Any other bird brains here?

[dragonfly]

I have an addiction to birds. There. I said it.;) I don't want to go through a 12 step program.:)

I don't go on birding trips or anything like that. I am a back yard bird watcher. I had a nice little 12-pair purple martin colony last summer until repeated barred owl attacks caused colony abandonment, then I had none this year. Broke my heart not to hear their cheery song on awakening this year on early summer mornings. To deal with my bird withdrawal, I kept bird feeders out this summer just for grins. I've seen birds that I have never seen before, plus the usual summer residents. New species spotted were two painted bunting pairs that hatched 5 babies, an orchard oriole and a baltimore oriole just passing through (I have never seen any of these three species in person). There were a couple of pairs of house finches, which I believe have the most melodious and beautiful song of any songbirds in this part of the country. There was a pair of scissor-tail flycatchers who hatched 3 young, a pair of mockingbirds with 3 young, and a pair each of ladderback and red-bellied woodies. I've recently seen two young ladderbacks and 1 young red-bellied venturing out for the past few days. I spotted a couple of great crested flycatchers, but don't know if they nested here, as they are usually heard and not seen often. There was also a great blue heron who came daily to the creek to spend most of the day hunting for food. I had a pair of bluebirds that nested and raised 4 young, and they would have had another brood, but a house wren entered their house when they had the first 5 eggs and punctured the eggs. There are cardinals galore and about 10 hummers.
A nice bonus to having so many birds hanging out is that the grasshopper count is way down, after several years of massive grasshoppers eating my garden plants.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else here likes birds.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Do two African Gray parrots count? I love birds, certainly more than people. My parrots are great companions and are a never ending source of entertainment.

I have raised lots of cage birds and used to have an 25 x 30 enclosed aviary in my backyard, that was two houses ago. Also had pens for game birds and still have my incubators.

After almost twenty years of putting out houses for Purple Martins I had my first nesting pair last year. This year I had three pair, I wish they here here at home instead of at the farm where I spend just my weekends. :(

I put feeders out too and enjoy counting how many species are in the area at one time.

[NeilV]

We always have feeders out. This summer a bunch of Mississippi Kites set up house near our house. My wife has been watching them a lot. They are graceful fliers. I think she's on the verge of becoming a full fledged birder. She's signed us up to some list where we get emails from Oklahoma birders who report what they've seen. Lately, they've reported birds blown in from the huricane and more Warbler species than I ever new existed.

[Gregory and Susan Fariss]

... Anyway, just wondering if anyone else here likes birds.

Do chickens count? My husband and I have seven chickens and a parakeet.
Susan

[dragonfly]

Do two African Gray parrots count? I love birds, certainly more than people. My parrots are great companions and are a never ending source of entertainment.



Yes, they definitely count. When I was young, I worked for Lion Country Safari in the nursery and window display area. We had an African Gray that gave me untold hours of entertainment.



After almost twenty years of putting out houses for Purple Martins I had my first nesting pair last year. This year I had three pair, I wish they here here at home instead of at the farm where I spend just my weekends. :(


Wow, I can't believe you don't have pm houses at your regular residence. They are great fun to watch, especially on fledging day.:)

[dragonfly]

This summer a bunch of Mississippi Kites set up house near our house. My wife has been watching them a lot. They are graceful fliers.

If we have Kites in this area, I've never seen them, but we do have night-hawks. They are fun to watch in flight. Did you know that they nest on gravel-top buildings and lay their eggs in the rocks as camoflage?


I think she's on the verge of becoming a full fledged birder. She's signed us up to some list where we get emails from Oklahoma birders who report what they've seen.

OMG, don't give me any ideas;) I get a few eyes rolled toward me when I start talking birds, especially from my co-workers. They just shake their heads and laugh. Now, there is always an easy safe gift to give your wife for BD's and any other special occasions. Bird stuff. ;)

[dragonfly]

Do chickens count? My husband and I have seven chickens and a parakeet.
Susan

Yes, chickens count. They're just not as much fun to watch in flight. ;) Every parakeet I've ever had died, so I just let the birds live in nature and watch them. Besides, I have a couple of cats who would love parakeet for dinner.

[Galaxy]

Do two African Gray parrots count? I love birds, certainly more than people. My parrots are great companions and are a never ending source of entertainment.
I once had about about 12 macaws, blue and gold, green-wing and yellow-collared. And, my son now has a blue and gold. Parrots are very interesting birds. And, it gets really interesting when you have a green-wing macaw sitting on your forearm and he decides to clamp down on your bicep with that huge beak.

I have also kept chickens and bantams. But I do not have any now.

One of my favorite birds to feed are goldfinches with niger seed.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Yes, chickens count. They're just not as much fun to watch in flight. ;) .

I don't know about that. I used to have a beautiful iridescent bantam rooster that would fly across the yard to land on my arm. I trained him by putting feed in my fist, I would put my fist out and he would come a-flying just like a hawk and land on my arm.

[dragonfly]

And, it gets really interesting when you have a green-wing macaw sitting on your forearm and he decides to clamp down on your bicep with that huge beak.



Yeah, I found that out once, but it was on the finger and not the bicep. We had a couple of blue and golds and a couple of scarlets at LCS. They are beautiful birds.



One of my favorite birds to feed are goldfinches with niger seed.

Yeah, we have lots of them here in winter, but just as they are getting their bold mating season plumage, they head north to breed. Do you use the sock feeders? I have found that they don't waste nearly as much niger seed with them that they do with the tube feeders.

[dragonfly]

I trained him by putting feed in my fist, I would put my fist out and he would come a-flying just like a hawk and land on my arm.
Now THAT's impressive. I didn't know that a chicken could be trained to land on your arm.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Wow, I can't believe you don't have pm houses at your regular residence. They are great fun to watch, especially on fledging day.:)

I have gourds out for two years now but haven't had any move in, could be too close to trees or house, they are funny about where they nest in relation to bushes and trees.

The neighbor has nesting chimney swifts that put out two clutches per year. It gets so noisy in their living room that they have trouble hearing the television.

Two weeks ago I was in my backyard doing something with the hives and looked up to see about two hundred purple martins. I first thought they were headed south but they weren't, they were just flying around eating high flying bugs.

I'm not really sure I want martins and bees sharing the same backyard, I loose enough queens the way it is.

[RayMarler]

I watched a valley bluejay bury a pine nut at the end of my garden this evening. He/she had the nut in beak, used beak to dig small hole, pushed nut into hole, and then used beak to push some loose soil over the newly planted nut. Then he/she 'scruffed' up the ground around the area as camoflouge, throwing some sticks and leaves around the area. I was quite impressed! I have read in the past that jays will bury accorns, but just never thought about them burying other nuts.

[Galaxy]

Yeah, we have lots of them here in winter, but just as they are getting their bold mating season plumage, they head north to breed. Do you use the sock feeders? I have found that they don't waste nearly as much niger seed with them that they do with the tube feeders.I use tube feeders and often have flocks of 25 to 30 brightly-covered birds at one time. How do you prevent the seed from getting wet and moldy in the socks?

[dragonfly]

How do you prevent the seed from getting wet and moldy in the socks?

I generally have so many birds at the feeders, and not much rain at that time of year, that the socks don't tend to get wet often.

[MapMan]

I'm involved with observing birds in both my personal time and professionally. Living on a small farm close to the Mississippi flyway, we get migratory birds during their normal spring and fall runs and also errant sightings of many species.

