Celebrate Wild Birds Unlimited's Anniversary
In 1981, Jim Carpenter opened the first Wild Birds Unlimited in Indianapolis, Indiana. Now, there are more than 360 locations across North America. Each store is individually owned and operated, providing the kind of innovative products, services and local expertise you and your birds deserve. It's sharing the joy of the hobby with our customers, hearing your stories and seeing your smiles that keep us doing what we do. Thanks for supporting us and allowing us to bring people and nature together for another 45 years (and more).
Offer Water to Help Birds Survive Winter
Winter isn't just cooler for us; it’s a real survival test for birds. With longer nights and colder temperatures, their internal "heaters" (metabolism) have to work overtime. While food is a must, water is just as critical. Birds need water to stay hydrated and to keep their feathers clean, essential for insulation and warmth.
A reliable source of open water can make your yard the go-to winter hangout, even for birds that don't normally visit feeders. If temperatures dip below freezing, you can use a bird bath heater in an existing plastic or stone bird bath, or try a bird bath with a built-in heater. The entire surface of a bird bath doesn't have to thaw, there just needs to be an opening big enough for birds to drink and bathe. You can support birds through winter, while attracting a greater variety of visitors to enjoy.
We have a full lineup of winter-ready bird baths and heaters that are bird-safe and easy to care for. Shop now and help birds stay hydrated, warm and winter-strong.
Give Birds a Super Winter
Winter is a wonderful time to feed the birds. Not only is a chance to help birds get the necessary fats for surviving longer nights and colder temperatures, but it's also a good time to see a variety of birds visiting you're feeders. Our Winter SuperBlend® is a high-fat seed blend, specifically formulated to provide birds the essential energy and fats needed to survive whatever winter throws at them.
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It’s Christmas for Your Backyard Birds
Full of peanuts, almonds and cranberries, our exclusive Christmas Suet is a high-calorie energy source that attracts birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice and nuthatches. And like all of our suet, Christmas Suet is rendered to eliminate impurities.
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Prevent Window Strikes and Help Save the Song Birds
Here’s a harsh truth: colliding with windows can be fatal for birds. Even if they manage to fly away, they're not just “stunned,” birds are often seriously injured. Windows reflecting sky or greenery trick birds into thinking there’s a clear flight path, and juvenile birds (who are just figuring things out) are especially at risk.
Preventing window strikes is one way you can help Save the Song Birds. With a few thoughtful adjustments, you can help birds recognize your windows as barriers, not passage ways.
- Feeder Placement: Place bird feeding stations within three feet (1 meter) of the window or beyond ten feet (3 meters). Within three feet, birds ‘fleeing’ the feeder area will not have built up enough speed to injure themselves if they strike the window. Beyond ten feet, birds will have enough time to spot and avoid the window.
- Visual Cues: Apply deterrents to your windows (such as screens or decals) to help birds see the barrier and give them a chance to take action before any harm is done.
- Install a Window Feeder: Use a window feeder to make birds more aware of the glass and so you have a front-row seat to watch your feathered visitors.
Go here to learn more, or stop by the store and we’ll walk you through the best ways to wipe out window strikes.
Go here to purchase window decals online
Wild Birds Unlimited in Winchester is your source for high quality Zeis Optics. With exceptional optical performance, these are perfect for bird watchers and all nature lovers.
Check out our range of optics here
January Nature Happenings 2020
• Now through late March is a difficult time for birds; providing food and an open source of water is important. Place a heated birdbath on your deck or close to your bird feeders.
• Watch for mixed flocks of birds to feed on winter berries, poison ivy and cedar trees. This is the reason Eastern Red Cedar is the first tree introduced on vacant pastureland. AND the same reason Poison Ivy pops up in your flower garden in the spring.
• Project FeederWatch continues, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw
• Woodpeckers are easy to spot on leafless trees. In this area we have the following woodpeckers: Red-bellied, Hairy, Downy, Red-headed, Pileated, Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.
• Barred Owls will begin their “Who cooks for you” hoots and begin mating by mid-January. Make sure nesting boxes are ready to use.
• During late January and early February, Great Horned Owls will be sitting on their eggs. Listen for their “hoots” as they are still paring up. No need for a nesting box as they use the nesting sites from other large birds even to the extent of stealing a Bald Eagles nest.
• Bald Eagles will begin rebuilding nests and by the end of February can be incubating eggs. Look for extremely large nests in the tops of mature trees.
• Look and listen for the Short-eared Owl. They are only here during the winter, leaving late winter for breeding in Canada. Best time to see the Short-eared owl is dawn and dusk, flying close to the ground “listening” for their prey.
• Late in the month, as days lengthen, Tufted Titmice and cardinals begin to sing. Cardinals flocking; they're usually the first and last birds to be seen at feeders. Set your feeders close to forest edge, bushes and trees for protection.
• Look for hawks such as Red-tailed, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned in your backyard.
• Peak of Bald Eagle migration
• Waterfowl are present on deep-water lakes. Go to Lake Frederick and Abrams Creek Wetlands to observe many winter residents like Scaups, Gadwalls, Grebes and the Cackling Goose.
• Start planning your butterfly and bird gardens this month.
• Skunk Cabbage is the first flower of the year to bloom. Look for it in marshy, wetland areas towards the end of the month.
• Tired of squirrels? Unfortunately January is the first of two Squirrel mating seasons. On average they will produce 4 Pups per litter. However, if you love squirrels, time to put up a squirrel nesting box.
• White-tailed Deer bucks are beginning to shed their antlers.
• Earthworms burrow below the frost line and become dormant.