Question for the Bird Watchers/Experts

[bobmark226]

Up here in Woodstock Wonderland, I've got all kinds of birds in my back and front yards. I'm putting up a feeder after my luverly new fence is done, because I so enjoy watching them through my window as I work in the kitchen. I've got Cardinals, Blue Jays, Scarlet Tanagers, finches, etc., but there's one bird I can't identify, not that I know much beyond the basics.

I was hoping someone here might know this one: it's small, finch-like, with grey and black, and a small but brilliant red plume on the top of its head. I think it mostly works on tree trunks for food, as I always see them upside down there.

Any ideas? I would recognize it by a photo, for sure!

TIA,
Bob

[gertdog]

Is it this one? This is a downy woodpecker- he's small as woodpeckers go, has the brilliant red patch, and definitely spends lots of time upside down. They really like suet too- we have a suet feeder hanging right outside our living room window and we have two downy woodpeckers who visit every day.

http://content.ornith.cornell.edu/UEWebApp/images/BIM_040302_00356F_S.jpg

[mbrogier]

It almost sounds like a woodpecker.
Is it this?
http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=BD0437

My parents had a small field manual of North American birds. I don't remember the name, but the book was long and thin and had a water resistant cover on it. What I liked about the book was each page had a few photos of the bird with the range of where it could be found, some facts about it, etc. The book was divided by song birds, water birds, etc. I know my dad bought the book at a local store that sold items for wildlife entheusiasts. This is one book I wouldn't buy on the internet.

[AndreaU]

I agree with the woodpecker "diagnosis." We have them in our yard all the time and seeing as you're not that far from me, I'd bet that's what you have. (Just hope they don't start pecking away at your metal gutters! :rolleyes: )

[Beth]

Definitely sounds like a memner of the woodpecker family. It could be a downy woodpecker. They are about 6 inches in length. Another one in the woodpecker family that looks a lot like the downy (especially the female) is the yellow bellied sapsucker, and it is about 8 inches in length. The male has more red on his head than a downy -- more of a stripe from the beak back, as well as red on his throat. There is also a little golden brown around the white on his chest (hence the name). The markings on the female are different form the downy, but a little harder to describe in words. Also, the yellow bellied sapsucker is not found as far north in the wonter -- not sure exactly where you are in relation to this postage stamp size map in my book.

BTW, the field guide we have is Donald and Lillian Stokes' Field Guide to Birds, Eastern Region. It has one or more photos on every page -- generally a page per bird. Some pages have photos of male, female and juvenile birds as well as descriptions of behavior, diet, habitat and other facts. If you are interested in buying a book, that is a good one.

[Beth]

Just hope they don't start pecking away at your metal gutters! :rolleyes:

They also love chimney caps. That activity is at its strongest in spring and early summer -- mating season. The male (generally) is drumming to call out to females in the area, and they seem to like to call out in the morning hours. Don't worry, they aren't drumming holes in your house though. The mating sound is a regular beat and made for sound -- not drilling for food or nectar.

[gertdog]

BTW, the field guide we have is Donald and Lillian Stokes' Field Guide to Birds, Eastern Region. It has one or more photos on every page -- generally a page per bird. Some pages have photos of male, female and juvenile birds as well as descriptions of behavior, diet, habitat and other facts. If you are interested in buying a book, that is a good one.

This is the field guide we have as well- I keep it on the side table next to the living room window so if we have an unfamiliar visitor to the feeder, we can look it up. I really like how it's organized and I find it pretty easy to use.

A yellow-bellied sapsucker is a possibility- v. similar appearance to the downy woodpecker but, as Beth said, a little larger. Here's a photo of a male. A female would have the red patch on the top of the head but not the chin, so if what you're seeing is a sapsucker, it's likely the female.

http://content.ornith.cornell.edu/UEWebApp/images/ALE_040902_00350A_S.jpg

[Cookin4Love]

They also love chimney caps. That activity is at its strongest in spring and early summer -- mating season. The male (generally) is drumming to call out to females in the area, and they seem to like to call out in the morning hours. Don't worry, they aren't drumming holes in your house though. The mating sound is a regular beat and made for sound -- not drilling for food or nectar.