Also, on a professional level, I develop maps for trade publishers which includes end matter, interior and range maps for birding guides such as Audubon, the NWF, etc. I love birds - I observe them every day - usually with pair of binoculars or a spotting scope. Feed them all year, too!

MM

[JPK]

I like to observe birds too....I just happen to like watching my while they're cooking in the pot. :D

PETA: People Eating Tasty Animals.

[jasontatro]

Parrot man here.

2 African Greys, 1 B&G Macaw, 1 Male Solomon Island Eclectus. Lots of fun...but loads of work!!!!

JT

[Oldbee]

"I have an addiction to birds. There, I said it. I don't want to go through a 12 step program."--dragonfly.

Are you jeopardizing your health and the well being [health] of significant others in your life with this,..'addiction'?

Do you feel you need to see/feed,..'more and more birds' every day, to satisify this,.. 'addiction? -- get 'high/a fix',.. so to speak?

Do you think you spend too much money on 'bird seed'? Do you lie about this and keep bird seed hidden from,...significant others? [besides the birds]?. Do you spend an inordinate amount of time making sure all your feeders are full before going out on a 'social' engagement?

When you are out in company and need to make 'intelligent' conversation, does merely 'thinking about birds' interfere with this conversation? Do you think you 'slur' your speech/words when talking about politics and birds at the same time? --OB.

I had an 'addiction' to birds at one time in my life and went to a 12 step. 'They' told me to,.. 'get a hobby'. I got one,... unfortunately, it was keeping a few colonies of honeybees. So, I'm in,.. 'the same boat' or,..'off the wagon',. I don't know which.

I have been a birdwatcher for 50 years. I think it all started when my Dad put up a suet feeder by our house 55 years ago on an apple orchard when he first started out. This is a photo of my brother in 1959 or 60 with a Chickadee,..'in hand'; the 'good old days',..I guess.
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk429/insectsRock/Birds13447pfp2.jpg?t=1221242443 I have been going on CBC's in my area for the last 30 years or so.

It is unfortunate that a Barred Owl seems to have taken advantage of a situation with your Purple Martins. Both of these birds like to be near a body of water. Perhaps if you were able to put the Purple Martin house more out in the open; away from a woods or something.

I am lucky in a way that I can have a bird bath in the summer and feeders in the winter where I live now. I have 3 bird houses out and Bluebirds have produced 2 broods; Tree Swallows--one brood. The Cornell Lab. has nest cams that you can watch. There is one set up in Italy, Texas for Barn Owls.

[drobbins]

umbrella cockatoo, severe macaw and 13 golden laced cochins (2 roo's). the backyard is crawling with hummers from the 2 feeders on the back porch

Dave

[Oldbee]

Please do not keep birds in cages!! They were born and raised by GOD and meant to FLY and be FREE in their natural habitat in the World!!

When my ex-wife and I got married, my 'in-laws',.. presented us with a 'wedding gift'. The gift was a parrakeet in a cage; we called him,..'Teddy'. My first thought upon seeing this,...'gift',.. was,...why would anyone give me and my new wife,..a bird in a CAGE?? Did it 'represent',.... a 'marriage'? .. 'Teddy' died in 1987, ten years after we got him. I grew up out in the country and I assumed birds were free and flew about living their lives, making nests and raising their young, just as my new wife and I would soon do.

Moral of this story: Please Do Not keep birds in cages!

[dragonfly]

I like to observe birds too....I just happen to like watching my while they're cooking in the pot. :D


:D :D
Yeah, I like chickens, pheasants, and quail to watch close-up.

[dragonfly]

Parrot man here.

2 African Greys, 1 B&G Macaw, 1 Male Solomon Island Eclectus. Lots of fun...but loads of work!!!!

JT

I'm not familiar with Solomon Island Electus. Is it a type of parrot?

[BULLSEYE BILL]

I'm not familiar with Solomon Island Electus. Is it a type of parrot?

Ask him how many thousands of dollars he paid for it. :( They are gorgeous! I'd love to have one, but the price tag gets me choking. Some go up to 20K. :eek:

[dragonfly]

Are you jeopardizing your health and the well being [health] of significant others in your life with this,..'addiction'?

Do you feel you need to see/feed,..'more and more birds' every day, to satisify this,.. 'addiction? -- get 'high/a fix',.. so to speak?

Do you think you spend too much money on 'bird seed'? Do you lie about this and keep bird seed hidden from,...significant others? [besides the birds]?. Do you spend an inordinate amount of time making sure all your feeders are full before going out on a 'social' engagement?

When you are out in company and need to make 'intelligent' conversation, does merely 'thinking about birds' interfere with this conversation? Do you think you 'slur' your speech/words when talking about politics and birds at the same time? --OB.
.

:D
Guilty on all counts except the part about social engagements. What are social engagements?;)



I have been a birdwatcher for 50 years. I think it all started when my Dad put up a suet feeder by our house 55 years ago on an apple orchard when he first started out. This is a photo of my brother in 1959 or 60 with a Chickadee,..'in hand'; the 'good old days',..I guess.
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk429/insectsRock/Birds13447pfp2.jpg?t=1221242443 (http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk429/insectsRock/Birds13447pfp2.jpg?t=1221242443) I have been going on CBC's in my area for the last 30 years or so.



Wow, that's neat. Thanks for posting.:)


It is unfortunate that a Barred Owl seems to have taken advantage of a situation with your Purple Martins. Both of these birds like to be near a body of water. Perhaps if you were able to put the Purple Martin house more out in the open; away from a woods or something.



It devastated me as much as the pm's I think. The new martin house I'm building has some safety features built in. Won't be 100%, but will certainly help. (assuming I eventually re-establish a colony here). The house is out in an open field, over 150 feet from any trees, and about 75 ft from the house. Plenty of fly-ways, but we have barred and great horned owls here in the woods along the creek. Can't do much about them except try to build the house with large double compartments to try and keep the pms out of reach of owl talons.


I am lucky in a way that I can have a bird bath in the summer and feeders in the winter where I live now. I have 3 bird houses out and Bluebirds have produced 2 broods; Tree Swallows--one brood. The Cornell Lab. has nest cams that you can watch. There is one set up in Italy, Texas for Barn Owls.

I built two bird baths this summer, and really enjoyed watching the birds use it. The bees have discovered it as well, so the bird baths are Grand Central Station now. I think a nestcam would be a bad idea for me. I'm already obsessive enough.;)

[dragonfly]

umbrella cockatoo, severe macaw and 13 golden laced cochins (2 roo's). the backyard is crawling with hummers from the 2 feeders on the back porch

Dave
I've only ever seen the standard cockatoo. What is an umbrella?

[dragonfly]

Oldbee, so you WERE once a child. I just knew it!;)

That's a marvelous photo you linked. Thanks.:)

[drobbins]

there are a lot of species of cockatoo
umbrella is a common one for pets
the big ones with a yellow crest are "sulfur crested"
umbrellas a a little smaller with less yellow
they love to dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86YCkWohxx0

Dave

[dragonfly]

I think the sulfur crested is the one I am familiar with. Does it talk and dance too?

[drobbins]

yea, they're really hilarious
extremely friendly
the biggest problem is they really require a lot of attention to remain mentally healthy, mine wants to be on my shoulder ALL the time:rolleyes:

Dave

[Eaglerock]

I have an addiction to birds. .

Here is a bird with an addiction!
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/393370/

[dragonfly]

Ask him how many thousands of dollars he paid for it. :( They are gorgeous!

