wild birds unlimited all seasons hobby guide

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Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

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Page 1: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

bird feeding

all seasons

MountainChickadee

Products Designed by Experts.Trusted Local Advice.™

Page 2: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

2 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

At Wild Birds Unlimited, we’re dedicated to helping you turn your yard into a habitat that not only benefits wild birds and the environment, but also brings song, color and life to your home.

Products Designed by ExpertsMore than 30 years of knowledge gained from our customers helps make our products the highest-quality bird feeding supplies on the market.

Trusted Local AdviceOur goal is to help you better enjoy this wonderful hobby by providing the best local advice and bird feeding products to meet your needs.

We want you to have the best bird feeding experience possible. After all, it’s the most relaxing, fulfilling, educational and exciting hobby that anyone, young or old, can enjoy.

welcomeYour Source for:

• The Finest, Freshest Bird Food

• The Best Selection of High-quality Bird Feeders

• Our Exclusive Advanced Pole System®

• Decorative Nature and Garden Gifts

Cover photography taken by Jim Carpenter, WBU Founder and CEO

Page 3: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 3

Bird Feeding: A Hobby for All SeasonsThe average backyard may be visited regularly by

15 to 20 different bird species. However, a bird-friendly

yard can attract up to 60 or more different species.

To attract the greatest number of bird species, just

provide at least one of each of these habitat elements:

food, water, cover and places to raise their young.

Cover photography taken by Jim Carpenter, WBU Founder and CEO

Page 4: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

4 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

Foods to Serve the Birds in Your BackyardThe Importance of Calcium, Protein and Fat in a Bird’s Diet

Nuts & Berries/Fruits Pictured: Male House Finch

No matter what time of year, seed-eating birds will continue to look for supplemental sources of seeds that will provide them with their essential fat and calories. So it’s important to offer the right seeds in your bird feeders. Many of these seeds, including black oil sunflower and millet, are featured in our exclusive, locally-selected, customized seed blends that also have other seasonally-appropriate ingredients.

Suet is a high-energy, pure-fat substance that supplements birds’ daily diet year-round and is particularly helpful when finding insects to eat is difficult.

We carry a selection of suet and high-fat foods, such as Jim’s Birdacious® Bark Butter®, various suet cakes and plugs, No-melt Suet Dough Cylinders and Stackables®.

Loaded with protein, mealworms can help you attract common and uncommon insect-eating birds like bluebirds or wrens.

Hummingbirds (and orioles in the spring and summer) look for reliable nectar sources. Provide for their needs at your WBU nectar feeders early, and they will reward you by continuing to visit your yard.

Regardless of the season, birds need foods high in protein and fat. These provide extra energy and help birds during nesting, raising their young and molting their feathers in the spring and summer. These foods, along with stored body fat, are the primary energy supply that fuels a bird throughout fall migration and during long, cold winter nights.

Seed

Suet & Fats

Mealworms

Nectar

Pictured: Black-capped Chickadee

Loaded with fat and protein, peanuts provide birds with the necessary energy to defend territories and raise healthy families in the spring and summer. They are also helpful to fatten up birds for fall migration and during the winter months when the extra calories help keep them warm.

During spring and summer, fresh and dried fruits are popular and help provide new feathers with proper color pigments and other nutritional needs. During fall and to prepare for winter, many birds change some of their eating habits. Birds that usually eat insects may start to eat berries to supplement their diets.

Pictured: Male Hairy Woodpecker

Pictured: Tufted Titmouse

Pictured: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

Page 5: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 5

Deluxe Blend

For birds at the feeder and on the ground, our Deluxe Blend is full of black oil sunflower seeds, millet, safflower and striped sunflower. It’s excellent for birds like juncos, doves and various sparrows.

Supreme Blend

Our Supreme Blend is for virtually every feeder. It features sunflower seeds, safflower seeds and sunflower chips to attract birds, such as chickadees, nuthatches, wrens and more.

WBU Seed Blends Chosen by Your Local ExpertChoose from the Very Best Bird Seed Available — Here Are Just a Few of the Blends We Carry

No-Mess Blend

Completely edible, our No-Mess Blend is great near flower beds, patios and decks. It’s a tidy feeding solution that is perfect for helping a wide variety of birds no matter the season.

