BS: Birdwatching 2009

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 16 Jun 09 - 11:54 AM

Vireo parents are housekeeping. We observed several fecal sacs being carried out--diaper duty.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 02:35 AM

Listened to a Barred Owl right outside my family room window tonight for quite some time. It has moved off now. don't know if it is the same one or not, but can still hear it/them from sounds like 2-4 blocks away.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 12:33 PM

It's vewwy quiet out there. The vireo family seems to have moved out into the wide, scary world.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 10:59 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 25 Jun 09 - 02:20 PM

New vireos have moved in we are now serenaded consistently.

At the Clearwater Revival, I saw a bluebird for the first time in the wild. The usual crowd of goldfinches, etc were also there.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 04 Jul 09 - 12:44 PM

Saw an interesting phenom last night. As we were driving past an unmown field, I saw a lot of "ghostly" glows flickering over the field. They appeared sort of bluish white and were flickering on and off. After going back for a second look we realized that they were fireflies in higher densities than we had even noticed before.

Very eerie and very beautiful.

Could phenomena like this have led to "ghost" sightings?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 03:12 PM

Beer's nesting catbird has a cousin over here. He's dancing around and singing like the glory of heaven and keeps a stern eye on me working out in the vegetable garden. Seems to be interested in a robing's nest that emptied out a couple of weeks ago when the red red robins went bob bob bobbing along.

Joining me in the garden were an Eastern Phoebe and a shy yet friendly Wood Pewee, each catching insects within an arm's reach. The other day Truelove watched a phoebe catch a moth quite near him, so he snatched up another moth and tossed it in the air. He was rewarded by the very close swoop and snap of the phoebe as it caught the second moth as well.

Yesterday evening we were gazing out the kitchen door, wondering who would be coming in for an evening meal. To our delight and surprise a female Baltimore Oriole appeared on the shepherd's crook feeder stand, then fluttered down to...not the hummingbird feeder, but the suet cage!

Shortly before that three male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks visited the sunflower feeder for quite a while. At least one was feeding his brown-striped fledgling. Hummers are active again, though still secretive, and the Downy and Hairy woodpeckers bring their young in for meals, as do the Purple Finches.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 11:25 AM

Send in the rogaine? (This is really neat. There's more about it at the link: Chi-chi-chi

Bald-headed, pink-faced songbird discovered
By Jennifer Viegas

A bald-headed songbird with a pink, nearly featherless face and distinctive calls has just been found in a rugged region of Laos, according to scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Melbourne who made the discovery.

Aside from its unique characteristics, the avian is noteworthy because it is the only known bald songbird in Asia.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 10:57 PM

The grackles turned into such pigs that I stopped filling the suet feeders. I'll start up again after they head south this fall.

Just this past week, the squirrels finally figured out how to hang upside down from the hook, keeping their weight off the perches of two spring-loaded "Droll Yankee" "squirrel proof" feeders.

One of them lost his tail to one of the cats when he dropped down off of it to the ground.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 03 Aug 09 - 09:08 PM

Actually, I just remembered that the suet/peanut nuggets I purchased previously were generously laced with hot pepper, and the last two bags I bought are not.

At last the hummers are coming regularly to the hummingbird feeder, instead of just the very occasional visit. The cardinals, titmice, chickadees, etc., have fledged their last brood of the season. I think I notice that without the pressure of a new nest full of chicks about to come along the parents are somewhat more tolerant of the last fledglings staying around in the territory, and don't go after them so agressively.

Although I was buried in goldfinches through the winter and early spring, they have been only occasional visitors to the feeders since mid-June. I'm assuming that is because of the food supply available in the fields, meadows, and perennial gardens in the area.

I have at least one pair of downy woodpeckers who live here year round. I'd like to attract more woodpeckers to get after the red oak borers. I occasionally see a maile red-bellied woodpecker, though he most in evidence when the mulberry was fruiting.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 04 Aug 09 - 04:27 AM

Rochester Golf Club in New York State, have the answer to the Canada Goose invasion of their beloved course, shoot `em, their is a long list of volunteers willing to take on this dangerous task.
Only in the USA, the answer to every problem is the gun.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: scouse
Date: 04 Aug 09 - 04:48 AM

I normally feed me Turtle Doves every day on me balcony. In winter the most I had was 17 now it's about 6 to 8,however recently a Wood Pigeon has come to join the party and yesterday he or she brought the young one along. It was great.One or two have become quite tame and allow me to walk outside while they sit on my table.. Quite lovely to watch.
I've seen...("On me Balcony.")
Blackbird,
Song Thrush,
Blue Tits,
Rose Ringed Parakeet.(Escapees and now living in the park across the way)Hanging peanuts out for them in winter is great fun watching their antics...
Jay
Jackdaws,
Greenfinch
Robins

As Aye,

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 04 Aug 09 - 07:14 AM

Here in Midcoast Maine, my ongoing favorite for its song and elusive habits is the wood thrush. There are several this summer. They haunt the woods and edges of the pine grove, their song echoing over the farm gardens in the late afternoon and evening. The rubythroat hummingbirds have raised their young'uns, and buzz to the monarda patches blooming in scarlet, rose, plum, and crimson.

