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Welcome to BirdTracks® Online!
An e-mail newsletter from
Wild Birds Unlimited for February 2003.

In This Issue:
1. Watch for birds hard at work as springtime nears.
2. Do you have what it takes to be a Purple Martin landlord?
3. Did you know? Facts about House Wrens & hummingbirds.
4. Don’t forget to count the birds this weekend!

Watch for birds hard at work as springtime nears
The songbirds that grace your backyard may look as though they have not a care in the world. But, in a few weeks birds across North America will be getting ready for nesting. And what a job they have to do!

First, some birds have to migrate here all the way from their winter homes in Mexico, South or Central America. Then they must defend a territory, find a mate (sometimes multiple mates!) and build a nest. Overall, nest building is the most time-consuming and energy-depleting task most birds take on this time of year. They have to find a suitable place and enough nesting material such as twigs, plant pieces, feathers, ribbons, yarn, etc.

To give your birds a helping hand, consider providing extra sources of calcium this time of year. Calcium can help strengthen bird eggs and give the young a better chance at survival. Research shows that many birds seek out calcium during nesting season. You can provide crushed eggshells that you have dried and cooked or a calcium-enriched suet, such as Wild Birds Unlimited Peanut Butter’n Jelly Suet Dough or Calcium Care suet.

And keep your feeders and birdbaths full - your backyard birds will reward you with fascinating courtship rituals, such as dancing and sharing food. And you’ll be able to watch closely as birds raise their families in front of yours.

Do you have what it takes to be a Purple Martin landlord?
Purple Martins have started to return to North America and will spend the next 2 1/2 months heading north in search of breeding grounds. These birds nest in colonies - almost entirely in manmade housing. Martins west of the Rocky Mountains are the only ones that nest in natural cavities.

Even though most martins rely on humans for their nesting locations, they can be pretty picky about their choices and have some stringent specs! For instance, they like to nest in open spaces so it’s important to place a Purple Martin house at least 40 feet from the nearest tall tree and from 40 to 100 feet from your home. Be sure the Purple Martin house is a light color and has the correct entrance size - about 2 1/2 inches. Wild Birds Unlimited has 2-, 4- and 6-compartment Purple Martin Houses for sale, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Purple Martin Conservation Association.

Watching Purple Martins can be quite entertaining! These birds often dive and swoop through the sky. The male birds are known for performing the “Dawn Song” in late spring. As he sings, he soars high above the colony to attract other birds. For more information about Purple Martins or to chart the migration of these birds, access the Web site of the Purple Martin Conservation Association - www.purplemartin.org.

Don’t forget to count the birds this weekend!
It may be Valentine’s Day Friday and President’s Day Monday across much of North America, but the event to remember is the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)! Now in its sixth year, the count attempts to obtain a snapshot of bird activity throughout North America. Scientists use the information gathered to study bird population trends and migration patterns. Researchers combine the data collected nationwide and use it to help with bird conservation efforts.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society manage this event, and Wild Birds Unlimited is proud to sponsor the GBBC. For more information about the event, scheduled for Feb. 14-17, access www.birdsource.org/gbbc or stop by a participating Wild Birds Unlimited store.