I was explaining to a coworker today why I stop feeding the birds in our yard during the late spring into the fall.
You keep feeding the birds and they will focus on your offerings more than what they should normally be eating.

Our birds do a nice job with weeds and bugs, and it helps when you don't want to use conventional bug sprays.

With the variety of birds that visit our yard/neighborhood, most insects take their life into their hands if they cross our "no-fly" zones.

Now if I could only keep the squirrels out of our yard, I'd be content....

no Blue Jays at all since B-4 winter in my back yard Wareham ,ma

I got finches all over the backyard today. I don't know why they suddenly are back there. I don't put out seed and while that area is thriving with wildlife , its seldom finches. Today they are all over. Mostly they are down in the grass , so small you often lose them as they go in and out of longer clumps.

Fun to watch the animals! :)
In my backyard, we have a couple thistle plants that look like they've gone to seed. This heat is when a lot of the weeds seem to drop their seeds.

yeah,
i have a huge bush of catnip growing thats gone to seed
little tiny black ones the size of poppy seeds
and they seem to love that stuff....
i'm trying to harvest it tho, so since i bought expensive
finch mix at the feed store...i shoo them away often

I never realized our territorial humming birds are.
they fight each other off for the feeder and hog it.
I don't know what kind these are but the males are cool looking.

Eastern Goldfinch in my yard eating the flower seeds.

Turkey Vulture that was by my car at work.

he must be waiting for the meat raffle info from you .:uhuh:

I never realized our territorial humming birds are.
they fight each other off for the feeder and hog it.
I don't know what kind these are but the males are cool looking.

usually ruby throats

i sometimes sit in the back yard and this ruby throated humming
bird is doing LAPS around the house at mach1
to keep any intruders from pilfering his stash.

when i sit in the front, the hummbird comes down to me and hovers
right in front of my face doing facial recognition i suppose
and stays there for a full 30 seconds before jetting back to his spot
almost as if to say.... thanks.

he must be waiting for the meat raffle info from you .:uhuh:

He was eying me up like I was the prize from a meat raffle. lol

I came into work the other day and this hawk was sitting on our smokestack screeching.

Lots of hawks near me now. Route 295 has become their buffet now. Some days there are half a dozen patroling a 3 mile stretch from Lincoln to Attleboro.

Close up of the young hawk at my office.

Must have 1000's of starlings in the trees surrounding the house! Send over the hawks.
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they're not native to this country

that there were only two....yep just 2 here in 1954

until some dumb as dirt biologists let them escape

in Texas: flocks are so big they block out the stars

Rather than deadhead my coneflowers, I let them go to seed, because goldfinches definitely enjoy the seeds.

I was trimming shrubs early yesterday morning. Birds were singing, then the
Blue Jays started sqwaking and it became dead quiet.
I looked up and there were between 35-40 Hawks migrating south, high up on the thermals, just circiling in 100yd circles without moving their wings just riding the NW wind. Too far up to identify them, but one of the coolest things I've seen.
Nature is unbelievable.It was quiet for a long time afterwards.

very interesting

i didn't know hawks mass migrated

i've seen turkey vultures in large groups but
never hawks.... hmmmm

I had never seen it before either Rav, but there they were just
like I said. Wished I could of identified them, but they were way
up there. They looked to be about Redtailed size.
No they were not turkey buzzards for sure. :doh:

A couplke of years back we had a massive crow roosting migration pass by our house. the trees were bare, except for the hundreds and hundreds of crows perched in them.
They would pass in waves, cawing loudly as each wave passsed.
There were probably well over a thousand in all.

Reminded me of the movie "The Birds".

The crows still pass by our house as part of thier seasonal migration, but nothing like that one time.

Whatever migratory bird that flys in groups has to start the journrey
somewhere. I wonder where they all meet to start the flight or do they
just pick up hitchhikers a few at a time?

I looked up some info on Hawk Migration and it is not uncommon
to see what they call a "Kettle", which is a group of Hawks migrating by
circiling tightly on an air thermal.
Some types of Hawks migrate as far South as Peru.

Found out some more info from a guy who counts migrating Hawks.
He told me these Kettles can be as large as 100 to 1000 Hawks. He said
there hasn't been enough Nortwest winds yet to push down the broad wing
migrators in really large numbers , but they will come,followed by the
smaller Kestrel hawks etc. and lastly the Golden and Bald Eagles.

I found 4 Hawk Watch areas and hope to take my Grandsons to see them
the next time we get a nice clear NW wind day.

a Kettle of hawks
a murder of crows

everything else is just friggan flocks :huh:

a Kettle of hawks
a murder of crows

everything else is just friggan flocks :huh:

And a gaggle of geese

Great Horned Owl. I saw this at a outdoor expo.

Found out some more info from a guy who counts migrating Hawks.
He told me these Kettles can be as large as 100 to 1000 Hawks. He said
there hasn't been enough Nortwest winds yet to push down the broad wing
migrators in really large numbers , but they will come,followed by the
smaller Kestrel hawks etc. and lastly the Golden and Bald Eagles.

