Updated "Birds of the Lehigh Valley" has arrived!

The 2nd edition of the popular "Birds of the Lehigh Valley" is now available at The Bird House.

Having been a long time in development, the new book promises to be even better than the first edition.

Published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, the book is a "guide to the occurrence and abundance of the area's birds with 56 detailed guides to local birding sites and 120 color photographs of common species."

Featuring:

• Guides to natural areas of the Lehigh Valley including a habitat description, bird species likely to be found, driving directions and useful information for planning a trip to the site.
• An annotated checklist covering 349 species known to have occurred in the Lehigh Valley and vicinity. The list includes sighting dates and preferred habitat for each species.
• Bar graphs providing a visual representation of the seasonal occurrence and abundance of each species.
• Five color maps and 10 detailed maps for selected sites.
• and more...

Products at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

May Day special: 20% off Thursday only

Thursday, May 1st, ONLY

20% OFF ANY ONE ITEM

Mention this offer to receive your discount!

Offer excludes special orders. No rain checks.

Not valid with previous purchases or sale items.

One coupon per customer.

Three bird walks this weekend

The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society will keep bird watchers busy this weekend. Three walks are planned for Saturday and Sunday.

The first bird walk starts at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Trexler Nature Preserve, which is located off Route 309 in Schnecksville, Lehigh County. Chris Hugosson will lead the walk. Meet at the Lehigh Valley Zoo parking lot. For information, call Chris at 610-505-4160. Directions: From Route 309, turn onto Mill Creek Road, then turn left onto Game Preserve Road. The parking lot is near the main entrance to the zoo.

A walk for novice bird watchers begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Jacobsburg State Park, located off the Belfast exit of Route 33 in Northampton County. Children are encouraged to attend, but those age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Co-leaders are Scott Burnet (info: 383-955-8580) and Stephen Kloiber (info: 610-863-3889). Directions: Exit Route 33 at the Belfast interchange and drive west on Henry Road toward the park. Meet at the Henry's Woods parking area.

On Sunday morning, bird watchers can visit again Jacobsburg State Park. This walk is meant for more experienced birders. Bob Hoopes (610-799-2346) will lead. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Henry's Woods parking area.

The weather forecast is favorable for both Saturday and Sunday. Both days are expected to be mostly sunny, according to WFMZ meteorologists as of this evening. Each day is expected to start in the mid-40s, then reach into the mid-60s by afternoon.

Make sure to bring your binoculars and a field guide. Wear appropriate footgear (some areas may be damp). Park refreshments and a light lunch. Carpooling is encouraged.

The Bird House offers free copies of a brochure of Lehigh Valley Audubon Society programs and field trips for 2013-2014. Stop in and get a copy so you can plan your schedule for future events.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird sighting

Sunday afternoon we took a walk in the Monocacy Nature Center off Ilick's Mill Road. After walking downstream
along the clear and quickly running creek, very high in a Maple tree was a little bird flying back and forth. It was a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding from the maple tree yellow blossoms!

Make sure the feeders are out and filled with nectar. Use the ratio 1 part white sugar, 4 parts water.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for April 26

Chimney Swift

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended April 26. The list was compiled by The Bird House through individual reports to the American Birding Association News.

Bethlehem City, Northampton County
(at the Sands Casino)
Chimney Swift, several on April 26.

Bethlehem City, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, April 21.

Bethlehem Township, Northampton County
(at the Bethlehem Boat Club)
Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Wild Turkey, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Warbling Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler and Northern Waterthrush, all seen on April 26.

Bethlehem Township, Northampton County
(along Lehigh River towpath along Farmersville Road and Wilson Avenue)
Yellow-throated Warbler.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Blue-winged Teal, 5 or 6 on April 19.
Green-winged Teal, 1 on April 19.
Ruddy Duck, 3 on April 19.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Pied-billed Grebe, all week long.
Horned Grebe, 1 to 3 during the week.
Green Heron, 1 on April 19.
American Coot, 1 all week.
Red-headed Woodpecker, continues through April 26.
Palm Warbler, 1 on April 19.
Also seen: Wild Turkey, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Black-backed Gull, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Rough-winged and Barn swallows, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Towhee, and Chipping, Field and Swamp sparrows.