I would, but my mom always told me that was not polite.;)
I'm going to have to google a photo to see this bird you speak of. :)

[dragonfly]

the biggest problem is they really require a lot of attention to remain mentally healthy, mine wants to be on my shoulder ALL the time:rolleyes:

Dave

So is he potty trained?;)

[drobbins]

funny you should ask
the cockatoo isn't but the macaw is
when we got him 20 years ago my wife would stand there and say "drop it" until he crapped before she would let him out of the cage
now when he has to go he says "drop it" and you take him over a toilet or trash can and he takes care of business:)
pretty funny, I wish the cockatoo was that smart
my shirt gets kinda dirty sometimes:rolleyes:

Dave

[dragonfly]

pretty funny, I wish the cockatoo was that smart
my shirt gets kinda dirty sometimes:rolleyes:

Dave

:D
I'll bet you do.;)

[drobbins]

she's on my shoulder now

DOH!!

she just got me again:)

here's a link to a picture

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/cockatoos/umbrella.php

on the right are links to a couple of other common species

Dave

[Eaglerock]

We have 4 dogs, 6 cats, two love birds, and a Eclectus Parrot, named Jasmine. Jasmine female, colors are Red, Blue, purple, green, orange...think I have them all. She takes a shower with me every morning, but only gets on my hand on Sundays and sometimes Wednesday to get wet and take her shower. She will spread her wing and bring it back and again..then the other wing. Then she will check her claws and make sure I am holding her feet with my other hand and she will flap and flap in the shower, like she is flying. This sometimes takes awhile in the morning. Then I get out and she climbs onto my finger and I place her on the floor.... she lover her room (cage) and if she is not out exploring will go back to it. After she gets her shower she will go right to her room and ring a bell on a wooden thing. She only rings that after a shower. It is a happy thing.
Cages are not bad... even dogs love their cages and will go to them for comfort and peace. No different than us going to our home or bedroom. (or lazy boy)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xomissi/2354704965/

[drobbins]

wow
Jasmine is really beautiful
you make an interesting point about teaching animals that their cage is their "safe spot"
sadly many folks don't understand that principal

Dave

[dragonfly]

She takes a shower with me every morning, but only gets on my hand on Sundays and sometimes Wednesday to get wet and take her shower.


You have GOT to be kidding. Are you serious?! Takes a shower? Or is this a dumb blonde joke on me?;)

Oh my, what a beautiful bird.:)

[cow pollinater]

9 lovebirds
3 cockatiels
20? dove
10 quail
8 chukars
30? roller pigions
12 turkeys
20? chickens
20? ducks
9 geese
3 red gold pheasants
2 yellow gold pheasants
3 lady amhearst pheasants
2 swinhoe pheasants

I think that's it. I like the color blue so the chickens, and turkeys are all either blue or black and splash breeders. I selectivly mated the rollers right up to the point where I started losing birds that would roll so far they would crash and die.
I had quite a few more birds last year but we had to cut back to hobby status due to my wifes health. But now I get to enjoy the ones I have a little more.

[dragonfly]

Wow, CP. I think you win the prize.;)

[cow pollinater]

Wow, CP. I think you win the prize.;)

alright! king of the bird brains!...hey,wait a minute:D

I also have a resident pair of mallards, a semi resident wood-duck pair, and multiple varieties of finches and hummingbirds that visit my feeders.

[dragonfly]

alright! king of the bird brains!...hey,wait a minute:D



That's a title of high esteem with people like me. You should feel honored.;)

[jasontatro]

Male Solomon Island Eclectus:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Eclectus_Parrot_-_melbourne_zoo.jpg

[SantaCruzBee]

I'm a bird brain too, so I guess I'm one of King CP's subjects. One small Bronzewing Pionus parrot indoors. I wear a "poop" shirt in the house or I could be seen in public... I have been able to partially train her. When I let her out of her cage she sits on its door until she does her business at which point I congratulate her enthusiastically -parrots seem to respond to enthusiasm...

At my farmlet in Santa Cruz county I have three geese and a gander. The gander and one goose are old pets and like to be picked up, the other two geese are just too old to eat... I also have some 6 adult turkeys, 3 Bourbon Reds, two Royal palms, and one half Bourbon red/half Black turkey. 14 or 15 young turkeys, either BR's or crosses with the other two.

First turkey dinner of the year is scheduled for September 20. You're all invited if you can make it!

-Doug

[SantaCruzBee]

Oh, I thought I'd amuse you all. The BW pionus parrot's name is Tanya, nom de guerre of Patty Hearst when she was a member of the SLA!

I had a male BW, named Che! (They are South American parrots and Che was a doctor) But when he and Tanya became mature, she bonded to me and he freaked out. Che went from a tame and friendly bird to one that on opening the cage would launch himself at me to bite to draw blood. That got old fast and luckily I found someone who wanted him and he became perfectly tame again without me around to provoke his jealousy!

I'd love to see your responses to my parrot naming habits....

-Doug

PS: My gander is a large Chinese goose named Birdzilla...

[dragonfly]

But when he and Tanya became mature, she bonded to me and he freaked out. Che went from a tame and friendly bird to one that on opening the cage would launch himself at me to bite to draw blood. ...

A friend of mine had a cockatiel who freaked out when he got married. I think birds have a tendency to get attached to one person and are very loyal (until you P them off.;))

[drobbins]

Geese! ha!

I had a couple of white china's one time, man were they mean (and messy)
tasty too;)

Dave

[SantaCruzBee]

Two of mine are tame, two are skittish, but none of the china's (mine are browns) have been mean. I had a mean Toulouse gander once, he became a meal. :-) But he had the ultimate revenge. He was a year old and as tough as leather!

I think geese are delicious, too. Too bad Birdzilla and Bride of Birdzilla were successful in breeding this year...

No doubt about it, geese are messy!

-
doug

[cow pollinater]

Try Buff American, Tufted Roman, or Pilgrim geese if you want gentle ones.

Doug, I have six blue turkey poults that hatched last month that will be to nice for me to eat if you need some nice blue birds. They are out of a Black Spanish hen and a show quality splash tom. They will all be big strong powder blue birds. I want to keep one or two but the rest are up for grabs.

[Eaglerock]

and hummingbirds that visit my feeders.

I haven't seen any hummingbird in almost two weeks... they must have gone south already... I left the feeder out thinking, maybe, even a pass-er-by-er might stop for a meal. Nothing so far. Maybe they are all in California drinking from cow pollinater's feeders now... and here I thought they always went south...

[drobbins]

how do you folks with geese deal with predators?
I left mine out in a 1/4 acre fenced area with only a kiddy pool for water and they did ok until finally something got one of them
do you put them in at night?
provide a pond they can hide in?
I know this varies from place to place but I'd like to get some more and wonder how to keep them safe

Dave

[Scrapfe]

I haven't seen any hummingbird in almost two weeks... they must have gone south already... I left the feeder out thinking, maybe, even a pass-er-by-er might stop for a meal. Nothing so far. Maybe they are all in California drinking from cow pollinater's feeders now... and here I thought they always went south...

Hey Rock everyone, if you like hummers check out

http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/CalendarOfEvents.html

This couple, Bob and Martha Sergeant, has been banding hummers for decades. They use to live in East Lake a suburb of Birmingham but have now moved to Shelby County?

I filled my six hummer feeders today and it seems the population is down in the last 24/48 hours. I suspect they may have left early to hitch a ride on the back side winds of hurricane Ike. The little devils fly nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico and need a tail wind, like that provided by the back flow winds of hurricanes.