***********************************
From: ard mhacha
Date: 04 Aug 09 - 04:27 AM
"Only in the USA, the answer to every problem is the gun."

ard mhacha- With respect, if you look into the issue of unwanted goose populations in the USA and similar population issues worldwide, you will find many situations with many solutions. I have used several of the alternative methods described in the pages of the third link listed below.

Both gun use/ownership and the handling of excessive populations of wildlife are complex issues and will be better served by cordial discussion in appropriate threads. If I can help with a clearer understanding of American lives and cultures you are welcome to contact me via PM.

I found this article

Legal information (state of NY)

Methods for dealing with excessive goose populations

Regards,

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 04 Aug 09 - 02:25 PM

American goldfinches are mating and building nests. Such a lovely, fluttering mating dance in the air!

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 04 Aug 09 - 03:10 PM

I was watering Mum's flowers around 7AM and would not have even seen them if they hadn't called out. I assume they called out to me so I wouldn't miss seeing 4 loons flying directly overhead. Now, what they were doing flying over here?... I haven't a clue! I was taken aback.

I remarked, out loud, "Holy fuck! Can you imagine that!?" Out of Mum's kitchen window came, "Holy what? Are you talking to God? If I can hear you, as deaf as I am, so can the neighbours."

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 05 Aug 09 - 03:12 PM

Resident populations of Canada Geese are a problem throughout the US. Quite a few people have received a dinner as part of local population control issues.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 11:45 AM

EBarnacle,I think the people of the US are the problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 12:25 PM

Yer an ard man, yee are. Geese are nasty and vile creatures that can inflict serious pain and injury. Not to mention that they can shit twice their weight daily.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 05:35 AM

Gnu remember the neighbours are listening.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: freda underhill
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 07:01 AM

This afternoon I wandered around Sydney harbour, by the Botanic gardens, with Sandra (from Sydney, yes, THAT Sandra) and amongst the cacophany of birds calling were a flock of sulphur crested cockatoos, diving and swooping up and around the treetops!

aaahhh...

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: freda underhill
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 07:12 AM

..and when I came home, in the back yard, there was a flock of king parrots up in the huge gum tree. They were female, because they had green heads..



..but now it's dark, and the birds are quiet!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: scouse
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 09:08 AM

Where in deep shit over here in the Netherlands at the moment!! We have Trichomonas gallinae going around, we've been told to stop giving them Food and Water and clean everything. Luckily none of my lot seem sick at the moment but I'm keeping my eyes peeled.
As Aye,
Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 09:50 AM

Freda... beautiful!

The Hummimgbirds are in full training maneuvers here. They've only been at the feeders regularly for a few weeks and they are very flighty. Sadly, Mum won't get much time with them this year. I assume the males will fly south anytime in the next twos weeks, the females and young within two weeks of the males.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 08:02 PM

Say what?

It is play. Not a fight. They "play."

Anyone else watch such behaviour or similar?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 09:52 PM

I've watched ravens play, gnu. Diving, then suddenly rolling, sometimes seeming to glide belly up- it's a wonderful ballet of the air. I love to watch them, and I love their remarkable vocabulary of calls and talky sounds.

Barn and tree swallows play Drop and Catch the White Feathers over and over again with no discernible goal except the game itself and the practice of flight maneuvers. We keep a couple of white feathers handy for that purpose.

Finally, cedar waxwings spend time apparently playing with flower petals, or berries. They pass them up and down long lines of waxwings perched on branches. The berries they eat, eventually, but the petals? Petals all seem to end up floating to the ground when the game is over.

Eagles are amazing, I agree.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 09:48 AM

A pair of Black-and-White Warblers have stopped by for some rest and refreshment on their way south for the winter. They are tired enough to not be very skittish and allowed me to get amazingly close to the birdbath.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 03:49 PM

A flock of a dozen or more bluebirds are making a rest stop of our gardens and orchard. Males, females, and young are all flying from cherry trees to utility lines and back, swooping down to the grass, and eating the blue arrow-wood berries in the hedgerow. The adults hace examined several nest boxes. Joining in the air dance are several unfamiliar warblers, a buzzard, nuthatches, chickadees, sapsuckers, a phoebe, and an ovenbird.

The little phoebe thinks he owns the orchard.
maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: scouse
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 07:10 AM

Bugger!! I thought we'd got rid of it during my holiday but Trichomonas gallinae has returned in the east of the Netherlands.Over here on the west coast I hope we'll be Ok but ya never know!!
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: GUEST,Black Belt Caterpillar Wrestler
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 07:30 AM

Had a scrabbling at the bedroom window one morning last week, got out of bed and slowly cracked open the blinds to find the local kestrel looking in at me from 18" away.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 02:43 PM

An amazing video of a Swallow, some bird brain, seeing is believing,http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=email&v=3GQGKdl9B9E

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 03:13 PM

Very cool!





