Backyard bird watching

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

Hummingbird feeding station. Got these small nectar holders at Lowes, each hold about 4oz each. Recently seeing activity at the feeder for the female ruby throated but haven't yet seen the male.

you don't need the red stuff - 4 part water 1 part white sugar.
it's best to have several seperated as they always seem to buzz each other, I never get more than 1 at a time at a feeder. Males are around I have them, you'll get them, Raven probably has some ideas too

[Raven]

well, when ya put them all in a row
the males plays aviator and chases off all rivals

put them on four corners of the house
and you feed more different birds

because the male can't be every where at once
and picks One (basically) as a favorite
that has the best perch up high in the tree.

[Raven]

I decided to build a walk in bird feeder
where i can be working on food production......
and be sitting there enjoying the show

i intend to have very small holes, 1" or so mesh
for wrens, chickadee's ...you know..
the little guys to get the "caviar" i call it
choice blend of seed just for the ultra tame ones

i have many, many Russian mammoths to be planted

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by striperman36

you don't need the red stuff - 4 part water 1 part white sugar.
it's best to have several seperated as they always seem to buzz each other, I never get more than 1 at a time at a feeder. Males are around I have them, you'll get them, Raven probably has some ideas too

+1.Red not needed.

Another great Summer attractant is a buttetfly tree and a thistle seed feeder.We get tons of birds including a Sharpie that likes to feed on those at the feeders!

[Raven]

thistle seed is the ultimate seed

except for one trait and that is it
clusters into hard globs and gets mildewy
after a huge rain storm.......... so now,
i use it differently and salt it in on occasion
instead by hand.... that or the finch seed.

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Raven

thistle seed is the ultimate seed

Agree Rav, but man that stuff is getting expensive.

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by striperman36

you don't need the red stuff - 4 part water 1 part white sugar.
it's best to have several seperated as they always seem to buzz each other, I never get more than 1 at a time at a feeder. Males are around I have them, you'll get them, Raven probably has some ideas too

I have a dead branch in a tree above my skylight . Almost every time I look out it at the branch there is a hummer sitting on it. They luv that perch. Just saw one a min. ago. Cute little buggar

[Slips'son]

you guys are really disgusting

[PRBuzz]

Black is also the dominant color for squirrels but you have to go to Wa DC to see them in significant numbers.

[PRBuzz]

Took the parent chickadees less than 2hrs to find a newly hung thistle feeder and show it to their offspring. I've let my naturally planted sunflowers grow in the feeder area so can't wait until they bloom and the goldfinches start to visit a fresh seed source.

[Raven]

my goldfinch population just doubled

as did the rose breasted grossbeaks that hatched out
but it appears that one pair has recently migrated elsewhere

the "no MELT" peanut butter suet has been a huge success
and the catbirds really love it....

plenty of cardinals still around....but i've backed off the bird feeding a bit
because of construction materials expenses ect.

[FishermanTim]

During the summer months I wean them back to what they should be eating: bugs
They will keep coming to the birdfeeders because free food is free food. If you fill them less often, it will force the birds to fend for themselves, and they will start with our #1 favorite, the mosquito.

Just make sure they have water and they will stay around all season long.

[PRBuzz]

I've dropped all feeders other than the thistle feeding. Nothing has been available for the last 2-3 weeks so most of the birds have scattered to their natural feeding grounds. I've got that expensive thistle left over and need to get rid of it (soon).

BTW: not all birds eat bugs, or at least exclusively.

[FishermanTim]

I should have mentioned that as well.
Since most people have plenty of sparrows in and around their yards, the sparrows our primary source of insect feeders.
Most birds feed insects to their young, mainly because of the amount of readily available protein that they provide a growing chick.
Once the bird has left the nest, they will seek out a more varied diet.

[Raven]

generally only the fly catchers will take mosquitoes out of the air...

come to think of it tho....

i haven't see a single BAT here this year.... and that saddens me!

i am running my mosquito zapper now ........all night long
and just replenished the bait in it....

i hate those sneaky bastids

[FishermanTim]

We used to have a birdhouse on a tree in full view of a bay window (now converted to 3 regular windows).
I was amazed to see the sparrows that were nesting (and year-round tenants) fly back to the house with their beaks full of flying insects, mostly mosquitos.
Since then, I keep the birds supplied with ample housing opportunities so that they can stay and feed in our yard.

[striprman]

I've seen more catbirds this year than ever before

[PRBuzz]

I might challenge your ID! Did you look up the range map for the Arctic Warbler? If it really is you'll have every Audubon member in your back yard (assumption is that is where these pictures were taken).

That third pic showing the red eye leads me to ID as a Red Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), most abundant bird in e. deciduous forests.

[spence]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

That third pic showing the red eye leads me to ID as a Red Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), most abundant bird in e. deciduous forests.

I think that's your positive ID.

The green color and hook at the end of the beak give it away.

We do get some weird accidentals around here (my best is a Red Phalarope in Tiverton) but that bird would really be off course!

-spence

[Raven]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

I might challenge your ID! Did you look up the range map for the Arctic Warbler? If it really is you'll have every Audubon member in your back yard (assumption is that is where these pictures were taken).

That third pic showing the red eye leads me to ID as a Red Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), most abundant bird in e. deciduous forests.

it seemed much smaller to me.... and I didn't have time
to compare it to the red eye...but logic dictates that your correct.

the red eye is 5.5 - to 6.5 inches long and this bird was quite small
because i held in my hand
Phil....

[spence]

Was it injured? Stoned?

-spence

[Raven]

Originally Posted by spence

Was it Stoned?

-spence

why yes.... Spence...

you see i had this magic JOINT that Nebe Gave me

i said SIM SIM sala BIM all green birds come down to me...LOL

and with a little puff into the wind...down he came
Stoned as can be....

HAH HAH HAH HA

[Raven]

with my green house glass...

i was up on the ladder installing some shade cloth
and heard the thump sound.........
low level light in the afternoon
and they think it's not even there

i revived him with my chi force
until he flew back to the other blue spruce.

during the interim i took some real nice close up shots

just for the fun of it....

[spence]

Nebe shares???

-spence

[striperman36]

Raven has a digital camera?

[Raven]

Originally Posted by striperman36

Raven has a digital camera?

YEAH THE KIND OF FRIGGAN CAMERA THAT THE subject
LETS CALL IT A STUNNED BIRD

is so close to the lense it MAKES it look like i have an expensive
zoom lens when its NOT.........

a neat trick only

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by Raven

YEAH THE KIND OF FRIGGAN CAMERA THAT THE subject
LETS CALL IT A STUNNED BIRD

is so close to the lense it MAKES it look like i have an expensive
zoom lens when its NOT.........

a neat trick only

That bird was very stunned, I hope it makes it.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by striperman36

That bird was very stunned, I hope it makes it.

i did the MR Miyagi energy charge up on him and he flew away briskly.

[spence]

Funny, I was wondering how you got so close!

-spence

[PRBuzz]

I'll bet you have lots of red flowers!