Special sale for Saturday, April 26

 

Saturday April 26th only

10% OFF ANY ONE ITEM

 

Mention this offer to receive your discount!

 

 

Offer excludes special orders. No rain checks.

Not valid with previous purchases or sale items.

One coupon per customer.

Create a humane backyard

The nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization, the Humane Society of the United States, is best known for campaign to reduce the suffering of dogs and cats. What does the group think about backyard bird-feeding? They think it's a great idea.

"One of the best ways to enjoy wildlife in the comfort of your home is to watch birds at a feeder," the Humane Society said in one of its online guides. "You'll be amazed at the variety of birds that will come to your feeder throughout the year."

The Humane Society explains, "The general rule for feeding any wild animal is: do not feed when it might cause harm. With birds, there are few situations in which we can imagine harm being caused, so we say, go ahead!"

The Humane Society raises these points:

1. Bird-feeding is most important when birds need the most energy, such as during migration or in spring and early summer, when natural food sources are depleted especially in winter. One exception to that rule is the hummingbird. They should be offered nectar from spring through fall because of their high metabolism.

2. Place feeders in locations where birds will not become prey to cats. The Humane Society said cats should be kept indoors for their own safety as well as wildlife's. An estimated 3.7 billion birds are killed by predators, including feral cats and outdoor pet cats. You can protect birds from cats by placing feeders 12 feet from bushes or evergreens where a cat might hide. That way, the bird easily can fly to safety when it sees the predator.

3. Prevent birds from colliding with windows. You can help by placing feeders either 30 feet away from a window or within 3 feet of the window. (In the latter case, a confused bird won't build up enough momentum to harm itself.) Consider hanging streamers or window decals to deter collisions.

4. Use more than one feeder. Some birds feed on the ground while others feed from platforms on the ground. 

5. Make sure to keep your feeders clean to prevent disease that could harm birds.

6. Don't worry if you stop feeding briefly during traveling or vacationing. In all but the most severe weather, birds will find food in your absence, particularly if you live in suburban areas.

7. Don't feed birds bread. It has no nutritional value for birds; moldy bread can harm them. Never offer birds food containing chocolate. It is toxic to birds. Don't feed birds table scraps. They may not be safe or healthy for birds; most table scraps will attract mice or rats.

New Product: Dr. JB's Window Feeder

Dr. JB's Clean Feeder has been a popular item at The Bird House since the innovative hummingbird feeder was introduced several seasons ago. Now it's available with an attachment that allows it to be hung as a window feeder to maximize your pleasure.

The main part of the feeder is identical to the original Dr. JB's Clean Feeder which was designed for hanging from a shepherd's hook or tree limb. The window feeder is kept in place by three heavy-duty suction cups. All you have to do is press each suction cup onto the window glass, fill the glass bottle with nectar and place the feeder on the window attachment.

The feeder has four nectar ports that are designed to control flow so nectar won't leak. The two-piece base keeps bees away from the nectar.

All hummingbird feeders should be cleaned regularly to prevent mold that would endanger the birds' lives. Dr. JB's Clean Feeder makes cleansing a snap. All parts, including each of the nectar ports, are removable. You can hand-wash the feeder or place it in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Whatever method you use, follow up by rinsing the feeder with a mild bleach and water solution. You'll want to make sure the feeder is sparkling clean when you hang it. Hummingbirds can detect off-taste nectar. A soapy film won't harm them but neither will it entice them to your feeder. 

Now is a great time to place hummingbird feeders in your backyard. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have arrived in the Lehigh Valley but their food sources are limited right now. You can get Ruby-throats to become regular visitors to your backyard by giving them much-needed nutrition right now! 

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for April 18

Louisiana Waterthrush

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended April 18. The list was compiled from individual reports to the American Birding Association News.

Bethlehem City, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on April 12.

Bethlehem Township, Northampton County
(Lehigh River towpath)
Yellow-throated Warbler, 1 on April 13 at the Bethlehem Boat Club, and 1 near Farmersville Road and Wilson Avenue.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Blue-winged Teal, 5 on April 19.
Green-winged Teal, 1 on April 19.
Ruddy Duck, 3 on April 19.

