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For All the Moms in Your Backyard

Bird moms come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Here are some of the most fascinating behaviors from around the world of mother birds.



  • Most Talented Mom - It takes as many as 12 days for a female Oriole to weave her nest. One Baltimore Oriole was observed spending 40 hours interlacing her basket-like nest. It included over 10,000 stitches and thousands of knots, all done by mom's talented beak.
  • Most Loyal Mom - A pair bond may form between a male and a female Carolina Wren at any time of the year. She will stay with him for life, always foraging and moving around within sight of her mate.
  • Quickest Mom - Black-capped Chickadees have one of the shortest incubation periods of all birds. Their eggs can hatch in as little as 11 days.
  • Trickiest Mom - By singing a "male" song, the female Black-headed Grosbeak can trick her mate into thinking a rival male is nearby, forcing him to stay close to the nest.
  • Supersized Mom - Sharp-shinned Hawk females average over 40% larger than their male counterparts. This size difference is the largest of all of North American birds of prey.
  • Mini-Mom - A mother hummingbird weighs only about eight times more than the eggs she lays.
  • Most Overworked Mom - Mourning Dove moms may raise up to six broods per year, more than any other native North American bird. 
  • Most Laid-back Mom - Unlike most other bird moms, robins do not lay their eggs at sunrise. They lay their eggs several hours later during the mid-morning. Since earthworms are easier to find during early morning, they feed first and then return to the nest to lay their eggs.
  • Most Devoted to Mom - Young Tufted Titmice often remain with their parents throughout their first winter. They have been known stay with mom into the next nesting season and help her to raise the next brood.
  • One Cold & Small Mom - The Rufous Hummingbird nests in Alaska
  • The Last Mom - American Goldfinch moms are one of the last songbirds to nest each year, waiting until mid-to-late summer when thistle seeds and down are readily available.

I just had to share this for all the bird lovers. The information came from Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop.
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The Best Hummingbird Feeder You Can Buy

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If you know me personally or follow me on social media, you know my love for hummingbirds. We keep multiple feeders around our yard and love watching those tiny beauties stop by for a sip of sweet nectar. Although this is a very enjoyable hobby, there is an ugly side to it. Earlier this week, one of my feeders was hit by a swarm of bees (probably 200+) and they cleared every drop of nectar. I suspect the fact that the feeder was dripping was attracting them even more. I keep a feeder on a window hook that is attached by suction cups. The problem with the feeder I had on there was that it faded and dripped too much. Also, with the South Carolina heat, mold would start to grow so fast and cleaning the feeder became an unwanted chore. I shopped around at local stores and searched online for something small, lightweight, and drip/leak proof.

I decided to take the chance with the Hummzinger Humm Blossom Hummingbird Feeder. Isn't it so pretty?


I like that it holds only up to 4 ounces of nectar which means I can mix it up fresh daily. I also purchased these cute little brushes to clean the feeding ports. They are the perfect size and can be used for other small cleaning jobs.


My favorite thing about this feeder is that you can see the entire hummingbird while it feeds. How could anyone not enjoy looking at this all day? Look at those precious feet!


This hummingbird feeder is hands-down the best one I have ever owned and I will be purchasing two more to replace my other ones. Oddly enough, they come in purple too. I read the reviews and people say that the hummers are attracted and still feed regularly. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go with any color aside from the traditional red. I hope to be able to capture some photos of multiple birds feeding at once. It's the sweetest sight! Are you a Crazy Bird Lady like me?
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