Birdwatchers?

[sammyjay]

Hi, I was wondering if there is any fellow birdwatchers here? If you are one and you haven't joined already, you should join http://www.birdforum.net/forum.php.

[dragonfly]

Most definitely a bird-watcher here. I feed, watch, and build housing nestboxes for them here. It's been a slow year, probably due to the heat and drought, but I usually have huge numbers.

[honeyman46408]

Not realy a bird watcher but do watch a lot of birds at the feeder, when some one comes by for coffee or.........they say we don`t have any birds at our house, do you have a feeder? NO wonder why they don`t have birds. I feed about 200 pounds of sun flower seed a year and no tellin how many souit blocks. Oh and probably 5 pound of sugar feeding hummers or watching them fight over the feeder.

[Oldbee]

I became interested in identifying and watching birds in about 1955-56; it is what got me interested in biology in general. It is certainly a lot different now with the internet,..,... Now, you can watch Wood Duck ducklings climb out of their nest box and watch how Chimney Swifts build their nests out of sticks and saliva, and raise the young from the comfort of your computer chair,... And "chat" about it with other birders on forums from all around the world.
Thanks for the link; there are many. I like this one > http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/bald-...-leucocephalus

[BeeGhost]

Im not a true bird watcher, but I enjoy watching the raptors, humming birds and ducks/geese. I like watching the mocking birds catch my bees, and watching my bees go after the mocking bird!! While I am hunting ducks and geese in the marshes and fields I also enjoy watching them decoy into my spread, bu I also like watching teal screaming low over the tules and watching mallards and pintail lock up into a pond, wether its the one I am in or somewhere else.

As much as I love hunting, I also enjoy watching the wildlife around me.

[lcl]

I am an amateur birdwatcher living in Norther California. Have not gone on any birding trips since our little boy was born but things are picking up now that he is 7

A couple of months ago, just about the time I brought my first two hives home, I noticed that one of the bird houses that was used earlier by a family of White Nuthatches had new residents. To my surprised, it turned out to be an Ash-throated Flycatcher family. Knowing that they love insects, I was concerned about the safety of my bees as the bird house was just about 30 ft. away from the hives... I was torn between my two hobbies. What shall I do? Shall I take their eggs? Shall I allow the 5 eggs to hatch and endanger my new bees colonies? With the gentle, clumsy bees a few feet away will they find other insects to feed their young? Hoping for the best I did not intervene and allowed the flycatchers to hatch. I kept an eye on the two parents and observed their behavior and the food they brought to their young. What a relief to see that they did not touch my bees. If they did, they sure ambushed them out of my sight

After this long introduction here are my questions for all the birdwatchers out there - do you know of any birds in North America that prey on bees? Have you had any problems with birds interfering with your bee hives? Hope to hear from both birdwatcher and beeks alike.

LCL

[Gypsi]

I am a very amateur birdwatcher, but I have ponds and feed the birds, so I do get quite a show in my own backyard. What I want to know, from any experienced birdwatcher, is what the heck the bird is on the cover of my wild birds of north america field guide, because I saw one at my feeder and thought someone's love bird had escaped. (This is not a burning question - no time to join a bird forum, the bees are killing my work productivity). I didn't even pull the book out, til yesterday, to ID a gorgeous meadowlark. (a bit larger than the baltimore orioles that are NOT supposed to visit Texas, but I see one a year) But this bird was blue head, red belly, black wings with chartreuse on the shoulders. And apparently checking out the black sunflower seeds in my feeder. Small. I really thought it was a love bird.

And - grackles prey on bees, (and yellow jackets) First time I see one touch a bee, I think the bbgun is coming out. There are way too many grackles and cowbirds running all the other birds away from my pond.

[lcl]

But this bird was blue head, red belly, black wings with chartreuse on the shoulders. And apparently checking out the black sunflower seeds in my feeder. Small. I really thought it was a love bird.

I believe you are referring to a male Painted Bunting. Do a google image search and see if that is the bird that visited your yard...

Regards,

LCL

[Gypsi]

It is. Thank you for the info. The one good thing about the hot weather and drought is that I have ponds, including one outside my kitchen window near the bird feeder. I have seen the most amazing birds this year. Although sad to say, my friends the mourning doves aren't liking the crowds. White wing doves seem to be dominating, and the darned grackles, starlings and cowbirds come in and take over for at least a couple of hours a day.

[honeyman46408]

and the darned grackles, starlings and cowbirds come in and take over for at least a couple of hours a day.

What are you feeding that they eat?

[Gypsi]

What are you feeding that they eat?

Water. Waterfall. Free birdy showers. I rigged a safe bathing area on my top falls because they were tearing my waterlilies up.
They eat the black sunflower seeds from the feeder too, but mainly all of the birds come for the water. We have a massive drought.

[Barry]

I've been getting the grackles and starlings as well this year. I see them on the suet and the black sunflower seed. I even saw a mourning dove and robin get on the suet feeder cage that is hung from a branch by a wire.

[Bee Bliss]

I love the loons we see/hear when we camp in northern Wisconsin. Hauntingly eerie and beautiful.

[honeyman46408]

I hang the seut feeders balanced (hung in the center) with a cover on top and the starlins can`t hang upside down to feed, fun to watch them try.

[Gypsi]

I can't feed Suet, it melts.

[lcl]

And - grackles prey on bees, (and yellow jackets) First time I see one touch a bee, I think the bbgun is coming out. There are way too many grackles and cowbirds running all the other birds away from my pond.

We do not have Grackles in Northern California but this morning I noticed a pair of Scrub Jays patrolling the hives area. Because it was too early in the morning, the bees were not out yet so they picked up some dead bees that were in front of the hive. They also picked up a couple of drowned bees from the cans that keep the ants away...