Nature in Flight

Birds and Bugs and Things with Wings

What Do Wild Geese Eat? (The Answer Might Surprise You)

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Wild Canadian GooseThe Canada (Canadian) goose is a handsome waterfowl distinguished by a black head and neck, with a white “strap” extending from both sides of the head and meeting under the throat. Its overall body feathers are varying shades of brown and gray.

There are seven subspecies of the Canada goose:

  • Atlantic Canada Goose
  • Interior Canada goose
  • Giant Canada goose
  • Moffitt’s Canada goose
  • Vancouver Canada goose
  • Dusky Canada goose
  • Lesser Canada goose

There are several physical differences between the seven groups but, for the most part, it’s easy to recognize all of them as Canada geese. The black head and neck and white band across the chin belong almost exclusively to the Canada goose.

The two exceptions are the cackling goose and the barnacle goose, which share a slightly varied pattern of those three particular markings.

Interestingly, the Oxford English Dictionary first mentioned the Canada goose in 1772. [Read more…]

What Do Chickadees Eat? (And How To Attract Them)

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What Do Chickadees Eat?Chickadees are bouncy, energetic little birds that dart rather nervously from branch-to-branch. This somewhat erratic-looking behavior is perfectly normal for a tiny bird that is viewed as a delicacy for a number of predators, including hawks and owls.

The Black-capped chickadee is the most common and the most plentiful of the seven species. They are non-migratory and spend the entire year from New England to points on the West Coast. Their western range takes them all the way to New Mexico and, in the eastern portion of the country, they’re seen from the Appalachian Mountains south to Georgia.

Neither Canada nor Alaska are left out of the loop since the perky little birds also spend time in the lands of shorter summers. [Read more…]

What Do Goldfinches Eat? (And Ways To Attract Them)

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What Do Goldfinches Eat?There are dozens of adjectives to describe the American goldfinch and his British counterpart.

Lively. Cheerful. Perky. Energetic. Animated. Athletic. Bouncy. Take your pick or add more. The goldfinch is wonderful to watch, either in the wild or as a back yard resident.

The goldfinch was originally described in 1758 as a small bird from four to six inches long with a 7.5 to 8.7 inch wingspan.

The beak is small, cone-shaped and a pinkish color. The design of the beak makes it perfect for extracting seeds from flower heads, such as sunflowers.

The American goldfinches are songbirds that go through two molts per year, which is very unusual. The pink beak mentioned above turns bright orange during the molting.

Goldfinches are rather drab in the winter, a dull green/brown with little to no colorful ornamentation.  That shifts dramatically in the spring, however, when the male must begin concentrating on attracting a lady. The “men” turn into quick-change artists, donning bright yellow feathers, black and white wings and a black cap. That, combined with its melodious song, is definitely enough to turn the girls’ heads. [Read more…]

Best Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder (Keep Those Rascals Out!)

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Best Squirrel Proof Bird FeederA backyard bird feeder can bring you a great deal of joy and entertainment. It can also cause frustration when you see squirrels helping themselves to your feathered friends’ food. Squirrels can also damage feeders and scare off the birds.

The best squirrel proof bird feeder attracts the types of birds that you want in your yard, looks attractive in your landscape and prevents other critters from helping themselves to a hearty meal.

Learn more about what to look for in a squirrel proof bird feeder so that you’re not wasting bird food on four-legged wildlife. We’ve also reviewed the best squirrel proof bird feeders so that you can select the right one for you. [Read more…]

Best Hummingbird Feeder (Which is Clean? Easy? Works Best?)

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Best Hummingbird FeederWho doesn’t love birds congregating in their yard? Hummingbirds are quite majestic to behold. These quick, agile birds are a member of the Trochilidae family and are the smallest bird species known to man.

On average, they measure only three to five inches, and weigh about two-and-a-half grams. Hummingbirds are marked by their colorful appearance, with varieties appearing in bright blues, greens, and the like. Most notable, though, is the Hummingbird’s great speed. They fan fly at more than thirty-four miles an hour and flap their wings more than fifty times a second. As such, they have a high metabolism, the greatest of any homeothermic animal.

They’re beautiful birds, and to give them a boost (plus attract them to your yard), you’ll need a quality hummingbird feeder to supply them with nutrients when they decide to hang around your property.

So what is the best hummingbird feeder? [Read more…]

 
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