[Scrapfe]

how do you folks with geese deal with predators?
I left mine out in a 1/4 acre fenced area with only a kiddy pool for water and they did ok until finally something got one of them
do you put them in at night?
provide a pond they can hide in?
I know this varies from place to place but I'd like to get some more and wonder how to keep them safe Dave

Do all the above and keep your gun and some steel traps handy.

[Scrapfe]

I have an addiction to birds. There. I said it.;) I don't want to go through a 12 step program.:) just wondering if anyone else here likes birds.

If maintaining an 85 box bluebird trail, 6 hummingbird feeders, a couple of red and yellow shafted flicker feeding logs, and sometimes a bird feeder for boring seed eaters, if that qualifies one as a bird brain, then yes.

By the way. Move your blue bird box to a more open area and the wrens will not try to nest there. When you spoke of houses finches I suppose you mean English sparrows? Vile, nasty, villainous, creatures. Buy a good gun and plenty of ammo. I have lost as many as 20 male bluebirds a year to this invasive species. I found the fresh, heroic, but mummified bluebird remains underneath new sparrow nests.

[SantaCruzBee]

Try Buff American, Tufted Roman, or Pilgrim geese if you want gentle ones.

Doug, I have six blue turkey poults that hatched last month that will be to nice for me to eat if you need some nice blue birds. They are out of a Black Spanish hen and a show quality splash tom. They will all be big strong powder blue birds. I want to keep one or two but the rest are up for grabs.
Hi CP,

Thanks for the very nice offer! As it is, I have as many poults on my hands with 14 or 15 as I can manage. My little farmlet is down in Santa Cruz county, but I'm working in Berkeley and Oakland, so I am just at my limit now with poultry and dinner plans. Those will probably be pretty turkeys, though.

Doug

[Oldbee]

"When you spoke of house finches I suppose you mean English sparrows?. -Scrapfe.

I believe 'house finches' are native to NA. but have recently expanded their range to include most of the East and West coasts. They look similar to the 'Purple Finch' but slightly different in coloration.

English sparrows are now called [AOU.],.. 'House sparrows'.

[dragonfly]

English sparrows are now called [AOU.],.. 'House sparrows'.

In some circles, namely the bluebird and martin circles, house sparrows are called "vermin";).

[cow pollinater]

After eading all of the above posts I can only come to the conclusion that all any of you ever really think about is the birds and the bees.;)

I know, I know... What a crappy little joke. People always tell me what a fowl (or foul, I like my spelling better)little man I am... It was either get into poultry or get offended.:D

[Oldbee]

"After reading all of the above posts I can only come to the conclusion that all any of you think about is the birds and the bees". cp.

Not true! I think about,...women,..occasionally; but just not on Beesource. Well,.........maybe,...sometimes, lol. BIRDS are good and BEES too!

dragonfly: Did you ever imagine that your thread about 'birds' would evolve into this?

[dragonfly]

dragonfly: Did you ever imagine that your thread about 'birds' would evolve into this?

With beeks discussing birds? Yep.;)

[SantaCruzBee]

how do you folks with geese deal with predators?
I left mine out in a 1/4 acre fenced area with only a kiddy pool for water and they did ok until finally something got one of them
do you put them in at night?
provide a pond they can hide in?
I know this varies from place to place but I'd like to get some more and wonder how to keep them safe

Dave
I have an electric wire strung along the bottom of my fencing at about 3-4 inches for the skunks who eat the eggs and again at about a foot for the coyotes to encounter if they look a little higher... Works pretty good as long as I keep the weeds down and the current is on. I do have a day/night automatic switch to turn it off during the day. Used to hear the coyotes howl on occasion when they'd hit it and the skunks would do their thing on occasion when they touched it. Only thing is that if I forget to keep the weeds down, they do get in. My neighbors chased a coyote out of the pen during the day one time when they heard the geese putting up a ruckus, so it is not entirely foolproof... but then, I have to get into the pen too regularly... :-).

-Doug

[Oldbee]

For anyone interested in birds; a must see!! The Leigh Yawkey Art museum; Wausau, WI. http://www.lywam.org/birdsinart/

I am not a public relations person for this event but it is a fabulous show for anyone interested in,........'Birds in Art'. At the 'site', go to the event for 2008 and you will get the dates and times for the museum. At this time of year in Wisconsin, with the fall foliage turning to so many beautiful colors, it is a good time to see,........bird/wildlife art at it's best!

The show goes to different parts of the country; I don't know where, right now.
By the way; has anybody noticed the 'ADS' on top of this thread for 'bird' related,.....stuff?

[dragonfly]

For anyone interested in birds; a must see!! The Leigh Yawkey Art museum; Wausau, WI. http://www.lywam.org/birdsinart/


Thanks Oldbee. I have a recently new friend who goes to bird shows. Next time she goes, I'm planning to tag along.


By the way; has anybody noticed the 'ADS' on top of this thread for 'bird' related,.....stuff?

Some of that hocus pocus.;)

[Troutsqueezer]

Guess I'm a little late to this thread. Ah well, better late than never.

>If maintaining an 85 box bluebird trail, 6 hummingbird feeders, a couple of red and yellow shafted flicker feeding logs, and sometimes a bird feeder for boring seed eaters, if that qualifies one as a bird brain, then yes.


While we don't have quite 85 boxes, we do have quite a few on a trail that runs through the property. It is so successful that it is not unusual for me to see 7 or 8 Western Blue Birds in my vegetable garden bird bath all at the same time.

My wife is a volunteer at the Sierra Rescue Society and spends a few hours a week hand feeding the baby birds that are brought in. It's a non-stop, three to four hour job while she's there.

Of course, we get the other usual bird visitations as well. Too many to list here. Wish I had all the money back I've spent on black oiled sunflower seeds.

[dragonfly]

>If maintaining an 85 box bluebird trail, 6 hummingbird feeders, a couple of red and yellow shafted flicker feeding logs, and sometimes a bird feeder for boring seed eaters, if that qualifies one as a bird brain, then yes.



Ummm, yeah, I think that qualifies.:)



Wish I had all the money back I've spent on black oiled sunflower seeds.

Yeah, me too. The birds eat better than me.;)

[Scrapfe]

After almost twenty years of putting out houses for Purple Martins I had my first nesting pair last year. This year I had three pair, I wish they here here at home instead of at the farm where I spend just my weekends.

Purple martins usually require open water, like a fish pond or lake to drink from, they drink on the wing (I believe within 2 miles of the colony.) DO you have some overlook perching places like tall trees or power lines closet to the martin gourds at your house? Martins like to keep an eye on their nest from a vantage point. Martins never nest in new colonies the first year you put it up. You may see scout birds the first year. The male birds arrive a long time before the female, these are the scout birds.

You will need to control the invasive species pest like English Sparrows and starlings. This is especially true around human dwellings. DYK the Native Americans were the first to provide purple martins nesting sights? They girdled trees in their villages and allowed yellow hammers etc to hollow out nests in the dead trunks and limbs. These old wood pecker holes served the martins well. If you keep adding nest cavities to your home colony every year they will keep recruiting new mating pairs to the sight, u2ap.

[Scrapfe]

With beeks discussing birds? Yep.;)

The traffic around my humming bird feeders is down. The birds may have ate 2 quarts in the last 3 days. BI (before Ike) there was sometimes like 30 zooming around my front and back porches at anyone time. The reason I don't know exackly is I count-see at human speed, hummers interact at well, hummer speed.

