Any birdwatchers here?

duchess15

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Originally Posted by chichismom

I wish I could identify them by sound! Heck, half the time I can't identify them when I can see them lol. Post your shorebirds!!!!! I'd love to see them!
Is it free to join the audubon society? I'd like to join, just never really checked into it
It takes a lot of time!
I don't even know that many! I learn as I go. You would have to check out your local Audubon society and find out, but most often there is an annual fee of around $15-30. I would do a search online to see if you can find one and if they have a website. Most of them do these days and you could find out all the information you need that way.
 

kathryn41

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I discovered birdwatching when we moved to Georgia. My new husband had a birdfeeder out back that quickly became the focus for the cats. The back windows are now nicknamed 'kitty tv'. I didn't think I would ever become any good at identifying all of the different birds, however, I started my 'life list' last year and armed with several really good bird identification books and a pair of binoculars the list is growing extensively. The last 2 Februaries I also participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell University which was lots of fun. We now have 9 different feeding stations set up along with a standard bird bath and 4 large planter bases at ground level which are filled with water. I get a lot of fun watching the birds come and take baths! I have also noticed other wildlife eating the fallen seed and drinking from the ground water-filled planters - squirrels, opossum, a number of rabbits and even a rat! I have also chased hawks away from the feeders. We have large resident flocks of pigeons, doves, cowbirds, blackbirds and chipping sparrows but enough variety of others to make it interesting. Sometimes the yard is a riot of colour -bluebirds, indigo buntings, cardinals, towhees, red-headed woodpeckers, starlings, mockingbirds, purple finches, goldfinches - well, my life list now has 53 different species that have visited our backyard.
 
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chichismom

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Originally Posted by jean-ji

I love the birds in our yard, so do the cats and the dog.
Birds are so fun to watch and they co-exist with the squirrels at the feeder with no problem. Lately some pigeons have been vying with the doves for the food on the ground, they can be big and I didn't realize they were different in colors.
I think word has gotten around in the bird circles, because I seem to be going through the birdfeed faster and faster.
Yes, word travels fast in the bird world
Many people hate pidgeons- I personally like them


Originally Posted by gailuvscats

OK, not to be a snob, but you have much to learn about the "good birds" and the "not so good birds". A not so good bird is one that is not native, pushes out the native species and are a dirty nuisance.

Your house sparrow, the last one that is brown with the black throat is hated by many bird lovers because it will take over another birds nest killing all the babies and eggs in the process. Many people deliberately try to kill them by shaking them out of shrubs during a snow storm hoping they won't find their way back before they die.

Next nuisance is the brown headed cow bird. These guys are really gross. They will knock eggs out of a nest and deposit their own and then leave. It is obvious sometimes when you see a little bird feeding a giant chick.

I hate pigeons because they are filthy, pooped in a plant dish with water, which my elderly cat drank from and it almost killed her.

The red bird is a house finch. He is the male and the counter part looks the same but the color is more drab.
I love all animals big or small, good or bad
with that being said, I can understand why people dislike certain species. It makes me sad for the baby birds that get killed by them- but, this is a part of nature. I could never in a million years kill a little housesparrow so cruely- that seriously makes me want to cry that people would do that. These birds are just doing what comes naturally to them, even if we as humans don't agree with it - it does'nt give us the right to kill such a prescious creature and make him suffer in such a manner. They are acting out of nature, we are acting out of hatred.
My brownheaded cowbirds
oh how I love them. Sorry, but I do. They are one of the species that I watch daily. The adults ALWAYS feed the younger ones who hang around under the feeders. One of the most tender things I have seen.
I'm sorry your kitty got sick from the pidgeons. My cats are strictly indoors- but I make sure to wash the areas where I feed the birds EVERY day. At least once a day. There are a few neighborhood cats around, and I would hate for them, the other birds , squirrels etc... to get ill from droppings. I also change the bird water at least twice a day
Many avid birders HATE cats! I'm sure the cats have taken the lives of some of my birdies. But do I hate them, No -quite the opposite
That is their nature. Sure, they probably don't kill them to eat, they just do it out of instinct.
Thank you for telling me what my little birdies are! I would have never guessed the little red guy to be a house finch


Originally Posted by GailC

Living in the "country" we have a great number of birds.
We are lucky to have many predator birds-esp an expanding population of bald eagles in my area. If only that peacock would "disappear!!
I mix my own bird seed using black oil sunflower (60%), safflower seed, cracked corn (winter only wrong birds come to feeder otherwise), thistle or a finch finch seed.
You have a peacock!?!? I guess he's loud? I'd love to see one in the wild! Bald Eagles are quite the treat as well


Originally Posted by menagerie mama

Yes that's one of my favorite things too. I love going places and then coming home and going online trying to identify birds I don't know by their sound or color. I do that with a lot of things though, birds, animals, bugs, plants...I love learning about it all!
Me too! I'm always online trying to figure out what something is lol

Originally Posted by gemlady

http://www.naturesongs.com/birds.html

Just one of several sites with bird song. Also fun to use around the cats.
lol my cats don't seem to mind- but you should see Willy's face lol!

