Backyard bird watching

[Raven]

then feed the hummingbirds

[justplugit]

OK I'm stumped, what white bird about the size of a pigeon can
fly 60-65 MPH flying down the highway drafting trucks and cars
weaving in and out of traffic flying between 5-20 ft high for a minimum
of 3 miles then turn and fly west with the traffic as the highway divided????
If my wife and I didn't see it with our own eyes today I would never believe it.

[Raven]

thats a toughy ....but a pergrin falcon comes to mind...
based on the speed ...but scientists have determined that highways do indeed have signifgant usage as land marks used by many species to navigate with.... owls work the highways and some of the smaller ones are white colored and are incredible fliers
. there had to be some kind of pattern to the flying like dipping
~~~~ ------u----- .........'`` and that is a big clue.

[Sweetwater]

Originally Posted by justplugit

OK I'm stumped, what white bird about the size of a pigeon can
fly 60-65 MPH flying down the highway drafting trucks and cars
weaving in and out of traffic flying between 5-20 ft high for a minimum
of 3 miles then turn and fly west with the traffic as the highway divided????
If my wife and I didn't see it with our own eyes today I would never believe it.

Maybe a white dove? Some people have white doves released at weddings and such. They can fly 50-60 mph. The "home" like homing pigeons.

[justplugit]

Rav,it was dipping and flying between cars like a riceburner
cutting in and out of traffic but not the shape of an owl.

SW, you may be right about the dove as it was white and
pigeon shape. Didn't know they could fly that fast.

He looked like he was having fun.
Nature is an amazing thing!

[FishermanTim]

When they are being chased by a raptor, they can really hit the after-burners.
I second the "highway-association" reference as the birds can/will use (vehicle) drafts to their advantage.

[FishermanTim]

Speaking of raptors, the Decorah eagles appear to have left the nest.
There were 2 in the nest yesterday afternoon, and this morning, now there is only one.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the actual flights, but they've been testing their wings all last week.

[Raven]

float above my sanctuary daily
of course there's the occasional crow
or two hassling them with the dive bom b
routine... but they simply out maneuver them

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Speaking of raptors, the Decorah eagles appear to have left the nest.
There were 2 in the nest yesterday afternoon, and this morning, now there is only one.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the actual flights, but they've been testing their wings all last week.

Last I checked on them was a week or so ago and they looked ready to go soon. Glad to hear the nest is nearly empty, good luck, Live Long and Prosper to the new eaglets!

[basswipe]

I got a nest right outside my bedroom window and the chick(s) does nothing but chirp from 4am on and I can't take it anymore.

Anybody ever move a nest?Is it advisable to do so?I certainly don't want to harm the bird(s) but someting needs to be done.

[Raven]

choose the relocation spot quickly
just far enough where you can't hear it as much
but the birds can still hear them chirping
and keep it at the same height if possible

[Raven]

a first......... knocks out power

http://http://www.cnn.com/video/#/vi...kpax?hpt=hp_t2

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Speaking of raptors, the Decorah eagles appear to have left the nest.
There were 2 in the nest yesterday afternoon, and this morning, now there is only one.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the actual flights, but they've been testing their wings all last week.

Don't think they have actually left the "nest" just expanded their range to the branches of the tree. This morning 2 young'uns and the adult were the focus of activity. Did not see the 3rd but the camera did not show the nest, the youngest may still hang out there.

[Notfishinenuf]

Finally, After having a Purple Martin house up at the house in RI for over 20 years, we have a pair nesting in the house. They are cool to watch. they put on some awesome displays when feeding. They really put on a show. I will bring my camera with me the next time I am up there and post some pics.

Vic

[Raven]

less mosquito's at your place

[Notfishinenuf]

You are not kidding. The skeeters there are horrible! They bite all day and you can put saddles on some of them. That is why we put up the martin house. Now if we can keep them coming back with some friends next year I will be very happy

Originally Posted by Raven

less mosquito's at your place

[FishermanTim]

Originally Posted by Notfishinenuf

You are not kidding. The skeeters there are horrible! They bite all day and you can put saddles on some of them. That is why we put up the martin house. Now if we can keep them coming back with some friends next year I will be very happy

If I'm not mistaken, they like to live in colonies, which they sell martin houses with multiple nest boxes/chambers. I live in an area that isn't condusive to martins or swallows. What we do have is a wide variety of traditional backyard birds.
Our backyard bug zapper has to be the sparrows. They can/will eat bugs all day long, and since they will breed repeatedly during the year, they are always on the lookout for bugs to feed their young.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Notfishinenuf

You are not kidding. The skeeters there are horrible!
They bite all day and you can put saddles on some of them.

two enemies of Mosquitos are <<WIND>> and Garlic oil perls
so keep the wind avenues open by clearing