We must have malicious woodpeckers. They ARE drilling holes through our stucco! :mad:

[Beth]

We must have malicious woodpeckers. They ARE drilling holes through our stucco! :mad:

Oh no! :eek:

We have brick and Hardie siding, but I don't think they ever drummed on anything other than the metal at the other house. We don't have gutters on this house, so we don't get as much drumming. I wonder what it is about the stucco.

Do you hear regular drumming (da-da-da-da-da--da-daht) or irregular pecking (Daht--dah-da-daht--dut-dut) (whatever)? The regular is the mating, but the irregular is looking for food. I wonder if they think they can get food from stucco. Or you're just lucky. :rolleyes:

[Cookin4Love]

Oh no! :eek:

We have brick and Hardie siding, but I don't think they ever drummed on anything other than the metal at the other house. We don't have gutters on this house, so we don't get as much drumming. I wonder what it is about the stucco.

Do you hear regular drumming (da-da-da-da-da--da-daht) or irregular pecking (Daht--dah-da-daht--dut-dut) (whatever)? The regular is the mating, but the irregular is looking for food. I wonder if they think they can get food from stucco. Or you're just lucky. :rolleyes:

I hear the regular drumming on the metal chimney cap during mating season. I haven't heard them on the stucco--I've watched them. Haven't picked up a rthythm, yet! We've even got "woodpecker" friendly food in a feeder in a tree at the back of our lot--which they enjoy. They seem to be pecking the house after they drink out of the hummingbird feeders. :rolleyes: I don't know what to do about them.

Sorry to hijack, Bob!

[Beth]

LOL I don't know either -- but Bob, watch out if you have any stucco. There are apparently some nutty woodpeckers out there. Maybe they get drunk on the nectar! :D

[bobmark226]

Thanks, ladies! I thought it was the first one until you muddied the waters with the other options. Now I have to see if there's any throat marking at all.

While my first instinct was woodpecker, I didn't see it pecking, just picking, and besides, I thought they all made that Woody Woodpecker sound!

Thanks again,
Stucco-less Bob

[BarbaraL]

We had a woodpecker who liked to drum on the metal fence of our pool! Made an awful racket, but I loved watching him.

I'm currently bird-feederless, but would like to get another one. However, the accumulation of seed detritus under the feeder bugged DH (also, various plants started growing from the seeds in the spring). I raked it out every so often, but it was a pain. How do you deal with that? Maybe if I come up with a good solution, DH will get me another feeder for Christmas!

[bobmark226]

I'm currently bird-feederless, but would like to get another one. However, the accumulation of seed detritus under the feeder bugged DH (also, various plants started growing from the seeds in the spring). I raked it out every so often, but it was a pain. How do you deal with that? Maybe if I come up with a good solution, DH will get me another feeder for Christmas!

Perhaps a pretty Laura Ashley tablecloth, spread picnic style? :)

Bob

[BarbaraL]

Perhaps a pretty Laura Ashley tablecloth, spread picnic style? :)

Bob

I'm sure the squirrels would appreciate it!

[Beth]

I'm currently bird-feederless, but would like to get another one. However, the accumulation of seed detritus under the feeder bugged DH (also, various plants started growing from the seeds in the spring). I raked it out every so often, but it was a pain. How do you deal with that? Maybe if I come up with a good solution, DH will get me another feeder for Christmas!

Is there a WIld Birds Unlimited store in your area? I think their website is WBU.com and they have sotre locator. If so, they have a no-mess seed mix. It has no shells and cracked seeds for fewer to no sprouts. I had to put it in the feeder over one flower bed.

[bobmark226]

Is there a WIld Birds Unlimited store in your area? I think their website is WBU.com and they have sotre locator. If so, they have a no-mess seed mix. It has no shells and cracked seeds for fewer to no sprouts. I had to put it in the feeder over one flower bed.

The website address is right, thank you, Beth. I did a little reading to see what I could do in Winter but can't say as I was left with a clear direction.