Why Our Seed Blends Are the BestThe Right Food, for Every Season, for Your Birds

Wild Birds Unlimited offers a variety of the best seed blends on the market.

Here’s how we do it:• Our seed blends are chosen by your local expert.• They are fresh and formulated to care for your birds.• Available for a limited time, we offer seasonal blends

that are specially-formulated to meet your birds’ needs.• No cereal fillers* — just seed your birds will love.• Our Guarantee: 100% satisfaction for you and your birds.

Try our seed blends today. You’ll see why we have the Best Bird Food in Town!

EcoClean Tube Feederwith No-Mess Blend Mountain Chickadee

*Other stores’ seed blends contain cereal fillers that birds won’t eat. To keep blend prices low, when the costs of ingredients (seeds that birds actually eat) go up, the amount of edible seed is decreased and more fillers are added.

Choice Blend

Loaded with protein and fat, our Choice Blend is a combination of black oil sunflower seeds, sunflower chips, striped sunflower and safflower seeds and peanuts that will satisfy your birds’ needs.

Page 6: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

6 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

Suet and No-melt Suet DoughA Boost of Energy for Your Birds

Why Our Suet and No-melt Suet Dough Products Are the BestAll of our suets and no-melt suet doughs contain high-quality ingredients, providing critical fatsand calories and making every trip to the feeder count.

Suet Feeders The Suet-able Way to Feed Birds

Suet is a high-energy, pure fat substance that is helpful when insects are harder to find and birds need a little extra energy.

Offering suet at a backyard feeding station is one way to attract a greater diversity of insect-eating birds. Birds that eat suet will still find natural food sources, such as insects, insect eggs and larvae for a well-rounded diet. Birds that eat both insects and seeds, like chickadees and nuthatches, will also visit suet feeders.

Some suet is plain and some suet contains nuts, raisins or other fruit and insects. The variety of suet flavors helps attract a variety of birds.

For convenience, leave suet cakes in theirplastic containers to enjoy birds on the openside of the feeder that faces your window.

Suet Dough Cylinder FeederBlack-capped Chickadee

Tail Prop Suet FeederMale Hairy Woodpecker

Upside-Down Suet FeederMale Hairy Woodpecker

Naturally Nuts

Our Naturally Nuts® is loaded with lots of yummy nuts, that birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches love to eat it.

Nuts & Berries

Packed with peanuts, almonds, pecans and cranberries, Nuts & Berries is designed to attract suet- and fruit-eating birds like woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, wrens and more.

Peanut Butter’n Jelly

Peanut Butter’n Jelly® is a wonderful addition to your yard. The peanut butter appeals to birds that like insects and nuts, while the “jelly” (blueberries) attracts fruit-eating birds.

Hot Pepper

Hot Pepper No-Melt Suet Dough is delicious, and attractive to your birds, but other backyard visitors don’t find it appealing.

Page 7: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 7

®

®

Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter

Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter Brick

Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter Bits

Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter Plugs

Over 115 Birds Species(and Counting) Love ItJim Carpenter is the founder of Wild Birds Unlimited and the creator of Jim’s Birdacious® Bark Butter®, the food that has attracted more than 115 different bird species.

Available only at Wild Birds Unlimited, now there are multiple ways to treat your birds with Bark Butter, including Bark Butter Bricks, Bark Butter Bits and Bark Butter Plugs.

For more information and to see a video of birds eating Bark Butter, visit www.barkbutter.com.

White-breastedNuthatch

Page 8: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

8 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

Convenience FoodsHow Many Foods Can We Shape into a Cylinder?

Seed CylinderAvailable in a varietyof flavors to attract

different birds

Flying Start™ ComboNaturally Nuts® Suet Dough Stackable®

No-Mess StackableNutty for Nuts® Stackable

Naturally Nuts® No-melt Suet Dough Cylinder

Available only at Wild Birds Unlimited, our exclusively formulated Bird Food Cylinders are an easy and tidy way to offer your birds a wide variety of food.

Made of different combinations of tightly packed ingredients, Bird Food Cylinders last longer, requiring feeders to be refilled less often.

Bird Food Cylinders are great for every day use, and they’re wonderful vacation foods, too. Just use a Bird Food Cylinder to feed the birds at your home while you’re away.

