BIRD’S WORLD SPRING 2020
DISCOVER THE WORLD OF THE BEWICK’S WREN TOP 10
BIRDSEED CRAFTS
BINOCULAR TIPS
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BIRD’S WORLD SPRING 2020
Contents BIRD’S WORLD|SPRING 2020
FEATURES 04
… Small Friends
Discover and learn about the world of the Bewick wren.
08 … Crafty Seeds
.10 ways to make your own bird feeders from organic material
13 … Best Binoculars
Birdwatchers share their stories and rate binoculars.
EVERY ISSUE 18 … Travel
Best bird watching sites.
25 … Fun Facts
.Things you might not know about the American yellow warbler
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NOISY FRIEND A Bewick’s wren is a hyperactive little bird with distinct white eyebrows
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BIRD’S WORLD SPRING 2020
Small Friends
A GUIDE TO BEWICK’S WREN
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ewick’s wrens are cute but noisy hyperactive little birds that hop around the brush with a long tail sticking up and waving around in the air.
areas northern of the Gulf States. That’s all changed now as climate issues and predators have pushed the Bewick’s wren to disappear east of the Mississippi River.
Historical facts
About the birds
The Bewick’s wren was discovered These are small little bird friends by John James Audubon in 1821 full-grown Bewick’s wrens are and named after his friend Thomas 5.5 inches long. Despite the tiny Bewick, who was a British engraver. size, they are actually considered The name Bewick’s is pronounced medium sized wrens. In size they like “Buick” and the bird is in the are smaller than House sparrows wren classification. but larger than the House wrens. The Bewick’s Bewick’s wren look similar The Bewick’s Wren’s genus is to the Carolina wren: brown, “Thryomanes”, it is Wren’s genus is and gray with extensive white currently the only “Thryomanes”, eyebrows and black wings. The species of its genus. it is currently tail is also has bans of black the only species and white with spots at the tip There’s many subspecies, but two of its genus. and the underside of this bird have gone extinct. is gray-white. Bewick’s wren’s Of the subspecies, another notable most unique and eye-catching feawren is the House wren. As of now, ture is it’s long tail. It uses this tail the oldest recorded Bewick’s wren to move around its body or from was 8 years old. side to side. Historically, Bewick’s wrens Another interesting characteristic lived as far as southern Columbia, is the Bewick’s wren’s long and Southern Ontario, Nebraska, Maryskinny slightly curved peak, which land, southwestern Pennsylvania, it uses to eat the many bugs it eats south of Mexico, Arkansas, and out of crevices in trees. The most
important thing to note is that male and female Bewick’s wren look exactly the same. What differentiate these birds isn’t the colors and feathers shapes, like many birds, but the sounds they make.
The enthusiastic trills Bewick’s wren are very noisy little birds. Despite it’s small size it bellows an assortment of calls with zest. The best way to describe the sounds that come out of these birds is in warbles, short whistles, trills, and burrs. The loud calls go up and down in pitch. An example of it’s call is something that goes like:
“brrrrr, de dot!”
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The Bewick’s wren also has a warning call it uses when predators are nearby. This one sounds more like an alarm call and does sound the same in all of them. But what is unique is its songs and mating calls. During mating season, birds hop onto branches and forcefully sings with all its might. Unlike Robins, whose calls are easy to pick out because they all use the same tune, the Bewick’s wrens all sound slightly different. While maturing, Bewick’s wrens learn songs from listening to other birds in the place near their parents’ area and change the tunes a little bit. The young bird will change little things about the calls and tunes: a note at a slightly different pitch or a different syllable. When compared to the father, the new young bird’s call is distinctly different sounding. This new and improved song/call will be with this bird for life. What songs they learn and fine-tune to be their own in youth, stays their unique and completely original signature call forever.
around on the surfaces and pokes into crevices with its long slightly hooked beak to get the bugs from inside. It also eats the bugs from the surface of the bark. On the ground, the Bewick’s wren flips over leaves and pokes at leaf piles to find insects.
