Flying Friends Wild Bird Shop

08/29/2026

Hummingbirds have finished nesting and are now preparing for migration. This is when activity explodes to crazy levels as they fuel up for the long journey South. You'll notice they'll perch longer at feeders in an effort to conserve energy and store up as much fuel as possible. Now is the absolute best time of year to catch them dining at your feeders. We can virtually guarantee that you will see hummingbirds if you put out a feeder and replace the nectar regularly. If you don't already have one, get a hummingbird feeder now and don't miss the action! We carry high quality feeders that hummingbirds love, don't leak, help keep out bees, and last a long time. We also carry all-natural nectar with no dyes or preservatives that will keep them coming back for more! All Hummingbird related products are now 15% off until September 6, 2026. Visit https://flyingfriendscl.com/products/ or come by our store in Crystal Lake.

Be sure to change the nectar every 2-3 days for best results. Or use our Nectar Defender Powder and you'll only have to change it once a week. Approved by Cornell Lab of Ornithology to be 100% safe for hummingbirds. The #1 reason people don't see as many hummingbirds as they could at their feeders is because they don't keep the nectar fresh, so using this ensures you get the most action possible! Remember, you are always competing with Mother Nature, who is constantly providing fresh nectar from flowers.

Help these amazing creatures on their journey and see them in your yard. Try a Hummingbird Window Feeder for a new, close-up view! Act soon, we'll be in the peak for another 2-3 weeks. After that their activity will start to decline and by mid-October they will be gone until next April!

08/28/2026

Baltimore Orioles are done nesting and preparing to migrate back south. Many that spent the summer north of us are already passing through our area. Help them fuel up for their long journey and enjoy watching these beautiful birds in your yard! While they are almost never as active at feeders now as on their journey North in May, we have many customers reporting great activity. So if you have a feeder, get it out now and don't miss your last chance to see these amazing birds. They should remain very active at feeders for another 1-2 weeks. But by the end of September, they will be gone until next May!

Use our special BirdBerry Jelly for best results and offer live mealworms to attract juveniles! We just got a fresh batch in! The immature Orioles look a lot different than the adults and it's very entertaining to watch the parents feed them and teach them how to eat from your feeders.

07/27/2026

06/30/2026

15% Off Bird Baths Extended thru July 12!

Now is the absolute best time of the year to have a bird bath, especially one with moving water. With the intense heat, birds will be looking for a place to get a drink and cool off. Not all birds eat seed, but they all need water, so it's a fantastic way to attract species you typically don't see at your feeders. Even if you don't attract anything out of the ordinary, it's still a hoot to see your normal visitors splash around and shake their tail feathers.

Don’t have a bath? Well now is a great time to get one, as all of our baths are 15% off. We highly recommend our Fountain Aggregate Bird Bath to create that nice babbling brook sound that will attract even more birds. Or use our Solar Fountain Bubbler or the battery powered water wiggler in any bath.

Pro Birdbath Tip

If you have time, try dumping out all the water in your bird bath (or as much as you can) and replace it 2-3 times a day to keep it as cold as possible. Let the water run on your hose until it’s as cold as it gets, emptying the water that's been sitting in the hose and has warmed up, and fill your bath.

Remember, you are always in competition with what nature is providing when you try to attract birds. And there is plenty of water around for them to drink and bathe in. But all the small pools of water in nature will warm up quickly in this heat. The only colder water will be the larger ponds, lakes, and rivers in our area, as it takes them longer to heat up. But the colder parts of those bodies of water are too deep for birds to easily bathe in. By frequently refreshing the water in your bath, you are providing something that is rare in nature: a shallow pool of ice-cold water. This will make your yard a more attractive place to visit. Plus it will take algae longer to grow and reduce how often you have to scrub your bath.

06/27/2026

It can be difficult to distinguish baby birds from adults as they grow up fast. They usually aren't much smaller than their parents, but there are ways to tell if you pay close attention. Recent fledglings will often look disheveled, like they got up on the wrong side of the bed. They will have similar coloring as the adults, but the colors will usually be less vibrant, less well-defined, and more splotchy. Watching their behavior can also help you tell the difference. Fledglings can be super inquisitive, hopping from one perch to another on your feeders without taking a single seed. Or they land on a feeder that their species doesn't usually feed from (like a woodpecker landing on your Nyjer thistle feeder). The adults know not to bother, but the young ones are just learning. You can sometimes see them figuring things out for the first time. And if you see a male bird feeding another male bird, or a female feeding another female, this is almost certainly dad feeding son or mom feeding daughter. A male feeding a female is often a sign of courtship, so not always an indication that one is a fledgling, though of course it can be. Just look out for some of the other indicators we mentioned.

If you like our content, please follow, share, and support our local Crystal Lake store! You can browse about half of what we carry at FlyingFriendsCL.com, and we offer free delivery for orders above $25 in our local area. But visit our physical store for all the newest products and best advice to turn your yard into a birding oasis!

05/31/2026

Randall Rd Construction Update, our intersections are now back open! Alexandria Blvd at Randall to close tomorrow (Monday, June 1, for approximately 4 weeks).

The intersection of Angela Lane and Randall Rd and the intersection of Village Rd and Randall Rd are now open! These are the East-West roads to the immediate North and South of our shop (see map below). So when approaching from the North on Randall, you can now make a right onto Angela Lane into our shopping center. And when approaching from the South on Randall, you can once again make a left onto Village, then an immediate right onto Carlemont Dr, and our shopping center will be on your right once you pass the apartment complexes.

