Floating Bird Bath Raft
Turn almost any large garden pot, tub, tray, or other container into a bird-friendly bath and water source with this floating bird bath. The shallow raft floats in a container of water to offer birds a thick edge for safe perching and a shallow profile for safe bathing or drinking. The raft has a thick ring to stay afloat while the inner tray has holes to allow water to flow inside.
Users report that this well-reviewed bird bath raft works well in a variety of containers or water sources, including backyard ponds, tall flower pots, even a baby bathtub! Check the dimensions (14" outer diameter) against your main container to be sure this floating bird bath will fit.
Cheap Food For Fancy Birds
In our central Florida back yard, we look forward to hosting Painted Buntings and Indigo Buntings for a few months each year.
Typically we see our first Painted Bunting some time in the fall (some previous first-of-season dates are 9/4/20, 10/22/19, and 10/23/18). The visits are sporadic at first, but starting around the first of the year, we have several individuals visiting on a daily basis. They stick around through April (some recent last of season dates are 4/28/20 and 4/24/18), so they'll be leaving us soon.
Regular visits from Indigo Buntings begin around the first of the year, as well, and they also leave in April, but we usually expect them to leave a bit earlier (in 2020 our last sighting was on April 17).
I'm not sure exactly why we have been so lucky with attracting Painted Buntings and Indigo Buntings to visit us with such regularity and in pretty good numbers (up to 10 individuals of each at a time!), but I know for sure what they like to eat -- the cheap stuff!
Both buntings chow down on millet blends served in simple plastic tube feeders. At their peak, the bunch of them will completely empty our three feeders in about two days. I always find it kind of funny that these knockout beautiful birds like such simple, otherwise undesirable food.
We try to time our stock of millet to the departure of the buntings, because once they are gone, our resident summer birds won't show much interest and we'll switch to offering more waste-free type seed blends, plus shelled sunflower and safflower.
Wild Bird Food for Feeding Buntings
Found on Amazon – See more in Wild Bird Seed
When shopping for bird seed to feed Painted and Indigo Buntings, don't worry about getting premium blends, no mess or no waste foods, or seeds that come with extras like fruits and nuts. If you find a cheap "wild bird food" at your local hardware, grocery, or big box store, chances are it will look a lot like this one from Kaytee -- heavy on the cheap millet. This is what we offer our buntings.
Tube Feeder for Painted and Indigo Buntings
Found on Amazon – See more in Bird Feeders
We have some premium hanging tube feeders, but when a squirrel was able to damage one (we accidentally, temporarily let the closest shrubbery grow too close to the feeders) in the middle of bunting time, I looked for something affordable to replace it quickly. This plastic tube feeder is super simple but its held up perfectly for the last four months and I would not hesitate to recommend it. It's about as easy to clean as any other tube feeder and it offers six ports, all of which are used by buntings at times.
Upside-Down Envy
Some birds feed by hanging upside down. There are "sock" style thistle seed feeders for goldfinches designed for the birds to be able to hang any which way. Nuthatches and some warblers also move around tree trunks and branches upside down as naturally as they do right side up. I came across these feeders on Amazon that feature images of birds eating upside down. Some are natural. Not all of them, though...
1 Perky-Pet 733 Metro 2-in-1 Bird Feeder
I ran across this Perky-Pet feeder. It looks pretty straightforward, but the Tufted Titmouse on the left side seems to be having trouble using the feeder. It's perched upside down with its beak nowhere near a food port. Maybe it's just playing?
2 No/No Bronze Original Bird Feeder
Found on Amazon
Like I said, there are birds that will naturally feed while hanging or standing upside down. Take, for instance, the clip art nuthatch on this feeder. This kind of feeder is mesh all around, giving complete access to the seed. Old-school, regular-perching birds can use the perches on the bottom, while nuthatches can swoop in an get a seed from wherever.
3 Perky-Pet Upside Down Goldfinch Feeder
Found on Amazon
Then there are bird feeders designed so the patrons have to hang upside down on them, like this feeder for finches. Rather than having a mesh surface like the feeder above, or using cloth sock-style material, this is a clear, solid cylinder feeder with ports for the nyger, or thistle, seed. The perches are arranged below the ports so any bird who wants to get at the seed is obliged to hang upside-down.
Repost of article first published 01/11/2012
T-Shirt Tuesday: Stylized Bird Illustrations
We have a collection of Stylized Bird Illustration designs. This week I'd like to highlight another group of three from the series: Stylized Stork; Stylized Horned Lark; and Stylized Swallow-tailed Flycatcher.
