Susan's Bird Gardens

Boreal Birds – Nature Sounds Relaxation – Goldfinches

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:00:01 +0000

The birds are at the bird feeder in the boreal forest. I set up the camera to record some goldfinches, purple finches, and nuthatches. Relax and enjoy! Check out www.naturesounds.ca for mp3 audio nature sounds samples and files. Video Rating: 4 / 5 Share this:

American Goldfinch – Habitats

admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:39:49 +0000

American Goldfinch - Preferred Habitats

The American Goldfinch prefers open country where weeds thrive, such as fields, meadows, flood plains, as well as roadsides, orchards, and gardens. It may also be found in open deciduous and riparian woodlands and areas of secondary growth. This habitat preference continues during the spring and autumn migrations.

Ranges of the American Goldfinch...

The summer breeding range stretches across North America from coast to coast. It is bounded on the north by Saskatchewan and stretches south across North America to North Carolina on the east coast, and northern California on the west coast. The American Goldfinch is a short-distance migrant, moving south in response to colder weather and lessened food supply. The migration is completed in compact flocks, which travel in an erratic, wavelike flight pattern.

American Robin – Raising Its Young

admin — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:13:25 +0000

American Robin – From Chicks to Fledglings

The American Robin favors breeding habitats in woodland, open farmland, and even urban areas. It breeds only rarely in the southern United States, and there prefers large shade trees on lawns. The American Robin begins to breed shortly after returning to its summer range. It is one of the first North American bird species to lay eggs, and normally has two to three broods per breeding season, which lasts from April to July.

Nest

The nest is built by the female alone. It is most commonly located 5–15 feet above the ground, in a dense bush or in a fork between two tree branches. The outer foundation consists of long coarse grass, twigs, paper, and feathers. Inside it’s lined with smeared mud, and cushioned with fine grass or other soft materials. A new nest is built for each brood.

American Goldfinch – Raising Their Young

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:43:35 +0000

American Goldfinch – How They Raise Their Young

Image via Flickr

The American Goldfinch begins its breeding season later in the year than any other finch. This may be related to the abundance of seeds in the late summer months, as seeds represent the majority of their diet.

Courtship

The courtship rituals of the American Goldfinch include aerial maneuvers and singing by males, who begin courtship in late July. The flight displays begin as the male pursues the female, who flies in zigzagging evasive patterns. The male is able to signal his quality and fitness through bill color and plumage. If a female accepts the male as a mate, the pair will fly in wide circles as the male warbles throughout the flight.

The American Robin

admin — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:43:39 +0000

The American Robin - Up Close And Personal

The American Robin or North American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. It is named after the European Robin because of its reddish-orange breast, though the two species are not closely related. (The European robin belongs to the flycatcher family.)

Description...

The American Robin is 10–11 inches long with a wingspan ranging from 12.2–16 inches, and averages about 2.7 oz in weight. The head varies from jet black to gray, with white eye. The throat is white with black streaks, and the belly and undertail coverts are white. The Robin has a

The American Goldfinch

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:20:35 +0000

The American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary, is a small North American bird in the finch family.

It is migratory, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter. The only finch in its subfamily which undergoes a complete molt, the adult male American Goldfinch is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months.

The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. The female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The immature American Goldfinch has a dull brown back, and the underside is pale yellow. The shoulders and tail are dull black with buff-colored, rather than white, markings on wings and rump. This coloration is the same in both genders.

Bird Garden Designs

admin — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:10:08 +0000

Image via Flickr

Tips For Successful Bird Garden Designs

Have you ever thought about bird garden designs? Birds are a beautiful part of nature. Watching these winged souls flutter about the yard can be a relaxing experience. If you enjoy their presence you may want to consider creating a bird garden of your own. This will help attract an assortment of birds for your observation pleasures. Below are some tips on bird garden designs which you may find interesting.

The first step in designing a bird garden is to understand exactly what a bird garden is NOT. Many people mistakenly think it's some sort of elaborately themed garden. As well, they are reluctant to build a bird habitat for fear that it will be an expensive venture. This is untrue. Creating a bird garden is simply making your yard bird friendly. This requires little money and only minimal effort.

Bird Watching News – Mar 16, 2012

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:18:05 +0000

This Week's Bird-Watching News

Image via Flickr

We found some bird watching news just perfect for the season. The first one will warm your heart! A grampa tells how birdwatching has forged a strong bond between him and his grandaughter. The second article is all about building birdhouses - just in time for Spring...

Daily Kos: Rewards of Bird Watching Just at dawn this morning I was sitting on the back porch watching and listening to the birds at the feeders. It was chilly and I was sitting there under an old quilt when I heard the sliding glass door open and turned around to...

Bird Sightings – Sandhill Cranes At Bosque del Apache

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:44:14 +0000

Migrating Sandhill Cranes Bird Sightings

Image via Flickr

The Land of Enchantment (aka New Mexico) boasts bird sightings of the magnificent Sandhill Cranes. This article has several beautiful photos...

Tails of Birding: Bosque del Apache - Sandhill Cranes Here is a second sampling of the Sandhill Cranes at Bosque del Apache. We visited the refuge just after sunrise (about 7am). The cranes roost at night in shallow ponds. The ponds protect the birds from night predators, such ...

Check out the Wildlife News section of EnvironmentalNews.com for a terrific amateur video showing 500,000 migrating sandhills on the Platte River in Nebraska, USA. You'll also find some information about how to support organizations dedicated to protecting these amazing creatures. There's just something awesome in bird sightings of such huge numbers!

Bird Garden News – Mar 12, 2012

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:27:13 +0000

This Week's Bird Garden News

This week's bird garden news features a video about creating a natural bird bath to attract birds, along with two articles and a couple of images...

Attracting Birds to a Water Garden
Learn how to create a bird bath in your water garden. Don't forget the rest of today's news...