If I wanted to do suet, which they recommend for Winter and which I've seen in the markets (I'm amazed at how large the supermarket sections for bird feeding things are!), what is the best way to do it? The birds congregate in the backyard mostly, which is about a half acre, and the trees are pretty much at the back and sides with a clear yard and a large overhang on the roof, where my kitchen window faces out. I guess I should do it at the trees, although that would put the birds at a distance where I wouldn't really get to see and enjoy them. Suggestions?

Bob

[Beth H]

If I wanted to do suet, which they recommend for Winter and which I've seen in the markets (I'm amazed at how large the supermarket sections for bird feeding things are!),

What? You didn't feed the pigeons back in NYC? :)

[Beth]

You can hand suet in various baskets, but around here that is squirrel bait and since we have fewer woodpeckers at this house than the last one, I don't really see birds enjoying much of it that way.

DH and the boys gave me a Wild Birds feeder one Mother's Day, and although it wasn't much to look at, it was the best all around feeder. It was the house type with a suet basket on either end, mounted on a pole. We put a racoon baffle to prevent racoons, squirrels and snakes from getting up to the feeder, and if you put it far enough from a fence or tree, the squirrels won't be able to jump onto it. We let the squirrels eat at the other feeders, but we had one where they couldn't scare the birds off, and we got a lot of our best viewing from that one.

The center of our yard was clear, and we put the feeder in the center (ours was smaller -- you might want to move it in a bit). The birds will perch in the trees or fences -- whatever is around the clearing, and then come in when they see that it is safe. Over time, don't be surprised if you find yourself with several feeders and even different seeds for the different birds.

A birdbath is another attraction and provides a lot of fun watching them both drink and bathe.

Oh -- since you have bluejays and woodpeckers, you might want to hang peanuts in the shell (raw or roasted, but no salt) tied at intervals along a string. The love the peanuts, and it's fun to see them work at getting them. When the peanuts are gone, you can go loosen the knot and slip new ones in a number of times before replacing the string.

I have also made a suet-like mixture that the birds here loved. It came from a Southern Living holiday issue that showed ways to decorate ourdoor trees to provide treats for the birds. They cut the mixture in shapes -- I just cut it in blocks and put it in the suet baskets -- 6 from a 13x9 pan? I'll see if I can find that recipe for you and post it.

[gertdog]

Bob, here's a link to some info on feeder placement. The main issues are putting the feeder reasonably near cover for the birds, but far enough from tree limbs and fences that squirrels and cats aren't an issue.

Feeder placement (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/abtbirds_index.html)

Our suet feeders are the hanging basket type and we don't seem to have squirrel issues. In the backyard we have a pole system from WBU with two hooks- one for a suet basket and one for a tube feeder.

[bobmark226]

Oh, goodie, just what I needed. A new obsession! I can see my Visa going to the birds!

Thanks for the sites, Beth and Stephanie, they've been very helpful in getting a basic understanding, and I filled up a basket at Wild Birds.

I have a couple questions. Is that S type hook something that I can simply loop over into the gutter of my roof? That would be a nice place for me, but it also makes me wonder if my kitchen movement would keep them away?

Now a silly basic bird question: once a bird finds a source for food, does he tell other birds, a flock? Do all birds flock?

Bob

[Kathy B]

The birds will definitely start bringing their friends, although it may be a gradual process. One year we had a lone goldfinch coming to our feeder. The next year there were three, and now there are many. Some birds come back year after year. We have a cardinal who sits in the tree and waits for me every morning year round. As soon as I fill the platform feeder, he is there. I don't even have time to get back in the house.

We actually have all of our feeders up on the deck of our house, and it doesn't seem to be a problem for the birds....we get lots of them! It is right outside of our dining room, but we just move slowly if we don't want to disturb them. They don't seem to have any problem escaping to cover when necessary. We have two tube feeders and a suet cake feeder hanging from the eave right outside our sliding door on the deck, and a platform feeder on the deck railing. You will enjoy them much more if they are up closer, plus it is easier to look at details of the bird when you are trying to identify them.