sometimes it's worth it to search and destroy the breeding grounds
by throwing into their water a dunk donut mosquito killer
that ya buy at home depot...kills them ALL!

oil sits on top of the water killing them
in the larvae stage .... also dragon flies eat them....
i call em buddy...
when they land on my rod.... waiting for a tap...(bite)

[Raven]

i had never seen this before....

but a red squirrel was sounding the alarm
as to my presense....

and it kept scolding and chippin away loudly
attracting the attention of my local HAWK

I watched with much amusement as that hawk
flew up and down the huge pine tree trunk
just inches away from the BARK
(even round and round ) trying to catch that
red squirrel without much sucess
but it sure came mighty close.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd:

On the way home yesterday i spied a hawk sitting on a
boundary post that was perhaps 3.5 to four feet tall
right on the side of the road
so camoflaged my wife never even saw it....

so i banged a U-ey and pulled right up to it
within four feet and totally stopped
so it turned (facing us) to look at us
but stayed there quite unafraid glaring at us....
I said: "what's up Dude...?"

it had just caught a nice fat field mouse and was
gonna sit there and just eat it up...
the heck with us....it was Hungry -lol

[striperman36]

My squirrels are drinking my hummingbird feeders!

[PRBuzz]

I can add a new species to the list that which have visited my yard. Easy to track since all the native birds are not sure what to make of this thing! Anyone know specifically what kind of parrot? I have already called animal control in case someone reports one missing.

[Raven]

i think it's a lorokeet (sp)

it may be wild
or it maybe an escape`....

often times they escape the cage and wind up in the kitchen
or the entry way to the house....

you come home unaware that the bird is loose
as the door opens "frightened"
out they fly "free as a bird"
Happened to me................

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by striperman36

My squirrels are drinking my hummingbird feeders!

They seem to be desperate for this time of the year.

I had one yesterday climb up the GLASS on the window to get to
the feeder. He hung upside down off the chain of the lucite satelite feeder
and chewed a hole in the side of it.
Haven't been able to trap him, he'll go inside the trap and lick off only
the top layer of peanut butter then back out without setting off the
lightest setting of the trap.

I'll have to get a shelled peanut and lodge it deep in the trap hole
and then smear it with peanut butter. If he wants that nut the trap
WILL go off for sure. Have to see how smart he really is.

[Raven]

ya gotta feed him something hotter than a 3 alarm fire

that he really really wants.....

also;

i think some glow in the dark powder would
also make their grey camoflage coloration rendered non existant

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Raven

ya gotta feed him something hotter than a 3 alarm fire

that he really really wants.....

also;

i think some glow in the dark powder would
also make their grey camoflage coloration rendered non existant

LOL Rav, a friend of my wife's told her she put tabasco sauce on a pile of nuts
and when she came home found the squirel laying on it's back in the driveway
gasping for breath. :hih:

[Raven]

in the pitch black of the backyard
walking around looking up at the stars
i suddenly sensed i wasn't alone
i quickly noticed some motion and
saw a white striped sumthing within
5yards ....a skunk ...backing up here boss
i was trying to bust the coons
coulda got ugly

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by justplugit

I'll have to get a shelled peanut and lodge it deep in the trap hole
and then smear it with peanut butter. If he wants that nut the trap
WILL go off for sure. Have to see how smart he really is.

Yup, it worked this morning. I was watching when the little smart
arse walked into the trap licked the peanut butter off the peanut
walked out, got greedy, wanted that peanut so back in he went.
Gates closed and he went wild.
Never seen one so mad, biting the cage doing flips and making this hissing
noise.
He is now enjoying his new home, a 1/2 mile stretch of resivoir
water between him and me and a golf course to boot.
Waaaay to kind to him.

[justplugit]

Got 10 squirrels in 9 days.
Yesterday I was releasing what I thought was 1 in the usual
manner. Normally they run up the nearest tree. This one
takes off like a bat outa H*ll passes every tree and just keeps running.
I swear I thought he ran over the horizon.
I was laughing right out loud, went to throw the trap on the truck
and heard this rattle, looked and it was another squirrel in the
trap. Two for one, saved me some gas.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by justplugit

Got 10 squirrels in 9 days.
Yesterday I was releasing what I thought was 1 in the usual
manner. Normally they run up the nearest tree. This one
takes off like a bat outa H*ll passes every tree and just keeps running.
I swear I thought he ran over the horizon.
I was laughing right out loud, went to throw the trap on the truck
and heard this rattle, looked and it was another squirrel in the
trap. Two for one, saved me some gas.

the squirrel in the trap than ran away forever was the husband
the squirrel left over in the trap was the wife....

it was the husband's idea for her to go into the trap.

[JohnnyD]

There have been no fewer than 20-25 sparrows on the feeder right outside my window every morning for hours and then throughout the day. So many of them, no other birds show up any more... damn things.