Americans spend about $2 billion each year on birdseed. But if you get the feeling your money is going to the squirrels rather than the songbirds, we’ve got some suggestions for switching up your backyard feeder.
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A robin pecks at his reflection
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Over the last couple of days, we’ve been lucky enough to have some surprise animal visitors — a confident cat and an irritated robin.
First of all, we had a robin pecking away at his own image in the basement window, so I snapped this shot of him (right). Many of you may see similar behavior from robins at this time of year — they even go after the side mirrors on cars. They are defending their breeding territories — and they’re not alone: Cardinals and some others do it too. Though it may seem funny, these birds can actually exhaust themselves this way over several hours. So it’s best to cover the offending window if you can and give the poor robin a break! One year when I lived in Framingham, our whole neighborhood had to put garbage bags over the car mirrors.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a nice Web page that addresses this (and other bird/window interactions).
Most Americans own pets, but very few keep birds as pets. Bird behaviorist Susan Farlow talks about the secret lives of birds, and shares the special story of her African Grey Parrot “Phantom.”
The Secret Life of Animals is a celebration of our deep ties to the creatures around us. Its a show that seeks to unlock the wonder of the animals themselves, our mysterious bond with them, and our lives together: From breathtaking stories of survival in the wild to pragmatic tips on understanding our pets and keeping them healthy.
The mammal in charge is host Vicki Croke, who has been covering animal issues for more than 20 years on television, radio, and in print. Her entire career has been one big excuse to pat as many animals as possible.
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