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Welcome to BirdTracks® Online!
An email newsletter from 
Wild Birds Unlimited for June 2004.

In this issue:
 - Bring Dad and Nature Together For Father's Day
 - Rewards Of Summer Feeding
 - Bluebird Fun Facts

Bring Dad and Nature Together for
Father's Day - Sunday June 20
Sometimes it can be difficult to find something new and unique that dad will enjoy receiving and will continue to use throughout the year. We know ties and shirts are "typical" Father's Day gifts - but we'd like to suggest giving dad something to hang in the yard, not in the closet.

A birdfeeder hanging in the yard can bring dad years of birdwatching enjoyment. Supreme Wooden Birdfeeders, Seed Tubes and Finch Feeders will help dad attract a variety of birds. Our exclusive copper-top peanut feeders and finch feeders add style to the backyard and make a great addition if dad is already into birdfeeding.

Or, if you want to help dad be a better birder, consider giving our birding CDs, tapes and CD-ROMS. They are a wonderful resource and can help dad learn bird songs and much more.  Binoculars and scopes also make great gifts for dad. Whether he's watching the birds or watching the game, our wide selection of quality optics will bring the action up close.

Enhance dad's yard and home with a variety of unique gifts. For the garden, choose from sundials, weathervanes, garden stones, rain gauges, thermometers and sprinklers. Thermometers, decoys, figurines and tabletop fountains make ideal gifts for the home.

We know shopping for dad can be a challenge. Stop by your nearest Wild Birds Unlimited store today and let our Certified Birdfeeding Specialists help you make this Father's Day one dad will remember for years to come!

The Rewards Of Summer Feeding
As summer approaches, it's a great time to enjoy the birds and other wildlife you are attracting to your yard. Nothing is quite as relaxing as sitting on the porch or deck after a tiring day and listening to the sounds of nature - the beautiful bird songs, the crickets chirping, the bees buzzing, a chorus of frogs and the hum of our precious jewels of spring. The sights of nature are equally enchanting and also help clear the mind of a hectic day of activity. Once you've gotten into the habit of spending a little of your evening with nature, consider taking a few minutes each morning to delight in the antics of the wild birds at your feeder. It's a great way to start the day!

Over time, you will begin to learn the daily routines of our feathered friends and other wildlife. You might find that jays visit your peanut feeder at the same time each morning; that playful chickadees drop by your birdbath to bathe and preen most evenings; that hummingbirds arrive at your feeder both morning and evening - with a distinctive hum to let you know they have arrived; or that woodpeckers will search for food for their young each day and eventually bring their fledglings to your suet feeder.

Now is the perfect time to get closer to nature - the rewards will be many.

Bluebird Fun Facts

• Bluebirds are found throughout North America including the Eastern, Western and Mountain Bluebirds. All bluebirds are cavity nesters and will use an artificial nest box. Habitat and nest cavities had been disappearing for many years but bluebirds have made an incredible comeback due to thousands of bluebird nest boxes being installed across the country.
• Both sexes defend territories; however, the males tend to defend territory edges while the females primarily defend the nest site.
• Males may carry nest material to the nest, but they do not participate in the actual building. They spend much time guarding their mates during this time to prevent them from mating with other males.
• Because all eggs laid by a single female are the same color, the presence of an odd-colored egg in a clutch may indicate that another female has laid her egg in the nest, a practice known as egg dumping (this occurs rarely - about 1% of the time).
• Families flock together until fall, when they merge with other family flocks. Some, but not all, bluebirds residing in the northern portions of the range migrate to southern latitudes, but those residing in southern latitudes tend to be residential. Mature bluebirds tend to return to the same breeding territory year after year, but only a small percentage (three to five percent) of young birds return to where they hatched.
• Bluebirds are often seen sitting on fence posts and fences in a field waiting for insects.
• Bluebirds love mealworms and can be drawn in close by offering a small dish with mealworms.

Addtional resources:
Bluebird education web site.
Brochure: Attract Nesting Bluebirds.