty similar, with the model including the solar panel currently only about $20.00 more. A look inside the Netvue Birdfy feeder Who would appreciate a Netvue Birdfy Feeder as a gift? We can think of a pretty large and diverse group of people that would enjoy learning about the backyard birds and getting a chance to see them up close, but also share recordings with friends and family members. Perhaps you have a mother or father (or both) that enjoy nature and birding, but have trouble identifying those birds that visit. Maybe a classroom or even a church group could make use of one of these and the teacher could use the mobile app to educate the students on some of the local bird species that visit and even migrate through the area. Age ranges could vary significantly but we do feel that this is a gift worth giving to many people in your life. Who would NOT enjoy receiving a Netvue Birdfy Feeder as a gift? (People who you may NOT want to gift a Netvue Birdfy Feeder to) While some people may still enjoy receiving a gift of this type, you should also consider the safety of the birds in this equation. If you have a family member that feeds feral cats or has a number of cats visiting their yard, you may want to skip this gift for them. Additionally, people that travel frequently or for extended periods of time may not get much use out of the feeder as it will run out of food in a few days and need to be refilled / recharged consistently for the best results. Does the Netvue Birdfy Feeder actually deter squirrels or raccoons? Netvue put a note on their packaging that the Netvue Birdfy feeder can deter squirrels. We read into this a bit further and found what they mean by this, is that you have a 2-way radio feature, as well as an audible alarm/siren and a light, all which can be enabled through the mobile App. None of these are automatic and you'd have to be using the "live view" mode constantly to catch a squirrel in the act, and then turn on the microphone and try to talk them into leaving. This will work for a bit but they will get more and more indifferent to your talking, and eventually overrun your feeder anyway. The best thing you can do is mount this feeder to a proper bird pole with a baffle installed. Well okay, what about raccoons? Remember the raccoon images we shared above, in the night vision image quality section? We opened the mobile app, turned on the light and turned it off again many times. The raccoon didn't even seem worried. We enabled the microphone and talked to it gently. Then more harshly. Eventually we tried barking like a dog. The raccoon could definitely hear us, and we could hear it chewing. But this did not deter the raccoon in the slightest from the feeder or the dried mealworms we placed inside. How can I install a Netvue Birdfy Camera to avoid squirrels or raccoons? Any bird feeder, not limited to the Netvue Birdfy, should be placed at least 6 feet above the ground, and at minimum 6-8 feet from any trees or structures (fences, deck posts, roof overhang etc.) so that squirrels cannot jump onto the feeder. Further, we don't just recommend installing a baffle, we absolutely require it! Okay we can't require you to do anything, but to ensure your feeders get a long life and avoid definite destruction, yes, a baffle and a decent pole are going to come in handy. We recommend a 4"x4" pressure treated post, with a large "raccoon baffle" like this one . We've had ours in place for a couple of years now and zero raccoons or squirrels have made it to the bird food placed above. Can the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Identify Birds Automatically? The Netvue Birdfy camera can identify birds automatically, using their software with Ai to quickly alert you to the new species detected. The Netvue Birdfy is one of the two leading brands currently in the market and can identify with relatively high degree of accuracy, over 6,000 species of birds. The average person will only see 30-40 species on their feeders, over the course of months or even years, and this number is strongly based on the type of the bird seed (or other feed) that you put in the feeders. The 6,000 figure is nice to know though, as it could come in handy in many different locations! Is the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Weatherproof? The Netvue Birdfy camera is rated IP65 Water Resistant . It includes plastic and acrylic construction mean that it's durable and can withstand wind, rain, snow and wide temperature swings. Are you curious to know what IP65 means, in terms of testing and overall product durability? Here is an article explaining the ins and outs of the IP65 product certification. Is the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Mobile App helpful? We tested the Netvue Birdfy mobile app with a Samsung Galaxy series Android smart phone. We found the app to be fairly easy to navigate, make changes to the settings for the camera and make use of the two-way-microphone and additional "live view" settings, and accessing your captured moments, which are basically video clips of all of the visitors to your feeder. How Far Can the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Camera See? The main purpose of the Netvue Birdfy feeder is to spot birds that are feasting on seeds or other