Different Ingredients Attract More Birds and Meet Their Different Needs • Seed• Mealworms• Suets and Fats• Nuts, Berries and Fruit

White-breasted Nuthatch& Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee& Am. Goldfinch

Black-cappedChickadee

Page 9: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 9

Tidier DiningWith the right combination of food, feeders and accessories, you can enjoy feeding your birds and have a tidy backyard, too.

1. Featuring a tray that reduces the amount of uneaten seed debris that falls to the ground, our Tidy Cylinder Feeder (pictured above) makes offering seed cylinders easy. Simply drop one of our exclusive seed cylinders (2 lbs.), or up to three Stackables® into the feeder, hang it, and watch your birds enjoy.

2. The WBU Dinner Bell™ feeder’s built-in dome provides protection from the weather, and the built-in tray prevents food from falling to the ground. Simply fill the WBU Dinner Bell with any of our seed, WBU Seed Cylinders or No-melt Dough Cylinders, mealworms or other food and enjoy the birds as well as a tidier feeding station.

3. For a compact, yet versatile tidy feeding station, we recommend offering WBU No-Mess Blend in our WBU Quick-Clean® Seed Tube Feeder with a WBU Weather Guard and WBU Seed Tray.

Tidy Cylinder FeederWhite-breasted Nuthatch

MealwormsThe Other Bird Food

You can attract birds, such as wrens, chickadees, bluebirds, titmice, mockingbirds, robins, thrushes, thrashers, catbirds, woodpeckers and occasionally, certain warblers to your yard by offering them an insect dish they’ll love — mealworms.

Numerous birds regularly eat insects as part of their diet. In fact, almost 80% of the world’s bird families include some insects in their diet.

Plastic-walled feeders such as our APS SideDish™ or Dinner Bell™ are perfect for offering mealworms.

Dinner BellAdult Eastern Bluebird with Juvenile

Peanut FeedersLet Your Birds Go Nuts

Peanuts are loaded with protein and are a great addition to the choices you offer your backyard birds, including woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, chickadees, jays and more.

It’s fun to watch the antics of peanut-eating birds. Jays and titmice will yank the shells out of the feeder and may even stop to weigh their choices to make sure they get the heaviest peanut. Most likely they’ll fly to a nearby perch, place the nut between their feet and peck away until they reach the insides.

Jays and other birds will cache seeds and nuts to retrieve later, making repeated trips to feeders to gather food and hide it in a safe spot. Birds generally remember where they store their food and return to retrieve it when they need it.

White-breastedNuthatch

Page 10: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

10 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

We are proud to conserve and protect bird and wildlife habitats through educational programs, community involvement and the support of conservation organizations.

We also offer a variety of products, such as our EcoTough® line, that are functional as well as earth-friendly. Made of recycled milk jugs, our EcoTough Feeders are high-quality products that help keep unnecessary waste from making its way into our landfills. These feeders are good for the birds, good for the environment and good for you, too.

EcoTough feeders are built to last. Even in the harshest weather conditions, they won’t rot, crack, fade or warp and have limited lifetime guarantees.

Looks Like Wood, Tough Like Plastic

For Offering:• Seed Blend(s)• Use tray for various treats

Classic Hopper Feeder& Catch-a-Seed TrayThis feeder has a roof that protects the birds and food from the elements and perch drains that allow seed to fall for ground-feeding birds. (Feeder, tray and hardware sold separately.)

Bluebird Nesting BoxOur top-of-the-line bluebird house includes all of the key elements needed for a successful nesting experience for both tenant and landlord.

Classic Too

Did You Know?Our EcoTough products are made of recycled milk jugs. Anywhere from eight to 64 milk jugs are used in one of our recycled feeders, depending on its size.

Made inU.S.A.

Purple Finch & Pine Siskin

Page 11: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 11

• Removable Quick-Clean® base makes cleaning easier. • Metal armor around seed ports to prevent squirrel damage.• Lifetime guarantee.• Accessories like our Weather Guard, to protect seed from

the elements, and Seed Tray, to help keep your yard clean, are easy additions.

Quick-Clean Feeders

Why Our Tube Feeders Are the Best

Classic Too

WBU Quick-Clean Seed Tube Feeder

WBU Quick-Clean Finch Feeder

American GoldfinchesRose-breasted Grosbeak & House Finches

Made inU.S.A.

