For The Birds and More

08/24/2026

It isn't too late to enjoy hummingbirds this season! Stop by to see us today at For The Birds for everything you need to attract these amazing little friends to your backyard!

It’s not too late to put out a feeder—or add another. Experts share how to welcome more hummingbirds through fall ⬇️

08/20/2026

☀️🐦 Help Your Backyard Birds Beat the Heat! 💦

We’re not the only ones feeling this extreme heat—our backyard birds are, too!

Birds can’t sweat, so access to fresh water is especially important when temperatures soar. They need it for drinking, and splashing in a bird bath helps them cool down and keep their feathers in good condition.

During stretches of extreme heat, natural water sources can also dry up, making a backyard bird bath an especially welcome sight! 💦

A few hot-weather tips from The Bird Man:

🐦 Keep it shallow. About 1–2 inches of water is plenty for most backyard birds.

🌳 Give them some shade. A shady location helps keep water cooler and slows evaporation.

💧 Keep it fresh. Change the water regularly during hot weather and keep your bird bath clean.

💦 MAKE IT MOVE! Birds are naturally attracted to the sight and sound of moving water. It can help them notice your bird bath more quickly—and moving water also helps discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs.

☀️ Our Solar Water Wigglers are a great way to keep the surface of your bird bath moving without electricity or cords—just add sunshine! They’re an easy way to make your bird bath even more inviting to thirsty backyard visitors.

Stop by For The Birds for bird baths, Solar Water Wigglers and everything you need to turn your backyard into a refreshing oasis for the birds this summer. 🐦💦

📍 Just past Subway in Keowee Key

🐦 “Oconee County’s Only Dedicated Wild Bird Supply Store”

08/18/2026

🪿 Giddy Goose Has Arrived at For The Birds! 🪿 (As Seen on the Today Show)

Giddy Goose—the Original Porch Goose that started it all—is now available at For The Birds!

This full-size metal porch goose makes a fun and charming addition to your entryway, porch or patio. And Giddy is more than just a pretty goose—she’s the perfect canvas for a whole wardrobe of seasonal looks throughout the year! 🍂🎄🌸🇺🇸

Dress her up. Change her with the seasons. Make Giddy part of the family! 🪿💚

Stop by For The Birds and pick up yours today!

📍 Just past Subway in Keowee Key

🐦 “Oconee County’s Only Dedicated Wild Bird Supply Store”

08/11/2026

🦉 Why Are Owls a Symbol of Wisdom?

Last week we celebrated Owl Awareness Day and shared fascinating information about our owl friends, which got us thinking, have you ever wondered why owls are associated with being wise?

The tradition dates back more than 2,000 years to ancient Greece. The goddess Athena, who represented wisdom and learning, was often depicted with a small owl by her side. Over time, the owl itself became a symbol of knowledge and wisdom.

Owls certainly look the part! Their large, forward-facing eyes, calm demeanor, and habit of quietly observing everything around them make them seem thoughtful and incredibly perceptive.

Here's the surprising part...

Scientists don't actually consider owls to be the smartest birds. That honor usually goes to members of the crow family—crows, ravens, and jays—which can solve complex puzzles, use tools, recognize human faces, and even plan ahead. Owls are famous for being wise, but crows are actually considered smarter by scientists. Owls just have better public relations! 🦉😁

So why do owls still represent wisdom?

Perhaps because wisdom isn't just about intelligence. It's also about patience, careful observation, and knowing when to act. Few birds embody those qualities better than an owl silently watching the world from its perch.

Who remembers the Wise Old Owl from the classic Tootsie Pop commercial? 🦉🍭

08/10/2026

Soar free Jackie.🦅

Beloved bald eagle Jackie died while rehabilitating at a wildlife center in California after being rescued following an apparent "altercation" with two subadult eagles. bit.ly/4i1aZb2

📸: Courtesy of Friends of Big Bear Valley

Jackie, the internet-famous bald eagle of Big Bear Valley, has died after a weekslong health battle.

08/06/2026

Make Your Backyard a Hummingbird Air B&B! 🐦 ✈

What if your hummingbird feeder became an important stops on a 2,000-mile journey?

As summer begins to wind down, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds begin an incredible migration south. Many of the hummingbirds visiting our Upstate South Carolina backyards will travel hundreds—even thousands—of miles to spend the winter in Mexico and Central America.

Some will even fly 500–600 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico without a single place to land.

Before they leave, these tiny birds go into overdrive, eating almost constantly to build up the fat they'll need for the trip.

In just a few weeks, a hummingbird can nearly double its body weight—from about 3 grams to nearly 6 grams—to fuel its amazing migration.

