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Listed are some top movies that might bring some interest to bird lovers or bird enthusiasts.
Bird Man of Alcatraz (1962) – A fictionalized film about Robert Stroud, a federal prisoner who reared and sold birds and became an ornithologist.
The Birds-(1963) – A classic Alfred Hitchcock action thriller movie of birds that attack people.
Happy Feet-(2006) an animated movie about penguins that dance.
The Big Year-(2011) A comedy movie featuring Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Jack Black, three guys who are on a quest to be the year’s top birder.
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill-(2003)-Documentary featuring Mark Bittner, caretaker of San Francisco’s flock of wild cherry headed concurs.
Paulie-(1998)-Movie about Blue Crowned Concure that gets separated from his owner.
The Real Macaw-(1997)- A film from Australia, tale of 149 year old blue and gold macaw. Good movie for young and old ages.
Winged Migration-(2001)-Movie about migration of birds with birds of all species in flight.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins-(2011) – film starring Jim Carrey who finds himself with 10 penguin roommates.
The March of the Penguins-(2005)-Narrated by Morgan Freeman. An educational movie about Emperor Penguins and their fight for survival in harsh condition.
On a personal note, I have yet to see most of the movies above. I did like March of the Penguins, the scenery was outstanding and a very educational movie. A great flick for kids who can learn more about the environment.
The birdseed lady, Sarah/http://www.prdseed.com
Lynn Short, a regular customer of www.prdseed.com was nice enough to send her outstanding photos of the Cooper’s Hawk. The hawk has been preying in her Texas back yard eyeing up other small song birds. Hawks are known to prey on songbirds and small mammals.
Of course, we have to credit her husband Mike, who actually took the photos with his Nikon Camera. Great job, Mike
Lynn orders the Prdseed No Mess, a general bird seed mix that has white millet seed, sunflower hearts and chips, and safflower birdseed.
Prdseed.com previoulsy did a simular blog on the Red Tailed Hawk with featured Customer Beth Fillman, from New York in March Please view on:
http://www.prdseed.com/blog/?p=298
Beware, those hawks sure do get around.
 
Thanks for sending in your photos, Lynn and Mike
Sarah/The bird seed Lady/http://www.prdseed.com
One warm fall day in 2010 ,before my daughter became married and multiply-impregnated, and while my son was working overseas; my daughter came to visit me at my house in an old section of Columbia. “Weeter,” I asked, “go look in the garage and see if you can find that little space heater to use on cold mornings at your place.” Her name “Liz,” a name I had always hated after that unfortunate childhood experience, but I mostly call her the name I called her when she was a toddler. Trying to hang onto things in a changing world. Also trying to avoid replacing her furnace. At the moment, I was also petting Roxanne, amazed for the 400th time at how cute this clumsy labradoodle puppy really was. At this point I was having trouble determining whether I was actually closer to the puppy or the sometimes-I-go-to-class-when-I’m-trying-to-make-my-father-happy daughter. Just a momentary twinge of doubt, there.
A scream from the backyard intruded before I resolved the question in my mind. Ahhh! Dad, hurry! I ran to the back door. My 22-year-old daughter, standing in front of the garage, was shouting to me to come out into the yard, pointing excitedly over my head as I stepped out onto the deck.
I quickly hobbled out onto the deck, into the yard and turned to look back behind me, above the roof of the house, and then I saw…..nothing. She said a humongous bird, not a hawk, not a vulture, not even an Eagle, had perched on the crown of the roof and was looking at her when she came out the garage. she said she could hear its wings beat as I came out of the house, but it was like nothing she had ever seen. She has seen songbird, some of them pretty large. We live in South Carolina and she has gone to the coast in and around the salt marshes for at least a week every summer since she was born.
Oh yes, the internet. Looking at pictures of some of the largest birds in the world, she shouted, “that’s him!” as she pointed to and then enlarged a picture of the wood stork. I was doubtful. We got some other pictures of wood storks, and read that they are somewhat threatened, breeding only in southern Georgia and Florida, but sometimes range into South Carolina. I don’t think I had ever seen one before, but it was truly an impressive bird species, according th the author of the scholarly article.