I found 4 Hawk Watch areas and hope to take my Grandsons to see them
the next time we get a nice clear NW wind day.


Great source of info and place to watch, hawk mt PA:

Hawk Mountain Raptor Count | Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Raptor Conservation, Education, Observation & Research (http://www.hawkmountain.org/science/hawk-mountain-raptorcount/hawk-count~default.aspx?id=518)

Great source of info and place to watch, hawk mt PA:

Hawk Mountain Raptor Count | Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Raptor Conservation, Education, Observation & Research (http://www.hawkmountain.org/science/hawk-mountain-raptorcount/hawk-count~default.aspx?id=518)

that's my old hood. It was also was a great place to do teenager-type things :devil2:

And a gaggle of geese

ya got me!

now ya notice the color of that great horned owl's eyes _RED

maybe that's why the unknown creatures have those
to see better in the NIGHT to eat you

Put out seed in a feeder today first time since May, already had 6 species visit in the first 4 hrs. Are they trying to tell us something about upcoming winter weather. Yes, junkos too.
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Front of the house was covered with Winter moths this morning.We open up the door so the sun can come in and the storm was covered with moths.My first thought was: "kind of crazy no birds eat these things".About 20 seconds later I see a Wren fly up to the door and grab a moth.Ended up being a pair and this happened several times until the dogs barked!

Tried to take several pics but those buggers were fast.

Put out seed in a feeder today first time since May, already had 6 species visit in the first 4 hrs. Are they trying to tell us something about upcoming winter weather. Yes, junkos too.
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Are they saying I will have to spend 2 grand on gas to go ice fishing this year again?:smash: Hope not.

in Jan maybe not, Dec. probably

Spotted a flock (maybe 12 birds) that I could only identify as white-winged crossbills. However, Peterson's indicates a range much further north than Cape Cod. They were picking at something in my shell driveway. We have a lot of pines and it has rained recently so thought that they may be getting pine seed. They were too small to be Pine Grosbeaks and the markings didn't quite match.

The best match was for the attached picture so I'm going with white-winged crossbill until someone proves that's not possible :)

Highly likely. Reading the Boston Globe there is a weekly article on birds seen, I think I read the cross bills are here for winter foraging this year.

because snow-ageddon is coming

Paul, that's awesome! I'll keep my eye out for them.

When working in the yard I've noticed the steady stream of pine seeds floating down, can't remember it being like this before.

I noticed this thread had reached 27 pages and came in expecting that Crafty Angler had steered it off course with discussion about watching "red-breasted warblers" and "long-legged bed thrashers" from his deck off Thames Street.

But it appears to really be about bird watching.

Actual bird related content. Had a red-tail tearing a squirrel to pieces in the back yard this AM. No way to get a good shot of it but it was quite the show. Happens about once a month and always provides some entertainment.

And on that note:

Golden Eagle Snatches Kid - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE0Q904gtMI)

WOW that was amazing! Lucky kid.

WOW that was amazing! Lucky kid.

Tough to say if it's real or a very good fake and the Internet is pretty excited about the video right now, but then again, they are capable predators.

golden-eagle-drags-goats-off-cliff - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VklTs-Tid_I)

I usually spin the trap around in circles a bunch of times before I release
them to confuse their direction. :hihi:

:rotflmao: they navigate by sound(s)
"remembered" such as firetrucks ,church bells,
flowing water, and sounds of the spectrum unknown to us.

Birds in Mass can hear the sound of Niagara falls (long range)
similarly to elephants-> low pitch vibration

Don't forget to say Merry Christmas to the Birds

it's gonna be 17 degree's christmas morning -> well (here)

$2.00 of white Beef suet from the big meat market's goes a long way!

i have two pair of Blue Birds as steady customer's along with
BIG RED (a red bellied woopecker) plentiful Downies,nutty's and tit mice
all coming over to wolf down suet....
the nuthatches fly off with chunks to place in their secret stash tree
where they jam it up under neath bark for leaner days....

Had some and took some pics.

Some more.

Still more.

One more,the wall and Simon.The wall shot was an accident but what the hell.(That paper IS on its way out)

Bluebird on my Christmas tree

reminder:
SUET IS WHAT BIRDS REALLY want right now
that and melted water (a scarce item at below freezing)

the regular store bought suet cakes SUCK right now!
because in these temps they freeze solid as a rock and only
the strongest HAMMER HEAD birds in the woodpecker family can
bust some loose....

BUT, the regular MEAT section beef suet sliced like your carving a turkey -->
then fine chopped into 1/4 inch cubes is PERFECT

Seeing a blue bird swallow those...
the equivalent of a slider hamburger to us....
..... makes it OBVIOUS they are surviving and thriving
given the right food at below freezing temperatures. :uhuh:



Happy new year :wave:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/BlueBird.jpg

Not exactly backyard but I did see a Bald Eagle at Whitman's Pond in Weymouth today. Driving past the boat ramp on Middle St. glanced out and thought I saw something -black and white- in a tree on the opposite shore. Got my glasses and that's what it was. Watched for about 30 minuites after calling my brother to see if he had a camera with telephoto lens. He took a couple of pics but thought it was too far away to come out clearly. It was still there when we left.