Allen Township, Northampton County
Purple Finch, 2 on April 12.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 4 during the week.
Broad-winged Hawk, 1 on April 12.
White-throated Sparrow, 4 on April 12.
Eastern Bluebird, 2 on April 12.
Among others seen: House Finch, Brown Thrasher, Blue Jay, American Robin, Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Black-capped Chickadee, Barn and Tree swallows, and Red-bellied, Pileated and Downy woodpeckers.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Louisiana Waterthrush, 2 on April 13.

Allentown, Lehigh County
(Dorney Park pond)
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 on April 13.

Trexler Game Preserve, Lehigh County
Pine Warbler, 2 on April 13.
Also seen: Gnatcatcher and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

State Game Lands No. 217, Lehigh County
Yellow-rump Warbler, 3 on April 12.
Also seen: Gnatcatcher, Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Red-shouldered Hawk, Field Sparrow.

Fogelsville, Lehigh County
Double-crested Cormorant, 3 on April 12.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Louisiana Waterthrush, 1 on April 13 on Fort Everett Road.
Common Loon, 1 on April  13.
Wood Duck, 2 on April 13.
Vesper Sparrow, 1 on April 13 on Leaser Road.
Also seen: Chipping Sparrow, Meadowlark, Purple Martin.

Lynn Township, Lehigh County
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 on April 13 along Kunkle's Mill Road.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Red-breasted Merganser, 5 on April 12.
Common Loon, 3 during the past week.
Horned Grebe, 3 during the past week.
Red-necked Grebe, 5 on April 12.
Double-crested Cormorant, 155 on April 12.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 through April 12.
Hermit Thrush, 4 through April 12.
Palm Warbler, 8 on April 12.
Also seen: American Bittern, Barn Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Broad-winged Hawk, Brown Thrasher, Spotted Sandpiper and Winter Wren.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Stefko Blvd. Construction

Today is Wednesday April 23rd. While there is construction on Stefko Blvd blocking the entrance to Stanhope Street and The Bird House parking area, The Bird House is open for business. The best (only) way to get to the store is to go around the block and come in Stanhope from the other end heading towards Stefko.

Two detour routes:
Irene Street (between Valley Farm parking area and Dunkin Donuts) and make 2 lefts to Stanhope.
OR
Glemere Street (Premium Siding and Roofing) and make 2 rights to Stanhope Street.

The Bird House is closed today

The Bird House is closed today because UGI has blocked our entire parking lot on Stanhope Street in Bethlehem due to construction. The right lane of Stefko Boulevard also is blocked. We'll keep you posted on when we will be able to reopen. We're very sorry for the inconvenience.

New Products: Heartwood bird houses

The Woodcutter

Heartwood is a Mississippi company known for its high-quality, visually appealing bird houses. The Bird House is offering three new designs, just in time for nesting season.

Add a magical touch to your yard or garden with The Woodcutter, an enchanting combination of rustic simplicity and imaginative design details such as the dramatic asymmetrical "winged" front gable. The house is crafted to look like a rough-hewn log made for your favorite songbirds. A shingled roof, capped by copper flashing, adds a finishing touch.

The Woodcutter is an ideal focal point for your backyard. The house is 18 inches tall, so it will make quite a statement! You can place the house on a decorative post for maximum effect.


 



Summer Beach Home

Vibrant colors—the sort you'd expect to see on a care-free, sunny seashore—are the hallmark of the Summer Beach Home. 

The Summer Beach Home is made of select cypress, one of the most durable and long-lasting domestic wood. The shingled roof gives the house an exceptional style. A copper-covered door on the back makes clean-out a snap. The back has a metal hanger so that you can mount the house on a fence, a post, a tree, a house or a garden shed. Wrens and chickadees will love it.

Fruit Coop

The final new entry this season is the Fruit Coop, an artful gathering of all the best features that attract wrens and wren-lovers: natural beauty, durable cypress construction and a shingled roof. The back of the house has a metal hanger for affixing to a fence, post, tree, house or shed. As with other Heartwood products, a copper-covered door on the back provides for easy clean-out. 

