Winter 2008

Winter 2008
Winter is a Great Time to Enjoy Feeding The Birds
While year-round
bird feeding is a source of
enjoyment for our family,
nothing beats the rewards
of winter feeding. Step
outside to fill your feeders
and just “listen”
to how much the
birds love you.
The bright Blue
Jay will announce to the
neighborhood your arrival.
Quickly I start to hear my
favorites, the Chickadees,
making their chick-a-deedee-dee calls. No sooner
than you step back inside
than you’re likely to see the
vivid red of a male Cardinal
scanning the ground for
seeds you’ve dropped.
When should you
feed? When you can enjoy
it, but just like you and me,
the birds are hungry when
they roll out of bed (or off the
perch, as the case may be).
Start your pot of shadegrown
coffee and then pull on a
jacket, slip into boots and
fill your feeders. The chill
morning air will quickly wake
you, and you get the bonus energy needs, I feel
of a show of color, sound
feeding “suet” is a
and enthusiasm equalled by must. Suet is high
no morning TV or radio talk in fat (2.5 times the
show!
calories per gram
In cold weather,
than grains), it’s a
birds become big eaters
“high-octane”
out of necessity. Margaret
Who is
that
Clark Brittingham, a wildlife
s
i
n
g
i
ng
ecologist conducting
English ??
bir
research in Wisconsin,
translati d
ons are
found that a Chickadee in
an
enjoyab
le
mild winter weather must
the bird way to identif
y
s in you
eat the equivalent of 150
r yard.
Have yo
u
sunflower seeds a day
calls in heard any of th
y
ese
o
to stay alive. When the
1. Wha ur backyard?
t cheer!
temperature drops below
What ch
2. Pete
r, Peter,
eer!
Peter.
0 °F, the number of
3. Old
Sam Pe
aboddy,
Peabod
seeds increases to 250.
dy,
4. Who Peaboddy.
However, Brittingham’s
cooks f
or
cooks f
study also found that
or you a you? Who
a
aaalll?
5
.
P
Chickadees frequenting
urity...P
urity
A
n
s
w
feeders still foraged
ers
to learn are on page 8
75-80% of the daily
.
m
great n ore?? Check Want
energy requirements.
ew CD
out the
s and
have in
b
o
o
So enjoy helping out
ks we
our ev
lib
e
Chickadees and other & rary. GREAT r expanding
Christm
we guar
as gifts
birds this winter, but
prices to antee our selec
ti
b
on an
e
th
don’t worry that they
e best “a
nywher d
e!!” food
are depending on you for
winter
survival. Because winter
for birds. My favorite suet
weather greatly increases
Inside
•
•
•
•
•
•
Woodpeckers
Winter “Water”
Holiday Gift Guide
Ask Bird Man Mel
Holiday Open House
Money-Saving Coupons
Come in & meet our new employees.
Both our new manager Holly Seaver (on
left) & her new assistant Janet Myers
share a love of wildlife with a passion for
customer service.
cakes are the
Peanut Butter
Cakes from
Pine Tree Farms
because they
have no grain
fillers. Want a suet feeder
that birds love so much
you can’t keep it filled??
Try our Suet Logs and
our “Songbird Suet Plugs.”
The Plugs are made to our
specifications (they contain
no fillers and they fit our log
holes). I guarantee this will
be the favorite feeder in the
yard.
Want to start or end
your day stress-free? Now
is the time to enjoy bird
feeding. You and your birds
will be glad you did!! Enjoy!!
This Christmas season
remember God created
nature as our stress reliever
& never forget, it’s a time for
celebrating the greatest gift
ever shared...”the Father has
sent the Son to be the Savior
of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
A Winter Spa for the Birds
A Guaranteed Way to Increase Your Backyard Activity
What’s a sure way to attract birds to your feeders?
Offer water....especially in winter! About 70% of a bird’s nonfat body tissue is water, that needs to be maintained to avoid
dehydration. Birds find some water in natural food sources insects, berries, and even from snow - but when those supplies
dwindle, the water YOU supply is even more vital!