Raven: what are Bluebirds doing in NE during Winter, should have headed south?

I have had a good size flock of them one late winter drinking the melting snow off my roof. Had to be 30 of them. I got some pics somewhere. The milder weather some years will keep some species from not being in a rush to get out of here. Heck robins are pretty much here at least in coastal locations year round nowadays.

after watching them very intently just outside my window
for the last month as they eat fat.(very much like a Mad Scientist)
because i use one way glass....SEE

i am only one yard away and i can get 1 foot away if desired
i am sure without checking that they are related to the Robin

both have dainty style beaks and similar brown buff on sides
and their eye is circled in white...

If i was asked to officially rename them i would call them
BLUE Robins

but they're everywhere.... huge flocks
IMHO : Spring is coming early
my celery is already Growing even

:rotflmao: they navigate by sound(s)
"remembered" such as firetrucks ,church bells,
flowing water, and sounds of the spectrum unknown to us.

Birds in Mass can hear the sound of Niagara falls (long range)
similarly to elephants-> low pitch vibration

Didn't know that, Rav. I guess duct tape over the ears would help.

The Fischer Cat took care of my squirrel problem this year.
Only one left, and he's too busy looking over his shoulder to eat. :hihi:

it was truly AMAZING...
watching the birds eat
at my new bird station as
the NEMO blizzard was winding down

there were about ten birds eating at different
spots and then a huge gust of wind
would send them sideways with no
opportunity to flap their wings
ending in a total WHITE out

Had a sleeper this morning. A female downy was clinging on the suet
feeder with her head back and eyes closed motionless.
At first I thought she froze to death there, but didn't want to wake her
by knocking on the window in case she was sleeping.
Watched her for a few minutes and she looked dead as a door nail.
So i knocked lightly on the window. She woke up opened her eyes,
shook her head back and forth and looked around in no hurry to fly off.

LOL,must of been sleeping it off after a buzz last night.

i saw one do that on the bark of a tree
and literally Vanish as the coloration
on their back perfectly resembles bark

kinda Funny here...i mounted this wicked curvy
piece of manzanita wood from the Cali woods
outside on the window sill feeder as a L.Z. (landing zone)

and they love being UNDER the ARCH because they feel
protected from hawks and other marauders....
(always scanning the skies)

Ya Rav, they look dead as a door nail. :hihi:
Great idea on the overhead protection.

for those of you that enjoy building Bird houses otherwise known as Nest boxes......

I have found a Certain trick that encourages birds to take up residency

and that is to create a U shaped bottom with a thinner material
by either back cutting it if using wood ...so it will bend.....

or selecting a material that will bend on it's own...

some moisture getting in is desirable from the parent birds perspective
because the eggs need a bit of moisture to develop...

Ya mean like scoring a piece of plyscore?
I've found they also like cuts on the inside front of the house that
makes it easier for the little ones to get up and out when the time comes.

Where can I find out how to make certain houses for certain species, I work with seniors, and want to put them outside their windows. I probably want to make feeders too. ---Thanks

Birdhouses and Woodworking Birdhouse Plans For Over 70 North American Species (http://www.50birds.com/d50bh.htm)
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bird houses plans - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=bird+houses+plans&hl=en&client=safari&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=HfkoUffqBPKw0AHZ94DgDw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=768&bih=928)
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heads up on seed

JOB Lot
reduced their 50 LB bag of black oil sunflower seed to $27.99

was at Lowe's grabbin a few things.... there
bought a Big Bag of DRIED Mealworms
and the titmice and blue birds gobble them up
so now i have 4 different types suet plus mealworms..
the B'B's are hooked "hook line and sinker"

I was just checking out Duncraft for stuff
and i have to say they are the biggest rip off
that i have EVER seen in my life for SUET cakes
charging $12.95 for a single suet cake AND UP ^
Holy Crap ....
made my eyes almost leave their sockets.

That's rediculus, but there are some yuppies who will pay the price, and
anyhow , how am i going to get rid of my deer. :huh:

deer hate fishing line or string fences which you string up

on an angle / so the fence is 8 feet wide then they cannot
simply jump up and over as they do with livestock barbed wire....

they end up STUCK in the middle
and entangled in the lines and then it increases
their fear .... making them never wanting to return...

similar to how things Horses cannot see around their back legs and rear
send them into a panic.....

was at Lowe's grabbin a few things.... there
bought a Big Bag of DRIED Mealworms
and the titmice and blue birds gobble them up
so now i have 4 different types suet plus mealworms..
the B'B's are hooked "hook line and sinker"
Bluebirds... now that's one species I just cannot seem to get to come by regularly. In two years at our old place, I only ever saw one. Now that we have a house, I have a bit more flexibility. Hoping to get some this spring.

Get your boxes out early as they come up a lot earlier than most think, and keep cleaning them out when sparrows and other crap birds invade them. Once you know their call you will be able to spot them a lot easier. The males will check out the boxes and then he will hope to lure in a female. Also after they leave after the first brood get the box clean as you will sometimes get 2 in a year. They like open space and room in front of the box so don't hide it in the trees, perfect for the open front yard. Pretty much my favorite bird to watch once you get some renters. Good luck
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Bluebirds... now that's one species I just cannot seem to get to come by regularly. In two years at our old place, I only ever saw one. Now that we have a house, I have a bit more flexibility. Hoping to get some this spring.