Purple Finch & Pine Siskin

Page 12: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

12 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

• Tube

• All Black Powder-Coated Metal Components

• Seed Diverter

• Perch Covers

EcoClean Seed Tube Feeder

CarolinaChickadee

TuftedTitmouse

Available Exclusivelyat Wild Birds Unlimited

REVOLUTIONARYPRODUCT

Manufactured exclusively for Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc.EcoClean is a trademark of Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc., Carmel, IN 46032. EcoClean products are protected by U.S. Patents and Patents Pending.U.S. Patent No. 5215039, 5452682, 7621232.

Quick-Clean® Removable Base

1st

Best

Made inU.S.A.

Our tube feeders contain a material preservative to inhibit microbial damage on four treated surfaces:

Page 13: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 13

EcoClean Dinner Bell™ FeederMale Downy Woodpecker,Black-capped Chickadee

EcoClean Perch CoversGive older feeders a facelift or easily replace perch covers that have been lost.

EcoClean: Bird Feeding’s Latest Advancement

Launched in 2009 and available exclusively at Wild Birds Unlimited, our EcoClean® feeders and accessories are the most advanced bird feeding products available on the market. EcoClean products contain a material preservative to inhibit microbial damage on treated surfaces. This protection won’t wash or wear away.

Wild Birds Unlimited was the first to launch EcoClean product protection to the hobby of backyard bird feeding. Our product protection remains the most comprehensive available today.

For more information about EcoClean, visit www.wbu.com/ecoclean.

EcoClean Seed Tube Feederwith Weather Guard* & Seed Tray(Sold separately.) *Not Available in EcoClean LineOur tube feeders contain a material

preservative to inhibit microbial damage on four treated surfaces:

EcoClean Finch FeederHouse Finch & American Goldfinches

Page 14: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

WBU High Perch Hummingbird FeederRuby-throatedHummingbirds

Why Our Hummingbird Feeders Are the BestBenefits for Hummingbirds

• WBU Hummingbird Feeders do not leak. This helps keep bothersome bees and wasps away from the feeder.

• Our feeders have raised ports that keep rain water from diluting the nectar solution.

• Nectar solutions can also be diluted by overfilling the ant moat. Our Hummingbird Feeders’ moats have drains that prevent this from happening, even in the rain.

• Our Hummingbird Feeders feature colors that mimic natural nectar sources.

Benefits for You

• Our Hummingbird Feeders provide the best visibility, allowing you to see all the birds feeding at one time.

• Our feeders are easy to fill, clean (top rack dishwasher safe), hang or mount and are extremely durable.

• WBU Hummingbird Feeders feature built-in ant moats to prevent crawling bugs from reaching the nectar solution.

• Our feeders have clear bottoms that allow you to see hummingbirds’ tongues lap up nectar (up to 12 times a second) as well as the level of the nectar solution.

• All WBU Hummingbird Feeders are backed with a lifetime guarantee.

WBU High Perch Hummingbird FeederOur High Perch™ Hummingbird Feeder features a high perch that allows hummingbirds to comfortably rest.

Longer perching/sitting times at the feeder = better, longer views of the birds.

Made inU.S.A.

14 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

Page 15: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

OriolesOne of North America’s Favorite Fruit-eaters

Of the nine oriole species found in North America, the Baltimore is widespread in the east and the Bullock’s is common in the west.

Orioles can be drawn to backyards by offering food, such as orange slices, grape jelly and mealworms. They will even use the protein-rich mealworms to feed their nestlings.

Nectar feeders are also attractive to orioles, supplementing the natural nectar they typically find in flowers. Boil two cups of water; add ¹/3 cup of sugar; cool and fill the feeder.

Orioles seem more easily attracted to feeders if their preferred foods are waiting for them upon their return from their tropical winter homes.

Place feeders in the open so they are readily visible and away from other bird feeding stations.

Be patient and keep the foods fresh, replacing them every few days, and be sure to keep your feeders clean, too.

WBU Nectar & Bottle

WBU Oriole FeederMale Baltimore Oriole

WBU Decorative Window Hummingbird FeederRuby-throated Hummingbirds

• There are more than 325 species of hummingbirds, making them the second largest bird family in the world, second only to flycatchers.

• A hummingbird’s brain is about the size of a BB.

• Hummingbird nests are made of plant down and glued together with spider webs and tree sap.

• Hummingbirds lay the world’s smallest bird egg.