Originally Posted by pushylady

Great pictures! I've been trying for ages to get a shot of the cardinals that come to my feeder, but everytime I move, they fly away.
Right now I have maily chickadees coming as I took down my two big feeders and just put up a finch feeder with niger seed. I was having to fill the other feeders every day!! I can't afford that! Apparently, word got out about the good food and we were inundated with grackles, doves and sparrows. They knock a lot of seed off too, which the squirrels enjoy.
Here's a pic I took of a red winged blackbird while out walking. I love their song too.
Thank you!!!!! Now I get to see a red wing whenever I want!!!!
If I can, I try to sit outside a while after I feed them. That way they get used to me being out there- so whenever I go to take pics, they feel right at home

Yup, I fill my feeders twice a day $$$$$$$$$!

Originally Posted by ShopCat

We have alot of birdwatcing action here on the Florida space coast!
Our neighbor keeps a feeder & water in the yard, & we get the usual mockingbirds, grackles, mourning doves & stuff like that, but we also get red bellied wood peckers, & have also seen a southern flicker, which is another type of woodpecker. I once saw a white ibis feeding in our backyard, which never happened before, although we see those birds alot around here. I've seen Sandhill Cranes, kingfishers, snail kites, herons, egrets, osprey, least & royal terns, brown pelicans, woodstorks, pileated woodpeckers, waxwings, & even Bald Eagles. Birding in Florida is wonderful, there is always something going on, wherever you go!

Here is a pic of the ibis in our backyard..
Whoa!!! I've never seen an Ibis! Cool looking guy! I don't think I could live in Florida! I'd never get anything done with all those birds to watch lol!

Originally Posted by Duchess15

It takes a lot of time! lol I don't even know that many! I learn as I go. You would have to check out your local Audubon society and find out, but most often there is an annual fee of around $15-30. I would do a search online to see if you can find one and if they have a website. Most of them do these days and you could find out all the information you need that way.
Thanks! I've been on the website for the St. Louis chapter before- I'll have to see if I bookmarked it



Originally Posted by Kathryn41

I discovered birdwatching when we moved to Georgia. My new husband had a birdfeeder out back that quickly became the focus for the cats. I didn't think I would ever become any good at identifying all of the different birds, however, I started my 'life list' last year and armed with several really good bird identification books and a pair of binoculars the list is growing extensively. The last 2 Februaries I also participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell University which was lots of fun. We now have 9 different feeding stations set up along with a standard bird bath and 4 large planter bases at ground level which are filled with water. I get a lot of fun watching the birds come and take baths! I have also noticed other wildlife eating the fallen seed and drinking from the ground water-filled planters - squirrels, opossum, a number of rabbits and even a rat! I have also chased hawks away from the feeders. Sometimes the yard is a riot of colour -bluebirds, indigo buntings, cardinals, towhees, red-headed woodpeckers, starlings, mockingbirds, purple finches, goldfinches - well, my life list now has 53 different species that have visited our backyard.
COOL!!!!! 53 species! Wow!!!!! Thats incredible! I wonder if any universities around here do any studies like that- Is there some reason they do it Feb? It seems like the birds would still be migrating at that time.
 

libby74

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Well, I just came from the grocery store and came home with 2 bags of bird seed, 4 suet cakes, safflower seed, and a bag of ear corn for the squirrels. I swear I spend more on animals than I do on feeding my family.

I've been watching birds for years, and trying to come up with ways to keep the squirrels out of the suet cakes. This time of year, the woodpeckers will go thru one every day--I'm assuming they have babies at home.

I absolutely hate grackles and starlings, but what can you do to keep them away? I don't mind the sparrows, and I feel so sorry for them; those stinking grackles will kill a speckie (as we call them around here) and actually eat their head (sorry about that). I've also seen them pull speckies out of the martin house and kill them.

For the first time this year, I saw 2 hummingbirds in what I assume was a mating dance. It was so entertaining!

I live 1/2 a block from a huge old cemetery, and 5 blocks from the river, so we get loads of wild-life. During the winter, hawks end up in our yard (unfortunately looking for birds to dine on). Some nights I sit in the back yard and talk to an owl, even tho' I've never seen him. I wish the finches didn't make such a mess with the niger, but at least the mourning doves clean up quite a bit of it.
 