NO need to WAIT til SPRING....
as the bluebirds are already here
they don't come alone or individually usually... they travel as a group.. (flock)
and send out scouts... then they all arrive at once when they find
a source of food they are looking for... mainly a FAT supply
~
suet comes in many grades i've found and some is pure white and
smooth, that is sold differently as it's a cut above the rest ...not all chunky
and broken up.... this stuff looks like half a turkey breast you just sliced whole off a fresh baked turkey right
out of the oven and it's all ONE piece. it's then shrink wrapped and people use it to make Pudding ...the meat guy said.

once you find it.... you may have to search a few stop and shops
and don't forget to ask the butcher(s)

slice it thin then cut it the opposite way , then diagonally until you have mini pieces that they can WOLF down

they are attracted to the commotion or TRAFFIC
of a good bird feeding operation...
watching the (BIG red i call them) woodpeckers
those being the red bellied... and follow their lead.

Get your boxes out early as they come up a lot earlier than most think, and keep cleaning them out when sparrows and other crap birds invade them. Once you know their call you will be able to spot them a lot easier. The males will check out the boxes and then he will hope to lure in a female. Also after they leave after the first brood get the box clean as you will sometimes get 2 in a year. They like open space and room in front of the box so don't hide it in the trees, perfect for the open front yard. Pretty much my favorite bird to watch once you get some renters. Good luck
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile deviceThanks for the heads up. Looks like I need to get building on some houses then. At our old place, I'd pick of the rare House Sparrow when possible but barely able to take a bite out of that elephant. I'll be able to take a more aggressive approach on the HOSP this year - I hate those invasive little bastards. I've read that they are allegedly the #1 reason why the bluebird populations have been decimated.

suet comes in many grades i've found and some is pure white and
smooth, that is sold differently as it's a cut above the rest ...not all chunky
and broken up.... this stuff looks like half a turkey breast you just sliced whole off a fresh baked turkey right
out of the oven and it's all ONE piece. it's then shrink wrapped and people use it to make Pudding ...the meat guy said.

once you find it.... you may have to search a few stop and shops
and don't forget to ask the butcher(s)

slice it thin then cut it the opposite way , then diagonally until you have mini pieces that they can WOLF down
they are attracted to the commotion or TRAFFIC
of a good bird feeding operation...
watching the (BIG red i call them) woodpeckers
those being the red bellied... and follow their lead.
Thanks for the advice Raven. I'll have to check the Meat House or something and then rig up something to hold the suet.

We get a decent amount of traffic at the feeders. Downy woodpeckers throughout the day and the usual suspects - Thrushes, both nuthatches, titmice, goldfinch, chickadees and cardinals.

i just sliced up another 2.32 cents worth of a FAT product i look for called RUMBA which i found they prefer to all others....

less than a minute later Bluebirds were stuffing their blue bird bellies

which will get them through the wet and nasty sloppy weather expected tomorrow.

but the biggest hit has always been the peanut butter suet
and when it gets rock hard from below freezing temps
i bring it inside and grate it on the big hole side of the
cheese and or carrot shredder making it easier for them

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/Birds/Common%20Grackle/Commongrackle01.jpg
Saw (and heard) a Common Grackle outside my window this am - since robins now winter over - this is my "new" sure sign of spring.
written by Joe on 4 -6-2006

I had twenty grackles yesterday 3/10/2012 (month early) show up at my FAT feeder operation...

RED WING BLACKBIRD

Had a big a$$ Osprey pick up a good sized branch in my yard today

During this storm and the last one I've had a massive flock of red winged blackbirds take over the feeders. Probably two dozen of them. They only come on the snotty, snowy days.

Now I am watching this dumb squirrel stuff his face with my sunflower seeds. Completely fearless.

Tons of red wing blackbirds last week. Did see another bald eagle on Sunday at Lake Assawopsett perched in a tree.
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Saw and heard the first osprey of the year in sandwich today!
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During this storm and the last one I've had a massive flock of red winged blackbirds take over the feeders. Probably two dozen of them. They only come on the snotty, snowy days.

Now I am watching this dumb squirrel stuff his face with my sunflower seeds. Completely fearless.
Same here except the weather was pretty decent. Easily had 50-60 red-winged blackbirds in the big oak tree outside my window. Boy can they get loud.

Probably try my first attempt at making suet cakes this week. Really hoping to get some different species.

just taken - the perch is designed for photography

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/maleandfemalebb.jpg

If so, then why isn't he smiling???:rotf2:

Raven, that picture makes me quite jealous.

The wife and I made a trip up to Ipswich, walked around the Castle Hill and at the end of our walk we saw this owl sitting up in a tree completely camouflaged. At the time we first saw it, there was a tree directly behind it and all I could make out was the eyes.

Is this a rare owl? Just curious...