Expecting the juncos to appear just any day now. Took down all the feeders and cleaned and sanitized them this weekend, and have added a log suet feeder with perches, which should be easier for the Bluebirds to access than the perchless wire suet cake feeders.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 07:09 PM

Wow, classical operant conditioning in a "natural" environment.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: scouse
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 10:45 AM

The Parrots have returned and are eating me out of house and home!!!Peanuts,Peanuts plus they seem to love the "Fat." balls I hang on the Balcony.
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 02:38 PM

One little junco has just turned up under a feeder. I was almost right on the money!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ragdall
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 10:59 PM

I have regular visits from Northern Flickers, Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Pine Siskins, House Sparrows, House Finches, a male Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatches and had a guest appearance from a Brown Creeper, Oct. 27th.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 09:28 AM

"Somebody's knocking on the door..." Never mind, it's the Hairy Woodpeckers finding insects and the nuthatches' store of seeds hidden in the siding and roof.

Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings, Black-capped Chickadees, Great Horned Owl, Downy Woodpeckers, Brown Creepers, Barred Owl, Canada Geese, Bald Eagles, various kinds of sparrows, American Crows, Ravens, American Goldfinches, a multitude of migrating warblers, and a flock of migrating unidentified birds whose calls in flight sounded like little horns, "Toot, tooot, tooot..."

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:19 AM

Here's a link to an active Hummingbird Cam, with a newly hatched young one: Click here for website

Caution: web cams can become addictive!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 04:08 PM

Oh, the other fascinating "cam" features this year's class of 20 whooping cranes being guided by ultra-light aircraft in their migration from Wisconsin to Florida: click here for website

This year's migration is way behind schedule (they're currently in Illinois) and folks are beginning to worry about winter weather. They may need to ship them south by FedEx,

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 05:55 PM

That hummer's wedcam is way cool, Charlie.

The rain and wind and cooler temps have the birds hitting the feeders as if it is January and a snowstorm is coming.

Guess they also need to aclimate.


In my next life I am going to live on a major migratory flyway. (either that, or be a migratory bird.)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 08:57 PM

Janie-

My wife managed to capture a screen-shot of the newly hatched hummingbird being fed. That was the high point of her week (my wife's!).

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 10:53 AM

Bald eagles
Ravens
Black-capped chickadees
Hairy and Downy woodpeckers
Rose-breasted and common nuthatches
American crows
American goldfinches
Barred owls
Great Horned owls
Brown creepers
Slate-sided juncos
Piliated woodpeckers
several migrating warblers and sparrows
Canada geese
wild turkeys
unidentified ducks migrating
others I'm too sleepy to remember.

This time of year our outside work causes waves of little birds to shift and swirl from one clump of bird food plants to another; almost like in Spring.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 01:27 PM

This past weekend, Lady Hillary and I were headed to Port Jervis, NY and spotted a bald eagle where we had never seen one before--just into Sussex county, NJ but nowhere near the Delaware River.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 08:49 PM

So far this fall i am not seeing nearly the number of birds at the feeders as I usually do by now. My sister, over on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, has noticed the same thing.

We are almost 7 weeks past the average 1st frost date, and all either of us have seen is an occasional light dustings in low lying areas. (My parents, who live outside of Charleston, WV, still have not had a hard frost.) Roses and impatiens are still blooming here, most unusual for early December.

Many common species of birds that live here year round are migratory in the northern part of their range, and so we get higher populations in winter of birds like Northern Cardinals, White-throated Sparrows, Chickadees, tufted titmice, etc. Numberous Dark-eyed Juncos usually winter here and leave in spring. I have only seen a handful of juncos and the populations of the year round species do not seem to have increased as is usual by now. I'm guessing that warmer conditions across the Eastern USA are resulting in the birds either not migrating as far south, delaying the time of winter migration, or the birds are extending their year-round range further north.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 08:52 PM

Oh - forgot the reason I opened this thread to post to begin with!

A sharp-shinned hawk has taken to perching on a power line not 20 feet from my back porch, and is not at all bothered by my comings and goings so I have been getting the opportunity to observe it at close range for extended periods.

Such sleek and handsome little hawks!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 05:46 AM

Sharpies are wonderful birds, Janie. We enjoy watching the local Sharpie trying to snatch chickadees; all of whom easily evade capture and laugh as they do.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 08:11 AM

I stuck a small suction-cup window feeder onto the window nearest the computer about a month ago. No birds visited it until the first snow hit. Chickadees were first of course, but since dawn this morning the American Goldfinches have been feeding nonstop on black oil sunflower seeds.

I just realized that most of the songs I write have birds in them.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:26 PM

Last two winters, we have had a large flock of (good lord, I can't remember the name.... maeve?) feed on the apples in Mum's tree. The tree is left unpruned to be ornamental and to provide winter birdfeed.

A Sharpie uses it similarly and I have a fair bit of video, one at about 12' away... gruesome, but it's nature.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:33 PM

Cedar waxwings, gnu? It's a great bird tree.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:34 PM

Cedar Waxwings! Had to look it up.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:41 PM

Interestingly, the goldfinches disappeared again shortly after sunrise.

and 400...Birds of a feather...

maeve