Backyard bird watching

[PRBuzz]

For only the 2nd time since I've been in my house (25yrs) had a bird kamakazee into my front picture window, too bad it was yellow shafted flicker. Scared my daughter to death since she was sitting right by the window.

[Raven]

so i installed a bracket for hanging plants outside
and put a bird feeder on it
that
the other birds prevented the mirror image scenario
from happening

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

For only the 2nd time since I've been in my house (25yrs) had a bird kamakazee into my front picture window, too bad it was yellow shafted flicker. Scared my daughter to death since she was sitting right by the window.

guess it really got the shaft this time.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[basswipe]

Had a Cedar Waxwing this morning,been quite some time since I've seen one.Very cool looking bird indeed.

[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.

[Slips'son]

you guys are really disgusting

[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.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by justplugit

Agree Rav, but man that stuff is getting expensive.

yeah i know....i went to buy this small bag one day and said $10 bucks for this Lil ole bag....forget it... and that was at wally world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A few Saturday's ago... i'm lying in bed listening to this female Oriel
singing on the back fence and it seems to be getting louder and louder... i resist opening my eyes as i am still on the threshold of sleep wanting to catch a few more Z's ...and the singing is still getting louder with each repertoire of Song.

Finally the female jumps onto my window screen 15 inches from my head and is Singing up a storm right into the window....

Singing away as if to say.... GET up, GeT up you sleepy heads ...it's morning, Good Morning...oh what a beautiful day it is....and i'm the happiest bird alive.....right into my ear and my wife slept thru it.

[basswipe]

You ain't kiddin about the price of thistle seed!

[basswipe]

Just spent 20mins looking for the Gdamn camera while a JET BLACK robin was drinking from my pond!!!

That's oh such more rare than an albino!The damn thing spent 20 mins at my pond as I tried as quitely to run like a maniac thru the house looking for the %$%$%$%$ing camera!

Camera wasn't where it was supposed to be!PISSED!!!!!!!

[Raven]

Originally Posted by basswipe

Just spent 20mins looking for the Gdamn camera while a JET BLACK robin was drinking from my pond!!!

That's oh such more rare than an albino!The damn thing spent 20 mins at my pond as I tried as quitely to run like a maniac thru the house looking for the %$%$%$%$ing camera!

Camera wasn't where it was supposed to be!PISSED!!!!!!!

the chances of him not returning are remote
so NOTE the time of DAY and pick the best place
to snap a picture beforehand...... and get set up

[Raven]

gee that woulda made you rich

if you got .0000001 cents per million that is....

check out this all black freak of Nature

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by Raven

the chances of him not returning are remote
so NOTE the time of DAY and pick the best place
to snap a picture beforehand...... and get set up

Did so.Camera is at ready.Sitting and waiting.Laptop is at the back window.

At first I thought it was just a blackbird and then I looked closely and thought that "geez that kinda looks like a robin".Then it opened its mouth...it was a robin!Jet freakin black!

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by Raven

gee that woulda made you rich

if you got .0000001 cents per million that is....

check out this all black freak of Nature

There's a black whitetail deer on Prudence Island...or there was.No one's seen it since it was first spotted several years back.

[PRBuzz]

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

[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

[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

[Raven]

Latin Name : Phyllosloscopus Borealis

My very first one actually- VERY COOL green Bird