Big Trade Show Changes for 2011

There's big news on the birding trade show front for 2011--buyers will have a few choices for where to look for new outdoor product!

Bird Watch America announced that it not be hosted in Atlanta next year but instead will divide into 2 separate regional trade shows. One called Birdwatch America East January 8 - 11, 2011 in conjunction with the Philadelphia Gift Show at the Garden Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania and Birdwatch America-West February 5 - 8, 2011 in conjunction with the Seattle Gift Show at the Washington State Convention Center in Washington.

AmericasMart also announced yesterday that they will officially add a new category for 2011 called Birding & Backyard Nature in the Market Temporaries area. Many buyers have added AmericasMart to their itinerary when visiting Bird Watch America in the past to look around for product ideas in the Garden section. A few birding vendors had booths there this year including Mr. Bird, Droll Yankees, Birds Choice and Arundale.

With three markets to choose from in 2011, it will be interesting to see how bird retailers and vendors divide their travel dollars.

New Use For Safflower

The bird feeding industry has seen big price increases in sunflowers with the growing demand for sunflower oil competing with sunflowers for birds seed. Could a similar issue be ahead for the blackbird resistant safflower too?

According to a story from Canada TV, safflower may be used as a source of insulin. Some Canadian scientists are looking to the plant to make a cheaper form of the drug used to help those with diabetes.

You can read the full story here. If this is successful it will be great for the millions who suffer diabetes but it will be interesting to see how it affects this seed's price.

Tell Customers To Report Rusty Blackbirds Until February 15, 2010

Ithaca, NY--Volunteers are needed for the second annual Rusty Blackbird Blitz taking place January 30 through February 15. Participants report sightings via the eBird program led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. The blitz is coordinated by the International Rusty Blackbird Technical Working Group at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center along with the Cornell Lab and Audubon.

The population of North American Rusty Blackbirds has plummeted an estimated 85 to 99 percent over the past 40 years. Although the exact cause for this decline is not clear, loss of habitat is one likely reason. Data gathered during the blitz will be used to create a map of wintering Rusty Blackbird "hot spots" and will help focus research, monitoring, and conservation efforts.

"We're looking for date, location, the time you began each survey, how long you were birding, and how far you traveled," said eBird co-leader Brian Sullivan. "It's important to submit your observations even if you don't see any Rusty Blackbirds. Negative data are incredibly valuable and still tell us a lot."

The focus of the blitz is on states that are known to be part of the Rusty Blackbird's winter range: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (east), Virginia, and West Virginia.

Unlike other species of blackbirds, the Rusty Blackbird inhabits boreal wetlands of the far north during the breeding season and spends its winters in bottomland wooded-wetlands, primarily in American midwestern and southeastern states. Despite its drastic decline, there is no monitoring program specially for these birds.

Two other species are more common and are sometimes mistaken for the rusty. The Common Grackle is larger with a long tail and larger bill. The female Red-winged Blackbird also resembles the rusty but can be distinguished by bold streaking on its underparts, whereas the rusty has plain underparts without streaks.

For more information on identifying Rusty Blackbirds and where they might be found, visit the eBird website and the International Rusty Blackbird Technical Working Group site. Then join the Rusty Blackbird Blitz January 30 to February 15!

Perky Pet Gets Into Twitter

Perky Pet is joining other retailers on Twitter and Facebook joining several other wild bird companies including Duncraft, WildBird Magazine, Bird Watchers Digest, Eagle Optics and Birdorable. Are you on Twitter? Follow us and we'll add you to either our Wild Bird Vendor List or our Wild Bird Retailer List!

Vittle Vaults

In an article from the Chattanooga Times, a writer struggles with the Indian Meal Moth--a pest known to anyone who stores wild bird food or pet food in their home.

One interesting solution the writer tried besides the usual sticky traps was the Vittle Vaults. The patented design of the vaults prevents food from going rancid and keeps pests out. The theory is that since the lids are air tight, if moths are in the bird seed when inside the container, they cannot live without oxygen and will die.

