BirdingGirl

Have you signed up for Project FeederWatch yet? I mailed in my renewal a few weeks ago. Better stock up on black-oil sunflower seed and nijer seed /thistle! Here's the press release from Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Help Project FeederWatch Track Backyard Birds —Bird watchers needed to help scientists discover changes in bird populations Ithaca, NY—What happens in the backyard should not stay in the backyard—at least when it comes to bird feeders. By sharing information about which birds visit their feeders between November and April, backyard bird watchers can help scientists track changes in bird numbers and movements from year to year, through Project FeederWatch, a citizen-science program from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada. Project FeederWatch begins on November 14 and runs through early April. Taking part is easy. Anyone can count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders and enter their information on the FeederWatch website. Participants submitt...

I read an interesting article in the Cape Cod Times a few weeks ago. I found it especially interesting now that I have a thistle feeder since it was all about the rising price of thistle seed, or more accurately, nyjer seed. The article explains how black-oil sunflower seed costs have remained relatively stable, while nyjer seed has spiked. It's expected to stay high throughout the remainder of peak bird feeding season, lasting until the middle of spring. Here are some interesting facts about nyjer seed: - It's called "black gold" because of its higher price - There are two main factors contributing to the high price: importing and sterilization costs - Imported Nijer comes mainly from India and Ethiopia - The seed must be heated to prevent germination and spreading a non-native species - It's possible for fertile seeds to sneak through causing a nijer plant (yellow flowering) to sprout- although it's unlikely to survive because of the climate differences - A...