Heartwood is operated by fourth-generation owners who take pride in their craftsmanship. Its houses were an immediate hit when the company took its products nationwide about 20 years ago and the customer demand has never wavered. 

Products and color selection are available at The Bird House for a limited time, so hurry in!

The Rusty Blackbird is in serious trouble

Male Rusty Blackbird

Researchers are becoming increasingly concerned that the population of Rusty Blackbirds is plummeting and they're not certain why. They're asking birders to help count the migrating birds so they can obtain a clearer picture of what's wrong.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology calls the Rusty Blackbird "one of North America's most rapidly declining species." Formerly abundant, the population has plunged by at least 85 percent over the past 40 years.



The Rusty Blackbird is a medium-sized blackbird with a slender bill and a medium-length tail. In winter, the male is distinguished by its rusty brown feather edges, pale yellow eye and buffy eyebrow. The female is gray-brown. It also has rusty feather edges, pale eyes and a bold eyebrow, contrasting with darker feathers right around the eye.

The bird is a bit larger and longer-tailed than the Red-winged Blackbird (with its brilliant red wing patch) and a shorter tail and slimmer bill than the Common Grackle. It shares the pale yellow eye of the grackle. If you listen closely to the sounds of a large blackbird flock, you may hear their song: a gurgling, creaky sound like a rusty-hinged gate being opened.

Female Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbirds are ecologically distant from other blackbirds. You won't see them at a backyard feeder. In the summer breeding season in northern Canada, they are found in boreal wetlands. Winter will find them in wooded wetlands in eastern and southeastern United States.

The birds have been seen in the Lehigh Valley this autumn and winter. The Eastern PA Birdline, a project of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, reported sightings at 11 different locations this season, especially in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County. The first sightings came on September 25, 2013; the latest occurred during the week of February 28. Most leave the Lehigh Valley by late April.

Researchers have been investigating the causes of the population decline. They've found that Rusty Blackbirds in their breeding grounds have mercury concentrations three to four times than those found elsewhere. The feathers give one indication: Mercury levels return to normal in the winter but soar during breeding season in Canada. The mercury harms breeding, leaving fewer fledglings. Other possible explanations include changes in logging, agricultural practices, loss of habitat in wintering grounds and wetlands drying due to climate change.

Researchers this week began asking you to report birds in your woods and wetlands. Cornell ornithologists have partnered with other organizations to coordinate a Rusty Blackbird Migration Blitz—a continent-wide effort to track Rusty Blackbirds.

To learn more about this project and find out how you can contribute your sightings, go to the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group at www.rustyblackbird.org. Make sure you hurry, though. The Rusty Blackbird migration in the Lehigh Valley is drawing to a close.

What attracts birds to a feeder?

Do birds come to a feeder because they see the seed or smell it?

Most birds have some sense of smell but it is poorly developed in seed-eating songbirds. They come to feeders because they see the seed or because they see other birds feeding.  They also notice the sound of other birds congregating at feeders. Birds are very inquisitive; they investigate something new.

Occasionally it takes only a few hours for birds to begin using a new feeder. More likely, though, it may take days or even weeks until the birds notice that you've spread a banquet for them. The variation depends on the distance to bird habitat, density of nearby feeders and the kinds of birds that might chance on the new feeder. Chickadees, titmice and House Sparrows are especially quick to locate new feeders, according to the National Audubon Society.

If there are a lot of feeders in your neighborhood, birds may find your feeder more readily as they already associate feeders with an easy meal, the Audubon Society advises.

To make your new feeder more enticing, place some seed on top of the feeder or on a nearby platform, or scatter the seed on bare ground near the feeder. The sight of the seed will draw more attention to the feeder.

Don't worry if it takes time for birds to become accustomed to a new feeder. You will have more success if you keep the feeder replenished with good quality seed at all times. If the seed runs out, so will the birds.

They're here!

With a strong tailwind at their backs, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have reached the Lehigh Valley.

In fact, some have been sighted far north of us, with one intrepid Ruby-throat reported north of Boston! That's quite a lot of distance to cover since Friday morning, when we last posted the map of hummingbird sightings.