Read the full article here.

End Of Birdwatch Radio

The Birdwatch Radio podcast has now ended. It's a tough market for media, even tougher for the birding industry. All of the previous podcasts will remain online and the final podcast is Steve Moore's reasons for ending.

Meanwhile, Birding Adventures continues to go on strong.

Some Science On Why Squirrels Are So Clever

From Science Daily comes an article about researches studying the gray squirrel's ability to learn from other squirrels by watching each other, especially when it comes to stealing food. It's the first study that officially tests gray squirrel observation skills.

Researchers tested the squirrels' ability to learn to choose between two pots of food after watching another squirrel remove a nut from one of the pots. One group was rewarded for choosing the same pot as the previous squirrel, the second group was rewarded for targeting the other pot.

Those that were rewarded for choosing food from the other pot learned more quickly than those that were rewarded for choosing the same pot, suggesting that gray squirrels learn more quickly to recognize the absence of food.

The study was repeated, but instead of observing another squirrel, the animals were trained with the use of a card. In this test, the squirrels showed no significant difference in their ability to learn to choose the same or opposite pot.

The study suggests that squirrels are primed to recognise other squirrels as potential food thieves. It also shows that they learn more quickly from real life observations than from cards.

This study could explain why feeders like the Yankee Flipper get so little attention from squirrels after being out for only 24 hours. The squirrels see another get flipped and they know to leave it alone.

Read the full article here.

1 in 5 Americans Are Watching Birds?

A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows one of every five Americans watches birds and that birdwatchers contributed $36 billion to the U.S. economy in 2006.

The report – Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis –shows that total participation in birdwatching is strong at 48 million, and remaining at a steady 20 percent of the U.S. population since 1996. So where are they?

The five top states with the greatest birding participation rates include Montana (40 percent), Maine (39 percent), Vermont (38 percent), Minnesota (33 percent) and Iowa (33 percent).

The report identifies who birders are, where they live, how avid they are, and what general kinds of birds they watch. However, the report does little to give insight as to the bird feeding participants.

In addition to demographic information, the report provides an estimate of how much birders spend on their hobby and the economic impact of these expenditures. According to the report, the average birder is 50 years old and more than likely has a better than average income and education. She is slightly more likely to be female and highly likely to be white. There is also a good chance that this birder lives in the south in an urban area.

Backyard birding or watching birds around the home is the most common form of birdwatching. 88% (42 million) of birders are backyard birders. The more active form of birding, taking trips away from home, is less common with 42 percent (20 million).

Birding Adventures TV

There's a new birding show growing in popularity. Birding Adventures TV has been shown in the southern US and on the Internet for the last year, but is now getting national syndication via FOX Sports Network.

Hosted by professional wildlife and birding guide, James Currie, BATV is a unique blend of adventure and information, making birdwatching refreshing, contemporary, interesting and exciting. The show has a strong conservation emphasis and highlights the importance and urgency of preserving the planet’s incredible birdlife. Featuring the quest for a rare "Golden Bird" each week, James is joined by birding and conservation experts from around the globe.

Check your local listings for this exciting birding show.

Scott's Wild Bird Food Looking For An Ornithologist

ORNITHOLOGIST OR SR. ORNITHOLOGIST

This is a generalist position aimed to support the Bird Food business. The successful candidate would be responsible for the strategic development and design of a technical program to deliver product innovations. The successful candidate will have strong technical knowledge. The candidate's job responsibilities will include: Execute and follow the scientific process to assess
product performance against consumer and business needs, translate technical outcomes into action plans that lead to successful product development, Execute development of product ideation to market realization (formulation, process, claim support, stability, product performance). Scientific background is required - a background in environmental sciences, natural resources, or wildlife management.

Knowledge of ornithology is needed. Any experience in chemistry or pet care/food business is a plus. All interested candidates should apply directly to the through the company's website. Please type in requisition number 012506 in the keyword sections of the page to be directed to the position posting.