If you can fasten a screw type hook to the eave it would be more secure for windy days and curious squirrels. Hanging an S hook over the gutter seems a little more precarious.

You are correct that it does become a bit of an expense, but the pleasure you will get from this hobby is immeasurable! :)

[gertdog]

Yup, it can be expensive- and addictive! I hadn't ever paid attention to birds until I started doing some consulting work for Cornell's Lab of Ornithology. It's hard not to become interested when you're surrounded by enthusiasts and experts! There is a WBU store right in the Lab's building- dangerous for me!

Some birds will arrive in flocks and others won't. We see numerous chickadees, finches and tufted titmice all at once. The mourning doves pick at the seed on the ground and they're usually in groups too. But the downy woodpeckers we see usually arrive in a male-female pair, and I've never seen more than the two. We also get a red-bellied woodpecker and he's always solo. I read somewhere that birds have remarkable memory for feeding locations. Sometimes the flocks are unwelcome- last winter our feeders were regularly swarmed and cleaned out by grackles. They tend to flock in the winter but disperse in warmer months. We didn't see them all summer, but we had our first snowfall on Saturday night and guess who turned up at the feeder on Sunday morning! Nine grackles, and they emptied the tube feeder in an hour. :mad:

[bobmark226]

I wanted to thank Stephanie and Kathy, among others, for all their help here. After a very slow start, Bob's Cafe is now one of the local hot spots, with a near riot at breakfast this morning. I got a cedar tube type feeder, mounted an old cookie sheet on blocks on the ground, just added a suet hanger, and, craziest of all, after watching a segment on "Today," I did a whole feeding wreath with dried orange slices and dry bread cutouts! (Did we say "real normal"?) This is being totally ignored! :mad:

I also ordered the Stokes book Stephanie recommended in another thread which I find ideal to use.

Everything is well positioned so I can watch while I prep or cook and I've found myself losing ten or fifteen minutes while I just stop to watch. I've got tons of cardinals, along with the usual jays, chickadees, and junkos, and while there are a lot of woodpeckers further back in the yard, none venture quite this close as they seem to prefer the older, bigger trees there.

Thanks again for the help; this adds so much pleasure to the day!

Bob

[lakelady1]

As long as you are buying books, may I recommend "How to be a Bad Birdwatcher" by Simon Barnes. He's a particularly literate British sports journalist who recounts his love affair with birdwatching in this wonderful little book, available through amazon.com Every time I read parts of it, I'm inspired -- "I don't go birdwatching, I AM birdwatching."

[bobmark226]

As long as you are buying books, may I recommend "How to be a Bad Birdwatcher" by Simon Barnes. He's a particularly literate British sports journalist who recounts his love affair with birdwatching in this wonderful little book, available through amazon.com Every time I read parts of it, I'm inspired -- "I don't go birdwatching, I AM birdwatching."

Thank you! Looks terrific based on amazon descriptions. I've ordered it because my head is full of silly questions about birds now.

Bob

[gertdog]

Bob, I'm so glad you're enjoying the birds! It is pretty addicting, isn't it? I received a seed wreath and some peanut butter suet bells for Christmas and have to figure out which tree to hang them in for optimal viewing. In the spring we'll move the hanging feeders out back so we can see them better from the deck- right now you have to stand in the downstairs bathroom to get the best view. :rolleyes:

I'm surprised the woodpeckers don't come to your suet feeders. They are regular visitors to ours, coming several times a day, right up next to the living room window.

We have a crabapple tree in our front yard, and around this time each year it is mobbed with robins, house finches, starlings and other birds. It will probably be picked clean in about a week!

[Kathy B]

I'm surprised the woodpeckers don't come to your suet feeders. They are regular visitors to ours, coming several times a day, right up next to the living room window.



Give them time. If you hang it, they will come! :p

Sometimes it takes them a while to realize what is there. Glad to know you are having a good turnout. We have found that the population changes a bit every winter. Occasionally we have a bird (or pair) come around for a season, then don't see them again for several years. Some birds we have had come by only once or twice. It was quite exciting at the time, I must say!

