March Newsletter

Judging by the chorus of birds we hear singing in the mornings, spring is just around the corner. This means nesting season is coming soon! We may still have cold and snowy weather, but that does not stop birds like our Eastern Bluebird from beginning their nesting cycle.

There are a few things you can do to help your birds have a successful nesting season!

Offer a Functional Nesting Box

If the bird uses a nesting box, it’s important that it meets the proper safety criteria.

1. Ventilation: A functional house has adequate ventilation at the top to allow for air flow during the warmer months.
2. Easy Clean Out: A side panel that opens to allow easy nest clean out at the end of the season helps to keep the pest population down.
3. Adequate Drainage: Holes at the bottom corners of the nesting box allow for drainage.
4. Fledgling Ladder: The inside of a box should have either slashes or a ladder to help the fledglings leave, especially in bluebird boxes.

Offer Foods High in Calcium and Protein

Birds have an urgent need for greatly increased calcium in the spring, as it aids in egg laying and chick development. Obtaining a sufficient amount of protein is also important because it determines the number of eggs a bird is able to produce and impacts the health of young birds.

Wild Birds Unlimited’s Nesting SuperBlend™ is a great food to help you provide the essential protein & calcium needed by nesting families. This high protein seed blend is packed full of sunflower chips, peanuts, mealworms, bark butter bits, nutrasaff, tree nuts and calcium. This blend is perfect for birds before and during nesting, and also for the young when they fledge.

Native Plant Sale - Coming Soon!

Carolina Chickadees need more than 6,000 caterpillars to successfully feed and fledge five chicks from their nest! It is simply an impossible task in habitats dominated by non-native plants. By using more native plants to landscape your yard, you can create a haven for nesting birds…and bring more birds and more joy into your world.
Keep an Eye on your Email to Hear More About our Upcoming Native Plant Sale

Reduce Plastic Use

Plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade, and 91% of plastics created are not recycled. Studies show that whales, turtles and at least 80 seabird species ingest discarded plastic, mistaking it for food. Reduce your use of plastics by avoiding single-use plastics including bags, bottles, wraps, and disposable utensils. If you do use disposable plastic, be sure to recycle it.

Upcoming Events

Nature Walks

Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve

• Saturday, March 14 at 10:00am
• Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve is a hotspot for vernal pool activity in the late winter/early spring. We will look for late winter birds and early sprouting spring ephemerals.
• RSVP

In-Store Events

Flyin' Friends with Ohio Nature Education

• Saturday, March 7 from 1:00 - 3:00pm
• Join us to see Ohio Nature Education's amazing animal ambassadors! These animal ambassadors may include owls, flying squirrels, and bats. Learning about O.N.E.'s animal ambassadors is a great way for people of any age to connect with nature and support a great cause.
• There is no registration required, simply show up anytime between 1pm-3pm!

Native Landscaping with Doc

• Wednesday, March 25 from 6:00 - 6:45pm
• More details to come

Community Events

In Search of the Orange-tufted Spiderhunter

• Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30pm
• Grange Insurance Audubon Center
• Join us for Audubon's 2025 - 2026 in-person Monthly Program series in partnership with and located at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center on Tuesday March 10th, 2026. Guest speaker Peter Kaestner will share his life story with birds around the world, culminating in the achievement of his lifetime when he recorded his 10,000 life bird. Arrive at 6:30pm to participate in the bird quiz, draw a door prize ticket, and enjoy refreshments. Winners for the door prize and bird quiz will be announced after the presentations.
• RSVP

Advancing Conservation by Empowering the Next Generation of Conservation Scientists

• Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30pm
• Grange Insurance Audubon Center
• Join us for Audubon's 2025 - 2026 in-person Monthly Program series in partnership with and located at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center on Tuesday March 24th, 2026. Arrive at 6:30pm to participate in the bird quiz, draw a door prize ticket, and enjoy refreshments. Winners for the door prize and bird quiz will be announced after the presentations.
• RSVP

Migrationfest

• Saturday, March 28 from 10am-2pm
• Grange Insurance Audubon Center
  • 10:00am & 12:00pm - Guided Bird Walks, about an hour and fifteen minutes
  • 11:30am & 1:30pm - Family Friendly Bird Bingo
  • 10:00am - 2:00pm - Make-and-Take Bird Feeder and Bird Craft
  • 10:00am - 2:00pm - Migration Game
  • 10:00am - 2:00pm - Wild Birds Unlimited Pop-up Shop (We will see you there!)
• RSVP

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