What kind of bugs do you see your birds eating this time of year? There is some kind of little white lacy winged type bugs here now and if you watch closely you can see the hummers slurp them up as well as the sugar water and the ocasional slow stupid ant. Now if we could only train them to lick mites off bees???

[dragonfly]

The traffic around my humming bird feeders is down.



Yeah, I think they've started migrating. I had two pairs this year, they each had 3 babies, so 10 were consistently buzzing around until last week. I'm down to 2 or 3, and I suspect they may just be passing through from further north.


What kind of bugs do you see your birds eating this time of year?

Mostly grasshoppers and a few garden pests like stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs. When the martins and the colony of cliff swallows are here, it's a dragonfly and butterfly-fest. My butterfly numbers were wayyyyy down this year.


There is some kind of little white lacy winged type bugs here now and if you watch closely you can see the hummers slurp them up as well as the sugar water and the ocasional slow stupid ant.

Do they look like little gnats flying in a tornado pattern? That's what I am seeing lots of lately.

[Ben Brewcat]

I'm a second-generation birdbrain; my wife has learned that when we hike we probably won't see much of each other. I keep stopping :).

But I'm going to Peru in a week here, one of the birdiest places around. Pretty excited 'bout that. Still debating on taking my compact or full-size binocs; I'd hate to get the full-size ones stolen right before hunting season, but for eye comfort there's nothing like a good full-sized binoc setup!

[dragonfly]

I'm a second-generation birdbrain; my wife has learned that when we hike we probably won't see much of each other. I keep stopping :).



Yeah, DH has learned to just roll his eyes and humor me when I get started on birds.;)


But I'm going to Peru in a week here, one of the birdiest places around.

Have a grand time and say hi to my feathered friends for me. If you hop over to Brazil, look to see if the martins are forming large roosts down there yet.

[Oldbee]

Dragonfly,..dragonfly! I saw a woodpecker; a Downy I think, at my birdbath! A woodpecker at a birdbath? That's quite unusual, don't you think? It has been dry here though. Ah! what a relief from all this,..............'politics',..a ray of sunshine!

[dragonfly]

Dragonfly,..dragonfly! I saw a woodpecker; a Downy I think, at my birdbath! A woodpecker at a birdbath? That's quite unusual, don't you think? It has been dry here though. Ah! what a relief from all this,..............'politics',..a ray of sunshine!

Yeah, I've had red-bellied and ladder-backed woodies at my bird baths for the past couple of days. Isn't it fun? One of them didn't even fly away when I walked over there. He must be young and dumb still. ;)

[Oldbee]

"ladder-backed woodies at my bird baths for the past couple days. Isn't it fun?

Yes it is! Time to get out the 'feeders' around here. There was a time when I would have driven 600-800 miles to get a 'ladder-backed' on my list; but no longer can I 'hobble around' that far.

[beegee]

Years ago some boys shot a Great Blue Heron in the swamp behind our farm. My grandmama, not being one to waste anything, cooked it. She said it tasted terrible-like bad fish. I've not tried goldfinches with niger seed stuffing yet....

[Galaxy]

The best food to attract woodpeckers are suet cakes. They are about $1.00 at Lowes.

I regularly have Downy, Hairy, Red-Bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers dining on suet cakes. The Pileated is a magnificient bird. It is amazing what they can do, in a short time, to a hard white oak tree with their bills.

[Oldbee]

Thanks Galaxy. I am going to try those suet cakes this winter.

[Sundance]

I am bird crazy as well DF......... one of my favorites
is the Cat Bird (mockingbird family).

We have Orchard Orioles and Baltimore's here as well and
they know the exact minute my plums become perfectly
ripe!!!:)

When I first moved here from Minnesota I was astounded
by the diversity here....... I then found out that North
Dakota is one of the top bird watching states.

[dragonfly]

We have Orchard Orioles and Baltimore's here as well and
they know the exact minute my plums become perfectly
ripe!!!:)



I had an Orchard Oriole migrate through a couple of months ago. It was at the hummingbird feeder, and I thought I had a huge mutant hummer or something.;) It's the first I had ever seen.

[dragonfly]

Thanks Galaxy. I am going to try those suet cakes this winter.

I have a recipe for woodpecker suet you can make yourself if you want. Just let me know. In reality, it's probably just about as cheap as buying it, but at least you know what's in it;)

[Grandpa Jim]

Last week my wife and I were stopped on an exit ramp. A Red-tailed hawk landed just 15 feet from our car in a grassy area. It would look at the ground than at the cars than back at the ground. After a minute or so it hopped about 3 feet and grabbed a vole, than took off. Beautiful bird, would have made a great nature video.

For feeding those woodpeckers, I just put a chunk of beef fat into a 1 inch square hardware cloth holder and hang it on a trunk where I can watch. I trim mine from chuck roast we get in for our business, but any butcher shop would have it cheep or for free.

[dragonfly]

The goldfinches are back! Yippeeee.
Now, I have to brace myself for the thistle seed bill. Bird food has dramatically increased in cost over the past 6 months or so.

[Sundance]

Goldfinches are up there on my favorite list. Love their
song. I run 4 thistle feeders in the warm months. Pine
Siskens take their place in the cold months.

[Sundance]

Here's a site most everyone has used already, but
for those that haven't........ it is a great, fast resource.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/

[dragonfly]

Love their
song. I run 4 thistle feeders in the warm months. .

They have a cute little chirpy sound. They were all over the bird baths today- that's what prompted me to notice they are back. We must get your goldfinches in winter. They will stay here all through the cold, then when they start getting their brilliant breeding color, they take off north. They just about eat more money's worth of food than me during winter here.;)

[Sundance]

They can pound down the thistle to be sure. Worth it
though to lay in the hammock and hear them in the
background.....

[Hobie]

I love birds! Besides the usual suspects at the feeders here(chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, tufted titmice, goldfinches, and hummingbirds in season), the nearby ravine is home to a pair of red-tailed hawks, and there is a sharp-shinned hawk who has occasionally used our feeders as a snack bar. Makes me feel bad, but that's nature. The occasional great blue heron stops in to the ravine brook as well. Our goldfinches are here year-round, but harder to notice in their dull winter plumage.

But I am a bit prejudiced: I can do without the starlings.

My favorite is perhaps the sight I see only once a year if I am lucky. We are on the flyway for a large flock of whistling swans, who pass over in early March or so on the way back to the Canadian tundra. I have seen them twice in three years, and is my first sign of spring here.

[dragonfly]

But I am a bit prejudiced: I can do without the starlings.



I take care of the starling problem here. They will raid purple martin and woodpecker nests and kill the babies. Also, they are the most numerous bird (along with house sparrows) in the country, and they are non-native and unprotected.

[JohnK and Sheri]

Hello, my name is Sheri and I am a bird brain, too.
We feed all year long. Many up here feed only in the winter but then they miss out on so many of the summer residents and they also miss out when the parent birds bring the babies to the feeders for the first time. Downy woodpecker young are hilarious, they can't figure out how to hang on the suet so they try to land on ma or pa, creating all sorts of confusion before they figure it out.
We also have goldfinches year round. Maybe it is the same flock or maybe our summer finches go south in winter and we are getting finches from further north?
The birdhouses in our yard are filled with bluebirds, tree swallows, chickadees, wrens and usually a murderous English Sparrow or two. I try to keep ahead of the sparrows but they eventually wear me out. I trick them by taking all the eggs but one, then they will stay with the one egg and not go bothering the other boxes. If I miss the hatchling later at least only one makes it out the box.
After many years of wishing for cardinals (and waiting for the shrubbery to grow big enough) we finally have a nesting pair. We also have nesting Orioles. It broke my heart a few years ago when their nest with 4 eggs was blown down from a tall Maple tree in our yard during a windstorm. They rebuilt tho and those were fine.

