May is for the Birds
May 19, 2023
The very first Mother’s Day here at the farm the Indigo Buntings arrived like a gift just for me.
I couldn’t help but think of my mom because she would have loved seeing them so much. They are a beautiful electric blue bird and not one she would have seen where she lived out west. She always enjoyed seeing the Cardinals when she visited us here. These two birds are in the same family. However, Cardinals are here in Illinois year-round and the Indigo Bunting migrates south in the colder months.
When I was younger, I didn’t have the same appreciation for birds that I do now. Since Mom’s passing several years ago birding has become a hobby of mine. I like to think it keeps her close to my heart and not that I’m slowly turning into my mother. Ha ha.
May is always a fun birding month since the spring and summer birds have all arrived. The most colorful ones I typically see around the farm are the Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Our woods surround the property and combined with the open field it’s a prime hangout for lots of different types of birds. Just yesterday I saw House Wrens, Catbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo-Buntings, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
The great thing about birding is that it’s free unless you want to bring some binoculars with you. I have a small lightweight pair of Leupold binoculars that are easy for taking with me wherever I go. Otherwise, you don’t need any special equipment or skills to enjoy birds and it’s a great way to de-stress. Getting out and spending time in nature and focusing on something other than what may be weighing on your mind can lower your blood pressure and give your busy brain a much-needed break. It’s fun to do alone or with friends and family.
All of these birds can be seen right now if you take a walk on the Rock Island Trail if you don’t already see them at home or you haven’t been out to our farm lately. I usually park at the Park School Rd lot entrance to the trail and walk in the direction of Princeville.
I don’t feed the birds as much at the feeder in the warmer months since there is ample supply of food sources available for them and it’s best to let them feed naturally. However, if you’d like to try and attract some of these birds to your yard here are a few tips on plants or seeds you can put out in a feeder for them.
Indigo Bunting: Mostly insect eaters but they do like thistle and sunflower seeds. You can find thistle and thistle tube feeders at any home improvement store. They are on the shy side so make sure your feeder isn’t placed out in the middle of an open yard. It’s best in a protected area near trees if possible. You’ll probably get some cute American Goldfinches as well!
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Sunflower and Safflower seeds. They prefer a feeder with a tray or hopper. They are a larger bird so they need some room to perch while they eat.
House Wren: These guys are pretty shy too and they like to hang out in scrubby bushes. They are insect eaters so I recommend looking for them along the trail. They are small little birds but their song is loud and insistent so you will probably hear them before you can spot them.
Baltimore Oriole: Mostly insect eaters. Planting fruit trees and flowers such as crab apples, raspberries, and trumpet vines will attract them to your yard every year. You can also try hanging fresh orange halves on your tree branches since they like fresh nectar.
American Goldfinch: They love thistle and sunflower seeds as well. They love coneflower seeds. I frequently see them on ours later in the season when the flowers have gone to seed and I leave them all winter for them to feed on. Coneflowers are easy to grow and readily available at any garden center and they come in all sorts of pretty colors. They are heat and drought resistant once established and bloom for months. Birds and other pollinators love them so you’ll get butterflies as a bonus!
If you do decide to put out a feeder make sure to keep them clean. It will help keep your backyard birds healthy.
Clean every two weeks or more often if it’s been wet or you have lots of birds at the feeder. I hose mine out and then use a bucket to soak them in bleach water and let them air dry in a sunny spot like the driveway. Use 1 part bleach to 9 parts water and make sure to rinse well and dry completely before refilling. Use a scrub brush if needed to remove any debris and make sure you only use this brush for cleaning your feeders only. For example don’t use your kitchen dish brush!
Left to right-Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, House Wren, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch