Birds of Birdland: Kingfisher

The Kingfisher is a small to medium sized bird with very bright colors. Some scientists treat them as either a single family or a suborder that has three families: the river kingfisher, the tree kingfisher, and the water kingfisher. Overall, there are 90 different species of kingfisher and all have larger heads with long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and very stubby tails. Most of them have very bright, beautiful plumage with only minor differences between the sexes.

They eat a very wide variety of different things - from fish to insects - and they love to swoop down and catch their prey. They are famous for hunting and eating a wide variety of fish and some species of kingfisher specialize in catching only fish. Other species of kingfisher love to eat crustaceans, frogs, worms, molluscs, spiders, centipedes, insects, and other amphibians as well as some snakes. Depending on where they live will also affect what their diet consists of, as

woodland and forest kingfishers will often eat mainly insects, such as grasshoppers, and those that live near the water will specialize more in fish. Just about all kingfishers will hunt from an exposed perch, watching for prey to peek it's head out, then swooping down to get it, and returning to the perch. Larger prey is beaten against the perch so that it is killed and any bones and spines are dislodged or broken so that the bird can eat it.

Kingfishers are a very territorial species and they vigorously defend their breeding areas. They are normally monogamous, even though some cooperative breeding has been observed in some species.

Like all birds in the Coraciiformes order, kingfishers are cavity nesters and most dig holes in the ground for their nests. These holes are normally in earth banks near rivers, lakes, or ditches and some might even nest in trees, where the earth is clinging to the roots of an uprooted tree, or in nests of termites. Normally, their nests have a small chamber at the end of a tunnel and the digging duties are shared. At the beginning for the excavation, a bird may fly at the chosen site with a very considerable force and many birds injure themselves fatally by doing this. Different species of kingfishers have different lengths that they like to use for the tunnel, and it also depends on where they are building their nests as well. Some species, like the Giant Kingfisher, have had tunnels that have been found to be over 8 meters long.

Since kingfishers are generally shy birds, they are generally mentioned heavily in human culture due to their bright plumage and interesting behaviors. There are some species of kingfisher that are threatened by human activities and are actually in danger of becomming extinct. From habitat loss to introduced species that are running them out of their normal homes and food supplies, there are several of them that are placed on the conservation lists.

How To Save Money On Wild Birdseed

When it comes to luring in wild birds into your yard, buying different types of seeds can get expensive. And, if money is tight, sometimes feeding your wild feathered friends can fall to the back burner. So, how do you save money on wild birdseed instead of trying to buy the expensive stuff all year round? Here are some helpful tips and suggestions that you can try:

1. Buy Bulk: A lot of time mixes and seeds can be bought in different size bags and the larger bags have a better price per pound. Buying bigger bags can also mean that you have more seed on hand and you won't have to buy as frequently.

2. Grow A Birdseed Garden: Believe it or not, but birdseed is very easy to grow and the natural seed will attract even more birds than filled feeders. How do you do this? We have a special two-part blog that shows you exactly what to plant to draw in wild birds and keep them coming back. Saving some of these seeds when they fall off can also help you save up some free seed for the winter or times when you can't affort to purchase a bag.

3. Buy Better Seed: Higher quality seed such as hulled sunflower chips might be more expensive, but they will also not be overfilled with filler seeds that only a few birds will eat. Instead, they are filled with higher quality seed that all birds love and you won't waste as much seed.

4. Offer Alternatives: A lot of birds will eat more than just birdseed.

Consider adding in nectar, chopped fruit, bread scraps, or other types of food to your feeders in addition to or in replacement of seeds.

5. Shop Around: Watch for sales on bird seed at some local feed stores and when the "birdwatching" season (Spring and Fall) are over. Sometimes you can find great deals on stores that are trying to clear out their shelves for new items.

6. Use Efficient Feeders: Watch your bird feeders and how much seed is being emptied. You might be surprised to find out that you're feeding more than just birds - such as squirrels, deer, raccoons, and so on. You can purchase feeders with built in cages or smaller feeding ports so that it will deter some of the non-feathered feeders.

Hopefully these tips will help you to save money on bird seed so that you can still enjoy your wild bird friends throughout the year - even if money is tight.

How To Make Your Bird Comfortable When Bathing

Since there are some birds that are not comfortable with bathing yet, you might have to try several things to help get them used to the water and to bathing. There are several different options that you can try to get your bird comfortable when bathing so that you can figure out what they will enjoy and what will work the best for them an dyou. Some birds will love the feeling of a trickling shower, some prefer a fine mist, others prefer to dunk themselves in a small pool of water - but remember that every bird is different. If you are having a hard time getting your bird to take a bath, try one of these three suggestions:

1. Shower For Two: Since birds are naturally social creatures, many birds will enjoy taking a bath with their owner. There are even some special bird products that you can purchase for this shower time, such as sprayers and shower perches. If you decide to introduce your friend to a shower, it's better to do so with a lot of patience. Allow your bird to watch you in the show before trying to get them to join you. Let your bird decice on their own that the shower is a friendly thing and not something that will hurt it.