We also have a Sharp Shinned which likes to cruise through occasionally to see if there are any easy pickings. There is a Red Tailed we see in the back field but rarely does it come up into the yard. Usually once or twice a year I will see a Northern Shrike chasing some bird (usually a chickadee it seems) around a willow bush. I have yet to see a successful hunt but they must catch something because they make it from one year to the next.
We have had Kestrils nest in our barn, we have nesting boxes set up so they can come in from the outside but we can look at the chicks from inside. The last few years they haven't been successful in raising any chicks. The eggs disappear one by one til they are gone. I suspect Starlings, but never see one in the act. So any ideas on getting rid of Starlings besides shooting them? Not that I would have any qualms over shooting them; I just don't have time. They are a smart bird and like the sparrows, learn to fly when the window is opened.

Wow, Swans migrating through, that must be cool! We have a family of Sandhill Cranes that nest in the wetlands behind our place and we see them flying regularly and even dancing once. When they arrive is when I call it spring. They are huge birds and I think you can hear them calling from a mile away.
Right now the geese (mostly Canadian but with a few Snows mixed in) are bunching up and forming huge groups, soon they will all be gone south. It is awesome to see practice flights of hundreds of birds flying over, only 100 or so feet off the ground, you can't hear yourself think when they are close (and sure wouldn't want to have your mouth open when they fly over.:) ).
Soon the Morning Doves will be sunning themselves on our feeders and front porch. I don't know where they go in summer, we do have a few nesting pair but in the winter they congregate here and we have counted over 50. Talk about going through the feed!
I don't begrudge any of the birds the feed we give them, they are well worth it in entertainment value. Winter in Wisconsin would be pretty bleak if not for the birds. But between the birds, the deer and the other critters we feed I don't even want to know how much $$ we spend. Bird brain, indeed! Do I need a 12 step program?
Sheri

[dragonfly]

Hello, my name is Sheri and I am a bird brain, too.


:D


Hello, my name is Sheri and I am a bird brain, too.
I try to keep ahead of the sparrows but they eventually wear me out. I trick them by taking all the eggs but one, then they will stay with the one egg and not go bothering the other boxes.

Another trick I have heard, but have not tried yet, because I had no sparrows nesting here this year, is to leave the sparrow nest intact, but take each egg, shake it violently, then place it back and leave them alone to think they are sitting on viable eggs. Like I said, it's just something I heard (or read).


I don't even want to know how much $$ we spend. Bird brain, indeed! Do I need a 12 step program?
Sheri

Yes, you probably do.;)

[Sundance]

Snow Buntings have arrived in large numbers ahead
of this nasty blizzard!! 12 inches of snow to our west,
only a couple inches here of snow (we had 2" of rain
in the last 12 hours).

We're to get a total of 8" of snow! Yuk!!!!:(:(

[dragonfly]

We're to get a total of 8" of snow! Yuk!!!!:(:(

I've been busy picking tomatoes and peppers.:p

[Hobie]

I take care of the starling problem here.

How does one "take care of" starlings? The darn things are lliterally pulling the soffits off my barn to crawl in and nest. They get in my attic, poop everywhere and then die. I'd love to take care of the buggers.

As for suet, if you have a butcher shop near you, you can buy real suet (fat) by the bag. I get a couple huge chunks for about a buck and a half, slice it to fit the basket feeders, and then freeze. The only downside is the space it takes up in the freezer.

[Bizzybee]

8 or 9 shot would work nicely. But I think this is a bird lovers thread.... :shhhh:

[Bizzybee]

Actually I saw something lately where they were nailing or stapling 4 mesh wire around eaves to keep birds out. Should be easy and cheap enough.

[Oldbee]

Starlings: I imagine if you have a barn and some grain/seeds nearby most of the year, starlings would be attracted to your area. In the winter, we can count [Christmas Bird Count] starlings by the hundreds around certain farms around here. Shooting them wouldn't make much of a dent, although the noise might scare them off,..for awhile. Blocking up all the holes/nesting sites in the spring might work, but also be TOO MUCH work,...maybe.

Suet: "The only downside is the space it takes up in the freezer". Holy smokes! How many starlings are you 'feeding'? lol. Maybe putting out suet later in winter would help, but they would probably come back and find it. When I fed suet to a few chickadees and woodpeckers, a chunk a little bigger than a football would last all winter.

Snow Buntings: I know you are closer to Canada but do the buntings always come down this early in the winter in ND.? Does this mean there is going to be an 'influx' around here too? Last year we didn't see many at all, a least not in the south, WI. I like those birds, especially when you see huge flocks swirling around during a snowstorm.

[dragonfly]

How does one "take care of" starlings?

Nestbox trap.

[Sundance]

Snow Buntings: I know you are closer to Canada but do the buntings always come down this early in the winter in ND.?

Yes it seems a bit earlier........ but really we've been spoiled
on above average falls and winters for years. Why when I
was a boy (jezz.. I used to hate hearing that!) this time of
year in Minnesota was often and usually nasty!

Snow buntings are amazing. -20F or -30F and they are flocked
on country roads. Just when you thought no life could exist!

[Hobie]

Re: Starling control.

8 or 9 shot might work but may make a collander out of the tin roof on the barn!

Wire mesh on eaves: This has worked on one barn, but now they are in the big bank barn. Eaves are 3 stories up, and the gables even higher. Wish I could reach up there! There's a broken window in the peak (thank you, pigeons) that needs to be repaired but I can't figure out how.

Will have to look into nest box traps.

[honeyman46408]

Starling control Will have to look into nest box traps.

:sYes tell us more:s

[dragonfly]

:sYes tell us more:s

Okay, for those of you who are offended by those of us who purposely control house sparrows and starlings, please READ NO FURTHER. Please.

Starlings are cavity nesters, so they are easy to trap during breeding season by placing traps that look like nesting boxes. Same with house sparrows. Sparrows are also easy to bait with food, but other species will sometimes get trapped, so you have to monitor traps closely.

I am not inundated with starlings and HS in this specific area, but I trapped about 10 or so starlings and 4 sparrows this season. I didn't have any sparrows or starlings nest on my property for the first time in many years. I had bluebirds, house wrens, carolina wrens, and two species of woodies successfully breed. I built my nest box trap with plans from a purple martin site, and if anyone would like pix and a link to the plans, let me know.

[JohnK and Sheri]

For HS I use traps that go into my regular nesting boxes. They have a wire inside that gets tripped when a bird uses it as a perch upon entering, dropping a door over the entrance. It can be moved from nesting box to nesting box, depending on which ones the HS uses.
I have also gone out at night and put a plastic bag over a nest I knew had a HS in, sometimes I have caught both the nesting pair. You MUST at least catch the male as he is the one who has claimed the box and if you kill the female he will stay at the box and just attract another mate.
The problem with starlings is they use all sorts of cavities, of which we have too many to close off. I have a couple larger nesting boxes I trap them in, but it is a drop in the ocean. I hate those birds!
Sheri

[dragonfly]

For HS I use traps that go into my regular nesting boxes. They have a wire inside that gets tripped when a bird uses it as a perch upon entering, dropping a door over the entrance.