Now if you REALLY want to get serious, you will start a "life list", but that puts you into another whole category of bird watching fans! :D

[cniles]

Everything is well positioned so I can watch while I prep or cook and I've found myself losing ten or fifteen minutes while I just stop to watch. I've got tons of cardinals, along with the usual jays, chickadees, and junkos, and while there are a lot of woodpeckers further back in the yard, none venture quite this close as they seem to prefer the older, bigger trees there.

Thanks again for the help; this adds so much pleasure to the day!

Bob

I am SOO jealous!!!!! We live in a new neighborhood (thus no trees!) ok we have really little sticks - we have 2 feeders off our deck and do get goldfinches but I LOVE cardinals and chickadees (my absolute favorite!) Enjoy them Bob!!! :)

[bobmark226]

Give them time. If you hang it, they will come! :p

...

Now if you REALLY want to get serious, you will start a "life list", but that puts you into another whole category of bird watching fans! :D

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! :)

You and Stephanie must have the magic touch, because when I got up and went to the kitchen after posting, there was a gigantic Pileated Woodpecker at the suet feeder, the first one of those I've seen.

Oops, sorry, Charisse! (Those chickadees are little bullies.)

Bob

[LA98]

Bob or Stephanie, what is the title of the book you mentioned? (put in Stokes on Amazon and got just a few too many hits!) I'm in northern NJ, and have been wondering lately about some of the birds my feeder is attracting, including a small, very pretty light gray bird with a bit of peach color on its side -- anyone have any idea what it could be? I usually see two of them up in the branches of the dogwood tree waiting for the @#$% squirrels to finish eating at the feeder. :rolleyes:

[bobmark226]

Bob or Stephanie, what is the title of the book you mentioned? (put in Stokes on Amazon and got just a few too many hits!)


It's the Beginner's Guide to Birds, Eastern Region.

Bob

[Gilgamesh37]

have been wondering lately about some of the birds my feeder is attracting, including a small, very pretty light gray bird with a bit of peach color on its side -- anyone have any idea what it could be?

It's a Tufted Titmouse---or rather, a pair of Tufted Titmice....

Oh, and Bob--- <<thhhpptttt!> (sticks out tongue) for having a Pileated who actually comes to your feeder! Most birders would kill for that! (unless you're joking. In which case, I feel a bit stupid)


http://www.tinmanphotography.com/images/TuftedTitmouse.jpg

[bobmark226]

Oh, and Bob--- <<thhhpptttt!> (sticks out tongue) for having a Pileated who actually comes to your feeder! Most birders would kill for that! (unless you're joking. In which case, I feel a bit stupid)

Beginner's Luck?

Not kidding at all. It was so large, much bigger than the others I'd seen around the neighborhood, I went to the book to identify it and there was that long red plume and a mention of the size. The photo was a perfect match.

But the other day, I also had a woodpecker outside my office window that was so tiny, young, apparently, that I thought it was a lizard when I first saw the movement up the tree!

Bob

[Beth]

I've seen every other type of woodpecker we get here at feeders, but not the pileated. I've seen them in the trees -- including one at a parking lot right in front of where I oulled in. I just stayed in the car and watched until he worked his way up that tree and flew off to the next. That's the only one I've seen failry low to the ground.

The smaller woodpeckers will come to the feeder -- they seem to be most attracted to peanuts and suet.

[LA98]

Thanks, Bob, for the title of that book, and Gilgamesh for putting a name to the face (you know what I mean!).

