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Welcome to BirdTracks®
Online!
An email newsletter from
Wild Birds Unlimited
for May 2005.
In This
Issue:
- Bird of the
Month: Hawks
- Bring Dad & Nature
Together for Father's Day
- Ivory-billed
Woodpecker resources
- Summer of Hummers at Ramsey
Canyon, Arizona | |
 |
The Cycle of
Life - Hawks
A
feather . . . slowly floating to earth . . . begins to tell
the story.
A
"bushwhacker" has been at work at the backyard feeders, and
now, perched on a limb in the old pine tree; it begins its
ancient ritual of plucking and feasting. In the cycle of life,
the Mourning Dove has fallen victim to the Sharp-shinned
Hawk.
For the
backyard birdfeeder it is truly a love-hate relationship. It's
hard to deny the excitement of witnessing a Sharp-shinned Hawk
blasting through the backyard in search of prey, and yet, it
can be emotionally disturbing to watch it capture and devour
one of "your" birds from your feeders.
It is important to keep in mind that this
cycle of life will continue whether you feed the birds or not.
The Sharp-shinned Hawk and its slightly larger twin, the
Cooper's Hawk, must catch and eat one item of prey every day
in order to survive. Sharp-shinned Hawks prey almost
exclusively on other birds for a living, while Cooper's Hawks
will mix a number of small mammals into their diet.
Your feeders may make their
task a little easier by concentrating their prey, but
regardless of the location, these hawks will be successful in
catching their food about one out of every three
attempts.
To help
increase the odds in favor of the birds at your feeders, make
sure there is thick cover nearby. Evergreen shrubs or a dense
brush pile may help them help to avoid becoming part of the
eternal cycle of life for another
day. | |
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Bring Dad and Nature
Together For Father's
Day
We know shopping for dad can be a
challenge, so look to Wild Birds Unlimited to help you make
this Father's Day one dad will remember for years to come.
(Father's Day is Sunday June 19.)
Summertime is a great time to feed the birds. You may
see different birds at your feeders during summer than you do
during the winter. So . . . why not make sure dad is ready to
enjoy the birds with our wonderful line of
birdfeeders? (Consider our new Oriole feeder as a gift
for your dad.)
If your dad already feeds the
birds and is getting tired of squirrels raiding his
birdfeeder, why not get him the Eliminator squirrel resistant
feeder. This is our most popular feeder and it really
works! Plus, make sure dad has his binoculars nearby to
watch the antics of the Goldfinches as they cling all over our
new Mesh Finch Feeder.
The backyard can provide
dad great pleasure during the summer. Have dad grab a
glass of lemonade, relax and enjoy the birds on his special
day and all year long! | |
|
Long Feared Extinct, a Magnificent Bird Still
Lives
Long believed to be extinct, a
magnificent bird--the Ivory-billed Woodpecker--has been
rediscovered in the Big Woods of eastern Arkansas. More than
60 years after the last confirmed sighting of the species in
the United States, a research team announced that at least one
male ivory-bill still survives in vast areas of bottomland
swamp forest.
Here are some links to explore this
great discovery:
| |
|
 Pathways To Nature®
Travel Log:
Summer of Hummers in Arizona -
Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Hereford,
Arizona
Ramsey Canyon Nature
Preserve in Arizona sees more air traffic than
Chicago's O'Hare International-it's just that the
traffic here is all less than five inches long.
The native plant gardens and feeders at this
Nature Conservancy sanctuary have attracted 14
species of hummingbirds, including the
Magnificent, Berylline, and White-eared. Most
birders can double or triple their hummer life
list without ever moving from one of the
preserve's benches!
The gardens at Ramsey
Canyon got a real boost, thanks to Wild Birds
Unlimited and its customers. A $31,500 grant
through the Pathways To Nature program helped the
Conservancy rebuild their gardens and update their
education outreach on hummingbirds and other
native pollinators. A new boardwalk and deck
constructed of recycled milk bottles was also
added to make viewing of gardens easier and to
minimize impact on the environment.
A visit
to this international birding mecca is sure to
inspire you to landscape your yard to benefit
birds and other wildlife. But if you visit Ramsey
Canyon, take time to look beyond the gardens and
visitor's center. This 380 acre preserve is home
to more than 400 species of plants and 170 species
of birds.
Hike up the canyon, following Ramsey
Creek, and you'll get a glimpse of the natural
habitats of the Huachuca Mountains. This area,
which is part of the San Pedro River Watershed, is
considered by The Nature Conservancy as one of its
"Last Great Places." Bring your binoculars, wear
your hiking boots, and keep your head low-those
hummers are fast!
For more information on
the Ramsay Canyon Preserve, visit: http://cl.exct.net/?ffcd16-fe581670706c0c7c731d-fe26167976600675721072
..
The Pathways
To Nature Conservation Fund is a partnership
between Wild Birds Unlimited stores and the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund
environmental education and wildlife viewing
projects. We encourage all of our customers to
visit these incredible places. Your patronage
helped make these projects possible! |
|
This is a Pathways To Nature® Travel
Log | | | |
 |
Wild Birds Unlimited® has more
than 300 locations across North America. For more than 20
years, the company has specialized in bringing people and
nature together by providing expert information and offering
an exclusive line of products designed specifically for the
backyard birdfeeding hobby. The company is committed to
educating the public about the importance of preserving
natural wildlife habitats.
Pathways To Nature® Conservation
Fund: All Wild Birds Unlimited stores donate a
portion of proceeds to this fund to support education,
conservation and wildlife viewing projects at wildlife
refuges, parks, sanctuaries and nature conservancies
throughout North America. More information is available
at
http://www.pathwaystonature.com
.
We Bring People and
Nature Together®
For a
Wild Birds Unlimited store near you,
call (800)
326-4928 or access
Store Locator.
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Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc. or respective copyright
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