Later that day, I went out to feed the koi in the little cement pond next to the house, and well there weren’t any. I called to them, banging the border-stones together, and nothing. I thought perhaps they were really afraid, something had scared them, maybe a hungry cat, and so I threw some food around in different spots, but saw nothing. Then with a dull, sick realization, I saw there had been some other feeding going on. Reading some more about the wood stork, one of its most notable behavioral characteristics apparently is,”…standing in shallow water and feeding until there are no more fish.”
I actually had names for some of those fish. Well, trying to stay positive, I thought now is a good time to clean out the pond, and the next day I syphoned out all of the water, only to find about 35 small fish down in the muddy bottom of the pond. Hurrah! Determined to save them and not give up the cleaning, I put these 1 to 3 inch goldfish, koi and shibunkins into a 55 gallon drum, along with a pump and removed the rest of the water out of the pond, and started scraping out the pond, there being about 2 year’s worth of leaves and other muck waiting at the bottom.
When I was done, I started filling the pond with the garden hose, which would take several hours. After that I would add water treatment and then put the fish back in along with the simple filtration system. Late that afternoon, I went out to see how the pond was filling, thinking it was probably ready. As I came out the side door, I saw a majestic slate-grade bird standing on top of the 55 gallon drum, looking at me casually with beady eyes but betraying very little interest. With a few great swoops of its powerful winds, it slowly moved across the yard, gaining altitude into the trees, and away.
There was one half of one dead fish left in the drum. I had helped to provide a couple of awesome feedings for an endangered bird. So I got that going for me.
Author: Anonymous
Chances are, if you want to be one of the top bird watchers, one who knows the trade, you would need the best birding binoculars when given the chance to purchase them. Birds and other feathered friends are quite sensitive to their surroundings, meaning they are attentive to what they see and sense is around them. The best way to catch a glimpse of birds is through bird watching binoculars such as Leupold binoculars which may be the best birding binoculars available for bird watchers.
Today’s market has a vast quantity of birding binoculars, and people who are just beginning to take up bird watching usually need all the help they can get on how to pick a pair of binoculars today. Among those that are highly recommended or the binoculars that are specialized, such as the best birding binoculars leica ultravid hd binoculars. These are surely one of the best birding binoculars today and once you hook up with other fellow bird watchers, chances are these very binoculars or ones similar in style would be what you would normally see. Special features for best birding binoculars are usually in demand and, hence, the main reason why people prefer the leica ultravid hd binoculars overall.
On of the most important factors that must be taken into consideration when searching the binoculars market for the best birding binoculars is if the binoculars provide a stabilized image view. As like all animals, birds are always moving and are not likely to stay in one place for long periods of time. At times, it may difficult to get a good view of the birds, because they are always moving. Hence, you need special binocular, which refers to the best birding binoculars. These are the ones who are able to adhere towards total appreciation and view of these flying animals that often provide us peace and tranquility, which any nature loving person loves to glance upon. You can read more free advice on binoculars review at http://www.TheBinocularsReview.com
Getting the best birding binoculars may sound easy, but, as you may know, nothing is as ever as simple as it seems. You must consider a lot of things, especially the features the birding binoculars possess. Bird watching could be considered a delicate hobby, which one can only be successful at with proper equipment. Therefore, you must research and compare many types of binoculars to find the best birding binoculars. Then you must be willing to work at your hobby to become the best and being the best means obtaining the best birding binoculars. The most qualified binoculars have all the special features needed to make your bird watching successful.
About The Author
Article by Betty Allen at http://www.TheBinocularsReview.com. For more great free information on everything you should know about binoculars review visit => Leica Ultravid Hd Binoculars and Special Offers On Binoculars
So you have set up a bird feeder and want to attract some lovely birds into your backyard. If you have gone to the grocery store and purchased a package of wild bird seed you might notice that you are not able to attract the variety of birds you want. There are a lot of different kinds of seeds available and the kind you choose will determine the kinds of birds you attract.
Let’s take a look at the seeds you can get to attract certain species.
1. Thistle seed
This is also commonly known as Nyjer seed. If you want to have flocks of finches visiting your backyard, these are the seeds you should get. You will need to have a special type of bird feeder if you plan on using these seeds because they are very small and tend to fall out of most bird feeders.