[bobmark226]

Oh, and Bob--- <<thhhpptttt!> (sticks out tongue) for having a Pileated who actually comes to your feeder! Most birders would kill for that! (unless you're joking. In which case, I feel a bit stupid)


Oh, ye of little faith. I'd begun to think I was hallucinating about that sighting, but this morning, as I making a pot of coffee, guess who appeared? Sorry it's blurred, but as soon as I got close enough, he took off! :mad:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6da30b3127cce88190deff97d00000015108AcN2rVm4Ys2

Bob

[Valerie226]

Yes, pileated. we have a pair that hang around our yard. Never had them anywhere near a feeder though. You should see them go thru old apples on a tree in the fall.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology puts out a great CD for ID'ing birds, songs, territory, everything. I like guidebooks but this has great features you can't get from a book. I think it was $60 -$70 but we love it. go to www.ThayerBirding.com to check it out. (please allow me to help you spend your hard earned $$)

Do you have a hummingbird feeder yet? I don't know your area at all ( only traveled briefly) but hummingbirds are fantastic. I hang anywhere from 3-7 feeders at different corners of the house. the first hummers get here in march with the biggest group arriving in late april. sometimes we probably have upward of a dozen hanging out here and fighting over territory. They are amazing little critters & if you have a population, they are very easy to attract to feeders. Ours are here for several months, with nests and young.

[Joanie B]

HUMMER ALERT!! I had my first little male on Saturday!!! He practically lived at the feeder Sunday, either replenishing after a long flight or filling up for the next leg northward! I broke out a pair of hummer earrings and one of the hummer shirts in celebration, wohoo! I have 2 feeders up now and usually end up w/12-15 before season end. I use so much sugar during hummer season I feel like I need to ask for sugar-stamp assistance, whew! But it's so worth it to have the little buggers divebombing each other all over the place!

[EmilyK]

I don't mean to hijack or anything, but I was wondering if you more proficient birders would be able to identify this little guy:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid204/p5b2130eea42d733be14ccf7e57faafe0/ef76dd7b.jpg
We heard somebody singing outside in our birch tree and found this one flirting with another, flitting all around our yard. I've been keeping the camera close to the back door in hopes of catching some of our little feathered friends.

Sorry if this is an extremely popular bird - my only experience consists of identifying the popular jays, robins, mockingbirds, etc. :o

[Gumbeaux]

That looks like a black-capped or some other kind of chickadee.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/bayoutitan/Second%20Album/chickadee.jpg

[Cookin4Love]

Oh, ye of little faith. I'd begun to think I was hallucinating about that sighting, but this morning, as I making a pot of coffee, guess who appeared? Sorry it's blurred, but as soon as I got close enough, he took off! :mad: Bob

That is so cool. I have turned into such a bird freak since we've moved to the outlying areas. We've sighted several this spring that we didn't see last year; the word about our over-flowing bird feeders must be spreading. ;) Before you know it, Bob, you're going to be breaking out the mega-zoom lens and turning into a bird-arrazzi!

[gertdog]

Sorry if this is an extremely popular bird - my only experience consists of identifying the popular jays, robins, mockingbirds, etc. :o

Emily, I think Robert's right- it does look like a chickadee, though it's hard to tell for sure since the bird is in a bit of a shadow. I can't tell apart the Black-Capped and Carolina chickadees (we have both where I am); experts tell them apart more by size than by markings. It's almost certainly one of those two if it's a chickadee- the ranges of the other types of chickadee are quite small. Where do you live? If you're down south and east of Texas it's more likely to be a Carolina; if you're north it's more likely Black-capped, though the ranges do overlap a bit.

[EmilyK]

Shew! After I posted and went to bed, I got to thinking: "Wouldn't it be just swell if that bird ends up being a common sparrow!" :p I live in the Cincinnati area. I'm planning a trip to Lowes to get some bird-feeding equipment, since our feeder bit the dust. Hopefully, we can lure some more of these guys around so I can get a better picture of them!

Gumbeaux, that looks like the same bird to me!

[bobmark226]

Emily, the chickadees are my best friends up here. They keep me company in my office and while I'm on the treadmill. Before they snatch a seed from the window feeder(s), they usually stop to tip their heads and check out the goings on. Lovely creatures and a favorite, along with the Tufted Titmouse.

