The Duncraft story began when dad Gil Dunn invented a wood tray that clipped onto wooden windowsills. It had everything to attract wild birds up close: seed wells, a water dish and perching dowels with holes for peanut butter! This was in 1952. By the late 1960’s the black and white 16 page Duncraft catalog was carrying a whole variety of bird seeds and feeders.
Gil's son Mike and daughter Sharon took over running Duncraft in the early 1970’s. They continued to develop Duncraft-brand bird feeders, which were offered in the Duncraft catalog and to specialty shops across the country. Duncraft's goal has been to build wonderful birdfeeders in their shop in Penacook, New Hampshire and to present them and the best of other manufacturers in the Duncraft catalog. Duncraft's vision is to create havens for birds one backyard at a time and to promote customer enjoyment of watching birds and their connection to nature.
Duncraft field tests and uses the products they offer--and their first consideration is always bird safety. Duncraft has been a leader in introducing new seeds for birdfeeding and in creating seed blends. Their standards for seed are extremely high: accepting only clean, fresh seed into their warehouse.
3/14/2008 7:45:00 PM
Posted by
Duncraft
under Bird Watching
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One of the most frequent of backyard birds in New England is the curious and intrepid black-capped chickadee, an agile flier who often is the first to try a new feeder in the backyard. The next time you hear a familiar "chick a dee dee dee", listen closely, because a chickadee's call can tell you a lot. Chickadees add as many as 23 "dees" to their calls when threatened by one of their most dangerous predators, the pygmy owl. However, less dangerous predators warrant only an additional 3 or 4 "dees". Chickadees also have a quiet "seet" call, to warn of a raptor on the wing -- such as the red-tailed hawk. In fact, more than 30 variations in chickadee songs and calls are now recognized.
Although chickadees seem to be at our feeders all the time, the main staple of their diet is insects. Also: Insect eggs, spiders and spider eggs, berries and pinecone seeds. Their favorite feeder treats? Suet. Peanuts. And black oil sunflower seeds. Chickadees actually cache food under tree bark to tide themselves over for winter scarcity, and just like squirrels, they do remember where they hide their stash!
Did you know that chickadees can be wooed to feed right from your hand? Stand (or sit) close to where your feeder usually is (I recommend taking it down when you doing this!) with your palm flat, filled with sunflower seed, arm outstretched. Stay perfectly still! With patience, stillness and trying the same time every day -- you might well be rewarded with a brief visit that feels like a puff of air on your fingertips!
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