bird feed while on the perch. This distance is only a matter of several inches, and the details vary based on lighting conditions, shadows, and the "SD" or standard definition version "HD" or high definition settings being adjusted. However, in our feeder view you can see trees and houses in the background several hundred feet away. These are not very detailed, and you can zoom some, but you will not see much clearly from these distant objects when you have zoomed in. Can I Connect the Netvue Birdfy Feeder to Other Smart Home Devices? At the time of writing this blog, you cannot connect the Netvue Birdfy feeder to other Smart Home devices like Alexa, Google Home or others. Is the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Worth the Price? In terms of value, we do think this bird feeder is a great concept and can provide many hours of entertainment, which can lead to more education and environmental awareness. Assisting people with bird identification has always been challenging, and the Birdfy feeder is certainly on the right track. While we do wish the image quality was a bit better, it does the job quite well and includes a large number of features that you may have paid hundreds or thousands of dollars for just a few years ago. While we probably wouldn't recommend this to a serious wildlife photographer that has thousands of dollars in camera gear, we would certainly recommend it for the hobbyist or the curious family member that wants to learn more about nature, and more specifically wild birds. To Summarize, this review was specifically written about the Netvue Birdfy 1 Smart Bird Feeder (original model). Our version did not include the Solar Panel for charging, although the camera and other features are the same as the version which includes that component. There are now additional models designed with different feeder styles including a hummingbird feeder model, a nest box model, and also a newer variation called the Netvue Birdfy Pro, which includes a detachable camera which makes things easier for cleaning and which is rated at IP66, but still is only listed at 1080p. If it defaults to SD, and has to be toggled constantly to HD like the Netvue Birdfy 1, we feel a little like this is false advertising. However, the overall build quality, the assistance in identifying backyard birds and capturing images of them up close is still very much worth the purchase cost. Do any of our readers have the Netvue Birdfy Pro models? We'd love to hear your opinion on the comments below! 👇 What are some Common Problems people experience with the Netvue Birdfy Feeder? We read through many reviews from other people on Amazon and Walmart's websites, and found that a few people experienced issues with battery life (although the number of complaints was quite small) and some users/purchasers struggled to get the WiFi setup completed and needed to open a support ticket with Netvue to get this addressed. Most modern-day routers have options of 2 different channels for the network; 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz. Theoretically, 2.4Ghz is better for transmitting data over longer distances, and this may be the reason Netvue decided to only make their camera connection available via the 2.4Ghz channel. You may want to check your router configuration to see if 2.4Ghz is enabled, or even available, before purchasing and starting the configuration of the device. Is the Netvue Birdfy Feeder Suitable for Apartment Balconies? When it comes to installing a bird feeder of any type at a rental property, whether it is a house, condo or apartment, be sure to review your rental lease agreement for specifics that could outline feeding wildlife as it could cause you to be held liable for damage from rodents, additional cleanup fees or lawn damage from the hulls of the seeds decaying in the lawn. Additionally, your landlord could keep your deposit if you violate terms of your rental agreement. With that being said, a Netvue Birdfy feeder could be used if it meets the rental agreement and it could be mounted to pole with baffle down near the ground or on a temporary pole on your deck or balcony. For obvious reasons, you won't want to mount anything permanent that requires screws or nails or bolts, which could damage or weaken the structure. Thanks for reading our product review of the Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder! Are you interested in purchasing a Netvue Birdfy Feeder for your friends or family? Follow either of these links to make your purchase on Amazon today: Netvue Birdfy Feeder or Netvue Birdfy Feeder with Solar Panel Thanks for reading and we hope you found our review helpful! -BOWC

