Hummingbird Nectar is easy to make at home. First bring water to a boil. Once the water has boiled for a while put it into a measuring cup. Begin with four parts water then add one part ordinary white cane sugar. Stir the sugar into the hot boiling water thoroughly to make sure that all of the sugar is desloved into the water. When done stiring allow nectar to cool. Unused nectar can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. This mixture approximates the average sucrose content (about 12%) of the flowers favored by North American Hummingbirds.

Once your hummingbird nectar is cooled add it to your hummingbird feeder.

Cohasset designs has added 18 styles of North American Wild Bird Wind Chimes to their line. Their North American Wild Bird Wind Chimes have gained national recognition. Some of the birds included in the collection are Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, Steller’s Jay, Oriole, Rofous Hummingbird, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Chickadee, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Indingo Bunting, Eastern Blue Bird, and Rosebreated Grosbeak. Water fowl include Male Mallard, Loon, and Pelican wind chimes.

Cohasset has traveled to Bali for the past 15 years and worked directly with the artistes that manufacture the products which are designed for American gardens. By paying these artists directly Cohasset insures that they are treated and compensated fairly.

Cohasset’s products are made from bamboo, coconut and other fast growing plants that are very sustainable. They will bring beauty and joy to your backyard as you listen to the sounds of these unique wind chimes made from all natural and sustainable materials.

As the leaves of fall begin to drop to the ground you know that the snow and ice of winter are just around the corner. To keep your feathered friends coming to your backyard you need to have a supply of bird food that is protected from the hash winter weather. Through rain, snow, sleet and ice this all weather bird feeder delivers the seed dry. It will not clog up with snow and ice. The circular perch lets you see all the bird that are feeding, even those on the far side!

All Weather 6 Quart Bird Feeder

Sat, October 3, 2009:

Birds know all about “social networking”.

The show began at 7:15 AM, Oct 3, 2009, just outside my dining room window.  On the suet feeder was a male and female Northern Flicker.  Nothing out of the ordinary, you say.  They were followed by a male and female Yellow Shafted Flicker (the male has a red V on the back of its head and the lower portion of the wings and under side of the tail have yellow markings.)

To my great delight, two male and two female Black Headed Grosbeck arrived which I had not seen since early spring.  There were the usual Towhees checking out the seed supply on the ground, the first ones I had seen in several months.

 I noticed a couple of juvenile robins in the Mountain Ash tree which, surprise, surprise, had dropped all its orange berries last night.  In the past four weeks, I had enjoyed many robins feasting on the berries.  I became aware of pairs of Robins flying through my yard and in and out of surrounding trees and branches.  I had to move to my bedroom window to get a view less restricted by trees!  My best guess was over 20 Robins.  Never had I seen so many at one time and in just a 75 foot radius.  My neighbor saw the same thing and will vouch for me!

I could hardly miss the Pileated Wood pecker as he cautiously investigates and finally goes to the suet feeder!

Then a pair of Morning Doves did their strut across the grass, they mate for life you know.

Within that hour I had 15 varieties of birds to my feeders and close surrounding trees.  I can only estimate but there must have been 55 birds.  There were finches, sparrows, chickadees, Stellar Jays, a couple of European Starlings. Of course there were a few squirrels, too.

That was a new record for my yard.  It was the first night the temperature dropped to 38 and the morning was clear and sunny.   

We humans can take a lesson from the birds about real “social networking!”