Barred Owl, common

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/videos

one thing i can tell you
as a former parrot owner...
is birds have "learned" how to sit
so still that it makes them
virtually disappear... especially owls.

front yard bird watching --->

strangest hawk related thing i've ever seen ~ just now
a coopers hawk running around the front lawn
like it was an oversized robin looking for something
not finding it in several circles or zig zags it went over to
the neighbors lawn to look there... eating worms???

Towhee chestnut sided I callem
Catbird
always a friendlY bird
and the RBGB's are back too

Had a nice nest of Carolina Wrens under the deck.

Operative word is had.

Can't wait to find our cat.
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believe it or not.... unless there's a pile of feathers
the babies were eaten by a snake,,,

seen it many times with nests made too LOW

I could see that, this nest had easy access for a serpent.

But I found a baby in the driveway that was dropped. Not sure if it was from the same nest but the age was right...

I could see that, this nest had easy access for a serpent.

But I found a baby in the driveway that was dropped. Not sure if it was from the same nest but the age was right...

Likely too early for bird eating serpents....

Likely too early for bird eating serpents....
I've already caught snakes in the yard this year, although I've never seen one big enough to raid a nest.

More carnage found by the basement door. Evidence toward the cat is getting stronger.

-spence

Garter snakes don't count!
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Garter snakes don't count!
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My wife spotted something 3+ feet at a pond this week...they're out and about.

-spence

Have'm in the yard but since they eat slugs i leave'm be

at a different residence they ate a nest of mockingbirds
in a low bush...pissed me off...

they make a nest like a hanging bag, different. I'll try to get some pic's

I love seeing and hearing the orioles when they arrive.
When they are fighting off rival males they will fly through tree branches with wreckless abandon, and chirping loudly in their distinctive trill.

As for garter snakes eating birds, when they get large enough, they will eat wahetever they can fit in their mouths. They have been known to eat vole and shrews, so small birds particularly newly hatched ones, would be right up on their menu.

Fortunately the snakes are much more beneficial than harmful to our backyard environment.

So, two weeks ago I noticed that an Eastern Phoebe had built her nest
on the top edge of my shed door (about an inch wide). On a whim, I tacked a small box next to the door and moved the nest. I reformed it the best I could and within an hour she was back working on it.
Yesterday I reach up and snap a pic to see inside the nest and saw 5 eggs....but 2 are different.
Apparently the 2 speckled eggs are brown headed cowbird eggs. (they hatch first and get all/most of the food).
My first inclination was to take them out but after reading more, some say that the cowbird will come and destroy the nest if the host bird (or anyone) removes its eggs.
Anyone know if there is any truth to this?

stupid cowbird eggs..

they lay eggs in 200 specie's nests
and it's a leavem and forgettem process
so if it were me, i'd remove the C-B eggs and tossem

Welcomed them back with 3 batches made and 6 feeders HUNG !

had one there enjoying it in 5 minutes.....

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
now i'm real mad

it only took the Big black carpenter ants 1.5 days to find the humming bird set up
and i had to remove them all until i re suspend them usin 20lb mono (again) to
foil their raiding party because they cannot walk down it! basturds

Sure you can hate the ants, but you have to admire their intelligence being able to find food in so many unusual places. Now if the ant eating birds would do their part, you might not have a problem anymore.

I know how frustrating it is to set up your feeder(s) and find that the ants have spoiled the food and feeder even before the birds have found it.

they lay eggs in 200 specie's nests
and it's a leavem and forgettem process
so if it were me, i'd remove the C-B eggs and tossem

Although they have a place in nature, they have been doing a number on many songbirds up and down the east coast. They will lay their eggs in another birds nest, their eggs hatch first and the first thing they do after hatching is push out all other eggs/chicks so that they are the only survivor. They have played havoc with the bluebird population.

They had a nature special on PBS a few years ago about songbirds and their decline in the wild. Pretty interesting.

Sure you can hate the ants, but you have to admire their intelligence being able to find food in so many unusual places. Now if the ant eating birds would do their part, you might not have a problem anymore.

I know how frustrating it is to set up your feeder(s) and find that the ants have spoiled the food and feeder even before the birds have found it.
~
Bluejays use carpenter ant oil to add oil to their feathers so it's more water repellent....
-what's even more frustrating is that the two hummingbirds left my Yard the very next day...

i'm guessing they were just passing thru.

Although they have a place in nature, they have been doing a number on many songbirds up and down the east coast. They will lay their eggs in another birds nest, their eggs hatch firstm and tghe first thing they do after hatching is push out all other eggs/chicks so that they are the only survivor. They have played havoc with the bluebird population.

They had a nature special on PBS a few years ago about songbirds and their decline in the wild. Pretty interesting.

One of the PBS guys is the one that said if you remove their eggs, they destroy. still havent taken them out, but want to.

The crows are raiding the nests here and the Blue Jays are after
them in full force.

Ants are amazing. The carpenter ants will move the sawdust 30 feet
away from the nest at night, not to be detected. You can Back track the army
from the saw dust as they march back and forth to the nest with a flashlight
at night.
Can't believe how strong ants are.

