One of my favorite things to do, besides gardening
I have a recliner in a small sunroom that faces out into my backyard where I have a bird feeder. Persi, Alley and I spend a lot of time watching the birds. I have a pair of image stabilized binoculars but I don't share them with the cats.Originally Posted by chichismom
One of my favorite things to do, besides gardeningis birdwatching. I just recently (last year) started- so I'm not an expert or anything. I was just wondering if anyone else enjoyed their company? My new favorite would have to be the blue jay who has graced me with his/her presence over the past few days. I have quite a few pics of my birdies, if anyone wants to see them
All right, all right- Don't get pushy ladyOriginally Posted by pushylady
Show us your pics!
Thanks! I have no idea- it is a canon powershot A710 IS - I hate to admit it, but I really have no idea how to use the thing! lol I put the setting on auto, and hope for the bestOriginally Posted by gailuvscats
Great picks! what length lens are you using?
I love birdwatching and often go to the wildlife refuge with the binoculars and a guide. That is your next step.
Presently, I am watching the antics of the house wren trying to convince the female to use the box I put up. there is another male trying to get her to go with him, or get rid of the first guy. I am spending way too much time, but I can't stop cheking them out.
Some of them can be so picky! I've concluded that the cardinals will only eat sunflower seeds! And the brown birds(cowbirds?) really like the suet.Originally Posted by Rosiemac
Me- I never used to be until i got the conservatory built. Gil fixed up two flower basket hangers at either side of the garden with some mixed seed in one, and some fat balls in the other, and it's great watching the birds picking out what seed they don't want to get the ones they do want
Thanks!!!! Those books look amazing! Got to get me one of them asapOriginally Posted by gemlady
You need a good guide book. I highly recommend ones illustrated by Roger Tory Peterson.
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/...tersonhome.cfm
The Audubon guides are good, too.
It makes my heart melt when I see the older birds feeding the younginsOriginally Posted by Yosemite
At our last house I had feeders out and they were a joy to watch. A male cardinal flew at a bluejay and "beaked" him in the chest for bothering him while he was trying to eat.Another day a male cardinal was feeding a younger (smaller) male by taking the sunflower seeds, shelling them and feeding the little one from it's beak.
But, for some reason that I cannot explain, I absolutely love the Red-winged Blackbird. Every time I see one I get this wonderful feeling.
Gosh! Are'nt they picky!!!!!! The only birds that will eat those commercial mixes are the pidgeons and doves. The pretty birds have expensive tastes! I don't even want to try and figure how much $ I spend on them!Originally Posted by gemlady
If you are putting out seed I recommend black oil sunflower as some of the seeds in the commercial mixes the birds don't like.
Aww man! you have the ultimate birdwatching set-up! I wish we lived by a river! Canadian Geese the only waterfowl you've seen?Originally Posted by tierre0
I really enjoy birdwatching as well. My father was a avid birdwatcher and I think I inherited the trait from him. I live right beside a river so there are quite of few species right outside my back door. I have two pair of Canada Geese and their goslings that spend a lot of time along the shoreline. They are great fun to watch and I am amazed at how fast the little geese have grown.
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!Originally Posted by Duchess15
I got into bird watching by accident from a friend of mine. I'd go fishing and he knew the bird calls so after hearing about 100 times what call that was, I started to pick it up. Then I started to be able to find them and pick them out in sightings. Four years later I am finally deciding to get a spotting scope with camera attached (digiscope) to start taking pictures and learning about more shore birds.
I joined our local Audubon society about 3 years ago so I'm still learning.