January 

We have had some nice days this month as well as a few really cold ones! The new Winter Blend is getting rave reviews from everyone and the birds are giving it a 5-star rating as well! Come in and try some of this blend and help our feathered friends deal with these long nights and cold days.

These are the birds I've had at my feeders this month: White Throated Sparrows and Juncos are loving my Millet; White Winged Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves are enjoying it as well. The Pine Siskins & Goldfinch are eating my Finch Blend like crazy. The Blue Jays are loving peanuts in the shell and the Choice Blend while my sweet Orange Crowned Warbler is going to my suet every time! My Downy Woodpecker loves the suet & peanuts out of the shell while my House Finches are devouring the No Mess No Millet! The Cardinals are eating my Safflower as well as the House Finches.

The Starlings are back, but I've prepared my feeding stations for their onslaught! All of my suet is caged, my live mealworms are in a Starling-Proof Bluebird Feeder (I'm watching one of my bluebirds eating inside the feeder as I write this!) and I have put up a cage around my peanuts out of the shell.

Come see us soon and check out all of the new food, feeders and Valentine's items to make your backyard AND home a sanctuary!

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February/March

This has been a fun March and I have loved watching the birds at my feeders. The crazy weather has been a challenge for our feathered friends, but I am so glad so many of you have helped them survive the late spring cold front we had this month.  The new NESTING BLEND has been a big success and I am getting a lot of photos from our peeps of the birds already nesting in your yards and your boxes. It is an amazing adventure to watch eggs hatch and parents feed the nestlings. So much promise in this time of the year for sure.

These are the birds I have seen at my feeders this month: Goldfinch, House Finch, Cardinals, Chickadees, Juncos, White throated Sparrows, chipping sparrows, House sparrows (not many thank heavens), Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, Starlings, Mourning Doves, White Winged Doves, Red winged Blackbirds, Robins (at my nesting blend cylinder), Orange crowned warblers (at my bark butter suet).

Goldfinch: Have you noticed goldfinches seemed to have disappeared from your feeders? Don't take down those thistle/nyjer feeders, just yet! American Goldfinches typically leave feeders for about 4-6 weeks each spring. Their departure from feeders usually corresponds to the emergence of elm buds on Elm Trees. Whatever is in the elm buds is critical for changing from their winter plumage to their breeding plumage, a necessary change before they can begin their migration north. The energy requirements for plumage change & migration are too great for both to happen at the same time. Once the elm buds have grown into leaves and can no longer be eaten by goldfinches, they will return to feeders for about 4 weeks, finally leaving on migration about Mother's Day.

HUMMINGBIRDS: They are here!! Come in and update your feeders, get new nectar, grab some new brushes and get ready for another season with our favorite little birds.I have added a number of new items to our inventory to attract these special birds!The new RED weather dome will be a sure-fire attraction for those hummers. I now have clear bottled nectar, ready to use, for when you are short on time and your hummers are buzzing your windows because their feeder is empty!

We are planning such fun in the shop this year for April and May. Come to the back of the shop and see our new community Corner!  And, as always, keep sending in your photos. We will post them on our website and Facebook and if you bring in photos, we will post them in the community corner as well!!

I hope you enjoy the beautiful weather and the new birds coming to the feeders!

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April

Happy Easter and Happy Spring! Things are blooming and birds are singing at Casita this time of year.  My birds are loving the NESTING BLEND with all the yummy calcium, mealworms and protein packed into this blend.

These are some of the birds I saw at my feeder the first week of April: Robin, Mockingbird, Downy Woodpeckers, Red bellied Woodpecker, Bluebirds, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Doves (white winged, Eurasian collared and mourning), House Finches, Starlings, Crows, and Chickadees.

My Goldfinches are back and they are full on yellow and beautiful. A few are still in the molting process but I am loving these sweet, colorful birds!  They should be with us until around Mother's Day when they will go north. 

Our birds are nesting, so keep an eye out as you trim the bushes and trees. Nest are usually very well camouflaged, so spend a minute searching before you trim!

This is a great time to put out nesting boxes. Come in and see our great selection of boxes to bring the joy of watching babies this spring and summer.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY WITH ME THIS YEAR! It was so much fun to see everyone and enjoy this hobby with all my friends!

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May

What an amazing anniversary we had this past Saturday. Can you believe it has been 2 years since we opened our doors!  Thank you to everyone who has supported us these last couple of years and here's to another 20 years!!

Here are the birds I have seen at my feeders this month:

Bluebirds, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jays, Cardinals, House Finch, Chickadees, House Sparrows, Robins (not usual, but they have been eating my No Mess No Millet), Starlings, Grackles, Coopers Hawk....(not eating my seed, just eyeing my birds), Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared Doves, White Winged Doves, Gold Finch (in all their beautiful color), and I even had a Scissortail Flycatcher at my feeders(checking out the live mealworms, again, very unusual).