That's why it's so important to keep your feeders clean, full, and available throughout late summer and into the fall.

Here's something many people don't realize...

Leaving your feeder up will NOT keep hummingbirds from migrating.

Their journey is triggered by changing daylight—not by the availability of nectar. Your feeder simply provides a much-needed place for migrating hummingbirds to rest, refuel, and continue one of the most remarkable journeys in the bird world.

So don't be in a hurry to take your feeders down!

Instead, make your backyard a Hummingbird Air B&B—a welcoming stop where these amazing little travelers can rest, refuel, and continue their incredible journey.

❤️ Need fresh nectar, a new feeder, or have questions about helping hummingbirds this migration season? Stop by For The Birds! Terry "The Bird Man" Allen is always happy to help!

For The Birds
"Oconee's Only Dedicated Wild Bird Supply Store"

08/04/2026

International Owl Awareness Day! 🦉

Today we're celebrating some of nature's most fascinating birds! While owls are often heard more than they're seen, our area is home to several incredible species.

Here are a few fun facts about our local owls:

🦉 Great Horned Owl
Our largest and most recognizable owl, famous for its "horns" (actually feather tufts). They're powerful hunters and can even prey on skunks without being bothered by the smell!

🦉 Barred Owl
One of the most common owls in our area, often found in mature forests near water. Their distinctive call sounds like:
"Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?"

🦉 Eastern Screech-Owl
Don't let the name fool you—they rarely screech! Their haunting trills and whinnies are much more common. These small owls come in both gray and reddish-brown color forms.

🦉 Barn Owl
Less common in the Upstate but occasionally found around old barns and open farmland. Their heart-shaped face makes them one of the easiest owls to identify.

🦉 Northern Saw-whet Owl
A tiny winter visitor that's rarely seen but sometimes passes through South Carolina during migration. Adults are only about 7–8 inches tall!

Did you know?

✔ Owls can rotate their heads up to 270°.
✔ Their feathers are specially designed for nearly silent flight.
✔ Owls have incredible night vision, but their hearing is just as impressive. Their facial discs help funnel sound directly to their ears, allowing them to pinpoint prey even under leaves or snow.

You can make your property more owl-friendly by:

✔ Leaving mature trees whenever possible.
✔ Installing an owl nesting box (especially for Eastern Screech-Owls). (Pick up one today here at For The Birds!)
✔ Avoiding rodenticides, since poisoned rodents can poison owls.
✔ Turning off unnecessary outdoor lights at night.
✔ Providing natural habitat rather than a perfectly manicured yard.

Have you ever heard an owl calling at night or been lucky enough to spot one in your backyard? Tell us which species you've seen in the comments! 🦉

07/30/2026

Meet The Bird Man! 🐦

Did you know Oconee County has its very own dedicated wild bird supply store? Meet owner and resident backyard birding expert, Terry Allen!

Terry has become affectionately known as "The Bird Man!" 🐦 His passion for backyard birding led him to open For The Birds, where he enjoys helping others experience the joy of attracting and watching wild birds right in their own backyards.

Whether you're an experienced birder or just getting started, Terry and our team are here to help with premium birdseed, suet, feeders, bird houses, squirrel baffles, bird baths, and beautiful home and garden décor—everything you need to create a backyard birds will love!

Stop by For The Birds today and let Terry help you attract more birds to your backyard! We are located on Hwy 130 in the Keowee Key community.

🎉 Special Offer: Mention this post to receive $5 OFF your first bucket of our customer-favorite Birdman's Blend birdseed—our signature mix especially formulated to attract more birds to your backyard! 🐦🌻

07/28/2026

And who said backyard birding wasn't rockin'?🐦🎸

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1944twTpFb/

07/24/2026

Fun Facts about the American Goldfinch!

➡ American Goldfinches are unusual among goldfinches in molting their body feathers twice a year, once in late winter and again in late summer. The brightening yellow of male goldfinches each spring is one welcome mark of approaching warm months.

➡ American Goldfinches breed later than most North American birds. They wait to nest until June or July when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their seeds, which goldfinches incorporate into their nests and also feed their young.

➡ Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and only inadvertently swallowing an occasional insect.

➡ Goldfinches move south in winter following a pattern that seems to coincide with regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit on average.

➡ Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls.

➡ The oldest known American Goldfinch was 10 years 9 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maryland.

Almost any kind of bird feeder may attract American Goldfinches, including hopper, platform, and hanging feeders. You’ll also find American Goldfinches are happy to feed on the ground below feeders, eating spilled seeds. They’re most attracted to sunflower seed and nyjer.

Stop by For The Birds for everything you need to attract these beautiful golden birds to your backyard!

Learn more about the American Goldfinch at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/overview