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February 4, 2010 ---
What a treat to welcome Dr. Scott Shalaway to The Songbird Sanctuary! As a biologist, naturalist, and nature writer, Scott writes a nature column for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and hosts a live radio program, Birds & Nature, on 1360 WMNY from Noon - 2:00PM on Sundays. We certainly appreciate all the kind words Scott says about the shop on Birds & Nature, and we're thrilled that he stopped in! He even got to meet some customers!
Although Scott and I have chatted about the shop
many times, this was his first visit. I took him on
a tour, including the classroom upstairs.
Lou Jannetto, who stopped in to pick up some seed
and a new feeder, got to meet Scott and talk for a while.
Scott also took the time to speak with Diane Gipson, who stopped in for a new feeder. Conversation with Scott is always interesting, and we're glad he came by!
February 9, 2010 ---
Last weekend's snowstorm, referred to as the "Winter Powerhouse" dumped 21" of snow on the Pittsburgh area; and today's forecast calls for an additional 10" to fall from a new storm headed our way. With so much of the natural food out there covered by snow, keeping your feeders full is more important than ever! Offering water is also important, as many of the natural water sources are frozen over! While we watch and enjoy the increased feeder activity outside our windows, let's not forget that our feathered friends are struggling to survive this Winter blast. Let's do all we can to help them!
March 2, 2010 ---
Keep your eyes open! With all the snow covering much of the natural food out there, our feeders are being visited by birds (like this Field Sparrow) that typically don't dine at feeders. The pink bill of this small sparrow with the rusty cap, white eye ring, and unstreaked breast caught my eye.
March 9, 2010 ---
Check out the Product Spotlight on our home page to learn more about the featured feeder each month, and don't forget to check out Past Product Spotlights to see the great products we've featured in the past! This month, we're featuring the NEW Birds Choice™ Magnet Mesh Recycled Thistle Feeder. Patented black Magnet Mesh has been proven to attract up to double the number of birds than other mesh on the market. Like a magnet! And, it's made in the USA!
March 15, 2010 ---
Napa FireLites™ took the International Gift & Home Furnishings Market by storm this January! The manufacturer quickly sold out. Luckily, we had our order placed in time to get a shipment! Using ecologically safe, pourable gel fuel made in the USA from recycled waste, these clean burning "personal fireplaces" produce a superior dancing flame and crackle. They can even be used safely indoors! It's easy to see why they created such a frenzy. We're glad to have them here for you!
Lucky you!
We have Napa FireLites™!
Pictured are just a few of
the styles we have available
for you!
March 24, 2010 ---
THANK YOU to all who attended our Spring Open House on Saturday, March 20th; and congratulations to Norma Dowd of Oakmont for winning the $50 Gift Certificate that we gave away that day! The weather could not have been any better. Pure sunshine and 70 degrees put us in the Spring spirit! The Napa FireLites™ were definitely hot sellers that day along with hummingbird and oriole feeders. We are proud to offer the largest selection of feeders in the area. With dozens of beautiful designs, those hummers and orioles will be dining in style! Below are some pictures from the Spring Open House...
April 12, 2010 ---
We've expanded our hardware offerings! We carry a HUGE selection of deck hooks, shepherd's staffs, "s" hooks, and customizable pole systems so that you can attract birds attractively! Our selection and premium-quality is second to none. Hummingbirds and Orioles are on their way. Need some hooks to put up their feeders? Chances are we have what you need. If not, we'll do our best to find it for you!
May 11, 2010 ---
The ruby-throated hummingbirds and Baltimore orioles have finally returned from their wintering grounds! They both showed up on the same day at my house...Sunday, May 2. This is a little later than usual, which made their appearance even more thrilling.
When they finally arrived, the Aspects Jewel Box window feeder brought this striking male up close! Notice how his gorget (throat) looks black. Interestingly, the male's brilliant red throat is made up of quarter-inch-long feathers that are mostly gray. There is no red pigment in the throat feathers at all. The tips of the throat feathers, however, contain various grooves that refract light, making the gorget appear an iridescent ruby-red at times. Hence the name: ruby-throated hummingbird. Fascinating! We have the largest selection of hummingbird and oriole feeders in the area. Come see!
May 20, 2010 ---
Enter our Nature Photo Contest, and you could win a gift certificate to The Songbird Sanctuary! Click here to find out how. It's our way of giving you more reason than ever to the take time to discover the magic of nature!