After their long springtime flight from Central America and Mexico, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are exceptionally hungry for food. They sip nectar from flowers and eat small flying insects, but neither food source is abundant yet.

Now is the time to put your hummingbird feeders out and fill them with nectar. The Bird House has a full range of feeders and accessories, as well as easy-to-prepare nectar specifically formulated for hummingbirds' taste.

Look for further postings soon on how you can help hummingbirds at this time of year.

Mockingbirds change their tune with changing climate

Why are some birds simple singers and others vocal virtuosos?

Two studies link superior singing skills to higher intelligence that enables birds to survive today's harsher and inconsistent climate.

Male Northern Mockingbird in song

Researchers at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, and McGill University in Montreal focused their work on Northern Mockingbirds, a species known for its ability to express complex songs. Mockingbirds even mimic the songs of other birds, hence their name. 

Their study looked a large population of mockingbirds in diverse habitats. They found that species in more variable climates sing more complex tunes.

The researchers hypothesized that as today's environment becomes more unpredictable, song displays become more elaborate. They attribute this to the birds' survival and reproduction instincts. The birds don't know when food will be available or how long it will be around. The consequences of selecting a mediocre mate are magnified when the weather is inconsistent.

Male mockingbirds sing primarily to impress mates. Superior singing skills are a cue to the female that a male is a good catch. Males that sing more complex songs tend to carry fewer parasites and have offspring that are more likely to survive.

At the University of North Carolina, researchers suspect that song-learning ability may also be a display of learning ability in general. Complex songs may indicate which males have not only brawn but also brainpower.

In addition, singing skills may be a sign that males are clever enough to cope with unpredictable environments. Individual birds that are more intelligent tend to be better able to compensate for the difficulties of unpredictable situations, such as harsh weather.

"For example," the North Carolina researchers said, "if some individuals are able to invent new foraging techniques, then they are going to be better at surviving harsh winters than the poor guy who only knows one way to forage. The more intelligent you are, the more resourceful you are."

Does this pattern hold for other bird species? Ultimately additional research may shed light on that question.

Hummingbirds have reached Pennsylvania

After a slow start this season, migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are making up for lost time. The first of this year's class has made it to Pennsylvania! 

Despite the difficult conditions of the past two weeks, the Ruby-throats may be on time after all in reaching the Lehigh Valley. They usually arrive here around April 15.

One Ruby-throat was reported yesterday just west of Philadelphia. And this morning, another was reported west of Gettysburg. There also have been recent sightings in southern New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

Make sure you've stocked up on nectar. Migrating hummingbirds will need lots of nutrition to keep them going. After all, it's been a long journey!

And if you haven't enjoyed the treat of seeing the humming little birds in your backyard, be sure to get a hummingbird feeder and a pole on which to hang it. We also have easy-to-use nectar and useful accessories. Keep the feeder filled and replace the nectar every few days so it stays fresh. As spring turns to summer, you may find Ruby-throats nesting in your yard!

Can I use dryer lint as a nesting material?

Birds will take the fluffy lint if it is put out. However, lint makes nests very unstable. Take a ball of lint and wet it. See how it shrinks? As it dries, it gets crusted and loses its fluff completely.

Male House Sparrow carrying material for the nest

There are better options for offering nesting materials to birds.

You can put out dog or cat hair that has not be treated for fleas or ticks.

String or yarn are great nesting materials. Make sure the pieces are only 4 to 6 inches long so the birds don't get tangled.

Many birds use small twigs for their nests. If you have any left from your winter cleanup, place the twigs in a nook in your backyard where birds can retrieve them. If you have an open compost pile, birds may visit looking for suitable nesting materials.

Dry grass from lawn-mowing is a good nesting material. But if your lawn has been treated with pesticides, don't leave the grass on the lawn or place in a pile where birds can get it. Any chemical that kills weeds or insects could harm birds, their eggs or their hatchlings. 

For your convenience, The Bird House has packages of nesting material. The packages contain a variety of sterilized material: feathers, string, cotton, hemp and Aspen fiber. All sorts of birds will find something they like for their nests.