Wisconsin DNR Warns Against Summer Bird Feeding

There is a very unfortunate press release put out by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says some feeders can accidentally kill other wildlife such as raccoons and skunks and even bear cubs.

The agency points to two cases in northwestern Wisconsin where bear cubs got their heads stuck in feeders while searching for food. In one case the cub's mother freed it. In the other, agency workers had to tranquilize the mother and cub and then remove the feeder.

DNR Wildlife Technician Robert Hanson says people shouldn't feed birds or any other animals during the summer. They know how to forage for themselves well enough. He warned that if people insist on feeders, they should be on strong poles at least 8 feet high.

It's interesting that just because of two bear cubs getting stuck, the Wisconsin DNR suddenly finds bird feeders are dangerous to raccoons and skunks as well. Now is the time for bird stores to take a proactive role and promote well made feeders that do not injure wildlife.

While bear information is helpful, it would be nice if the person issuing this statement actually knew a little bit about bird feeding instead of putting out an inaccurate blanket statement. Now is the time for bird stores to take an active role in promoting well made feeders that do not

Wild Bird Centers Takes Over National Bird Feeding Society

Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. is now the exclusive sponsor of the National Bird Feeding Society.

Started 15 years ago, the NBFS goal has been to promote backyard bird attraction with solid, accurate information and also sponsors National Bird-Feeding Month each February to publicize the hobby. It also supports research about backyard birds.

The new NBFS website is hosted through Millikin University and still hopes to serve as a comprehensive resource for people who feed wild birds and to help them connect to the natural world through backyard bird feeding. The site still informs readers about bird seed and feeder preferences of wild birds and hopes to offer the most current news and developments in backyard bird feeding. It's also includes a store locater so you can find the nearest Wild Bird Center.

Sunflower Grower Insurance

From the Associated Press:

The federal government is expanding an insurance program for sunflower farmers — two years after almost killing it — in a move that could help protect growers against fluctuating prices and low crop yields.

The protection could be especially important this year as sunflower seed prices continue to fall, and some farmers contemplate planting fewer flowers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects an 18 percent decrease in the number of sunflower acres planted nationwide.

A small sunflower crop could mean higher prices at the grocery store for cooking oil, snacks and other items made with sunflower seeds.

The program, which guarantees farmers a minimum price for their crop, could encourage some farmers to plant more sunflowers, said John Sandbakken, international marketing director for the Bismarck-based National Sunflower Association.

Sunflower seed prices, like those for other crops, have dropped during the recession. Farmers have lobbied for years to get protection from low prices as well as low yields. This year, the federal Risk Management Agency is expanding a program known as "revenue assurance" to most areas where sunflowers are grown in significant quantities.

U.S. farmers grew about 2.4 million acres of sunflowers worth just under $670 million last year, most in North Dakota, the nation's largest sunflower producer.

While traditional crop insurance protects farmers from production problems, revenue assurance policies also provide coverage for price drops, although profits still vary with production costs.

Revenue assurance allows farmers to lock in the springtime market price and pay extra on their premium to have the option of taking the harvest price if it's higher. If the harvest price is lower, they still get the spring price.

You can read the full article here.

Bear's Head Stuck In Bird Feeder

The big story about bird feeding this week is about a Wisconsin bear cub that got its head stuck in a bird feeder. Authorities had a dickens of a time trying to separate the cub from its protective mother in order to remove the bird feeder from its head. Don't worry, all ends well for the bear cub, you can read the full story here. You can see more photos here.

Now...I wonder which brand of feeder this is?

Wild Birds Unlimited In California Has Record Memorial Day Sales

An article in Contra Costa Times features a Wild Birds Unlimited that had record sales over Memorial Day Weekend. Here's an excerpt:

"And if you thought the pet industry stopped at your fence line, you haven't been to Wild Birds Unlimited, a chain of more than 270 franchises throughout the country that cater to feeding wild birds, the second-most popular hobby next to gardening.