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chichismom

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I thre 2 extra ears of corn out last wknd- man! did they go quick! I have no idea what ate them
but when I went back outside, there was nothing left! If you really want to keep the grackles and other 'pesky' birds out of the feeders, you can buy one that is weight sensitive. When a larger bird or squirrel goes to feed from it, their weight pushes a bar down that prevents them from feeding. I know what you mean about the $ thing! I went to petsmart yesterday to get a 10$ bag of seed and a couple cans of cat food- should've cost around 20 bucks right? NO! I spents 75 bucks!
 
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chichismom

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Ok guys! These are my all-time fave pics!My rare birdies! Yes, I've been holding out

I'll start off with my majestic blue jay. I got so worried about them- the west-nile virus has hit them hard. I only saw one other one this season, and that was back in early March. So I was so delighted when this guy/gal started showing up. Beautiful, beautiful birds.





next we have quite a treat! Ever seen a woodpecker who thinks he's a hummingbird?




Speaking of hummingbirds- ruby-throughted anyone?





Hawk



and a ring-necked dove for good measure
 

gemlady

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My sister had an interesting encounter with a hummingbird. She was weeding around her gazebo and suddenly became aware of one hovering around here. She had planted lots of hummingbird attracting flowers, but this one kept hovering around her.

After she told me about this I thought a minute and asked what she was wearing. She had on an old lavender T-shirt. BINGO!!! I told her it was the shirt color and it had probably thought he had found a huge lavender flower and was trying to find the nectar motherload.
 

pushylady

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Wow, more great shots! I was looking and wondering where the hummingbird was.
I would so love to get some visiting my little balcony, but I don't think it's going to happen.
Kathryn41 - your backyard sound fantastic! I would love to do that one day.
 

libby74

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If you really want to keep the grackles and other 'pesky' birds out of the feeders, you can buy one that is weight sensitive. When a larger bird or squirrel goes to feed from it, their weight pushes a bar down that prevents them from feeding.
I've heard of those, but haven't tried one. I actually have a tray on the ground for the seed. That way the doves and chipmunks have easy access. The only hanging feeders I have are for suet cakes, hummingbird nectar, safflower seed, and niger.

I almost forgot; I saw quite a few eagles flying overhead this past winter, too. I live just a mile or 2 from a dam, and the eagles spend a lot of the winter hunting there. It surprised me that they were so close to 'civilization'.
 

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I love watching the birds too! I am happy because I now have a pair of American Goldfinches coming to eat my thistle seed. I also have House Finches, Stellar's Jays, White Crowned Sparrows and Flickers. I try to keep a variety of food out to keep everyone happy!
 

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Originally Posted by gailuvscats

OK, not to be a snob
, but you have much to learn about the "good birds" and the "not so good birds". A not so good bird is one that is not native, pushes out the native species and are a dirty nuisance.

Your house sparrow, the last one that is brown with the black throat is hated by many bird lovers because it will take over another birds nest killing all the babies and eggs in the process. In fact I had to make the wren house hole smaller by placing a piece of wood across it, because they were staging a hostel takeover, upsetting the wrens. I was able to intervene in time.
They are hated by bluebird lovers, because they take over their birdhouse thus endangering the species. Many people deliberately try to kill them by shaking them out of shrubs during a snow storm hoping they won't find their way back before they die.
I'm afraid that I'm going to disagree with your identification - House Sparrows have grey heads and no black spot on the cheek - that fellow is a Tree Sparrow as it has a chestnut head and a cheek spot.

They are a native species here (along with the House Sparrow) and are unfortunately declining in numbers rather alarmingly, they are on the Royal Society for the Protection of Bird's 'Red list' meaning that they are endangered, as is the House Sparrow.

I enjoy a bit of bird watching, although we have different birds here of course! I regularly see Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Wrens, Blackbirds, European Starlings, and we have a pair of woodpigeons too - and I live in a city. I enjoy going to my parents house as they are avid bird feeders/watchers and regularly get several types of woodpeckers, chaffinches, pheasants, and wagtails coming to their garden to tuck into the free goodies
 

momofmany

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I also like to watch birds. We identify them and keep a list of species that we've seen. I think the list is up to about 80 species, and most of them we've seen both the male and female.

My favorites are the Indigo Bunting and the Cookoo bird. The bunting for his brilliant colors and the cookoo because it makes such a cool song. The most rare birds we've seen around here are the redheaded woodpecker and the pileated woodpecker. The most allusive was a great horned owl - he was sitting on a tree branch over the patio early one morning. Most common are cardinals, robins, various finches, red-winged blackbirds, bluejays, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, vultures, and ducks (lake out back).