2. Soothing Mist: Sometimes a fine mist from a spray bottle is the best way to get a bird use to water and to give them a bath without too much shock. Since a lot of caged birds originate from warm, tropical, or humid climates, the spray can help to rehydrate their nasal cavities as well as help clean them. If you want to go this route, make sure that you have only clean, warm water in the spray bottle. Use only a brand new spray bottle, not anything that you've used for another purpose. This way, you can be sure that there are no chemical residues in the bottle that can harm your bird.

3. Dip In The Sink: If these two suggestions don't work, you can always try a dip in the sick. Pool a bit of warm water in your sink and have your bird step down into it. There is a great chance that your bird's natural bathing instinct will take over and they will be happily splashing away in no time. If you have a smaller bird that is reluctant to stand in the sink, try to cup the water in your palms and let your pet sit on the side of your thumb. Sometimes just knowing that you are there and feeling your hands under their feet will help them and it will be a great bonding experience for both of you.

Take a good look at your bird's reactions to these different suggestions and take note of the one that your bird likes the most. Of course, this is only half of the bathing equation when it comes to birds. You also need to figure out how often your bird needs a bath as well as how to coax a picky or flighty bird into the bath.

How To Bathe Your Bird

Just like any pet, birds too need baths. The problem comes when new owners aren't sure about how to bathe birds and some birds haven't been conditioned to accept baths yet. Many tamed birds don't realize that daily showers would be a part of their natural daily grooming activities in the wild. It can take an effort on your part to learn what grooming methods will work the best for your new bird, but even the most reluctant birds can be conditioned to accept it. Here are some helpful rules to follow when bathing your bird:

1. Plain clear water ONLY: Even though some pet stores and companies offer commercial "bird shampoos", the best way to wash a bird is with plain water. Since birds produce a special oil that they preen their feathers with, soap can easily strip this oil away and cause health problems with your friend.

2. Bathe only during the warmest part of the day: Wet birds can easily get chilled and this can be a major health hazard. So, make sure that you bathe your bird during the warmest part of the day so that their feather's have a chance to dry completely before the temperature drops before nightfall. You also want to make sure that your home isn't too cold inside before you give your bird a bath.

3. Water temperature is key: Make sure that you check the water temperature before you allow your bird to get in it. Too hot or too cold water can shock a bird's system, or cause serious health problems like burns. Always check the temperature of the water before hand and make sure that it isn't too hot or cold. It should be right at room temperature or lukewarm.

4. Don't saturate your bird's feathers: Since wild birds don't allow their feathers to get completely soaked through, you should not allow this either. This can lead to your bird losing body heat and impare their flight.

5. Don't rush or force your bird: If your bird seriously fights against bathing, you want to make sure that you ease them into bathing. It might take a while for them to be completely comfortable, but it will happen. If you force your bird to get in the water or rush them to do so, they may rebel against it even more.

Simply follow these few rules when bathing your bird and you will find that they will start to truly enjoy bathing.

What You Should Plant In Your Yard To Attract Birds

Believe it or not, but the different types of flowers in your yard can have an effect on what type of birds visit you. Now, you need to start planning out your yard in the winter so that you are prepared and ready when Spring rolls around to start planing your yard with beautiful flowers and flowering shurbs. But how do you even get started?

The first place that you want to start with with trees and bushes. These are the places that birds will roost and sit when they are looking for new things to do, eat, and see. Bushes that produce flowers will help to provide both a hiding place as well as a food source for birds, as they attract insects too. Trees that produce large leaves will help to provide a good shady place to hide and those that produce fruits, nuts, or flowers will offer food for them as well.

When it comes to flowers, there are plenty of beautiful choices that you can pick from - in fact, there are so many that it can be hard to pick sometimes. One of the staples that you will want to plant every year are daisies. There are several varieties to choose from and they all offer a very nutritious, yummy seed that birds love. Just remember that when the daisies stop blooming, don't pinch off the dead blooms - leave them there. These provide a very yummy treat for finches, sparrows, cardinals, and towhes.

Zinnias are also an excellent choice to plant because birds also love their

seeds. Plus, this is probably one of the easiest flowers to grow. It offers a wide variety of colors, and they blooms are very large. Plus, it will entice tons of butterflies into your garden and yard as well - which not only provide food for birds but they also help to polinate flowers and keep them growing and blooming year after year. I would recommend planting several different patches of zinnias throughout your yard so that you can enjoy different birds and butterflies constantly.

Want to lure hummingbirds into your yard? It's not that hard, if you know what to plant. One of the main things that you need to know is that, just like a bull, hummingbirds are attracted to red. They will check out any spec of red in a landscape - from flowers to cars to feeders to a scarf around your neck. So, plant plenty of red flowers in your yard and try to find bushes that produce red flowers as well. There are tons of beautiful hybrid flowers that now come in red but they might not offer the nectar that hummingbirds crave, so make sure that you're going with some heirloom flowers that will attract them for the nectar while adding in some red to pull them in. Some of the best flowers for hummingbirds include: fuchsias, coral bells, bee balm, hybiscus, and petunias. They also love trumpet-shaped flowers and will investigate anything that resembles this shape. If they find nectar there, they'll come back again and again.