In addition, we have bell-shaped cages that can be used to dispense nesting material. The cages can be hung from shepherds hooks or tree limbs. These cages make the nesting material very visible to birds. 

Finally, you might consider creating and maintaining a small mud puddle in your yard. Robins, phoebes, and Barn and Swift swallows use mud to form their nests.

From the Bird House: cage with nesting material

Mourning Dove

The Mourning Dove is a frequent visitor to backyards, and for good reason. It is the most abundant and widespread dove, found in a variety of habitats. 

It is about 12 inches long, with a trim body and small head. The long tail tapers to a point which unique among American doves. The tail feathers are black bordered with white tips. Most obvious is the beige-colored body with black spots on the upper wings and a "pinkish wash" below, with reddish legs and feet.

Males and females are similar in appearance. The male has bright purple-pink patches on the neck and its crown is bluish-gray in color. The female has more brown coloring overall. It is a little smaller than the male.

The call is a mournful oowoo-woo-woo-woo. The bird flies fast on strong wingbeats, sometimes making swift ascents or descents with quick turns or dodges, its pointed tail stretching behind it. Wings produce a fluttering whistle as the bird takes flight.

You can find Mourning Doves at some point in the year in all continental states and into Canada and Mexico. You'll see them perched on telephone wires, on bare grounds or in fields. They only place you may not see them is in dense forests.

Seeds make up 99 percent of the Mourning Dove's diet, including grains and even peanuts, as well as wild grasses, weeds, herbs and occasionally berries. They sometimes eat snails. Mourning Doves eat roughly 12 to 20 percent of their body weight per day! Comparatively, a 180-pound man would need to eat 342 hard boiled eggs each day to match that 20 percent of body weight.

Mourning Doves tend to feed on the ground, but we have all seen them on hanging platform feeders or trying to get on small tube or hopper feeders, too. The birds will swallow seeds and store them in an enlargement of the esophagus, called a crop. Once they have filled it (the record is 17,200 bluegrass seeds in a single crop!), they fly to a safe perch to digest the meal.

Unique among birds, Mourning Doves drink without lifting their heads. Their beak serves as a straw.

Their nests are almost pathetic. They are a flimsy assembly of twigs, pine needles and grass stems about 8 inches long. There is little insulation for the young. So flimsy are the nests that they often fall apart during a strong wind or rainstorm. But they also can have five or six broods a year, incubating one batch of eggs while feeding fledglings. Generally two eggs are laid per brood. Chicks are fed "crop milk" regurgitated from the adults.

They sometimes will use a hanging basket for their nesting site which does the plant in the basket little good. They are persistent; sometimes it is easier to take a hanging basket, plant some spider plants or ivy, and just give it over to the birds.

The Mourning Dove is the most abundant game bird in North America. Every year hunters harvest more than 20 million birds, but the Mourning Dove remains one of our most abundant birds, with an estimated population of 350 million. The bird is on the "Least Concern" on the conservation list.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for April 4

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended April 4. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Pectoral Sandpiper (adult breeding plumage)

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on April 2.
Great Egret, 1 on April. 2.

Albert Road Ponds, Northampton County
Redhead, 3 on April 2.

Bethlehem Township, Northampton County
Blue-winged Teal, 1 on April 3 at St. Luke's Anderson Campus.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Double-crested Cormorant and Killdeer.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 2 during the past week.

Hanover Township, Northampton County
House Wren, 1 on April 3.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Barn Swallow

Schnecksville, Lehigh County
Redhead, 8 on March 28 at Old Post Road and Belleview Road.

Trexler Park, Lehigh County
Solitary Sandpiper, 1 on March 30.

Lehigh Parkway, Lehigh County
Gray Catbird.

Trexlertown, Lehigh County
Pectoral Sandpiper, 7 on March 30 at Long Lane and Tillage Road.

Allentown, Lehigh County
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on March 31.
Greater Scaup, 1 through March 28 at Cedar Creek Park (Lake Muhlenberg).

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
Redhead, 6 on March 29 at Walt Road.