I just had a bit more excitement. In the kitchen (for a change), I had a visit from the first Northern Flicker I've seen. According to the Cornell site, they're pretty scarce in this area. Surpisingly, for a woodpecker, he wasn't at the suet, he was working the lawn. (not my photo)

http://www.ejphoto.com/images_AZ/AZ_NorthernFlicker03.jpg

Valerie, thanks for the tip on the software. I ordered the smaller, cheaper Eastern version, though, at around $30.

Joanie, I'm sure I'll get to hummingbird feeders and fascination and look forward to it.

I had another interesting siting the other day, a rare Purple Finch. These have become pretty rare up here because they've apparently been driven out by the more common House Finch. Another reason to hate House Finches! They sit at my window feeders and eat right there, dumping the seed shells back into it, so that it winds up being filled with shells and the other visitors can't find seeds.

I've also now got tons of Cowbirds :mad: which I understand to be parasitic on other birds and I've read that most people try to scare them off the feeders, so again, I find myself a crazy person, running into the yard waving my arms!

Bob

[Gilgamesh37]

Bob, clearly you live at Woodpecker Central! Flickers often work the lawn looking for grubs; ours is also very fond of powdered sugar doughnuts. :p

We had golden-crowned kinglets at the weekend--we usually get them for 1-2 days in the spring as they eat all the spruce bud grubs they can find. They're tiny and flittery (not my photograph):

http://www.mybirdpictures.com/photos/pictures/pict5.jpeg

Also, we went down to the walking paths at the local water company property and were happily surprised to find 22 white pelicans floating on the river!

[Joanie B]

WE HAVE BABY BLUEBIRDS!! I saw Dad bringing in breakfast this AM, and just noticed Mom w/a big ole juicy something hanging from her beak. I knew the Missus was sitting a lot. The goldfinches and cardinals got all excited Tuesday, I thought it was a baby shower, but it must have been the birthings! They're in the box near the front deck, I lowered the glass on the storm door but didn't hear any peeps tonite when Mom went in w/the snack. They're not generating any diapers (poop pouches) that I've seen come out yet either (BIRD GEEK! Looking for poop sacks :rolleyes: ) Now if we can get that wretched male house sparrow that started swiping the box today before he kills mom/babies--DH has orders to shoot to kill if he can get to the shootin' iron if he hears/sees that evil sparrow! (perk of country living, shooting pests).

I also saw a male rufous sided towhee at the sunflower feeder droppings tonite, I just love those birds, such a stunning color combo. Only one so far....but I never see more than one or 2.

Bob, when you go hummer feeder shopping, get ones w/perches, please, it'll amaze you how much the wee ones sit on a feeder! You don't need to go for capacity of container, if you don't have a lot of hummers to suck the hummer juice down, it's a waste of sugar cause it gets skanky and fermented and you don't want them to drink that sludge. I usually use 1/2 c. or less in most of my feeders, and when the summer heat really cranks up, I change them every other day (try that w/12-15 feeders before work!), empty or not. You'll want to spread your feeders around your yard or deck, out of sight of each other if you can, so when the little male kamikazies guarding a feeder jet off to battle at another, the females can have time to grab a quick gulp!

[cniles]

Bob - how COOl you have a Piliated woodpecker so near!!! Very jealous. And again those chickadees are my favorite! :D

We have a bluebird box in our back however tree sparrows have taken it over - I don't mind them - they have a pretty throaty twill but I'd love to have the bluebirds. Enjoy them Joanie! :)

What is really cool is our red tail hawk who hangs out in the field in our back. We've seen him perching on our neighbor's purple martin house scoping out prey - I don't think the purple martin's will be coming around this year!! :o

[Gumbeaux]

I bought three small hummingbird feeders from Walmart today for only 97¢ each.

My intention is to have more feeders because the hummingbirds in my area are very territorial and chase each other from the feeder. Also, because these are so inexpensive, I can put one in front of each window.

I use a water bottle with a sport cap to fill/refill the feeders. This works well and only takes less than a minute to fill each feeder.