In this blog, we'll attempt to help you answer the question " What is that red bird on my bird feeder ?" Please keep in mind this blog is based in the Southeastern United States (Birds of West Cobb is located in Marietta, Georgia) Spike, our resident male Northern Cardinal relaxes after a long day at the office. What are the most common Red Birds to see at your bird feeder in the Southeast? Here in the Southeastern United States, you are most likely to see one of these 7 birds which are very red, or somewhat red. There are a few species here that you might not expect! In the order of "most red" to "least red" here they are: Northern Cardinal House Finch Purple Finch Red-headed Woodpecker Scarlet Tanager Red-bellied Woodpecker Rose-breasted Grosbeak The Male Northern Cardinal is very likely to be the most common Red-colored Bird visiting your bird feeders in the South. Probably the most popular as well, Northern Cardinals are usually the answer to the question "What is that red bird on my bird feeder?" They are gorgeous birds without a question, but only the Male's feathers are bright red, and they will be brightest in Spring and Summer months! Did you know that Cardinals generally do NOT migrate? They will stay in the same area year-round and don't seem to mind the seasons changing! Here is another interesting fact for you: The Northern Cardinal has been selected as the official state bird of 7 different states! (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia). While the male is typically bright red with a bit of black around the beak and eyes, the female is usually brown with an orange/red beak. Here are some photos for you of the male and female Northern Cardinal to help you identify them on your feeders! The Male House Finch will likely be your second most common Red Bird to see at your bird feeders House Finches are extremely common on feeders in the Southeast, but they were actually native to the Western United States originally and spread throughout the country. They often build nests inside of hanging plants, or in retail store sign lettering. You may even here them singing a a happy "Cheap cheap cheap" call when they are nearby in trees or shrubbery. While they are generally not a species that migrates in the Winter, you may see more than usual in Winter as some of the Northern Birds will migrate. Similar to the Northern Cardinal, the House Finch male is typically the red bird of the pair, and the female is usually quite plain in appearance. Here are some photos for you of the House Finches: The Male Purple Finch is another Red Bird that you can expect to see at your Bird Feeders in the Southeast. More often than not, you may only see a Purple finch as they pass through during Spring or Autumn migration. Some will migrate here and even spend the Winter in the South. It looks similar to the House finch but does appear more Purple than red in some lighting! I've heard from several people that they were pretty confident they'd seen Purple Finches on their feeders here in the Metro-Atlanta area. For us though, it's really not very common. We usually see the House Finches (above) far more often and only see the Purple Finches (shown below) in early Spring when they are likely migrating back to their Summer homes. They appear slightly larger than House Finches and the coloration spreads to their wings and down their bellies to their tales as well. it is also, as the name suggests, more on the purplish side of red, instead of red. (although it is fairly close to both purple and red!) An adult male Purple Finch quickly grabs a safflower seed from the deck railing An adult male Purple Finch (coloration extends through the wings and tail feathers, unlike the House Finch) perches on a tube feeder full of safflower and other mixed seeds Red-headed Woodpeckers (Male & Female) is another bird with lots of Red coloration that you can expect to see on your bird feeders. This photo was captured in Duluth, Georgia at my parent's home. They've had a nesting couple nearby for years and there is almost always one at the feeder visiting while I am spending time with my parents. The male and female BOTH have the completely red head, it is truly wonderful to see with the bright contrasting white and black on the wings, breast and head. A Red-headed Woodpecker visits a feeder in Duluth, GA where he resides Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Male & Female) are very common birds with Red head and belly feathers, which you can expect to see at your bird feeders. The Red-Bellied woodpeckers are favorites of ours. The male has a full-red patch extending from his shoulders all the way to just before the beak. The female has red in the same area, but it is broken up with a patch of warm grey between the back of the head and the beak. In the right lighting (and viewing angles) you can also see the hint of red on the bellies that they are so well known for! The Male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have an incredibly contrasting Red, black and white pattern. These are also migratory birds for most of the South, but always a treat to spot on the feeders! The coloration differences between the male and female are basically completely opposite sides of the spectrum. The male (shown below in most photos) is bright red, black and white while the female is brown (multiple shades) and white. You may not even recognize her until you see a male along with her. The colors on the male sure are impressive to witness! Scarlet Tanager (Spring/Summer Plumage = Red, Winter Plumage - Not red!) The Scarlet Tanager will typically be seen in Georgia and around the Southeast during migration, where the majority of the red has turned to Yellow for Winter months. In this photo (below) you can still see the hints of red on the chin as well as on the belly! In Spring they will be entirely red and black with white accents on the