The intersection of Randall Rd and Alexandria Blvd will be closed for about 4 weeks starting Monday, June 1st. This shouldn’t affect your drive as the most efficient routes to our store are the ones mentioned above. However, if when approaching from the South on Randall, you have grown accustomed to driving slightly past our store to make the left on Alexandria, be aware that you will no longer be able to do that. If you make the mistake of going past Village Rd while driving North on Randall, you will have to circle around through the neighborhood (by making your next left on Ackman, left on Westport Ridge, left on Alexandria, right on Carlemont). So try to avoid that! We know the construction can be an inconvenience, but the worst part is now behind us. Our intersections should not close again for an extended period of time for the duration of the project (1-day closures may happen for quick work). We appreciate your support during this time! Remember too, we offer FREE Delivery in our local area for orders above $25.

Go through the images below to see the routes depending on which direction you are coming from.

Approaching from the West, Northwest, or Southwest (Huntley, Lakewood, etc.):

You shouldn't be affected. Just take your normal route of traveling East on Ackman, Miller, or Algonquin Rd. and avoid Randall. If using Miller, make a left on Golf Course, right on Village, and then a left on Carlemont. You'll see the back of our building on your right. Don't make the mistake of taking Miller too far because you will eventually hit Randall.

05/22/2026

This Sunday, May 24, is the last day of our Storewide* 20% Off Spring Sale!

Set up your yard to enjoy the birds all year long with high quality feeders, baths, poles, and more! Plus custom seed blends designed to attract a wide variety of birds in our area. Get expert advice on how to maximize your yard for birding, with guaranteed solutions to keep squirrels and other critters at bay. Quit wasting money on junk and come to the local pros!

Remember, our Club Members always get 15% off all bird food and $5 off every $100 spent when there is no other sale.

Joining is free and easy! Sign up in-store, by phone (815-893-6889), or get automatically enrolled when you place an online order. Plus get a $5 coupon for every $100 spent, so another 5% off! Text WILDBIRD to 578277 to enroll. We don't spam and never sell or share your information with anybody! We average a text and email once every 3 weeks. It's how we let you know about sales, tips and tricks for attracting birds, and when migrators arrive in our area.

Don't miss out and join today!

You can browse about half of what we carry at FlyingFriendsCL.com, and we offer free delivery for orders above $25 in our local area. But visit our physical store for all the newest products and best advice to turn your yard into a birding oasis!

We will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

Have a great holiday weekend!

*Excludes books, optics, labor, Coveside/Amish/Nature's Creation/Bryan's Landing bird houses, Camera-Enabled Bird Feeders, some granite birdbaths, 50 lb. bags of bird seed (capped at 15% off), and items subject to manufacturer minimum pricing.

05/15/2026

We're in peak migration! Now is the absolute best time of year to see new and unusual species, with hundreds of millions of birds taking to the skies every day across the US. Pay extra close attention to your feeders and baths over the next few weeks! Bird baths in particular can be a huge draw for new visitors, especially as it gets hotter out. It will be in the 80°s this weekend and Monday (May 16-18)! Not all birds eat seed, but they all need water, especially after their long journey. Keep those baths clean and refresh the water regularly for optimal results. In the past week I’ve seen several species of warblers, Indigo Buntings, Cedar Waxwings, Scarlet Tanagers, and many more in my birdbath, and that’s right here in Crystal Lake! Don’t have a birdbath? Well now is a great time to get one, as almost all of our baths are 20% off. We highly recommend our Junior Aggregate Fountain to keep the water moving and to create that nice babbling brook sound that will attract even more birds. Or use our Floating Solar Bubbler.

We also highly recommend going on a walk in nature. The next two weeks or so will continue to be peak migration, and then it will start slowing down a little. From about 5am-9am is the optimal time as the birds are the most active and vocal. You’ll definitely want a pair of binoculars, so stop by our shop and try some out if you don’t have any. You can test our entire selection and find the perfect one for your needs. We only carry binoculars that are great for birding, and they all have lifetime warranties! Also, download the Merlin app and use the sound ID to help you level up your birding game. It's free, has no ads, and is run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Even if you are a beginner, a simple pair of binoculars along with the Merlin App can have you spotting new and beautiful birds in no time. I can confirm that Veteran Acres Park here in Crystal Lake is teeming with warblers, vireos, thrushes, and so much more. You will find the beautiful indigo bunting with little effort.

Our 20% Off Storewide Sale is going on for 9 more days (ends Sunday, May 24, 2026). We carry high quality products that last, many with lifetime warranties that hold up in harsh conditions, with quality bird seed that attracts a wide variety of birds in our area. Get expert advice on how to maximize your yard for birding, with guaranteed solutions to keep squirrels and other critters at bay. Quit wasting money on junk and come to the local pros!

See our previous posts for tips on attracting amazing migrators!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CiyPSUzMu/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17jUueNtkV/

If you like our content, please follow, share, and support our local Crystal Lake store! You can browse about half of what we carry at FlyingFriendsCL.com, and we offer free delivery for orders above $25 in our local area. But visit our physical store for all the newest products and best advice to turn your yard into a birding oasis!

Happy Spring!