Open water in freezing weather will attract as many or
more birds as a well-stocked feeder! Birds use it to help keep
themselves warmer in winter! By cleaning their feathers and
grooming them with natural oils, our feathered friends are able
to help insulate their bodies from cold.
You can keep water thawed with a submersible heater
placed directly in the water... it’s economical and safe as long
as you use a high-quality, outdoor extension cord to plug the
heater into an electrical source. In winter use a rough-surfaced,
ALLIEPRK67301
plastic saucer for a bird bath....ceramic and concrete ones,
though fine for summer use, will crack easily in frigid weather.
As firm believers in providing water year round, we
stock every birdbath heater and heated birdbaths on the
market and they are priced right!! The quality of the heater is
usually reflected in the cost. Less expensive heaters work in
moderate weather in smaller baths, but as you go up the line
you can purchase heaters with thermostats, auto shut-offs,
and longer guarantees. The more expensive heaters usually
have more wattage and work at lower temperatures to keep
the water thawed. Below are some of our favorites - Including
New ones!! Want to have an easy clean heated bath that
easily attaches to a deck rail? Try Bird Man Mel’s favorite - the
ALLIEDPR650 with it’s tilt & clean feature!
FIBD80 - Terra Cotta
FIGBD80 - Green
ALLIEDPRK570
We like the “raised island” in these new baths as well
as their “Heavy Rugged” construction.
FIC50 - 150
Watts - Our #1
Selling Heater.
We think it’s
because it looks
FIHR75 - 75 Watts
rugged.
FIBD70 - Terra Cotta
FIGBD70 - Green
Both the baths feature take-out easy clean liners.
K&H
Bird Bath Heater
Super Special
Just $34.95
ALLIEDPR300
ALLIEDPRK19501
Coupon - 10% Off All Heated Bird Bath Items
“Guaranteed Lowest Prices in Central Missouri”
Bird Myths
It is sometimes thought that metal perches on bird feeders are too
cold in winter and that birds’ feet will freeze to them. This is not
true. The fact that our own skin may freeze to metal is due to the
moisture given off from our sweat glands. Bird’s feet have no sweat
glands and, in fact, are covered with horny scales. They cannot freeze to metal.
Bird’s feet also have very few blood vessels in them so that when they stand
on cold objects the cold is not transferred to the rest of their bodies. This is why
gulls, ducks, and geese are happy standing on ice for hours or even all night.
Edible Wild Bird Seed Wreaths & Ornaments
Expires 12-30-08
Meet the Dark-Eyed
Junco
• Found throughout North
America during the winter
• Upper parts are grey with bright white
belly
• Nicknamed the Snowbird
• Their outer white tail feathers visible in
flight signal their arrival to your feeder
• Juncos are lively birds and often visit
feeders during the worst of weather
Save
10%
Ornaments
2
Christmas
Wreaths
Snowman
Ornament
Christmas
Tree
Ornament
Expires
12-20-08
SESC1012C
The Songbird Cedar Ground Tray is a
Junco’s favorite!!
Adding a Rhythm Section to Your Back Yard
“Attracting & Identifying Woodpeckers (Part 2)”
In our last issue we talked
about how in backyards across Mid
MO we can attract up to 7 different
kinds of Woodpeckers (Downey,
Hairy, Red-Bellied, Pileated, Red
Headed. Northern Flicker, & Yellow
Bellied Sapsucker.) We’ll discuss in
more detail in this article the last 5.
After the Downey & Hairy
we discussed in our last newsletter,
the Red Bellied is probably the most
common Woodpecker in Central
MO. This woodpecker
is often mistaken
for a Red Headed
Woodpecker as its
undersided & hard to
see Red Belly throws
people off as they
often don’t notice that
the silky scarlet on this
SESCS404 Woodpecker’s head
Suet Log w/o is only its nape & not
perches
it’s entire head. RedBellieds are about the size of Robins
& many folks call them “Zebrabacks”
because of their black & white striped
backs. Nuts, suet, & fruit are the Red
Bellied’s favorite food
in our backyard. Keep
out apples & jelly on
our Songbird Cedar
Fruit & Jelly feeder
& this woodpecker
& others will stop by
for a fruit
Red Bellied
Woodpecker snack.
