It is important to know that squirrels have a great sense of smell, which is why they can easily find the food put out for birds.  Squirrels also like to hoard food which is why you often see them running away with food in their mouths as they run back to their nests.  Squirrels teeth are always growing and they must chew  to keep their teeth from growing too long.

The best way to keep your squirrels as friends and not be mad at them for stealing birds’ food is to set up a squirrel feeder. Squirrels are very territorial animals. Squirrels will mark their feeder area as their own and in doing so will leave the bird feeders alone.  It is important to set up the squirrel feeder(s)  at least 15 feet away from the birdfeeder(s) and away from your house.

There are many types of squirrel feeders availabe.  Some holders are for corn cobs, some for nuts and others for wild life seed.  The Audubon Squirrel Munch Box Feeder in the picture can be filled with sunflower seed, corn, peanuts in the shell  or squirrel or wildlife mix.  For the entertainment of both the squirrels and humans, the squirrels will lift the hinged  lid and grab the food inside. There is a plastic front so you can see how much seed is available.  The wood lid protects the seed from the weather and the little front porch area gives the squirrel a place to sit.  There are two pre-drilled holes for easy mounting on a post, tree or deck.

Keeping a filled squirrel feeder in your yard will entertain the squirrels and you, while keeping the squirrels out of the birdfeeders.  Now, that is what I call a happy yard.

These insect eating birds are more difficult to attract and maintain, but make useful tenants in any yard because their diet consists of high-flying insects. Throughout the years, Purple Martins have become completely dependent on humans to provide shelter for living and reproducing, so maintaining the proper home is essential.

Gourds are modern-looking homes for Purple Martins that have been around for many, many years.

They are easy to clean and maintain and Purple Martins love to nest inside them. Gourds can be placed on a gourd pole far from your home in the early spring to attract the scout bird.

Heath Manufacturing makes some great gourds for attracting Purple Martins and preventing Sparrows and other types of wild birds from trying to make them home. The Easy Clean Deluxe Purple Martin Gourd helps to keep Sparrows and others out and splits apart for easy cleaning. A drainage hole at the bottom also helps to keep the nest dry, which encourages Purple Martins to stay.

A gourd pole is essential for hanging up your gourds. The Telescoping Spiral Steel Gourd Pole is adjustable and made of steel for durability. It is important to check your Purple Martin gourds on a regular basis and this pole allows you to easily access the gourds because it can be lowered. The spiral configuration allows birds to easily enter and leave the gourd. Place pole at least 30 feet from a home and trees for a clear flight path.

Once you have set-up your pole with gourds, you may want to place straw, twigs and other nesting materials nearby to keep your Purple Martins happy.

Developing a Purple Martin habitat is not easy, but it is very rewarding and helps to continue the Purple Martin species. Rachel’s Robin has all your Purple Martin birding needs!

Let your mind wander and think about the beauty of insects – not just the butterfly!  Dragonflies are gorgeous also and bring no harm to humans.  The further south in the United States we wander, the more insect varieties seem to show up.  Insects are of course, most diverse in the tropics.

And what about the beautiful flies that attack our pets and horses in the summer?  (well, maybe they are downright ugly). Not many of us like flies because they carry a variety of disease.  But … don’t forget that many of our most attractive birds depend on flies for their diet.

As spring approaches us, remember to leave a small part of your lawn or backyard area wild to create a natural habitat for insects.  This will attract a wide variety of crawling,  flying and hopping insects that pollinate flowers, gather nectar and eat some of the more pesky bugs.

But if you really can’t stomach all those insects in the yard and the birds really do love insects, think about stocking up on Pine Tree Farms Insect Suet Cake (shown to the right).  These will really help in getting the birds back in early spring!

Your birds will thank you too!

This organization, comprised mainly of blind adults who have a passion for blind youth, was created in 1994.

As the presence of the Michigan School for the Blind began to greatly diminish it became apparent that additional mentoring, leadership and education were vital to ensure that the blind youth of today would grow into successful competent blind adults.

Opportunites Unlimited for the Blind has partnered with RachelsRobin.com to raise awareness and funds for Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind.

When you purchase anything at www.RachelsRobin.com, use the code: OUB (all capital letters) in the referral box near the completion of checkout.  OUB will receive 10% of all revenue generated from your sale.

Thank you for supporting OUB and  their programs.

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

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ALL YEAR ROUND!!!

In the past, people fed suet only in the fall and winter, due to poor quality and misconceptions of feeding wild birds.

Winter is a good time for the beginner to start feeding because most trees are bare of foliage making the birds very visible. You are also more apt to see birds in flocks in the winter time.

The growth and popularity of summer bird feeding was to be expected. You will have constant activity on your feeders as they flit back and forth for quick snacks during their busy day.

“No Melt” Suets make it easy to attract insect eating birds to your yard in warm weather.

Year round feeding allows you to observe and enjoy wild birds when they are the most active and colorful.

There aren’t many pests that create a feeling of disgust quite like the snake.

They tend to visit where they are not invited and often their presence can be dangerous for homeowners and their pets.

Liquid Fence Snake Repellent Granular keeps snakes away, guaranteed.

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1. Remember to take along a pair of binoculars for up-close viewing of birds and their habitats. Binoculars make bird identification easier because you can view all of their intricate details. For bird watching from a long distance, choose binoculars that are either seven- or eight-power in strength. The more powerful binoculars tend to be heavier. Also, the size of the binoculars will determine the amount of light that enters into the lens. The most important feature is that the binoculars are sturdy and durable because you will want to use them year after year.

2. Bring a comprehensive bird guide to help identify local birds. Once you spot a bird, you will want to look it up for identification. This is especially helpful if you are in your own yard and want to attract a particular type of bird.

3. Stay quiet, so you can listen to the birds. Listening to a bird’s song is just as important as watching birds for identification. By listening carefully to the birds around you, you should be able to identify them by their song. Before you go out bird watching, you may want to purchase a CD with a variety of bird songs to help with identification.

4. Be an early riser. Birds are very active and vocal in the morning. The increase in activity makes birds easier to identify by sight and sound.

5. Don’t forget your camera. Once you spot a beautiful bird, you will want to capture it on film to share with others. You may also want to start a scrapbook of all the interesting birds you have seen.

Keeping your suet or seed fresh is very important for attracting birds throughout the summer. If you have a suet feeder, place a new suet cake in the feeder if it has been in the feeder all winter long or appears to be no longer fresh. Since food is more likely to spoil during the summer when the temperature gets hot, you may need to replace suet cakes more often. Also, if your seed looks water logged or appears moldy, dump the old seed out, clean the feeder, and fill the feeder with fresh, new seed.

Summer is a great time to provide birds with a special treat or food. Offering birds a variety of nuts for a special treat is sure to attract birds to your yard. Birds love to eat peanuts, walnuts, pecans and more. You may also want to mix a variety of nuts together and fill a birdfeeder up with the nut mixture. The Audubon 3-in-1 Platform Bird Feeder is great for feeding birds a variety nuts. If the nuts are very large, you may want to chop them up first.

Another special treat that birds love to eat is fresh fruit. Fresh fruit is ideal for attracting orioles, tanagers, and rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Place a variety of fruit on a tray feeder or on a fruit hanger. Birds enjoy eating oranges, apples, cherries, raisins and more and are sure to keep coming back for more throughout the summer.