One of the PBS guys is the one that said if you remove their eggs, they destroy. still havent taken them out, but want to.
THEN PERFORATE THEM

I'd remove the eggs, and if the cowbird desides to destroy the nest, the results are the same except there will be 2 less cowbirds.

Personally, I doubt that the cowbird which has already abandoned the egg and doesn't do any of the feeding, would be watching the nest to make sure her eggs hatch.
If it were true, it would be really strange.

having raised cockatiels i can tell you they lay lots of eggs

Saw the first of those orange/red cardinals I get in my backyard. They have a distinct orange tint to them , not the pure red cardinal color. He was standing on the ground and kept hopping up a foot picking what I guess were bugs off a very short bush above him.

Love the colored birds. they seem to go with the bright spring colored flowers.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2013/07/15/tsr-moos-pkg-raven-plucked.cnn.html

late at night a high pitched whistle

that went up in scale ....ending in a quick zippy ending

the only way i can describe it....

sounded like a kids whistle or blowing into an acorn top...

i'm thinking some sort of OWL .....but have no idea....

which one it could be :huh:

Although they have a place in nature, they have been doing a number on many songbirds up and down the east coast. They will lay their eggs in another birds nest, their eggs hatch firstm and tghe first thing they do after hatching is push out all other eggs/chicks so that they are the only survivor.

Sounds like the earliest blue print for bird socialism. The Blue Birds do all the work building
the nest for their own and the Cow Birds reap all the benefits. :D

I removed the speckled eggs from a second phoebe nest in my yard....
4 white (phoebe) eggs hatched and grew, 0 cow birds.

I was out fishing the Charles upstream from the Dedham Mall. I was fishing the weed line along a small cove just past the first bridge you would come to heading up river and I noticed what I thought was a bird in distress on the opposite shore.

turned out to be a turkey vulture trying to find a way to make a meal out of a huge dead snapping turtle on the shore. This was the first time I've seen one of these large birds, and it was an awesome sight.

Oh, and I did manage to catch a few good size bass and pickerel as well!

late at night a high pitched whistle

that went up in scale ....ending in a quick zippy ending

the only way i can describe it....

sounded like a kids whistle or blowing into an acorn top...

i'm thinking some sort of OWL .....but have no idea....

which one it could be :huh:

Could have been a whipoorwill.

on the opposite shore.

turned out to be a turkey vulture trying to find a way to make a meal out of a huge dead snapping turtle on the shore.

Oh, and I did manage to catch a few good size bass and pickerel as well!

when i was growing up there was a story of how a couple went to have a picnic (beside the Charles river)
and spread a blanket to lay the baby down then walked back to get the basket and beverages....

as they turned around to walk right back a huge snapper was observed dragging the baby into the river never to be seen again...
afterwards...
the Police used huge hooks baited with chickens and cable i guess and hauled out a large number of huge snappers
then shot them with shotguns to check stomach contents for baby parts.

i think you were lucky to be on that side of the river

Could have been a whipoorwill.

i checked all whipoorill sounds and found no match....


that was a good guess however...

Great site for counds, here's owls: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse_tax/55/


How close the the E Screech come to what you hear?

Great site for sounds, here's owls: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse_tax/55/


How close the the E Screech come to what you hear?

yeah a great site

was freakin the wife out with those calls-lol

sounded more like a barn owl shreak actually ....
but more of a whistle sound to it... very zippy.... kinda
it was so weird it woke me out of a sound sleep

Maybe it was the North-Eastern Chubacabra? :biglaugh:

You might check to see what nocturnal birds are resident to your area and do a search based on those results.

Here's a quick result to my search:

Is something (or someone) keeping you awake these summer nights?

Many questions come to eNature about night birds calling and other weird and incessant noises in the dark. It seems that there’s a lot of activity taking place when most of us expect our birds to be resting.

What’s going on? And who’s making all that noise in the dark?

Depending on the kinds of calls, and the location in North America, they could be any of at least four bird species.

Whip-poor-wills and their relatives are famous for calling their names, over and over again, sometime into the thousands of times without stopping. Unless you like to fall to sleep to the call of the whip-poor-will, it can become annoying.

Northern Mockingbirds are well known night callers, especially if there is a full moon. Enthusiastic mockingbirds can stay up ALL night, mimicking every bird song in the book as well as other sounds such bells, whistles, and sirens. These are birds that can try the patience of the most committed bird-lover!

If the call is coming from a wetland, it is probably one of the two night-herons, the black-crowned or yellow-crowned. They make squawks and cackles, and sometimes scary noises that will wake the heaviest sleeper.

Owls make another kind of noise in the night, which can range from the hooting of great horned owls to the whinnyings of screech-owls.

All of these birds are protected by state and federal laws, and nothing can or should be done to disturb them, not matter how annoying they are. The best solution is to either enjoy them, or to put plugs in your ears.

after much thought...
i believe it was a death shriek of a fur bearing mammal
that was just caught by my always around well fed wild Bob Cat
or a bird of prey that got lucky ... as it was more like a scream

none of the Owl sounds have even came close....