2010 News
To the dull mind, nature is leaden. To the illumined mind, the whole world burns and sparkles with light.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
311 Freeport Road
Blawnox, PA 15238
Phone 412-828-5393
Fax 412-828-5394
LetsTalkBirds@aol.com
10:30AM - 4:30PM
Tuesday - Saturday
& By Appointment
October 10, 2010 ---
Mmm...mmm...mmm...local honey is here ― come in for a taste! You'll be amazed at the difference between our pure, locally produced honey and the commercially prepared honey available at grocery stores! Much commercially prepared honey is heated and processed, and a disappointing lack of flavor results. Our pure, locally produced honey contains nothing but the naturally sweet goodness produced by honey bees from the nectar of the plants they visit. Choose from black locust honey, Spring wildflower honey, and Fall wildflower honey. Each has its own unique depth of flavors; and each comes with an informative booklet and recipes!
P.S. I saw the first dark-eyed junco of the season in my backyard today!
November 10, 2010 ---
Join us at our Holiday Open House on Saturday, November 13, from 10:30PM - 4:30PM, where you can enjoy complimentary refreshments and view our incredible selection! Find a treasure, a smile, and a grateful shopkeeper who would love to make your holiday shopping experience pleasant and easy. Our selection is bigger than ever and so is our desire to be a shop you look forward to visiting time and time again!
Website designed & hosted by The Songbird Sanctuary LLC 2008
©
Mickey Eckert and Judi DiBiase (pictured above) were among the many visitors who enjoyed browsing the new Spring merchandise. Tasty Sangria and cookie platters piled high added to the festivities! Happy Spring!
June 3, 2010 ---
Please note that the shop will be closed for vacation June 5 through June 18. We will be back in on June 19, just in time for last-minute Father's Day gifts!
July 6, 2010 ---
Aloha! Our vacation was wonderful; but coming back was wonderful, too! The Napa FireLites™ are back in stock, and we're glad to hear how so many of you have been enjoying them this Summer. The wonderful flame and awesome crackling sounds that they produce make sitting outside on a Summer evening a truly special experience!
So many new products have come into the shop recently! We are proud to add one-of-a-kind birdbaths created locally by B. Sim to our birdbath selection. She creates each bath using recycled vintage ceramic items, and each is a unique work of art and a wonderful conversation piece for your garden! Great new birdhouses have arrived from Heartwood, including one with a beautiful, blue eggshell finish. Williamsburg rain gauges and key keepers, magnetic note boards featuring lovely floral patterns, and whimsical cherubs in a variety of delightful poses are just a few of the charming new items that are sure to add joy to your day. Just a fraction of what we offer is actually shown on this website. Come in for a visit to see our entire selection. Happy Summer, and I hope to see you soon!
July 31, 2010 ---
Congratulations to the winners of our Nature Photo Contest: Linda Willhide-1st Prize, Susan Saltrick-2nd Prize, and Tony Miga-3rd Prize! Click here to see their winning photos! Thank you to all who participated in our contest. With nearly 90 photos submitted and well over 700 votes tallied, the contest was a huge success! We're looking forward to next year's contest, so keep those cameras snapping!
August 16, 2010 ---
Mark your calendar! August 21 is the date of our Inside-Out Sale where you'll find EVERYTHING inside the shop is 15% off, and EVERYTHING outside the shop is 50%. Doors open at 9:00AM and close at 5:00PM. Enjoy the extended hours and the savings!
September 4, 2010 ---
So many new feeders! Stop in soon to see all the new designs that have arrived just in time for Fall feeding.
When the weather turns chilly, be ready for an increase in feeder activity by adding a handsome, new feeder! The dark bronze-colored beauty to the left is just one example of the many new styles. Bring on the birds!
September 27, 2010 ---
We're ready for Fall! It's time for a hot cup of tea (with a spoonful of our locally produced honey, of course) and a full birdfeeder. What better way is there to spend a few stolen moments than to sit quietly and observe your feathered friends enjoying the food you've thoughtfully provided for them? We are fully stocked with everything you need to indulge the birds in your backyard and yourself during this colorful, cozy time of year! Why not spruce things up with a handsome new feeder? Or try offering a fresh, new seed blend and see what shows up to dine! And squirrels? Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, we've got the right products for you! Come on in and see what's new. You'll be glad you did!