We built a Kestral house (they are cool also) and a non-native species moved in (Starling). The Kestrals found them and emptied the nest. My neighbor would watch the house with his binoculars and one day complimented us on our "Kestral feeder". I protect birds when I can but honestly do not protect the invasive species.
 

lokismum

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Love birdwatching.......amd the kitties do too! I have their cat tree set up by one of the front windows so they can look out at the feeders in the tree in the front yard. Right now, I've just changed feeders, because I found that I was getting a lot of big birds and the little finches and song sparrows etc were staying away, so I've bought a feeder that the big ones can't get into. I have goldfinches, purple finches, cardinals and blue jays and you name it!
 

duchess15

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Originally Posted by Momofmany

We built a Kestral house (they are cool also) and a non-native species moved in (Starling). The Kestrals found them and emptied the nest. My neighbor would watch the house with his binoculars and one day complimented us on our "Kestral feeder".
Have you ever seen a painted bunting? They are even more colorful than the Indigo bunting!
That is one of my favorite birds when they come back here for the spring.
Unfortunately, if you live in the city, provide a home for a specified species, the invasive species such as starlings and house sparrows will force those birds out and take residence for themselves. The house sparrow is not considered a TRUE sparrow where we live. I wish there were a way to keep them away because they do not help the environment or native birds at all. There are many species of sparrows that normally show up here in the winter time.
 

sneakymom

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Originally Posted by chichismom

I thre 2 extra ears of corn out last wknd- man! did they go quick! I have no idea what ate them
but when I went back outside, there was nothing left!
Well- it could have been raccoons that ran off with the corn. I had suet cakes tied on trees in my backyard. The suet cakes kept dissapearing every night, and then the birdfeeders would be emptied too. Turns out I had a piggy raccoon that was having a VERY good snack in my backyard


I put baffles on the feeders, so the 'coons couldn't get the birdseed or suet anymore. I still have a problem with corn cobs though. The squirrels can't get to the feeders anymore due to the baffles, so I felt bad for them, and got them a corn cob holder. Well, it's on a wooden pole, and the 'coons found it and will run off with a whole ear of corn every day (that is if the squirrels don't eat it first). I don't know what to do- if I put a baffle around the pole, then the squirrels can't get to the corn anymore.

Grackles eat it too, they'll eat all the corn that the squirrels throw on the ground. But it sounds like a raccoon has found dinner, not a grackle.

Btw- I love bird watching too. We have 2 boxes in our backyard. So far this year I've had a Carolina Chickadee family and a Tufted Titmouse family fledge, and the titmice built another nest a couple of weeks ago.
 

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I'm not really a bird watcher, as in, I don't go on birding trips or any such thing. But I do thoroughly enjoy feeding the hummingbirds during the summer, and I'll hang a feed sock out for the Goldfinches. But the hummingbirds are my favorites.....they also make good speed practice for the Nikon


Take this one for instance...I call it "stackables"


 

momofmany

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My DH and I were sitting out on our deck late this afternoon and had a very entertaining bird show! 3 Nighthawks were chasing after a Kestral and this carried on for about 15 minutes. The hawks would follow the Kestral, who would maneuver upwards then back track and fly straight at them. It was like an amazing aerial dog fight!!

The Kestral was outnumbered, but I think he won the battle in the end. They don't have the endurance as Nighthawks, but they are far more agile. He finally landed in the top of a tree and just sat up there for a while and the hawks flew away. After a while he flew over to our electrical wire and was eyeing some smaller birds perched up there. My guess is that the Kestral raided the hawk's nest and they were telling him to stay away.

Birds can be very entertaining.
 

libby74

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Well- it could have been raccoons that ran off with the corn. I had suet cakes tied on trees in my backyard. The suet cakes kept dissapearing every night, and then the birdfeeders would be emptied too. Turns out I had a piggy raccoon that was having a VERY good snack in my backyard
I feed raccoons everynight. I have a spot on my patio that I built a cover for, and they have a food bowl and a water bowl. I usually put out a dozen cookies every night (thank heaven for Wal-Mart's cheap cookies!); lately tho' I've cut back to about 10 cookies and added a pop-tart. I thought a little variety might be nice. I have 1 (that I think is a female for some reason ) that has come night after night for months now. I know it's her because she has a bald spot on her hip. Occasionally, different ones will show up so I have to refill the cookie bowl. For some reason, tho, they refuse to eat corn. I've tried bread, and they won't touch it, either.
 
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