The
real “Red-Headed
Woodpecker” is a
woodpecker with its
entire
SESCS403
Fruit &
head a
Jelly Feeder
bright
red. They have a
distinctive black &
white wing patches
& a white rump
& chest. You’ll
Red Headed mostly see these in
Woodpecker woodlands & open
3
rural country. Around here I see
its favorite feeders are our large
them most often around wooden light ultimate Woodpecker feeder & a tree
posts. Like all the Woodpeckers we
mounted suet feeder. I believe it
discuss in this article,
likes both locations
our large Ultimate
because it needs
Woodpecker feeder
a place to use its
& our “Tail-prop” suet
large bracing tail
feeder are the larger
feathers.
Northern Flicker
Woodpecker’s favorite Last but not
feeders.
least is the “largest commonly seen”
Woodpecker in the U.S. the Pileated.
Yellow
This is the fellow Woody Woodpecker
SESCS3003RW Bellied
was modeled after. At our present
Ultimate
Sapsuckers
home I dont have this huge visitor
Woodpecker
Feeder
are a
(17-19”), but where we’re building
visitor we normally only
our new home I’ve seen & heard him.
see in Central MO in the
Why? More forrest & more mature
winter. You’ll more often
large & “dead trees”.
SESC1022C
see evidence of them
You’ll recognize this
Tail Prop
(neat rows of round or
Suet Feeder guy’s nesting home
squarish holes in tree
because it’s rectangular
trunks.) They are shy birds & once
& has a nest hole 3
they see you they go around to the
- 3 1/2” across. Like
opposite side of a tree trunk. If you
the Northern Flicker
follow it around, Sapsuckers will
(and Goldfinches) the
continue circling away
Pileated Woodpeckers
from you. Peanuts,
regurgitate food to feed
Pileated
suet, & grape jelly are
their young. For sure
Woodpecker
their favorite food at
“tree side mounted”
feeders. They seem to
suet & nut feeders are this big guy’s
love our Woodpecker,
favorite feeders.
Nuthatch, & Titmouse
Want rhythm in your yard?
food!!
Follow our tips for attracting the 7
Yellow
I’ve saved two
different Woodpeckers in Central
Bellied
big boys for last. The
MO & you’ll soon be drumming
Sapsucker
Northern Flicker &
your fingers with Marching Mizzou!!
Pileated Woodpecker. The Norther
Enjoy the beat &
Flicker is “The Boss” in my backyard. sights!! Want to learn
Even the squirrels & starlings leave
more? Come in the
when he lands on a feeder. It’s a
store for a copy of our
bit amazing though, as his large
“Attracting Clingers”
curved bill isn’t strong enough to dig
free brochure on
into hard trees. When you watch
the BWD “Enjoying
a Northern Flicker fly, you can
Woodpeckers More”
BWD415
easily see the bird’s white rump &
book!
the yellow underside of its wings &
tail & they seem to “flicker”. Its the
only brown-backed Woodpecker &
Save 10% on any Woodpecker
its the only one to commonly feed
feeder, house, or book. Expires 12-30-08
on the ground as its main food
is ants. In our yard, hands down
SONGBIRD STATION
Your Source for Bird Feeding
and Christmas Gifts
Super Seed Sale
Black Oil Sunflower
40#...$15.99
Nyjer Thistle
10#...$10.99
PTF Hi Energy
If you want seed- Suet...$.90 ea.
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on Woodlink
Gazebos
Buy any brand
If you want SongbirdsBuy at Songbird Station!
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Dozens to Choose From
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Flags
Our Favorite
Field Guide
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12-20-08
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12-20-08
For Ladies
These purses are hand
made from recycled
magazines in Brazil. Remember
makin gum wrapper chains??
We’ve gotten in a new shipment and
greatly expanded our selection of
these beautiful products from Kenya.
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any
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Unique Gifts - Found NOWHERE ELSE in Central Missouri
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For Your Holiday
Convenience Songbird
Station Gift Certificates
are a GREAT idea!!
Dad will Love These Great American Expedition Items
Wild Birds, Game Birds, Water Fowl, Deer, Fish, Wildlife & More.