Spring is in the air and I have a number of baby birds at my feeders!  Please remember that these birds need extra protein and fat and the momma's need extra calcium this time of year as they lay their eggs. Having sources, such as our Nesting Blend Loose Seed and Nesting Blend Cylinders at your feeding station will help the birds have healthy babies and will help the babies as they grow on their own. It is so fun to see the mom's feeding their babies. My Bluebird mom couldn't wait for me to fill her "starling proof mealworm feeder" and started going inside the feeder and getting worms even before I had moved away from filling it. I got to see her feed her new fledglings right before my eyes!  Makes filling those mealworm feeders worth it this time of year!

Hope you enjoy this Hobby and keep sending us photos of your birds!  WE LOVE THEM!

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June

What a beautiful month we have had!  I still can't believe we haven't had a scorcher day yet.  Our backyard birds are laying eggs and raising their babies and that makes it an exciting time to be feeding the birds! I have had baby Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, Bluebirds, and a few others in my yard this month!

I have also had grackles, starlings and other blackbirds at my feeders. Some of these birds are beautiful, but if you are having issues with flocks, this is a good time to look into caging some of your feeders. You can also serve safflower seed as most black birds don't like this type of seed and Cardinals, House Finch and Chickadees love this seed.

Keep offering food high in protein and fat, such as the nesting blend, mealworms, bark butter, sunflower seeds and peanuts. Both parents and babies are in desperate need of easy to get high calorie food as they sit on nest, learn to fly and other high intensity activities.

We are still excited about our "TEAM OF THE YEAR" Award and will be receiving it at our national convention this week. Thanks so everyone who supported us with your customer surveys, comments on our website and facebook!  We are humbled and excited to be recognized for our love of our customers!

We are introducing a new feature on our website next month. We will highlight a team member a month so that you can get to know everyone here at our shop!  We will also be including more hobby related information on facebook to keep you up to date with the hobby and allow you to be even more seasonally savvy!

Thanks so much for finding the JOY OF BIRD FEEDING! COME ON IN AND SHARE YOUR STORIES AND PHOTOS....BECAUSE......IT'S ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL  DAY  TO  FEED THE BIRDS!

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July

We are online!!! We are so excited to bring you our shop online this month. You can order, pay and pick up in the shop or you can have us deliver it right to your door!!

Just another way we hope will make your hobby fun and easy!

These are some of the birds at my feeders this month:

White Winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, House Finch, Cardinals, Chickadees, Bluebirds, House Sparrows, Starlings, Red Winged Black Birds, Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpecker, Ruby Throated Hummingbird & Blue Jays.

Get ready for Molting Season! Keep feeding the Nesting Blend this month as it has the most protein and will help the birds as they molt. Feathers are 90% protein, so birds need lots of protein to help them make new feathers. If you see some odd-looking birds at your feeders, it is probably the birds that are molting. They will be back to normal in 2-3 weeks.

WATER

Please keep some cool, clean water in your yard this month for the birds. Birds get hot like you and I and will even pant to try to cool themselves off. Keeping water available will keep them hydrated and will allow them to clean their feathers as birds need to be able to fly at a moment's notice and clean feathers are essential.

Keep Cool and Keep Feeding the Birds

It's always a beautiful day to feed the birds!

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August

Happy August everyone! It seems like this summer has just flown right past us (pun intended!).

Have you noticed any fallen feathers around your yard? Now that the birds have finished nesting and their babies have fledged, they have begun their biggest transformation of the year: molting! Some birds will lose patches of feathers and appear "balding" while most birds' feather loss and replacement is less noticeable. But you can play an important role in helping our feathered friends during this time.

Feathers are made of more than 90% protein so offering high-protein foods such as mealworms, peanuts, Bark Butter and other suet products ensures your birds have a reliable source of protein to help them in molting. Don't let the name fool you! Our Nesting Blend is a great source of high protein that can be used throughout the summer for feather development. A dependable water source is the most important step you can take to provide them a valuable resource for coping with summer's brutal heat. Be sure you keep your bird baths & fountains clean and full! If you haven't added a water source to your yard, now is the perfect time. Even as we get into the cold winter months birds need water.

These are some of the birds at my feeders this month:

Chickadees, Bluebirds, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Carolina Wrens, House Sparrows, White Winged Doves, Mourning Doves, House Finch, & Ruby Throated Hummingbirds!

Come into the shop and see all the new fall things and cross your fingers for cooler weather!

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September

Can you believe it’s already September?! At WBU McKinney, we’re flying right into Fall! (Even if the weather hasn’t gotten the memo quite yet!)

You may have noticed activity has slowed down at your feeders or that they have left all together. We promise, it’s not you…it’s the birds! September and October can be pretty quiet. Now that breeding season has ended and the young birds are now independent eaters they are not as in need of a quick and easy food source, like our feeders. There is also an abundance of food out in nature. Insects, seeds, nuts, fruit…there’s food everywhere! But don’t get discouraged! Keep the food in your feeders fresh and available as Fall migration is upon us! Keep your binoculars nearby so you can get a close look at the unusual birds passing through our area!

It’s a common misconception that if we keep our Hummingbird feeders out towards the end of the season that they will choose to stay in our backyards instead of migrate. But Hummingbird’s innately know when to head towards warmer climates! So, no worries! You can keep offering fresh nectar even late in the season to help fuel their migration, and to help along any stragglers!

Birds at my feeders this month: Bluebirds (8 juveniles!!), Cardinals, Blue Jays, House Finch, Hummingbirds (Ruby Throated and Black Chinned), Carolina wrens, Mourning Doves, White Winged Doves, House Sparrows, Crows, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Mockingbirds, and 2 Starlings.

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October

It has finally started to feel like Fall - at least on most days! 

While some of you got to experience the joys of seeing new birds at your feeders who were migrating through our area, others had quite a slowdown of bird activity in the past month or so. But Fall is a time of change and transition...in our lives as well as in nature! Very soon the abundance of insects and seed producing plants will taper off and our feathered friends will return to our feeders! 

Studies have shown that in order to meet the needs this Fall and Winter, we should have at least one foundational feeder available now that dependably provides food and does not have to be filled very often. Help your birds know your food is reliableand ever present for them! 

Offering high fat & protein foods like Jim's Birdacious Bark Butter or other Suets helps to maintain the bird's high metabolic rate. Bird food cylinders are win-win for you and your birds! Cylinders, like Winter SuperBlend, No-Mess, and Bug, Nut, & Berry are long-lasting allowing you fewer trips to fill the feeder. They're packed with high calorie peanuts, tree nuts, and sunflower energy to help the birds stay warmer. There are alsono shells, providing a quick energy snack for birds and no mess for you! 

Birds at my feeders this month: Cardinals, Bluebirds, Blue Jays, White Winged Doves, Eurasian Collard Doves, Mourning Doves, Phoebes, Mockingbirds, American Crows, Starling, Red Winged Blackbird, Chickadee, and one Carolina Wren. 

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November

It's beginning to feel a lot like Fall...and Winter on some days!

We held our first ever "Thankful Event" for our DSC members this past Thursday evening and we loved every second of it! Thank you to all who attended and have continued to support our small business! We hope you had as much fun as we did (and filled up on tasty cocktails and hors d'oeuvres)!

I was so excited to see my first Goldfinch of the season on my feeder this morning! The Bird Crew and I have been hearing of many sightings from different customers across DFW so get those feeders ready! The flocks should arrive around Thanksgiving! The American Goldfinch can be picky eaters...they won't eat damp or stale seed. To keep your seed protected from the elements consider mixing in Feeder Fresh to the Nyjer or Finch Blend and adding a weather guard to keep the seed from getting wet in the rainy days ahead.

Our Winter SuperBlend is in! During winter, songbirds use up to 75% of their fat reserves to survive the long, cold nights. Access to a reliable high-fat food source helps them replenish this loss in a single day. Loaded with over 40% fat and 20% protein, this blend provides essential energy for winter survival. Available in both 7lb bags and cylinders. The birds will love it!  

Birds at my feeders this month: Cardinals, American Crows, House Finch, White Throated Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Bluebirds (Flock of 9!), Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, White Winged Doves, Eurasian Doves, Collared Doves, Red Winged Blackbird, Starling, Juncos.

 

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December

The delight of seeing so many active and energetic birds at your feeders, and knowing that you are having a positive impact on the quality of their lives, makes feeding the birds a real joy during this time of year. (The most wonderful time of year!) The key is providing just a few simple things such as nutritious foods, clean water and shelter.

Winter is a great time to watch the different types of birds at your feeders. Woodpeckers and bushtits are busy eating mouthfuls of suet. Juncos and sparrows hurriedly scour the ground for millet. Finches squabble at the finch feeder! Jays pick peanuts and nuthatches horde sunflower seeds.

Birds need fresh water too. Bird bath heaters are a way to provide open water. Even in the winter, birds need to drink and will wash their feathers to help keep them in tip top shape for added insulation during those long cold nights. And don't be in too big a hurry to clean up any fallen branches or loose brush in your yard - a brush pile offers birds a safe haven from weather and danger!  

Birds at my feeders this month: Juncos, White Throated Sparrows, Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Goldfinch, House Finch, Bluebirds, Blue Jays, Mourning Dove, White Winged Doves, Eurasion Collared Doves, House Sparrows, American Crow, Starlings, Chipping Sparrows and a Ruby Crowned Kinglet. 

If I don't see you before the holidays, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!