I saw 7 small hawks in about 10 minutes time migrating at high speed and altitude yesterday with the clear blue skies.
They had to be flying 50 mph and after looking them up I identified them as
Peregrine Falcons.
They were flying east to west and I have a feeling they were migrating from NYC
as they have been making a comeback there for several years and like the high buildings. They say they can dive up to 150 mph. Unbelievable speed and a thrill to see.

Nat Geo had a program this morning on Goshawks and Peregrines.
The Goshawks have telescoping eyes that can see up to 5 miles and produce a circular air current from their wings when flying, similar to a helicopter to hold them up. They will spend up to an hour hunting a single prey.
Unbelievable.

to the south of me is some 200 foot tall pines
that are growing up on top of Rock mountain
the Hawk sits up there at the very top each afternoon to scope the
grassy valley below and to catch the last of the afternoon Sunshine
before the sun sets. Many mice and voles come out at dusk
and they'll descend to lower branches as the light fades.

ok so i go over to pick up my daughter at her friends house which is very close to Lake Assawopsett and as we are getting in the car about 5:30 yesterday a bald eagle glides over us about 50 feet over the car. I saw it coming about a 1/4 mile away as they are in an open area with few trees. I thought it was a large buzzard but when I saw the white head I knew it was a bald eagle. Friggin awesome, majestic, gigantic raptor. I know we a few nesting pairs in town and have for years and have seen them before in town sitting along lake in bare trees in early winter or early spring and also way way up in sky above the lake but never that close as it faded off into some large pines where I guess they have a nest according to my daughters friends mother.

That had to be a thrill to see one that close up, P.
About 5 years ago my wife and I put the canoe in at Poxono on the Delaware to fish at dusk.
As we came out of the cove, about 200 ft. away, a Bald Eagle swept down picked up a fish in his talons and slowly circled around upward along the side of the mountain and flew off. My wife caught the whole thing on tape. I haven't seen it for awhile and fear it was put in the attic, lost forever along with 1/2 the world stored up there. :)

I love those impromptu up-close and personal sightings that we get from time to time.
I had taken my younger brother down to Nickerson State Park a few years after our father's death and wanted to show him why we enjoyd heading there year after year for a weekend fishing trip.

We were fishing one of the smaller ponds in the park when I heard the trill of a resident osprey and had recently dispatched a sunfish (they are way too numerous in this pond) and had tossed it out as food for the local birds. As the bird caught sight of the floating sunfish, it made its diving approach. I told my brother to keep his eye on the floating fish, at which point the osprey swooped down, picked the fish off the water and flew back to its roost.....all within 15 feet of our jonboat.

I then turned to my brother and said "You won't see that in the city!"

Now when I kayak on the local rivers and ponds, all just outside the route 128 belt, I see that stuff with increased regularity.

Man, you can't beat the great outdoors!

Flock of Wild Turkeys visited this morning. They just meandered through the back yard after coming out of the woods. I had a tough time getting pictures but here's what I got.

More

Salty, I'd say "toss them some birdseed if you have any handy", but this time of year the males are in the "collecting hens" mode which makes them VERY aggressive towards other jakes/toms and any unfortunate person that tries to get too close.

They have spurs for a reason, and they know very well how to use them!

Now if this were spring, I would be more apt to feed them for a photo op. Actually, I have in the past. We have a family of turkeys that visit our cul-de-sac frequently during the year. Some of the adults were chicks from prior years that know our area as a "potential" feeding stop.
(I don't feed them all the time, so that they won't become to comfortable around people.)

I was able to get within 4-5 feet from the mother while the chicks hid behind her. When I withdrew they would come out and feed.
The funniest part was that the mother knew what I was doing from 50 feet away when I tossed sunflower seed on the lawn and she and the chicks made a b-line for them at full sprint.

But of course this was spring/summer and not during the fall.
You NEVER get involved with any animal when they are in the rut. It never end well. (unless you are legally hunting them, then all bets are off!)

I only got about 6 in the group picture but there were about 15 total. I wasn't going out there for a picture in that gang of brutes! :)

I tried to open the slider just a few inches so I could get some pictures not through the window glass but at that slight noise they bolted to the other side of the lawn , flocked up and headed back into the woods. Fun thing though. There were some just 2 feet the other side of the glass but on those pics the reflection back from the window was all I got.

Tim is Right
when i lived next to the state land
i could step outside and toss bird seed
and the flock of Turkeys would run towards me
to eat....like a flock of chickens

noticing what Dave JPI was seeing down south
in the land of milk and honey :)

not to many TIT mice this year ....sad to see

Plenty of Tit Mice here Rav, it's the lack of stripers. :(
I'm putting myself on suicide watch.

time to go fishin! time to go ...

BLUEBIRD TIME
this is the time of year to prepare for them!!!
and their arrival.... you probably think i'm nuts
but Nope when we get our first blowing snow storm
they show up out of NO where.....
they see the feeding birds and come investigate

if you have beef suet ready and waiting in your fridge
you can slice it like carving a turkey then cut it into cubes
they can swallow.... down the hatch... they go
and then they're hooked :point: hook line and sinker
one pair will attract several other Pairs....

block suet cakes kinda suck unless its above 40 degrees
as they harden into cement
but the while whole solid chunk beef suet that you buy
at the meat markets (when they have it) is what they really want

Yes Rav, that will work. :D


Anyone find a good price on grey striped sunflower seeds this year?