How To Attract Breeding Birds In The Fall - Pt 2

Now that you know what foods to offer the birds when you set out feed, what are some other ways that you can attract birds to your yard in the fall and winter? Easy, offer them a water source. Fresh, unfrozed water is sometimes harder to come by than food for birds during the winter months. So, if you can offer them water, they will always remember that they can go there.

For those that live in areas that get a lot of snow or freezing temps, it's a good idea to find a heated bird bath that will keep the water from freezing up. There are some that look like large rocks that sit on the ground with a heater built in the bottom. Others look like normal bird baths with a heater in the bottom of the bowl and a plug in at the base that will hide it from the weather. There are also heating elements that you can buy that will soak in the bird bath itself and turn on when the water starts to freeze.

Always keep in mind that offering water to your birds that will not freeze over throughout the winter will mean more to them than anything else.

So how about feeders? I mean, we haven't talked about that yet right? A specific feeder design isn't really as vital to getting birds to your yard as you might think. You can spend as much, or as little, as you want on feeders. As long as they offer the food in a way that birds can get it, they will work. Here are some of the different ways that you can offer food that will appeal to different kinds of birds:

1. Spread the feed on the ground: Some sparrows and other birds enjoy eating on or near the ground. So, you will find that throwing out a handfull or two will bring in those birds that love to feed off the ground.

2. Hanging feeders: When you purchase hanging feeders, you want to make sure that they are placed somewhere that water will not build up in the bottom and rot the food. There are plenty of different types of hanging feeders that will really be beneficial to the birds and will bring you in different types of birds. If you are trying to attract specific birds, such as finches, make sure that you purchase the feeders that are designed for them.

3. Homemade feeders: Believe it or not, but birds don't look for designer labels. Some of the very best feeders can be made right at home. In fact, one excellent design is to hollow out a coconut leaving a round hole in two sides (about an inch in diameter or so), wrap it with small wire, and suspend it from a tree. Smaller birds especially will love this one and it's a fun project to make with kids. You can also sink a post in the ground, put a platform on the top with molding around the edges to keep the seeds on with a small area at each end for water to run off, and you have another cheap, homemade bird feeder.

Remember that it doesn't matter what types of bird feeders you have in your yard - as long as you keep them filled and keep a fresh, unfrozen water source, you'll attract breeding birds all year long. Make sure that you read the first part of this blog to ensure that you are planting the right things in your yard to attract more wild birds.

How To Attract Breeding Birds In The Fall - Pt 1.

When it comes to attracting breeding pairs into your backyard, Spring is usually the time. But what if you want to attract those that will breed in the fall and stay throughout the winter while their babies hatch and grow? Can it be done? Of course it can, if you simply know what to do.

Many people don't start feeding birds until severe or cold weather breaks out, and they are missing out on some prime time to lure new birds to their yards. Fall is the real season to begin feeding birds, even if there are natural foods that are abundant around your yard, or around the area. And, since some of these natural foods are readily available, you may not see a massive influx of birds into your yard just yet. Instead they are out gathering up those natural goodies that they love.

The birds that will visit your feeders however are mainly scouting out food sources that will be available when the natural foods they love dry up for the winter. For example, the red-bellied woodpecker and the tufted titmouse will always scout out feeders, food sources, and safe places to nest during the winter months well in advance of the bad weather setting in.

Keep this in mind: cold will increase the calorie requirements that

birds have and it will happen right at the time that normal food becomes harder to get. The insects stop flying and wiggling around, tree buds are suddenly iced over, wild fruits are no longer growing, and so on. So, birds have to be ready for the weather, which is why they take plenty of time to figure out where the food supply will be when they will really need it. They note where food will be available, they locate alternatives when it comes to natural food sources, and they take inventory of contingent provisions.

It's always a good thing to have your yard included in their inventories of where food will be. If birds discover that your yard is worth visiting, they will remember that. And, when they first snow storm hits that kills off their natural food sources, they'll be in your yard right away. Chirping, hungry, and calling to their friends that they found food.

To attract these birds to your yard, you want to make sure that you offer a variety of the following foods:

1. Black oil sunflowers

2. White millet

3. Niger

4. Safflower

5. Cracked corn

6. Broken nuts

7. Suet (in hanging baskets for woodpeckers)

8. Chopped up fruits (for birds of all types)

You can buy these seeds and feed at most major discount stores, and at specialty pet or animal stores. If you are interested in buying fruits for the birds, make sure that you read up on the particular fruits that are native to your area, such as apples, peaches, strawberries, and more. These are the fruits that will attract birds that will stay throughout the winter.

In the next part of this "how to" blog, we'll show you other tricks that you can use to ensure that birds are constantly visiting your yard throughout the winter months as well as breeding there.