Newsletter Archives

New at the Nest

Our customers are valuable to us. We continually search for new and better ways to serve you. In an effort to better meet your needs, BestNest aggressively adds new products to the website. Some of the new and exciting products that we've added are shown below. Be sure to check out our New Items department regularly.

Sales & Specials

We've decided to run a special on a handful of products. Act now on the following "Hot Buys" because the special ends on Monday, December 6th. Be sure to check out all of our exciting specials by visiting the Hot Buys department regularly.

Clearance

A few of our deeply discounted items appear below. These items feature exceptional savings and value but are not all of our sale items. More discounted items may be found in their corresponding departments. Be sure to check out some of our other exciting deals by visiting the Clearance department regularly.

Identifying Birds

While the end of the year ushers in cooler weather, you may begin to focus on warm, indoor activities. However, the winter is a fantastic time to start practicing your bird identification skills. With fewer leaves obscuring view and fewer congregating places for birds, the winter offers great chances to identify your birds. Learn some of the mechanics of watching and identifying them, and delight in bird watching as a hobby.

For beginners, find an area where birds tend to gather. This will allow you see more birds in less time and get a lot more practice. You may wish to create a congregating area by placing a bird bath, feeder, or roosts in your outdoor space. If you don’t have an outdoor space of your own, you can even use a window feeder or house, so you can watch them from the comfort of your home. For a change of scenery, visit a nature preserve or bird sanctuary regularly to start honing your skills. Once you begin observing the characteristics of birds, you can easily transition into identifying them.

Most bird watchers will need to carry a bird identification guide to get them started or use as a reference tool. Become familiar with the different bird groups such as wrens, chickadees, sparrows, woodpeckers, grosbeaks, etc.; as identification books typically will categorize birds by family. Some facets to note are the bird's behaviors and activities, such as diet, location, courtship, calls, and nesting. These can all help pinpoint your bird’s family or even species. Once you can loosely identify a bird’s family, characteristic markings on the head, tail, and wings of the avian will aid in positively identifying it. Always try to remember the most noticeable thing about the bird, which is usually what first drew your attention to it. These characteristics will help you to cross reference the birding guide and positively identify your bird.

An often overlooked part of identifying birds is paying attention to their range. Many birds have similar markings, and one may be confused with another. For example, if you believe you see a cactus wren in your yard, but live north of Kansas, you may want to check the bird again, as these avians live only in the southern part of the country. However, migration routes are also keys to identifying these animals properly. Many birds fly south during the winter, and may be seen in your area for a short time. While not native to your location, they may be a common sight each year during their migration.

Become a better bird watcher by joining a group or even an online bird reporting program. For area-specific birding information, you may wish to join a local ornithological society, or speak to your local wildlife managers. Field guides and journals also offer updated information to cross reference your data and help refine your skills. Many parks, preserves, and even local birding shops offer bird watching courses, and may even have field trips for hands on experience.

Begin a new hobby or practice your existing hobby this winter by learning how to properly identify birds. By noting their family and distinguishing characteristics as well as their range, you can start to easily recognize your feathered friends. BestNest carries a wealth of birding tools such as software, journals, books, and field guides for all your birding needs. Be sure to visit our Wild Birds department for even more avian options. For more personal service, please call one of our customer service representatives toll free at 877-562-1818 from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.