Gilbertsville, Montgomery County
Bullock's Oriole, 1 through April 3 at Oberholtzer Road.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Common Merganser, approximately 1,200 on March 27.
Red-necked Grebe, 6 on March 27.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 89 on March 27.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 through the past week.
Also seen: Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Double-cresed Cormorant, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, and Swamp and Savannah sparrows.

Also seen at various locations this past week: Osprey, Bald Eagle, Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Birdhouse & Feeder Cleaner

This is the time of year to prepare your bird houses for their new occupants. We've found a valuable cleaning product that can help you with this chore—and keep your backyard songbirds healthy.

Songbird Essentials' Birdhouse &  Feeder Cleaner is a liquid that cleanses away parasites, bird droppings and organic contamination. It's important to keep houses free of fleas, mites, spiders and disease because they attack baby birds, robbing their bodies of natural nutrients and in some cases killing them outright.

The product is completely nontoxic. It's based on natural enzymes that kill deadly parasites and rid the houses of pests' eggs.

It's important to remember that songbirds will not use last year's nest, even if they were the ones that built it. They like to start afresh each year.

You have an easy task if the house was removed last fall. Merely spray a penetrating mist through the opening of the bird house. This will target any contaminants that accumulated over the winter. The pests will be gone because their eggs will be killed.

However, if the old nest wasn't removed last fall, sterner measures need to be taken. The  product label advises mixing 4 ounces of Birdhouse & Feeder Cleaner in 1 gallon of water. Add a tiny amount of dish soap to break the surface tension. Next, scrub the entire surface inside and out using the solution. Make sure you get into crevices because that's where contaminants hide. You don't need to rinse the solution.

Once the house dries, it is ready for its new occupants. The process is like putting on a fresh coat of paint when selling a new home—the more attractive you make it, the more likely someone will move in.

The Birdhouse & Feeder Cleaner works well on feeders, too. Feeders should be cleaned periodically during the year to keep contaminants from infecting birds. There is some scientific research that suggests that dirty feeders caused a decline in the population of House Finches because of conjunctivitis, a feeder-borne disease that ruins their eyesight.

You can clean bird feeders by removing any excess seed, old seed fragments and other contaminants. Spray the feeder using the product and then scrub (a long-handled brush, available at The Bird House, is ideal for tube feeders). Repeat the process until you're certain that the feeder is clean. Let the feeder dry thoroughly before adding new seed.

It's great fun watching songbirds in the backyard. But there's a responsibility that comes along with that. You wouldn't want to spread disease to the very birds you're trying to attract!

Hummingbirds are resuming their progress

After encountering cold weather for another week, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are again making their way cautiously northward along the East Coast.

One hummingbird was sighted just across the Potomac River in Maryland, joined by a few others that have made it into Virginia. Most remain in North Carolina, however.

One curious aspect of this spring's migration is a seeming scarcity of sightings. Why? It could be that fewer people are reporting birds to Hummingbirds.net, which tracks the progress of Ruby-throats as they make their way to their summertime breeding grounds. Another possibility is a change in hummingbird populations along the East Coast.

Cold weather usually is blamed for slowing the progress of migration. Actually the reason is food supply. Hummingbirds depend primarily on nectar-laden flowers and tiny flying insects for their food. If the weather is cold, the buds on plants remain dormant. The flying insects stay under cover or don't emerge at all. The hummingbird won't be able to sustain itself.

If a hummingbird outruns its fuel supply, it must make a hasty retreat to find a location farther south where nectar or insects are available. Otherwise the bird faces starvation.


The weather this spring along the East Coast has been anything but helpful for Ruby-throats. That situation is not limited to the Lehigh Valley. Normally by April 4, cherry blossoms along Washington, D.C's Tidal Basin have reached full bloom. But twice the cherry blossom festival has had to be postponed for lack of flowers. The Washington Post reports that this year's peak bloom isn't expected for at least another seven days.

Usually Ruby-throats arrive in the Lehigh Valley around April 15. They may get here a little later than that, unless of course the weather suddenly warms, bringing with it flowers and insects. Still, it's a good time to get ready for the Ruby-throats' arrival. Do you have your hummingbird feeder ready? They may need the energy boost after their long journey.

With that said, here is today's migration map.