2. Suet
This is a healthy bird seed block that provides a lot of protein for birds. It attracts woodpeckers, chickadees and Blue Jays, just to mention a few. This type of seed is especially needed and wanted by birds during the long winter months when protein isn’t readily available.
3. Black oil sunflower seeds
This is the most popular type of bird seed and it is commonly used to attract nuthatches, finches, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows and chickadees. You may find other types of birds coming to check out this seed as well.
4. Nectar
This is the type of feed you’ll need to get if you want to see Orioles or hummingbirds. Each of these birds likes a different type of nectar, however, so you’ll have to buy a different type according to what type of bird you want to attract.
5. Mixed seeds
This is the route to go if you want to see a wide variety of birds visiting your bird feeder. By offering a mixture, you’ll be saving money since buying the above feed on its own is usually much more expensive than buying a mixed bag of seeds.
These are the most common seeds used for feeding wild birds but this is by far not an exclusive list. There are a lot of other seeds you can purchase on their own that will attract other kinds of birds as well.
Just to be clear, these are wild bird mixtures that would not be fed to birds housed in bird cages indoors. Tame birds may or may not be able to tolerate some of the seeds mentioned above. Birds that are kept in bird cages need their own proper nutrition that is determined according to the type of bird.
If you have never set up a bird feeder before and want to play around with the kinds of birds that will come and visit, these bird seeds are a good place to start. If you already have a bird feeder set up, why not try out some of these seeds to see what kind of beautiful birds you can attract into your backyard?
Article By: Rob Lobitz-http://www.birdcages.net
It’s not that I don’t think I’m worthy of receiving a Christmas present worth more than $100,000.00. It’s very generous and thoughtful; a special gift each day of the 12 days before Christmas. It’s just that I don’t know what in the world I’d do with them.
Ok, maybe a Partridge in a Pear Tree is OK, but the pear tree would die down here in South Florida in no time at all, probably before Christmas.
Alright, maybe Two Turtle Doves are OK too. I already have a few morning doves. A couple more doves are not going to hurt anything.
But 3 French Hens? I spent a lot of time on the farm as a young boy growing up and I’m here to tell ya, hens are loud and messy. I can just see lots and lots of bird poop all over the patio that I will have to clean up every day. Not to mention the amount of bird feed they would eat.
Four Calling Birds would be OK too, as long as they don’t sound like Blue Jays. I’d get tired of that sound pretty quick. How bout four canaries, or four finches, or four something’s with a little more melodic tone in their voices.
What would I do with 5 Golden Rings? In this Country it is only legal to marry one spouse at a time. So, all I could do is hock the other 4. Maybe I could figure out something else to do with them.
Six Geese A-laying. Now I already have a bunch of ducks a-laying from the lake nearby. Those ducks are messier than 3 French hens, and geese are messier than ducks, and so on.
Seven Swans Swimming? Come On!! 3 French hens, 4 calling birds, six Geese laying, all pooping on my patio, and you now give me 7 swans? I’m already getting knee deep in the stuff.
Now you’ve got to be joking. 8 Maids Milking? They are either milking me for my money or they are really milking cows. One cow? 8 cows? Now where in the world am I going to keep cows? Certainly not on my patio. They also poop big time. Besides, the Home Owners Association would file a legal complaint immediately to have me evicted from the community I live in. I only have 3 bedrooms, so now I’ve got to think about building a new house with 9 bedrooms for me and the 8 maids milking plus a new barn for the cows.
9 Ladies Dancing? Well, I might be able to stand this for one night. But to have 9 Ladies dancing all the time, well I’m getting too old for that kind of “hanky-panky”, activity. Now I’ve got to add another 9 bedrooms to the house. The estimated cost is $4 million dollars+ property.
10 Lords Leaping? Oh Great!!!! Now I have 10 Lords leaping after 9 Ladies dancing and 8 Maidens milking. This is getting out of hand and near the point of pure chaos. Add 10 more bedrooms to the new house. I’m now contacting my “Lord-God” for advice and guidance.
11 Pipers Piping. Is this over yet? With a very unusual song, the Pipers seem to be encouraging the 10 Lords leaping on the 9 Ladies dancing and the 8 Maidens milking and they are scattering the cows. This is insane. It’s got to stop. 11 more bedrooms to build.
12 Drummers Drumming – and now the drummers are picking up the beat of the 11 Pipers jumping the Dancers and Maidens. All Hell has broken loose now. Now its 50 bedrooms for the new house plus the barn. Estimated cost $10 million.
WOAH!!!, STOP THE MUSIC; STOP THE SHOW. Enough is enough!!!
I’VE GOT AN IDEA!!!
I will return the 12 gifts, pocket the $100K cash refund for the 12 presents, and buy a 20-lb bag of wild bird seed from PRDseed, of course; cost, $35.00 and save more than 10 million dollars in construction costs of a new home and barn. I can be very comfortable right here, with what I’ve got already, on my own little ol’ patio with my regular winter bird friends, and celebrate Christmas in the quiet and serene spirit of the Holidays. Oh, yes, and of course, I will gloat in the fact that I will have saved myself more than $10 million dollars this Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!! Ho, Ho, Ho !!!!!
Cheers,
Harry “Gipper” Morris
A bird that sounds like a cat? Yes, just when you’ve heard it all or think a cat is in the area, an actual catbird may be chirping in the brush. A secretive bird that the Chippewa Indians named Bird That Cries With Grief due to its raspy call.
This plain dark gray bird with a black cap and a long black tail is uncommonly mistaken for its mixture of melodious, nasal, squeaky notes sounding like a cat. Member of the mimidae family known as the mimic thrush family. Frequently mimics other birds, rarely repeating the same phrases. The bird relatively hangs out in thick shrubs or thickets of trees.
The catbird eats insects and fruit. Simular in size as a kingbird, 9″ (22.5 cm), but lacks the Kingbird’s white belly and tail band.
If a cowbird introduces an egg to a catbird nest, the catbird will quickly break it, then eject it. Not your typical friendly feathered friend.
The bird seed lady/Sarah/http://www.prdseed.com
 http://www.northrup.org/photos/catbird/
Is there evidence that feeding birds in your backyard will lead to bird death? Some think that once birds rely on your feed, they will not be capable of gaining their own food, especially during hard times such as winter.
Some feel that birds will rely on the food provided by you and that they will lose their ability to find their own food. Other experts think that our feathered friends are much more resilient and will discover new sources of food if the feeder repeatedly is empty and they can’t support themselves or their young.
As reported in Bird Watcher’s Digest, researchers Margaret Brittingham and Stanley Temple found that black-capped chickadees take, on average, only 20-25% of their winter food requirements from feeders. But, they also demonstrated a significant correlation between an individual bird’s ability to survive the winter and the use of bird feeders.
Evidence shows that aves that eat food provided by humans through feeders had an annual (not just winter) survival rate that is 8% higher (up to 95% from 87%) than those birds that don’t eat food provided by humans. For winter (as opposed to month-to-month), 69% of the feeder using birds survived the winter where only 37% of wild non-feeder using birds survived the winter.
If more wild birds survive the winter when we feed them, what are the implications? In simple terms, it means that without our help, a higher number of birds fail to survive the winter. If we help, more birds will survive. Curiously, even though our food supply will decrease the winter death rate, our avian friends will not completely rely on us. If your bird feeders are consistently empty, these amazing animals will almost always take flight to find another source of food on their own. You will also notice that in the spring, when food abounds, the birds are not as active at the feeders as they are in the winter when food is harder to find.
We can only suspect that different birds, like people, have different levels of dependence. However, the truth is that our avian friends will adapt. If one fails to continue a consistent feeding program, the birds will adapt and search for food.
I recommend that if you start a bird feeding program, stay consistent. It is best if you fill the feeders at the same time every day or whatever interval you need and ensure that the feeders do not stay empty for extended periods. For really great public information about bird feeding, go to http://www.americanbirding.org/
Also, if you plan to go on vacation or holiday, plan for your absence. If you will be gone for a short time (a few days), overfill your feeder and spread some on the ground around trees or bushes near your feeders. If you are going to be gone for an extended time, ask your friends, neighbors, or relatives to check and fill your feeders on a consistent basis.
As for winter feeding, it is more serious. Some bird populations may not migrate to areas of higher food availability if there is a reliable source near their summer habitats. Thus, if you feed birds on a consistent basis over the spring and summer, it is important that you are extremely consistent in the winter, when some species may rely on your food to survive.
