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Make an appointment to pick up your birding needs!

We will not be open as often as usual due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), but we don’t want you to run out of any of your birding products!

So, we’ve decided to give appointments a shot; when you are in need of a product (or three), give Laurie the Bird Lady a call at 616-262-5394, and she will set up a time for you to pick up your items. Your purchases will be placed outside the door for you, and cash, check, or credit card can be passed through the door to pay. That way, we can ensure the safest possible transaction for you.

Pickup times will be available Monday through Sunday 11am to 5pm, though we will make exceptions if need be.

Again, be sure to call 616-262-5394, NOT our store number to set up an appointment with us.

Safety first, everyone! Wash your hands, keep a six-foot bubble, and Bird On!

Keep Calm and Bird On!

There are so many things being halted by the Coronavirus – sports, gatherings, school, and more – and it’s a fear plaguing all our minds.

A trying time though it may be, it is also an excellent opportunity to get back in tune with nature. Your game is canceled? Have a walk and take in the fresh spring air. Your meeting is canceled? Take some time at home just watching the birds and other critters live their lives outside your windows. There may be a contagion spreading around, but life goes on – flourishes, even, and you might be surprised how much of that life goes on just past those panes of glass.

Still worried? Well, I can’t say that you have no cause, but I can say that there’s something you can do about it. Studies have shown that just 20 minutes of contact with nature can lower stress levels, and help you better cope with stressful situations. Plus, as a bonus, there is a 0% chance that you’ll catch the virus while immersed in nature away from other humans!

And that’s where we at the Nest come in, to ensure you have the best nature-watching experience. We carry dozens of top-rated feeders, varieties of premium Michigan blend seed, and beautiful birdhouses.

So, let’s all take some time to ourselves this next short while, and just take in the wonder that is Nature, whether it be on a camping trip, a short walk, or just watching through your living room windows. Relax; this is life! Live it well.

Fall Feeding

Many people mistakenly believe that leaving feeders out in the fall will cause birds not to migrate. While this seems logical enough, the truth is that reliable food sources like feeders are only one small factor in migratory patterns: daylight levels, climate, and instinct are just as important, if not more.

In fact, leaving feeders out in the fall is very helpful to birds. It:

  • Helps them build fat reserves to last them through migration.
  • Fosters imprinting on the location of reliable food sources so they return in spring.
  • Provides an easy food source for migrating birds passing through.
  • Affords supplemental food when natural sources are exhausted.
  • Attracts the first winter birds and encourages them to remain nearby.

 
As you can see, leaving your feeders out not only supports your current residents, but also helps attract migrant birds and early winter birds!

Some of the best foods to feed birds in autumn are those that give migrating birds great nutrition along with an energy boost, such as:

  • Black oil sunflower seed
  • White proso millet
  • Nyjer
  • Suet
  • Nuts
  • Peanut butter
  • Cracked corn
  • Nectar (early fall)

 

So, Feed the Birds & Bird On!

For more information:
https://www.thespruce.com/autumn-bird-feeding-tips-386530
https://www.perkypet.com/articles/fall-bird-feeding-tips

Do hummingbirds see the color red best?

The unexpected answer is: “No.”

In fact, their eyes are equipped to see many colors especially well, including red, orange, yellow, and some ultraviolet hues.

 

Why are hummingbird feeders almost exclusively red, then?

 

It’s actually all about the other pollinators, like bees and butterflies: They don’t see red very well, and therefore tend toward flowers of other colors. Thus, over time, our clever hummers learned that red flowers tended to carry more nectar!

So, if your feeder isn’t exclusively red, don’t worry! The hummingbirds should still come to check it out, and when they learn that it’s a rich food source, they’ll keep coming back.

Lastly, there is no need to put red nectar in the feeder to make it more visible. There is great controversy over whether or not red food coloring is unhealthy for these tiny little guys, so, just in case, it would be safest to stick with clear nectar – they’ll be attracted to the feeder just the same.

 

Learn more:

https://ornithology.com/hummingbird-red/

https://www.thespruce.com/is-red-dye-harmful-to-hummingbirds-386578