Bird FAQs
Bird FAQs
Do I Have an Ivory-billed Woodpecker
In My Yard?
In My Yard?
If you live anywhere in Oklahoma, you don't. The bird you are seeing is a
Pileated Woodpecker, which is relatively common in Eastern Oklahoma. The
Ivory-billed Woodpecker, even before it became endangered/extinct, did not occur in northeastern Oklahoma. But
Pileated Woodpeckers are really neat birds in their own right - they're the model for Woody Woodpecker!
Do I have a Mutant Cardinal orBlue Jay At My Feeder?
No, you simply have a bald Cardinal. They are normal Cardinals, and spotting a bald one is not that unusual. Click here for more details about bald Cardinals.
When Should I Open My
Purple Martin House?
Purple Martin House?
In the Tulsa area, you should open the house around March 1st, if it was used by Martins last year. But if this is a new house that has not been previously used, then it should be opened between Mar 15-31. This is because adults return first and normally use to the same nest box, but first year males arrive a few weeks later and are the one which colonize new houses. Please visit the
Purple Martin Conservation Association for more information on attracting Purple Martins.
When Should I Take Down My
Hummingbird Feeder?
Hummingbird Feeder?
Hummingbirds migrate in response to hormonal changes triggered by day length, so your feeder will not keep them from migrating. Prior to their journey south in the Fall they nearly double their body weight and will make good use of the nectar from your feeder. A good practice is to leave your feeder up for a week or two after seeing your last hummingbird, to help any stragglers refuel. Visit Hummingbird.net
for more information.
Have You Found an Injured or Orphaned Bird?
Visit Tulsa Audubon's WING-IT (Wildlife In Need Group – In Tulsa) page
for a flowchart describing what to do with an injured or orphaned bird and resources on where to take injured wildlife.
Woodpeckers "Pecking" On Your House?
Woodpeckers are fascinating birds and an integral part of our natural environment. With their striking coloration they are easy to spot and identify and therefore one of the better known backyard birds. But how do you remain on friendly terms when they move from knocking on the tree in your yard to knocking on your house? It can be a frustrating and difficult problem to deal with. Here are two links with further information, from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
and the Colorado Extension Service.
I Found a Banded Pigeon.How Do I Return It?
Click here
for some resources on caring for lost pigeons and how to read their bands to try to return it to its owner,
"Killer" Sparrows, Starlings?
Starlings and House Sparrows are non-native birds. They can be a problem for our native birds, and there are various thoughts on how to control them. Click here for a page of information on House Sparrows and Starlings.
What Binoculars Should I Buy?
Binoculars are an essential tool for birders, but with so many models on the market, it can be daunting to find the perfect pair. The National Audubon Society has an excellent Guide to Binoculars, with specific recommendations. You might also check out Optics4Birding. Note that a popular company for binoculars for birders, Eagle Optics, is no longer in business,
Is that exotic/weird waterfowl I saw
wild (and countable?)
wild (and countable?)
For more info on exotic waterfowl vs. wild birds, click here
for a useful article by bird guide author Kenn Kaufman from Audubon.
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Postal Address:
P.O. Box 35812
Tulsa, OK 74153-0812