wings and tail! A Scarlet Tanager visits Marietta, GA during the Autumn migration South. This bird will have fully red/black plumage in the Spring and Summer months! What are the best bird seed options for attracting these types of Red birds to my feeder? Black Oil Sunflower Seed This is one of our top picks for a large variety of backyard birds. You'll find anything from House Finches and Cardinals to the migratory Grosbeaks feasting on this seed type. It's readily available in many stores and you can buy it in bulk to save money as well! We've found that the shell-removed or "hulled" sunflower cuts way down on the mess below the feeders though, and we strongly recommend this over the regular sunflower seed options. Here is a link to some on Amazon so you can give it a try! Hulled Sunflower Seed 10lb bag Safflower Seed This is probably our favorite seed type for attracting Red Birds or any other seed-eating birds. The seeds themselves are slightly smaller than Sunflower or Black-oil Sunflower seeds, and typically squirrels do not find them as appetizing. (Over time they will change their mind though if food is scarce). The seed is an off-white color and it makes for some great photographic captures! Here is a link so you can purchase a 10lb bag of Safflower Seed Seed mixtures Seed mixtures can be purchased and as long as they cover the types above you will do very well to attract a large variety of birds, including red birds, to your backyard bird feeders. Some seed mixtures will contain a large percentage of filler or "millet" seed, which is largely going to fall out of the feeders and onto the ground which attracts rodents. For that reason, we try to avoid the millet and go with something like this " Special Feeder Mix " from Cole's Bird Seed. We have had incredible results with it in the past few years! C&S Suet Nuggets We've found enormous success with many birds eating these beyond just woodpeckers. This includes Cardinals on occasion, and even the Grosbeaks pictured above. Definitely check these small balls of suet out! Once your birds find them, definitely try to remain consistent with your food offerings and they will come back again and again! Here is the link to a 3-bag pack , however, if you find the same success that we did - you may want to get the 8lb box Suet Nuggets of them for nearly the same price! We uploaded a video to YouTube showing off some of the visitors that enjoy C&S Suet Nuggets - this clip was comprised of visitors all within 20-25 minutes one morning!

A quick video showing the capture of a Chipmunk with a reusable, ethical trap. This is ideal for relocating the chipmunks to a nearby park. In a previous blog post we wrote about an effective trap for removing yellow jackets from your property. This time, let's take a look at the best way to remove Chipmunks from your yard. We'll discuss using poisons, electronic traps, stopping the bird feeding completely, and finally the best way - using bird-safe, humane traps so they can be relocated, safely and unharmed, to a nearby park or vacant property. A Chipmunk sits below a bird-feeder pole and waits for fresh seed to drop down below Why would you want to remove Chipmunks from your yard? They are cute, fairly quiet (until they aren't) and pose no physical threat to us humans. Unless you were to step in a recently burrowed chipmunk hole while mowing the lawn. Or if a chipmunk hole and tunnel were abandoned and it collapsed in the rain and now you have a small sinkhole in the yard you need to fill. Worst of all, an abandoned chipmunk hole is a prime candidate for a queen yellow jacket to move into in the warmer Spring months and start building a new colony of serious hurt. A young chipmunk poses near it's burrow, just after rain stopped falling. Okay, okay, I see why you might want to get rid of the furry critters. But why can't we all just coexist? Chipmunks are a type of small-to-medium sized rodents. Rodents are famously known for their ability to breed and populate very quickly. If you are big into bird feeding like we are, you're likely generating a lot of waste seed from birds (above) in the feeders. This waste seed will eventually attract chipmunks, squirrels and possibly some other rodents including mice or even rats. So to put it simply, you're feeding the chipmunks and they are just going to use that food as fuel to rapidly procreate and then replicate. The holes they create in your yard will quickly attract other pests! It's a vicious cycle, no doubt! A plump chipmunk stuffs his cheeks with seeds before dropping them off in his storage cellar and returning for more shortly after. The first couple of years we saw a few chipmunks around and didn't think much of it. Then suddenly it seemed like they were all over the yard. It has taken some time to get them back to a much smaller number and occasionally we see one again. If you see more than 2-3 at a time you need to be capturing them and relocating them quickly or the population will literally explode! A young adult Chipmunk pauses in the morning light for a photo, before scurrying away My neighbor said I should use poison to take care of the chipmunk problem. What do you think? Poison has been used for hundreds of years to rid the world of rodents. It works, but there are sadly several