To make a long story short, it is better for survival rates if you feed wild birds in your yard. But if you decide to feed them, it is ideal if you are consistent in your feeding.
About The Author
Mike Kershaw is a wild bird enthusiast and has a graduate degree in biological sciences. If you want more information or need wild bird supplies or advice, you can find it Mike’s site at http://www.TheBirdWarehouse.com
Bird watching is an ever-growing hobby in the United States; therefore, bird feeders are a popular topic when it comes to bird watching. Some people question keeping their feeders out through the autumn months due to fear that wild birds will not migrate or just think birds will not use them as much. However, there are many benefits to leaving your feeders out through the autumn months for both wild birds and you.
One common misconception people may think about leaving their bird feeders out through the autumn season is that birds will not migrate. This is called a ‘misconception’ for good reason. Birds will eventually migrate when they are ready. Leaving your feeders out is only helping prepare them for their long migration journey. Taking your feeders down too early confuses them and may leave them struggling to store up enough body fat for their long journey. This in turn will make for a hard migration. Therefore, leave your feeders out at least for two weeks following the last sight of a bird at your bird feeders.
Wild birds develop a daily routine of visits to bird feeders and other natural sources of food and nutrition. Most birds may rely on your feeders for a secondary or even primary source of food and nutrition. At this time of year their natural sources of food may have somewhat or completely depleted. To prepare them for migration, wild birds will stock up on body fat; therefore, you will see them more often at your bird feeders this time of year. With that said alone, it is important to keep your feeders out through the autumn months.
Leaving your bird feeders out through the autumn months may attract other migrating birds and potentially invite new birds to your feeding area the following year. Migration is a long and exhausting trip for wild birds. For those birds passing through your backyard, they will appreciate the sources of food in your bird feeders through the migration season. If your feeders are made available they will most likely make them their usual lay-over every migration season. Not only does this benefit migrating birds but you will get an opportunity to maybe see new wildlife that you may have not seen before. This is an exciting time for bird watchers.
It’s always important to keep your bird feeders clean just as you would during the summer months. Some people think they will not be used as much so why clean them. However, the cleaner your feeders are the more wild birds you will most likely attract during the migration season.
So think twice about taking down your bird feeders early. Remember that rather than a disservice, wild bird feeding in the autumn season provides opportunities for bird wildlife during the migration season. Bird feeders are a vital food source in the autumn months for those birds who have been accustomed to using the bird feeders you provide as well as migrating birds. If you do decide to take them down during the autumn season try waiting at least two weeks after your last bird visitor. Leaving your feeders out also extends your bird watching pleasure.
Article By: Angie Loomis
Attracting birds to your bird feeder can also attract other animals such as bear.
Below are some alternatives that attract birds to your yard, but avoid bear problems.
Avoid using bird food to attract birds from April 15 through October 15. Summertime bird feeding is recreational during the summer but not necessary for the birds to survive.
Use a bird feeder that can be taken inside every night. Spilled and scattered bird seed may continue to serve as an attraction to bears and should be removed frequently.
If you’re a true birder and enjoy watching the birds during the summer, but want to avoid bear, suspend the feeder 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet away from poles, trees, and other structures. Use a pulley system to allow for easy refilling of feeders.
Plant a hummingbird garden. Red tubular-shaped flowers are the most attractive flowers to hummingbirds. Consult with your local greenhouse or garden supply store for plant varieties suitable to your area.
Nest boxes can be an important habitat component for a number of bird species such as bluebirds, purple martins, and wrens.
Dusting sites are valuable to birds if you live on clay or lam soils. Dusting sites may be landscaped into the yard.
Birdbaths are attractive to many birds during the summer even if your property is located on a lake, or has a pond or stream. If heated, birdbaths are attractive to birds year-round.
Attracting birds to your property is a fun and interesting way to enjoy our natural world. Learning to live with bears is a responsibility of all residents. Once a bear relates to humans to food sources, the bear may continue to be a problem. Bears are variable in their behavior; it may be necessary to discourage persistent individuals. Sometimes bears causing problems are destroyed; continual feeding of birds may result in a bear’s destruction.
The bird seed lady/Sarah/http://www.prdseed.com
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Uncategorized | prdseed February 4, 2012 | 
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