Pint Glass Gift Sets, Insulated Beverage Holders, Ceramic Mugs,
Stone Coaster Gift Sets, Steel Travel Mugs, & More!!
Pupper Weights
& Door Stops
from
Fiddlers Elbow
KH3095 & KH3096
HEATH78630
Deluxe Windowsill Feeder
$79.95
KH4090
HB2098
Holiday House Birdhouse
5
HEATH78621
Songview In-House
Window Feeder
$99.95
HB2044
Christmas Wren Cottage
Board Bay Cotton
Lunch Bags
Tote Bags
Luggage Tag Water Bottle
Available in Wild Bird, Butterflies, Dogs, Cats, Horses & More
Sunny Seed Drops
Special Clothes
for Pets
Bow
Ties
We wrap
and UPS
Purchases for
you!!
Unique Holiday Florals &
Christmas Decorations
For the special outing when your dog wants to look
their best, we have a wide selection of charms, bows,
collars, and clothing - Must haves for the designer dog!!
The perfect heated bed
for small dogs or cats
Soy Wax
burns
cleaner &
longer!
ACTION! DRAMA!
SONG & DANCE!
FOOD GIFTS!
See us for Unique Pet Items
Heated & Non-Heated Kitty Sills.
Give your cat a safe & comfortable
view inside windows.
Save
10%
We have the cutest pet bowls around in all
shapes & sizes!
Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds
Chocolate covered sunflower hearts
humans can’t resist. Stop in and try’em!
Nutritous & delicious!! Great for Holiday
gifts, baskets, stocking stuffers or just
To Eat & Enjoy!
Squirrel-Proof Feeders
NO ONE CARRIES MORE!!!
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15” Finch Flocker
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PP336
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All Purple
Martin Houses
ASPECTS372
Medium Nyjer
Mesh Feeder
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Guaranteed Lowest prices in Central MOAs we have for all 14 years we’ve served
you! Our mystery shoppers check out our
competition to make sure Songbird Station
Always offers the Largest Selections & Best
Prices!!
10% OFF
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Small Nyjer
Mesh Feeder
item on this page!
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Tuftop
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17” Copper Spiral
Peanut Feeder
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Hammered Copper
Hanging Feeder
How To Get a Good Start in Backyard Birding
Ask Bird Man Mel
Q. I’m a greenhorn-I want to just buy one feeder. What do you
suggest?
Songbird Station
Co-Owner A. Good question. Right now we’re offering the Songbird Cedar Suet, Seed & Fruit Feeder
Mel Toellner for folks like you. It’s sale priced for $39.95 and offers a way to feed seed, suet, and fruit.
It’s improved with a new metal take out screen bottom for easy cleaning. Put Backyard Best
Seed in the hopper, a couple apples on the fruit spikes, and a Pine Tree Farms Woodpecker
Seed Cake or Peanut Butter Suet Cake in the suet holder and we guarantee you’ll soon
attract the songbirds we all love!
SESC6005C
Seed, Suet &
Fruit Feeder A
Great 1st Feeder!
Q. With shorter days, I wish there was more to do with my children to
teach them about nature- Any ideas?
WHITE140
A. Come in and check out our White Mountain Line of Puzzles and Lucy Hammet Bingo
Games (Bird, Butterfly, Bugs, Reptiles and more). Both lines are very educational as well
as fun! For younger children another favorite is our Peabody Coloring Sets. We’re proud to
be working with Columbia Audubon to bring Project Feeder Watch to children in Columbia
Schools. We also have some great new card games from Outsed Media. The Cool Springs
MO Bird Watching Guide is an easy to use Field Guide that even young children can use.
Q. I’m not sure I can attract Songbirds to my home. Do you make
house calls?
A. You can buy bird feed or feeders many places. Over the past 14 years, Songbird Station
has worked hard to also offer knowledge and service so you get the most for your dollar.