far-reaching ecological side effects and we strongly recommend against poisons for these reasons. A sick/poisoned chipmunk can then be eaten by a hawk or an owl, a raccoon, possum, or even a house cat or your next door neighbor's dog, if not your own! Additionally, if it's poison pellets it's very likely that birds will certainly find this poison and ingest it as well, which will certainly end up killing them. Some of the many birds that we see eating from the ground include: Carolina Wrens, Winter Wrens, House Wrens Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows Brown Thrashers Rufous-sided or Eastern Towhees Northern Cardinals Hermit Thrushes, Swainson's Thrush Pine Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tennessee Warblers Eastern Wild Turkeys Brown Thrashers are often seen below bird feeders looking for worms and grubs and could mistake a poison pellet for a snack as well. Another reason you would likely want to consider if the reasons above don't deter you, is the location of the dead chipmunks. You can't choose where they will end up when they finally kick the bucket. They could end up in a downspout on your home, under the deck or front porch in an inaccessible spot. Then they will start to rot and stink. Before you know it, you'll have ants crawling all over in addition to the smell. Nobody wants or needs that! This is Owlejandro, our local Barred Owl. He would appreciate it if you wouldn't poison his food sources! Okay I see some folks using electronic rodent traps that kill their targets in an instant. How would these work for Chipmunks? We've seen those around the back of our local grocery store and strip mall as well. These electronic traps are considered fairly humane because they are intended to instantly kill their targets pests, but they are actually designed for other rodents (rats) which would be snooping around in these locations where there may be nesting materials or food nearby. Chipmunks are really after your birdseed and that's about it. Plus, these are quite expensive and require recharging as well. If you have a mouse or rat problem, an electronic trap would be an excellent and humane option for reducing the number of these rodents. But for Chipmunks, we would go another route. A white throated sparrow, which is often seen eating on the ground, is a great reason NOT to use poison pellets for removing rodents from your yard. What trap should I use for catching chipmunks? We have been using a very simple trap, and also a very easy baiting technique I was able to capture nearly all of them and move them to a park just a few miles down the road. I've been using simple 2-door metal traps similar to Havahart branded traps for a few decades now. They are extremely durable, reusable, easy to clean, and simply work time and time again. I have a pair of these traps designed for small-to-medium sized rodents and since we have multiple bird feeders stations, it makes better use of my time capturing and taking them to the park two at a time. A close-up photo of a young, fluffy chipmunk on the cement walkway behind our house What do you use for bait for chipmunks? If you already have chipmunks hanging around under your bird feeders, they are used to the seed that they are finding each day. With one of these metal traps, toss a small bit of that seed straight into the trap and just wait about 20-30 minutes. If you try to make it fancy or add something like peanut butter, you may actually make them a bit suspicious and you will have less success capturing chipmunks. Where is the best place to set the chipmunk trap? I usually place one of these humane traps under each of the bird feeder stations. The reason i like to place the traps below these feeder stations is similar to the reason I choose to stick with the seed that the chipmunks are used to. They are already going to these bird feeder areas to get seed like they would any other day. They then smell a little pile of fresh seeds and head right for it. It's super easy and takes less time out of your day or weekend. How do I transport the trapped chipmunks once they've been captured? On the topic of " What is the best way to remove Chipmunks from your yard? " - Once you've trapped them, you'll want to put on some leather work gloves, and then just carry the trap out to the trunk of your car with the built-in carry handle. I recommend placing some cardboard or a trash bag under the traps though because the chipmunks will be pretty excited about being in your trunk and will definitely eject some seeds from their cheeks. When you get to the park, just carry the trap to some grass or some pinestraw covered area, pop open one of the doors on the trap and wait a few seconds. The little chipmunks will come firing out of the door just like a cannon as soon as they realize they are free again! I've included a product link below 👇 for the specific trap model we've been using now for several years. Rather than poison, or expensive electronic countermeasures, we strongly recommend you try out one of these Havahart style traps instead. Thanks for reading! 🙏 What are the top traps for removing Chipmunks from your yard? Havahart 1-door trap Homesmart chipmunk trap (similar to Havahart) 2-Pack Animal Deterrent Sonar / Rodent Repeller -BoWC (Lisa & Dan)