I bought one of those last year, but it didn't fit in my bluebird boxes, so I then had to build new BB houses. No big deal, but now I have too many BB houses to put up on my place.;)


I have a couple larger nesting boxes I trap them in, but it is a drop in the ocean. I hate those birds!
Sheri

I hate them too, but I'm hoping to keep their numbers to a minimum. One of the problems is that one of my neighbors has a PM house up, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't practice S&S control, so I figure I will have to control what he sends my way.:(

[JohnK and Sheri]

I bought one of those last year, but it didn't fit in my bluebird boxes, so I then had to build new BB houses. No big deal, but now I have too many BB houses to put up on my place.;)
I made my own traps based on the first one I bought. It had to be narrower to fit my preferred bluebird houses. At one time I had probably 5 different BB house designs but am now trying to standardize. As they rot out I replace them with standard slope roof design, and my traps fit in there fine.
As for too many houses, is there such a thing? :) If you have nesting tree swallows down by you you could double the houses up? I put two houses really close together, say about 5' apart, the tree swallows will nest in one and since they are pretty feisty, they do help keep the HS away, but they don't mind the bluebirds and vise versa. I have quite a few BBs and find they will nest closer than what the books say, if they aren't in direct sight of each other.


I hate them too, but I'm hoping to keep their numbers to a minimum. One of the problems is that one of my neighbors has a PM house up, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't practice S&S control, so I figure I will have to control what he sends my way.:(

We had a martin house up for two seasons and I found the S&Ss loved it but no martins ever came around so finally took it down as a bad idea.
Sheri

[dragonfly]

As for too many houses, is there such a thing? :) If you have nesting tree swallows down by you you could double the houses up? . I have quite a few BBs and find they will nest closer than what the books say, if they aren't in direct sight of each other.



I wish we did have tree swallows here, but apparently, they don't nest this far south.

I keep my BB houses about 300 ft from each other. Part of our place is open pasture (about 6 acres) and the other has lots of trees (the other 6), so I am limited on where I can place them. It's good to know I may be able to place them closer. What distance do you use?




We had a martin house up for two seasons and I found the S&Ss loved it but no martins ever came around so finally took it down as a bad idea.
Sheri

I've had heartbreak with PM's. It took us 10 years to get the first pair, then we had them consistently for 4 years. The summer of '07, we had a full 12 unit house, then barred owls started attacking and the martins abandoned the site. This year, I put up "owl proof" (probably not really proof but deterrent), and we had no pairs. It may take us another 10 years for all I know, but I have a new martin house that I built this summer, and I am eager to get it put up and see if we have any next year.

[JohnK and Sheri]

We used to go down to either TX or LA for packages in early April and I was amazed at all the Martins down there that time of year. I wanted to catch a bunch, take them up north with me and hold them captive til they promised to come back. :D
I have pairs of BB houses up about 100' apart. Not all of them get filled, we do have lot of tree swallows , and an occasional wren will get territorial, but I have had them nest that close. This is a field I let grow up, there are interspersed scrub, apples and willows but mostly wild grasses, meadow. In the front yard I have houses on both sides of the house, not in direct sight of each other, about 80' apart and I have had them both full at the same time. The birds do seem to avoid each other when hunting. One year I had a nest of babies abandoned and did wonder if it was because they were so close to another nest....I am not an expert and am maybe pushing the envelope, been known to do that;). All in all I imagine I have close to 50 houses up on 10 acres, counting the boxes in the barn. Probably 30 of them are suitable for BBs but the wrens, tree swallows and those !$%^&* HS use them too.
Sheri

[dragonfly]

We used to go down to either TX or LA for packages in early April and I was amazed at all the Martins down there that time of year. I wanted to catch a bunch, take them up north with me and hold them captive til they promised to come back. :D


About 50 miles east of me, they arrive in late Feb. The first ones here, for whatever reason, arrive in mid-March. You would probably have a problem fighting the martin landlords if you take their martins.;)


. All in all I imagine I have close to 50 houses up on 10 acres, counting the boxes in the barn.

Dang! That's impressive.:)

[dragonfly]

Two NORTHERN FLICKERS at the bird baths this morning! WooHoo, I've never seen one in person before.:)

[JohnK and Sheri]

Cool! We have never had Flickers at the bird bath, although they are always around the yard here in summer. They compete with the starlings for nesting boxes, but always lose.:( I think they go on down to the woods and find trees because they manage to raise little ones, I just wish they would win the box nests for once!
I count Sandhill Cranes in the spring and a couple years ago there were so many Flickers in the woods I was afraid I would hit them on the road. They must have had a good take the year before and did well overwintering wherever they do (nctx:)?
Sheri

[dragonfly]

Cool! We have never had Flickers at the bird bath, although they are always around the yard here in summer.

It's kind of funny. I built two bird baths last summer, and I had a pair of red-bellied and a pair of ladderback woodies, and they never visited the birdbaths until the past couple of weeks. Now, they are frequent visitors. It may be because our creek has slowed down and just has a few standing puddles right now, not sure.:s


They must have had a good take the year before and did well overwintering wherever they do (nctx:)?
Sheri

I'll be happy to keep an eye on them for you, then send them back for the breeding season, okay? I'm just thrilled to have some around to look at. They are gorgeous birds.

[Oldbee]

[QUOTE=JohnK and Sheri;367312]Cool! We have never had Flickers at the bird bath, although they are always around the yard here in summer. They compete with the starlings for nesting boxes, but always lose.:(

I have read that for Flickers, you should stuff the box with coarse sawdust or fine wood shavings right up to and including the opening. They have one at Wild Birds Unlimited [around here] with a plug in the hole and already stuffed; never tried it myself though--maybe next spring. It might deter the starlings for awhile--hopefully.

I had a house up for Kestrels that Flickers nested in. Although there was a layer of wood chips on the bottom, they also chipped away pretty good on the bottom of the box itself. It must be a kind of nest building/excavating ritual they need to do.

[JohnK and Sheri]

Thanks Oldbee, that sounds like a good tip, I will try it next year.
Sheri

[dragonfly]

[quote=JohnK and Sheri;367312]. It must be a kind of nest building/excavating ritual they need to do.

I've read than many of the woodpecker species males use the pecking and nest-making as a mating ritual to attract females.

[Hobie]

The pecking definitely. I had a flicker who sat on my chimney and drummed on the sheet metal cap during mating season. Let me tell you, that is one heck of a weird noise to someone inside the house who has no idea what is going on!

Also had red-bellied and piliated woodpeckers drum on the metal barn roof, and (more to my liking) nearby trees.

[Hambone]

I thought you Bird Brains may find this interesting.


Ninety years of birdwatchers' notes going online

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/03/26/pp.bird.usgs/index.html

[dragonfly]

Thanks Derek:)
I'll check it out.

[honeyman46408]

Thanks Derek I was just thinking about this thread as I watch the Fenches that are turning gold for spring

[justin]

yeah i am one too.in tennessee while i was growing up i would sit out at night and call owls in. i have 2 pair of bald eagles nesting with in 3 miles(different directions) a great horned owl nests on the cliffs nearby.i leave a deer carcass (after i cut off all the meat) hanging hi in a tree in the back yard and we have gray jays and stellar jays all winter.coopers hawks in the summer. lots of swallows in the summer, just heard a wild turkey yesterday evening.lots of flickers, mountain and western bluebirds, kestrels.i also like watching the mergansers, herons and bobbers on the river. i hunt the grouse but also love seeing them.especially the blues.i also have a one footed raven who waits for me to leave the house before landing in the compost. and the cedar waxwings. i have seen 2 pygmy owls as well.both were eating song birds.