Each bird is drawn in simple black or white outlines. These are original, artistic bird designs that look great on a variety of our apparel styles.
Stylized Stork Women's V-Neck Dark T-Shirt Women's V-Neck T-Shirt – This stylish, stylized illustration of a stork makes a great gift idea for birders. This simple stork line drawing makes a great image for birth or pregnancy announcements too! View on CafePress
Stylized Lark Women's Light T-Shirt Women's Value T-Shirt – This stylish, stylized illustration of a Horned Lark makes a great gift idea for Lark fans. A simple line drawing of a Horned Lark for everyone that loves these beautiful birds! View on CafePress
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher Long Sleeve Dark T-Shirt Men's Long Sleeve T-Shirt – This simple line drawing represents a Swallow-tailed Flycatcher. View on CafePress
T-Shirt Tuesday: Alpha-code Ovals
This week's highlighted t-shirts feature bird alpha-codes in Euro oval sticker style. These were designed for oval bumper stickers, but the design works on t-shirts and apparel as well. There are 16 species to choose from, and your requests are welcome! Shown here are PIPL (Piping Plover); CALC (California Condor); FLSJ (Florida Scrub-Jay); MAFR (Magnificent Frigatebird); IBWO (Ivory-billed Woodpecker); KIWA (Kirtland's Warbler); WHCR (Whooping Crane); and OROR (Orchard Oriole).
PIPL Piping Plover Alpha Code Women's Dark T-Shirt Women's Value T-Shirt – This oval euro-style sticker design has the alpha code for the endangered Piping Plover: PIPL. Show you're a bird lover with this sticker. View on CafePress
CALC California Condor Alpha Code Sweatshirt Men's Crewneck Sweatshirt – This oval euro-style sticker design has the alpha code for the endangered California Condor: CALC. Show you're a bird lover with this sticker. View on CafePress
FLSJ Florida Scrub-Jay Alpha Code Jr. Spaghetti Ta Jr. Spaghetti Tank – This oval euro-style sticker design has the alpha code for the endangered Florida Scrub-Jay: FLSJ. Show you're a bird lover with this sticker. View on CafePress
MAFR Magnificent Frigatebird Alpha Code Baseball J Men's Baseball Shirt – This oval euro-style sticker design has the alpha code for the Magnificent Frigatebird: MAFR. Show you're a bird lover with this sticker. View on CafePress
IBWO Ivory-billed Woodpecker Alpha Code White T-Sh Men's Value T-Shirt – This oval euro-style sticker design has the alpha code for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker: IBWO. Show you're a bird lover with this sticker. View on CafePress
Girl's Tee Girls Classic T-Shirt – Girl's Tee 100% ringspun cotton Girls slim fit with contemporary longer length Machine wash cold, tumble dry low View on CafePress
OvalWHCR Women's Classic T-Shirt Women's Classic T-Shirt – This oval euro-style sticker design has the alpha code for the endangered Whooping Crane: WHCR. Show you're a bird lover with this sticker. View on CafePress
OROR Orchard Oriole Alpha Code Dark T-Shirt Men's Value T-Shirt – This oval euro-style sticker design has the alpha code for the Orchard Oriole: OROR. Show you're a bird lover with this unique sticker-style design. View on CafePress
T-Shirt Tuesday: 2x Property of (Birdy) Dept.
This week's highlighted shirts are inspired by traditional collegiate sweatshirts and tees. We've got something for you, whether birding is your passion or your ornithology is your profession: Property of Birding Dept and Property of Ornithology Dept. The two designs are shown below on a small selection of what we've got available for purchase:
Property of Ornithology Department Baseball Jersey Men's Baseball Shirt – This Property of Ornithology Department collegiate-style logo is a great design for any ornithologist or future ornithologist. Ornithology is the study of birds. A great gift idea for ornithologists! View on CafePress
Property of Birding Dept. Women's Dark T-Shirt Women's Value T-Shirt – This Property of Birding Department collegiate-style logo is a great design for birders everywhere. Birdwatching is a fun and popular hobby for anyone! Here's a great gift idea for any birder. View on CafePress
Property of Birding Department Sweatshirt Men's Crewneck Sweatshirt – This Property of Birding Department collegiate-style logo is a great design for birders everywhere. Birdwatching is a fun and popular hobby for anyone! Here's a great gift idea for any birder. View on CafePress
Prop. of Ornithology Dep Women's Hooded Sweatshirt Women's Hooded Sweatshirt – Women's Hooded Sweatshirt 100% cotton Charcoal Heather has black drawstrings Double lined hood Kangaroo style pocket Contemporary fit View on CafePress