January 20, 2010 ---
Wow! Within days of publicizing our Spring line-up of classes through our e-mail newsletter and website, all classes are full! THANK YOU for your tremendous response to our classes! The four classes promise to be jam-packed with information and lots of fun! If you are not currently receiving our informative, e-mail newsletter, call, fax, or e-mail me to be added to our e-mail list so you won't miss out on classes. Better yet, stop in and sign our e-mail list. Receiving our e-mail newsletter is a great way to be kept informed of what's going on here at The Songbird Sanctuary. The newsletter is sent approximately once a month and is filled to the brim with information about new products, upcoming classes, fun facts about your feathered friends, and much more!
January 19, 2010 ---
January 14, 2010 ---
The holidays are over and school is back in session. Check out our great Spring line-up of FREE classes by visiting our Upcoming Classes page! See you in class!
January 6, 2010 ---
Have you visited our new puzzle page yet? I've taken one of my photographs and had it made into an online jigsaw puzzle for you to enjoy! On the puzzle page, I've also included a cool fact about the subject of the puzzle. Check the puzzle page from time to time for a new puzzle, and have fun!
January 22, 2010 ---
Get ready...it's that time of year again! The 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count takes place Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15, 2010. Anyone, regardless of skill level, can participate in this fun, easy, and FREE event! Just count birds for at least 15 minutes during February 12-15, and then submit your counts online to the Great Backyard Bird Count website. It couldn't be easier, and participation helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how our feathered friends are doing! Click the button below to learn more!
As an ambassador for this worthwhile program, I'm here to help. Simply call, fax, e-mail, or stop in with your questions.
January 5, 2010 ---
Welcome to 2010! The new year is off to a great start for those of us who love to feed and watch wild birds. The cold, snowy weather has our feathered friends practically camping out at our feeders. What life the colorful birds bring to the white-blanketed landscape! It's a good time to snap some photos of your favorite visitors. This hungry blue jay gave me plenty of opportunities to try out a new
lens as he spent New Year's Day devouring large chunks of suet at our tray feeder.
Other visitors included black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, red-bellied woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, white-breated nuthatches, Carolina wrens, dark-eyed juncos, mourning doves, American goldfinches, song sparrows, white-throated sparrows, and Northern cardinals (including 10 brilliant red males at one time). What a list! Speaking of lists, do you keep a list of the birds you see at your feeders? If not, why not start one? It's not only fun, but it helps sharpen your observsation skills and increases your knowlege of seasonal changes.
Note: The new year also brings a trip to a trade show to view the new backyard birdfeeding products. We can hardly wait to see what is being introduced this year! The shop will be closed January 7 - 11 for our trip.
here at The Songbird Sanctuary soon! Spring promises to be our best season yet!
The trade show we attended last week was a huge success, and we placed dozens of orders to get the best new products for 2010 into the shop for you! The manufacturers continue to focus on the use of poly-lumber (the material that will not crack, split, fade, warp, or harbor mold or bacteria). You just can't beat it for birdfeeding products. It stays looking new for years. Watch for new colors this Spring! Also, watch for some great surprises to be popping up
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Blue spruce...blue eggs...
blue-tiful!
November 28, 2010 ---
Congratulations to Reneé Gorczyka of Blawnox! She's was the winner of the $50 Gift Certificate at our Holiday Open House! Thank you to all who attended this very special event. We had a great day kicking off the holiday season with all of you!
Now that the holiday season is in full swing, I can't help but think of all the wonderful gift ideas here at The Songbird Sanctuary! One of my favorites is the Droll Yankees Jagunda Squirrel-proof Birdfeeder with Auger. This top-quality birdfeeder comes in an attractive gift box, which includes everything you need for erecting this remarkable feeder. I put the Jagunda up at my house in October, and I have NEVER seen a squirrel eat from it! The large capacity will come in handy once the snow blankets the ground.
December 31, 2010 ---
The last day of the year already? WOW, what a year it has been! Thank you to each and every one of you who has walked through our door for the opportunity to serve you and contribute in some way to your love of nature. We know we could not be here without you. We are excited about 2011! For starters, we're headed off to market in January to see new product introductions; and our first class of the new year will be held shortly after our return. Preparations are already underway for our Spring Open House, and look for the return of our popular Nature Photo Contest in late Spring. As we begin our fourth year, there are so many touching memories for us to recall; and we have you to thank. We look forward with great anticipation to the future and the joy that observing and sharing nature's wonders will undoubtedly bring. Joie de vivre!