In Pleasant Hill, Mike Williams owns the Wild Birds Unlimited franchise on Contra Costa Boulevard that is not only the largest birdseed seller in the chain, but it's the largest in the entire country and apparently getting bigger.

"We just had a record Memorial Day weekend for sales,'' Williams said Tuesday of his store that has been in the same comfy confines since taking over a failed savings and loan building in 1991. "And that follows a record April and March.''

And this isn't just throw-some-seed-in-your-back-yard kind of stuff. There's some serious research going on here, such as Jim's Birdacious Butter Bark. Spread it on your favorite tree or anywhere else you would like to attract birds, and they will come quicker than hound dogs to a hunt.

Williams says people are staying at home more, making their back yards more of a "sanctuary'' and that wild birds become pets to those who feed them regularly, although the birds would not appreciate that tag, Williams says.

Noting consumer spending habits in a recession offers some valuable lessons. Clearly, pets and their needs are necessities when it comes to the family budget. Don't label pet food as discretionary spending."

You can read the full article here.

Revised Woodworking For Wildlife

The popular how to build a bird house book known as Woodworking For Wildlife has been revised. The new edition includes more photos and plans for more varieties of species. The 164 page book includes over 300 photos of the houses and critters that use them.

Over 90,000 copies of this book have been sold since it first came out in 1995. It's written by Carrol Henderson of the Minnesota DNR, but includes plans or species all over the United States. The plans include the traditional species like chickadees, bluebirds, and wren, but there are also plans for dipper nests, bumblebee nests, toads, and flying squirrels as well as the latest on tweaks for designs like the nesting platform of the common loon.

The book retails for $16.95. Contact your book supplier for details on ordering.

Another Threat To The Cost Of Sunflower?

They've found another use for sunflower seeds...a means for delivering caffeine.

SumSeeds has found a way to not just put caffeine on the sunflower shell, but they have actually caffeinated the seeds themselves. "A lot of people chew sunflower seeds to stay awake and give them energy, and we just thought we'd combine the two of them," said Tim Walter, president of Carpenter-based Dakota Valley Products.

I will be interesting to see if this product takes off and affects the availability of seed for birds.

Tips For Offering Discounts

There's a great article in Small Business Weekly offering tips on when to offer discounts:

Think before you slash. That's the advice John Quelch, a professor of marketing at Harvard Business School, gives to business owners tempted to cut prices. "You don't want to give away your profit margin to customers who still would have paid full price," he says.

Whether they're following Quelch's advice or acting impulsively, nearly 30% of small business owners say they have lowered their prices, according to a February survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. "They're struggling and asking, 'What can I do to save my business?'" says Martin Lehman, an adviser with the New York offices of SCORE, a nonprofit business counseling group.

If sales are hemorrhaging or customers are flocking to deal making competitors, discounting might be necessary. That's especially true if you've already exhausted other options, such as offering consumers extra perks or improved service. But chopping prices is not without risks, including a cheapened brand image and customers who will never pay full price again. And if there's no demand, even signs that scream "Lowest Price Ever!" won't draw customers.

To discount successfully, you need to take a look at what your competitors are up to, then analyze your company's previous experience with promotions. If discounting is uncharted territory, you might experiment with a short-term sale to test the waters or, if you can afford it, bring in a research firm to gauge customer responses to proposed price cuts.

Read the full article here.

Squirrel Boss

Many saw the new remote-controlled-electrified-solar-powered-squirrel-resistant bird feeder called The Squirrel Boss at Birdwatch America this past January and some were anxious to give it a go in their stores. The feeders have been unavailable since the show but an announcement just came out that the feeders are now available for sale, visit their website for further details.

Worse Than Squirrels

Next time a customer complains about squirrels at the feeder, tell them it could be worse. BirdBlogger got this photo of rats (yes, that's rats in the plural) on a feeder.