• Hummingbirds eat about every ten minutes.

• Hummingbirds lap up nectar with their long tongues.

• Hummingbirds’ hearts are larger proportionally to their body than any other bird or mammal.

Hummingbird Fun Facts

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 15

Page 16: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

16 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

The Advanced Pole System®

The Ultimate Bird Feeding Solution Step 1: Plant it

Stabilizer helps the APS look great and stay straight.

Step 2: Extend it

Snap Button Attachmentsmake building easier andprevent the setup fromtwisting in the wind.

Step 3: Accessorize it

EZ-Attach Parts andAccessories allow you tosimply add arms, APSfeeders and other parts.

How to Create Your APS Bird Feeding Station

Our patented Advanced Pole System® (APS) is the foundation for successfully attracting birds to your backyard.

Comprised of interchangeable hardware pieces, the APS lets you create a customized setup that best suits your yard and the birds you want to attract.

Our Decorative APS hardware is eye-catching as well as functional and can also be used for feeding or housing birds, hanging plants and more.

All APS parts are powder-coated to prevent rusting, and they fit together easily with no special tools required.

Advanced Pole System with Squirrel Baffle

APS is protected by U.S. Patent No. 6,386,142

Page 17: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 17

3'10'

Window Strike Zone: To see birds up close, place your setup no more than three feet away from your window. This will decrease the likelihood of birds injuring themselves if they do hit your window. Otherwise, place your setup no less than ten feet away.

Squirrel-proof Zone: Place your baffled station at least ten feet away from other objects that squirrels can jump from to make it unreachable.

Feed the Birds from Your DeckWithout Any Mess Your deck or patio is your safe haven. It’s your place to relax; a place to get away from it all.

With our APS, you can create the ultimate system for hanging or mounting feeders to your deck or patio rails. We have a variety of deck mounts that accommodate all types of decks and patios, whether it’s made of metal, wood or composite.

We offer a variety of combinations that will attract the birds to your backyard but keep the mess off your deck or patio.

Advanced Pole SystemDeck Setup

Basic APS Setup with Two Tube Feeders(Feeders sold separately.)American Goldfinches

Page 18: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

18 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

Create a New Bird Feeding StationYour Yard: The Place to be All Year Round

A reliable food supply provides many benefits to the birds, especially during periods of extreme weather.

Review your backyard bird feeding station(s) and be sure you have the variety of food and feeders that will meet your birds’ needs.

With our wide selection of foods, feeders and Advanced Pole System® (APS) hardware, it’s easy to add a new station or update your current one with new foods and feeders.

Two Tube Feeders, Peanut Feeder, Double Decker, Suet Cage & SideDish

For Offering:• Nyjer® (thistle)• Bark Butter• Stackables®

• Suet• Mealworms• Seed Blend(s)• Peanuts

For Offering:• Seed Blend(s)• Jim’s Birdacious® Treats• Peanuts

Pictured: Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker

Two Trays, Seed Tube Feeder & SideDish

Page 19: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 19

Whether you are looking for a new squirrel-proof feeder or a way to make your existing bird feeding station more squirrel resistant, we offer a variety of solutions that will help you foil unwanted backyard visitors.

Feed the Birds — Not the SquirrelsSolutions for Your Backyard

The top of the baffle must be 4' to 5' off the ground.

Feeders must be at least 10' from any tree or building.

We offer baffle solutions that work on APS, other hardware and even 4x4 lumber.

For best results, tuck a smaller feeder (the bigger the feeder, the bigger the hanging baffle) inside a hanging baffle and place it at least 10' from any tree or building.

Pole BafflesDeter squirrels from reaching your feeders from below.

Hanging BafflesDeter squirrels from reaching your feeders from above.

On-Guard CagesAllow small birds to eat while deterring squirrels and larger nuisance birds.

The Eliminator™ Squirrel-proof Feeder

Fundamentals Squirrel-proof Feeder

Squirrel-proof FeedersThe weight of a squirrel closes the feeding ports.

SquirrelBaffle

Squirrel & Raccoon Baffle

SquirrelBaffle

Tufted Titmouse, White-breastedNuthatch

Carolina Chickadee, American Goldfinch,Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Page 20: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

20 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability.