Yes, we DO make house calls. Simply call the store and we’ll make an appointment to visit
and help you “Birdscape” your home or business. As Songbird Station is part of the nation’s
largest volume seller of Backyard Nature products, you also benefit from our tremendous
buying power, which allows us to guarantee you that Songbird Station offers Central
Missouri’s best pricing on Wild Bird and Nature products! Best of all, we’re a local business
so dollars you spend with us stays & gets recirculated here in Central MO. This Christmas
please support locally owned businesses. Around us Clover’s Supermarket, Meow, Kilgors
Pharmacy, & Robinsons Jewelry are great locally owned businesses we hope you support
as well as us!!
CSP1632
Our favorite bird
book.
Q. I’m worried about my birds surviving the cold. Any way I can help?
A. Yes, several ways. #1 Keep out Hi-Energy Foods like suet. Line your nest boxes with
clean field grass and even seal ventilation slots with window tape to keep out winter drafts.
I also put out roosting pockets as Wrens and Chickadees like them and use them to stay
warm. We also have new winter Roosting Boxes from Woodlink.
Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Keep Birds Warm
with
Nest
Pockets
Woodstock
Music of the
Spheres & Gallery
Wind Chimes
Make Great Gifts
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We have Mid-Missouri’s
largest Chime selection!!
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7
LH2877
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10% OFF
Bird Identiflier
& Cards
Identify Birds
by Song with a
palm-size
Identifier.
Collect all
20 cards.
Expires 12-20-08
SEWW010
Roosting Pockets
Save 10%
on any pair of
Binoculars
Expires 12-20-08
Feeders need fixing
or new parts??
If you have a feeder in need of
repair, bring it in - Chances are
we can get the parts you need...
often at very little cost to you! A
Service of Songbird Station
Don’t Miss
Our Holiday
Open House
on
Thursday
Devember 4th
Q. See a Wild Bird product in a
catalog you like??
A. Ask us to get if for you! We
guarantee we’ll cost you less & the
odds are we have it in stock or can
get it in 7 days or less!!
Open Late - Until 7:30 pm
From 4:00 - 7:30
• Free Wine & Cheese
• Free Desserts from Uppercrust
• Free Gifts for Everyone!
ALL DAY
• Free Gift Wrap
• Save 20% on Holiday
Florals, Decorations &
Christmas Ornaments
• Special Savings - Just For You!
A Special Day
for Our Special
Customers - See
You the 4th!!
Nutty
Hazelnut
Song Bird Coffee
Flavor of the Month
A light and flavorful blend available
in beans or ground. Drinking
coffee and watching birds go
together - naturally. And, with every
purchase of Song Bird Coffee, a
percentage of the proceeds goes to
fund American Birding Association
Programs including Partners in
Flight. Remember this coffee is
“shade grown” in plantations where
the tropical forest is not cut down.
Preserving important winter habitats
for migrating birds we love in Spring
& Summer.
Stop in and try a courtesy
cup of Song Bird Coffee
while you shop!
*Book Review*
New Books You’ll Love
Portable Pets
A great childrens 3- Dimensional book
on insects.
Pop-Up Bugs
STOKES810956705
Creepy Crawlers Face to Face. 6
Giant pop-up illustrations & accompanying rhymes
will have young readers go bug eyed!
Birdscapes
Pop-up books aren’t just for the kids
anymore! This multi-media
experience transports you
to seven natural habitats in
North America & immerses CB9780811864282
A Pop-up
you in the birds & their
celebration of bird
STOKES081095032 songs.
songs & sounds.
For the Birds - A Month by
Month Guide to Attracting
Birds in your Backyard
Written by 3 midwest natives (sisters)
who are wholesale customers at
Songbird Station. This is the fastest
STOKES978158479
selling new book we’ve ever had!!
Beautiful photos & great tips on how to attract birds
that you love.
See Songbird Station for Great Books
Who-Said-It Answers
(from page 1)
1. Northern Cardinal 4. Barred Owl
2. Tufted Titmouse
5. Eastern Bluebird
3. White-Throated Sparrow
800-256-2473 or
NEW STORE HOURS
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446-5941
“Between Clovers and Callaway Bank” Monday– Friday 9:30 a.m.—6 p.m.
Open 24 hrs www.songbirdstation.com
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Saturday 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.—4 p.m.