The nesting situation The Bewick’s wren has two clutches of eggs per season. These birds typically have 5-7 eggs only, but sometimes the number can change to 4-11. The eggs
Usual diet The Bewick’s wren diet is mostly made up of insects with some berries and seeds sprinkled in. Bewick’s wrens like to eat a large variety of insects, this includes: beetles, caterpillars, ants, wasps, grasshoppers, and occasionally spiders. This bug feast is sometimes paired with some berries and seeds. Bewick’s wrens find their meals by foraging in trees and bark or on the ground. The Bewick’s wren hops
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BIRD’S WORLD SPRING 2020
TIME TO EAT Bewick’s Wren eat a lot of insect variety!
are small and white and brown with gray tiny spots, usually around the larger side of it. Both parents feed the baby birds, and the male and female bird often forges together while the nest is being set up and after the eggs have been laid. Bewick’s wrens are monogamous, and forging together stops the male bird from searching for other potential mates. Male birds also sing eastern songs that re different than western bird songs to defend the nest. Incubation of the eggs by females only for 14
days and the nestlings are only in the nest for 2 weeks before they are able to leave the nest. Not long at all! Bewick’s wrens usually nest less than 20 feet above the ground in natural cavities like tree hallows and old woodpecker holes. They also nest in man-made sites like holes in buildings, nesting boxes, mailboxes, and even tin cans. H
CRAFTY SEEDS Bird watching has many benefits. You become close to nature, become more patient, become part of a bird community, and have better cardiovascular health. Adding a bird feeder will cause hundreds of beautiful birds to visit your yard and cause you to enjoy looking at your yard a little bit more. Every yard could use a few more birds. Having a bird feeder in your yard can make you a happier person. But, we know it costs a lot of money to set up a good bird feeder so we wanted to look into alternate ways to set up a bird feeding station.
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BIRD’S WORLD SPRING 2020
Do you want to feed your backyard birds but are worried you don’t have the money for it? Don’t worry, there’s a very fast way to solve this problem! Lots of people have taken up birdseed crafts as fun projects to work on hang up in their yards and feed the birds with. We mailed a survey with the last issue and people sent in their favorite bird feeder crafts. Some of these crafts are perfect for doing with your kids and make a fun family activity for all. We compiled a list of some fun and easy sounding feeder crafts to do that will entertain you and feed your neighborhood friends.
1. BIRD FEEDER ORNAMENTS 2. ORANGE BIRD FEEDER All you need is ¾ to 1 cup birdseed, 1 packet of gelatin (unflavored), ¼ cups boiling water, greased cookie cutters, twine, and parchment! Perfect gifts for family, teachers and friends.
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3. FRUIT AND CHEERIOS
Great for stale cereal! All you need is Wooden skewer, yarn/twine, Cheerios, fresh fruit like apples and berries, dried fruit like raisins and dates.
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5. BIRD SEED WREATH
Perfect for welcoming in spring! All you need is 4 cups bird seed, ½ cup warm water, gelatin, ¾ cup of flour, Bundt pan, nonstick spray, 2 tbsp corn syrup. Whisk ingredients into a bowl and then put in the Bundt pan!
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This is a natural biodegradable bird feeder that also attracts butterflies. Pick the biggest orange you can find. All you need is large orange, wood skewers, twine birdseed, and scissors.
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4. PAINT TIN FEEDERS
Just need 3 small paint cans, wooden dowel, birdseed. Cut part of the dowel into 4 inch pieces, paint the paint cans, stick dowel with hot glue, tie them up. Done!
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6. POPSICLE STICKS
You just need Popsicle Sticks, Glue, Drill or an awl, Small bit of yarn or string, Peanut butter, Wild bird seed, and a paper plate. Super easy and comes in such a fun shape. Try it yourself!
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7. BIRDSEED CAKES
Need ½ cup warm water, 3 tbsp corn syrup, 4 tsp gelatin, 4 cups birdseed, drinking straws, and twine. The straw creates a great hole to string twine through. Once it’s molded you can hang them up no problem!
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8. WILD BIRD SUET
A birdseed recipe! Just need ½ rendered fat or lard, old fashion oats, chunky peanut butter, beef brother, sugar, raisins/dried berries and nuts, 1 and ½ wild bird seed, squares of wax paper. Has a great shape and texture
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9. NO BAKE ORNAMENTS
You only need 2 tbsp coconut oil and 1 cup birdseed. Microwave coconut oil until melted, add birdseed, fill into cookie cutters with a hole poked in, chill until hard.
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10. PAPER PLATE FEEDER
Great way to use up paper plates! All you need is a disposable paper plate, wicker plate holder, twin for hanging, peanut butter, cheerios, birdseed, hole punch.
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FOR MORE CRAFTY SEED IDEAS We hope you find these easy to make craft ideas helpful in creating a garden that’s bird fun and bird friendly! For more craft seed making ideas check out the websites: fountainavenuekitchen.com and giantfoodstores.com! There are many other websites where you can check out bird seed recipes.
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BIRD’S WORLD SPRING 2020
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