Male EasternBluebird

All Around Nesting Care

Bluebird Nesting BoxWood or EcoTough® Recycled Plastic

Bluebird Basic Nesting BoxWood

Wren/Chickadee Nesting BoxWood or EcoTough Recycled Plastic

APS Basic SetupMounting Hardware

WBU Nesting Boxes and Poles

• WBU nesting boxes are designed to have the dimensions and features that appeal to specific bird species.

• “Climb out” ladders on the inside of WBU nesting boxes make it easier for fledgling birds to leave the nest.

• Featuring thick walls for insulation, WBU nesting boxes maintain safe inside temperatures during late-spring cold snaps and hot summer days.

• WBU nesting boxes have a unique ventilation and drainage system to provide fresh air and prevent heat and moisture build-up.

• Our nesting boxes feature double openings (illustration left): a lid that opens for monitoring nest building, eggs and baby birds and a side that opens for easy cleaning after the birds leave the nest.

• WBU nesting boxes feature overhanging roofs for protection against inclement weather.

• When pole-mounted, a raccoon baffle (pictured left) can be placed below WBU nesting boxes for extra protection from predators.

Why Our Nesting Boxes Are the Best

Page 21: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Some products are species specific and not carried at all stores. See store for product availability. Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 21

Water The Importance of Water

Whether they’re feeder visitors or not, birds need water. Offering a reliable source of water is probably the simplest and most important step you can take to increase the number of birds in your yard.

Birds need water as much as they need food. Not only do they need it for drinking, but also for keeping their feathers clean.

When it’s extremely hot, a bird’s ability to regulate its body temperature can become stressed. Birds do not sweat and must remove excess body heat through their respiratory system, sometimes to the point that it can be seen panting like a dog. This activity dehydrates birds and increases their need to replace fluids.

In winter, clean feathers help birds stay warm, and a bird bath is often the only way to drink and bathe. Research has shown that a chickadee with well-maintained feathers can sustain a 70° F (21° C) layer of insulation between the outside air and its skin.

We offer a variety of bird baths and bird bath accessories that will help attract more birds to your yard or garden.

WBU Water Wiggler®WBU Bird Bath Heater

WBU Heated Bird BathAmerican Goldfinch

WBU Drip-or-MistHouse Finch

WBU Bird Bath with StandFemale Evening Grosbeak, Male Cassin’s Finch, Male Evening Grosbeaks

Page 22: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

22 | Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com See store for product availability

BinocularsChoosing the Right Pair

To select the binocular that best suits your needs, ask yourself the following questions:

1. How will I use my binoculars?

• For bird watching, wildlife viewing, sporting events, etc.

• Do I want to be able to focus clearly on butterflies, flowers or items close by?

2. What binocular fits my face and feels good to hold, carry and look through?

• Make sure they offer full views if you wear glasses.

• Binoculars should not be difficult, or too clunky, to handle or look through.

• Be sure the carrying strap is comfortable.

Visit your local Wild Birds Unlimited, for the optics/binoculars that will best suit your needs.

Optics We’re Here for You

We carry a selection of mostly Eagle Optics and/or Vortex optics. These are strong and durable (most have a lifetime guarantee) and designed to meet your needs.

A little worried about choosing suitable optics? Don’t worry. We’re trained professionals who are ready to fit you with the perfect optics for the right price for the right occasion.

Page 23: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

Wild Birds Unlimited • www.wbu.com | 23

Our Partners in Nature

www.rtpi.org

www.audubon.org

www.bsc-eoc.org

www.batconservation.org www.nabluebirdsociety.org

www.birds.cornell.edu

www.birdsource.org/gbbc

THE GREATBACKYARD

BIRD COUNT

Over 1,500 (and Counting) Kids Sent to Nature Camps

We created Pathways To Nature for Kids (www.pathwaysforkids.com), an initiative that gives children from across North America opportunities to connect with the natural world.

Pathways To Nature for Kids, in partnership with the National Audubon Society, has provided more than 1,500 scholarships to young people for attending summer camps at Audubon Centers across theUnited States.

While attending these camps, young people not only connect with nature, but they also learn to respect it and gain a desire to preserve it for future generations.

www.audubon.org/programs/audubon-camps

Page 24: Wild Birds Unlimited All Seasons Hobby Guide

© Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc. • www.wbu.com • Please RecycleProducts Designed by Experts. Trusted Local Advice.™