[Scrapfe]

I have an addiction to birds. There. I said it.;)...
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else here likes birds.

I would like to know when the first Ruby Throated Hummingbirds show up at your feeders.
:scratch: :s :applause:

[Hambone]

I would like to know when the first Ruby Throated Hummingbirds show up at your feeders.
:scratch: :s :applause:

I don't know birds very well, but I had 2 Hummingbirds working the Henbit in my yard 3 weeks ago. Don't know if they were Ruby or not, but I love watching the hummingbirds. These were smaller than your average hummingbird.

[Scrapfe]

I don't know birds very well, but I had 2 Hummingbirds working the Henbit in my yard 3 weeks ago. Don't know if they were Ruby or not, but I love watching the hummingbirds. These were smaller than your average hummingbird.

There is a whole Galaxy of hummers available to those in the West, since I don't know where in Texas you is, it is hard to say. Sounds like Rufous or Ruffus hummers to me. el Diablo of the hummers.
http://www.hummingbirds.net/rufous.html

[dragonfly]

I would like to know when the first Ruby Throated Hummingbirds show up at your feeders.
:scratch: :s :applause:

I have three hummers so far, but honestly, I haven't gotten out the binocs to determine which variety. I get Ruby Throats and Black Chinned here. I'll look today.

[dragonfly]

I don't know birds very well, but I had 2 Hummingbirds working the Henbit in my yard 3 weeks ago. Don't know if they were Ruby or not, but I love watching the hummingbirds. These were smaller than your average hummingbird.

Derek, they will also work Indian Paintbrush and Cardinal Climber. The paintbrushes are in bloom right now.

[Hambone]

There is a whole Galaxy of hummers available to those in the West, since I don't know where in Texas you is, it is hard to say. Sounds like Rufous or Ruffus hummers to me. el Diablo of the hummers.
http://www.hummingbirds.net/rufous.html

I was looking on that site. Looks like I am seeing the female Ruby Throat .


Derek, they will also work Indian Paintbrush and Cardinal Climber. The paintbrushes are in bloom right now.

We have a really good crop of Indian Paintbrush bloom this year. Looks really good.

[dragonfly]

I was looking on that site. Looks like I am seeing the female Ruby Throat .



Rufous is a little larger (if I remember correctly) and is pretty agressive at the feeder.

[Eaglerock]

Every parakeet I've ever had died, so I just let the birds live in nature and watch them. .

You bored them to death... plus they didn't want to be the center of this birds and the BEES thing.... :lpf:

[dragonfly]

You bored them to death...

Gee. Thanks.

[Eaglerock]

Gee. Thanks.

You are not to post one or two words in here... Or..Moderator DRAGON FLY will sting your bum.

Oh wait... that's YOU!!! :lookout:


PS. You're welcome sunshine... anytime. :p

[TheMaineBee]

Lol. I'm a bird fanatic also.
I have a cockatiel named, Tulip. I used to babysit a cockatiel some years ago.
I've had two finches, an african grey and a parakeet.

I've always loved birds, my mother is the same way!:)

[dragonfly]

I have three hummers so far, but honestly, I haven't gotten out the binocs to determine which variety. I get Ruby Throats and Black Chinned here. I'll look today.

Black Chinned.

[Joel]

Redbellied Woodpecker, 1st. I've seen in 40 yrs of birding, suet cage, Sunday April 05 - 0700 hrs!

[dragonfly]

Redbellied Woodpecker, 1st. I've seen in 40 yrs of birding, suet cage, Sunday April 05 - 0700 hrs!

That's wonderful. I had a pair of them that bred here last year (I saw a new one here yesterday), and a pair of ladder-backed woodies too. A few days ago, I saw a downy woodpecker- I'm sure they've been here before, and I just didn't recognize them.
I have a good suet recipe if you are interested in making your own, and the woodpeckers love it, as do the bluejays.

[Hobie]

I have downies, hairies, and red-bellies here, thanks (mixed blessing) to a plethora of bug-infested trees. They seem to much prefer the chunks of beef fat I get from the butcher down the road to any of the store-bought suet.

[cow pollinater]

We had a thunderstorm blow over the other day and it destroyed a feeder that I had in a tree behind the shop. My three-year old girl found it and panicked as now the birdies won't have any dinner. She wanted to glue it back together but it was pretty well shot. She rattled off a few names that she's only heard me say once or twice like she'd been watching birds for years.
This afternoon I went to the store and bought everything I could get my hands on that looked like it might draw in a bird or two and I hung it all with an open view from the house. She has spent the entire afternoon waiting for birds to start visiting her feeders.:)
I've just about got my wife convinced to let me build the mother of all observation hives in our wall and this new bird interest moves us much closer to my version of utopia.:D

[dragonfly]

She rattled off a few names that she's only heard me say once or twice like she'd been watching birds for years.
This afternoon I went to the store and bought everything I could get my hands on that looked like it might draw in a bird or two and I hung it all with an open view from the house. She has spent the entire afternoon waiting for birds to start visiting her feeders.:)


That is a wonderful story.:)
You can build her a feeder station like I have. It's a treated 4x4 that was 12 ft long, sunk in concrete about 3 ft. Put two cross pieces (or three if you like) starting at about 6 ft, with the crosses going in different directions. Mine has 2 wood "crosses" at about 6 feet and 7 1/2 ft, and I bolted a piece of 2" angle at the top to hang two woodpecker suet feeders on, and the birds also use it as a perch. I'll try to send or post a pic if you want.
It's really great, and it keeps all the feeders in a single area, making filling them simpler, and it's just plain fun to see so many birds in one place. I have a seed feeder (the wire mesh kind), a hopper-style feeder for small seed, a finch feeder, and another hopper-style specifically for safflower seeds (the cardinals and house finches love safflower). It's a great hobby for a kid to get interested in. The next thing you need to do is buy her a good pair of binocs.;)

[Parke County Queen]

I am a bird watcher (nerd) too! We live on the edge of the woods and see many birds. I have a nesting pair of bluebirds right now, but have to keep a watch out for house sparrows (ugh). In the summer, my favorite bird is the rose breasted grosbeak.

http://s106.photobucket.com/albums/m245/Lisayowell/?action=view&current=RBG2.jpg

[Joel]

That's wonderful. I had a pair of them that bred here last year (I saw a new one here yesterday), and a pair of ladder-backed woodies too. A few days ago, I saw a downy woodpecker- I'm sure they've been here before, and I just didn't recognize them.
I have a good suet recipe if you are interested in making your own, and the woodpeckers love it, as do the bluejays.


Definately! We are working to grow all our own food this year and heck, it would be great to do our own bird food as well, except of course for the fatty part! :)

[dragonfly]

Woodpecker suet recipe: (beware the grackles and bluejays also love it.:D)1 cup beef suet, shortening, or bacon drippings1 cup chunky peanut butter4 cups cornmeal1 cup white flourI melt the shortening together with the peanut butter in the microwave for about a minute in a large glass bowl. then add the cornmeal and flour. If the mix turns out too dry, I add more shortening. I usually also add some quick-cooking oatmeal (dry) and some pieces of chopped up raisins or other dried fruit. Truth be told, it's probably cheaper to buy suet cakes from Walmart or Lowe's, but I like to know what's going into the birdfood.;)