The picture below includes a parmesan cheese container next to the feeder so that you can see the relative size of the feeder.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/bayoutitan/Second%20Album/Feeder1.jpg

[kim21]

Hi Birding Friends, I've not spied a hummingbird yet, but there are neat little nests with eggs in the bluebird boxes! I am passionate about these little bluebirds, and like you, Joanie, I have no tolerance for sparrows in the bluebird boxes. None at all. Although not one to "shoot to kill," I promptly evict them and their messy little nests. They have plenty of other places to live...harsh, but true. There is a bluebird box with a thin, elongated slat for an opening, vesus the small hole. Has anyone used this type of box? I've asked DH to build one or two for me to experiment with. Supposedly, the bluebirds will go in and nest, and the pesty, little, killer sparrows will not...

I've been planting coral bells in clusters and the hummingbirds really love these. I had trouble keeping up with the feeders/solution and so, have decided to do a little planting and let mother nature do her thing.

Bob, I had a flicker couple visiting the suet feeder all winter long. He is a real beauty and she is about the same size, without the vivid colors. We've lived in this house for close to 20 years and I've never seen one before.

Happy birding, Kim

[schuh]

We have woods behind our house. They are very well-traveled with hikers and people with dogs. Yesterday I was walking my dog and saw a guy looking up into the sky. Nosy that I am, I asked him what he was watching and he pointed out a woodpecker nest in a dead tree, with a beak occasionally poking out. It's the first time I've seen woodpeckers in our woods. After a few minutes, this huge red-crested woodpecker flew over us. We watched for awhile and saw two adults and two babies. I went home and looked it up, and sure enough it was a family of pileated woodpeckers.

So I grab my camera and walk back to where I saw them. (It's not hard to find them -- they are loud and distinctinctive sounding.) I watch and watch -- they are amazing creatures -- they look like they came straight from the dinosaur era. Eventually the two adults and two babies were sitting on a branch almost directly above me. A vibrant blue sky was behind them. I find them in the camera's viewfinder, and just as I squeeze the trigger, the BATTERY OUT SIGNAL FLASHES ON MY CAMERA AND IT SHUT OFF!!!! :eek:

Lesson #1: When you're trying to take cool nature photography, bring extra batteries.

Bob, I think your photo was great. I'd love to have one of those big guys show up at my bird feeder!

By the way, if any of you are ever in the Rochester area, there's an awesome park/trail nearby. It's called the Birdsong Trail and it's at Mendon Ponds Park. If you bring sunflower seeds, hold your hand out and are really quiet, you will actually have chickadees and nuthatches land on your hand, grab a seed and fly away. It's incredible.

[SandyM]

Hi Kim,

I was just in WNY this past weekend and talked with my cousin about the bluebird situation. She has them nesting in their houses too, and I told her my SIL was having issues with sparrows evicting them. She told me if you put another house up, it helps. One for sparrows, one for bluebirds. I'm not fond of housing sparrows myself, but if it saves the bluebirds, I'm all for it. :)

[Gilgamesh37]

At our local bird store they have bluebird houses that are open with a wire mesh at the top. They claim that the bluebirds don't mind the open top (allowing in rain) but that it discourages sparrows, wrens and other birds from nesting in the boxes.

I have no idea if it truly works, but I found it intriguing.

[cniles]

Hmmmm interesting - I may have to take a look at these new bluebird boxes. We definately have them in our area but the sparrows are more aggressive. Thanks guys!! :)

[kim21]

Sandy, I've got the multihouse method going on. There are bluebirds nesting in two, swallows in another, and a messy, pesty sparrow nest in the third (I pull it out and they build another :(

One of the mother bluebirds is a really soft grey and the eggs are white rather than blue. She is watching over the box.

Tracy, I have not been to the birdsong trail in years (back to the Girl Scout leader days...). It is wonderful and I will have to remember to take my nieces there this summer. Thanks for the reminder.

I've not seen the meshed bluebird boxes. I'll have to look for them. I wonder how these work...I worry about hypothermia in the little tykes...OK, I'm a bit over the top as a blue bird landlord... ;)

Best, Kim

[Gumbeaux]

I went to a bluebird site and found this (http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/catalog/trap.htm) thing is supposed to keep sparrows out of bird houses.