Yes Rav, that will work. :D


Anyone find a good price on grey striped sunflower seeds this year?

good price? ....dunno bout that...but the only place I've seen the gray or striped seeds has been at either wild bird-food places
or at feed stores. I think the price was $49.00 for 50 pounds.

I also stopped by at Loews and picked up a second Bluebird offering....that being freeze dried meal worms.
the Carolina wrens enjoy those too. found the Beef suet @ stop and shop meat section

just picked up my third 50 lb bag of black oil sunflower seed
and filled all the feeders up... each one holds 5 pounds volume
and set out a bunch of suet in various baskets mounted on the
posts ,,,and BIG RED (woodpecker) was out there Fueling up....
screwed a 24" section of old cedar gutter on the wooden structure
kind of like a football goal post in size but without the tall uprights
and placed some half cakes in it thinking bluebirds will show tomorrow
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/setup.jpg

Banner year for migrating birds - there are 7 reported snow owls on Plum Island - Parker River Reserve. One has taken residence fairly close to the PI Turnpike. They are trapping them at logan and trying to relocate them to the reserve. The one I was watching stands about 3 feet tall and is majestic. The rangers on the reserve are asking that people do not try and approach the birds. ( Cannot blame them, there is an army of birders with million dollar scopes looking for position).

A shame they were shooting them in NY airports but I guess the outrage got them to trap them. Never seen one in the wild. Must be cool

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/nyregion/snowy-owls-to-be-trapped-instead-of-shot-at-new-york-area-airports.html?_r=0

Found a great way to keep the squirrels off the feeders,crack open a pumpkin and put it under the feeder.They can't resist pumpkin for some reason,its long lasting but still temporary.Been looking at the Droll Yankee Flipper but spending a $100+ on a feeder ain't in the budget right now.

Finally got some pics of the Sharpie that's been coming by.Will post some when I transfer them from the camera.

Banner year for migrating birds - there are 7 reported snow owls on Plum Island - Parker River Reserve. One has taken residence fairly close to the PI Turnpike. They are trapping them at logan and trying to relocate them to the reserve. The one I was watching stands about 3 feet tall and is majestic. The rangers on the reserve are asking that people do not try and approach the birds. ( Cannot blame them, there is an army of birders with million dollar scopes looking for position).

i'd love to have one down in my neck of the woods
and that would be a hoot.

Here's the best pic of the Sharpie.

yellow on the beak is a good feature to look for

this is cool

eagle steels the camera

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2013/12/03/mxp-eagle-steals-camera-in-australia.hln.html

birds need suet to survive these temperatures
and not the store bought square cakes that cost $1.00
-1.49 each

I'm talking the cut off of a cow type found in your meat market
it sells for a dollar something...some people make bread pudding with it
but that stuff doesn't FREEZE hard as a BRICK
it stays soft even at single digit temperatures
IF your meat market doesn't carry it ask about it (see butcher)
called simply beef SUET.......
Stop and Shop usually has it for sale
then you thin slice it like you do a turkey
then cut it opposite way for real small pieces

Birds are starting to put the feed on, the coming of the storm

friggan zero degree's makes the suet like oak....

You got to be a committed woodpecker to hammer away on it

Been a crazy day at the feeders.Put out an extra cheap-o feeder but the squirrels had a field day with that thing.

i know what you mean
first year i was inundated with -em
there was at least 30, most had mange
and many had no tails or had hairless tails
looking more like a possum

nice to see a herd...i put a bunch of apples out for them

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/herd.jpg

Since I started this thread and am asking for a self imposed ban I would also ask you JohnR to please remove this thread also.

Let someone else who still is enthused about this site start another backyard birdwatching thread.

Did I miss something?

apparently...as did i... P

red wings are back

Naples FLA is my back yard this week. Osprey and Kingfishers taking fish from the pond right off the back deck. Egrets and Ibis too. No Storks so far though.

dead skunk on the road....

Naples FLA is my back yard this week. Osprey and Kingfishers taking fish from the pond right off the back deck. Egrets and Ibis too. No Storks so far though.

that's cool, Have a blast Bob and catch a fish for me while you are enjoying yourself in warming snowless weather

dead skunk on the road....

Live skunk walked across road last Wed!

Red tailed hawks aerial display today

that time of year when seeing them is so easy
5 visitors (one ran up the hill aways on the right)
the snow is finally shallow enough that they can walk around!
two Fawns in the group- nice to see.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/deer2.jpg

Ventured a bit out of the FLA "backyard" to Shark Valley in the Everglades. Highlight of the day is the Purple Gallinule if you get to spot one. Saw six this time!

Ding Darling on Sanibel, spotted two Golden Eagles. First time for those!

No deers, just gators out the wazzoo. Did see one bunch of new borns which is neat to see.

Back to the back yard......snow, no feed in the feeders, suit frozen like a brick covered with snow.....no birds....no gators