Feeding Wild Birds

[Molpet]

House Finch
Orange variant

I didn't realize they acquire their coloration from pigments in the plant foods they eat, like pink flamingos.

 

[R2elk]

I didn't realize they acquire their coloration from pigments in the plant foods they eat, like pink flamingos.

That is the claim but these are all eating the same foods so I am doubtful of their claims. The orange variant is not common here.

 

[Molpet]

That is the claim but these are all eating the same foods so I am doubtful of their claims. The orange variant is not common here.

maybe it is the one bird is susceptible to poor nutrition. people have a bunch of poults and one gets wry neck

 

[R2elk]

maybe it is the one bird is susceptible to poor nutrition. people have a bunch of poults and one gets wry neck

I'm pretty sure the poult wry neck issue is due to genetics.

 

[sourland]

That is the claim but these are all eating the same foods so I am doubtful of their claims. The orange variant is not common here.

I've never seen it here.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Not 100% certain, but I think the deer have figured out how to empty the home bird feeders. They have been empty these last two mornings. Time to hang them higher out of reach.

I gave up between the deer, raccoons and coyotes jumping up. I had a metal tube style and if I left it out overnight they would knock it down and disassemble it to get the seeds

My feeders have been very active the last couple days with chickadees, juncos, titmice, downy woodpeckers, gold finches, morning doves, and a singular blue Jay that comes around. My feeders were going down dramatically fast too but I saw squirrels out there helping themselves. When I reviled yesterday, I coasted the seeds in Cole's Flaming Squirrel hot pepper sauce. I haven't seen the squirrels out there since and the seed is going down a little slower. The birds don't mind it! I wonder if that would help with the deer, coyotes and raccoons?

 

[Gill-b]

Often there is a "Spa day" in my garden, when birds come not only to drink water from the birdbath, but also to have a splash; and have a relaxing preen in the shade of the thorn trees or sunbathe on the grass with wings open. Yesterday was a "Spa day", however I was stunned at the amount of birds that showed up this time!

There were mostly Guinea pigeons, Turtle doves, Laughing doves, Cape wagtails, Cape sparrows, House sparrows, Weavers, Starlings,
...and one female Pied barbet who caught my attention with the way she bathed. That was when I started to take pictures...

View media item 7967318Female Pied barbet...

View media item 7967319She had no intention of submerging herself fully in the water, only tips. In this pic the tail...

View media item 7967320...and in this pic a wing.

View media item 7967322This guy knows how to take a bath...
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Incoming...
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View media item 7967324This is my favourite picture of the day. I laughed out loud when I saw this full head dunk. Like I stated, he knows how to take a bath.

View media item 7967325More splish-splashing.

View media item 7967326Now here is the champion of bird bathing. Total submersion and water everywhere...

View media item 7967327Others don't even need to anything when this guy takes a bath as every bird in the bath gets wetted.

The water level was to the brim when I filled the bath in the morning... definite water drop!

 

[R2elk]

The Spotted Towhee is still here. It was not very cooperative.

The Downy Woodpecker is still here too.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Turkeys didn’t seem to mind the snow LOL or me standing there

Also we apparently have a painted bunting in the neighborhood now too that’s been hanging around lately at some of the neighbors’ feeders. Not native to this area but apparently they can survive here so hopefully he does and then move on to somewhere with more of his species so he can find a mate eventually lol

 

[Gill-b]

This morning when I went to put some cut apple out for the garden birds, on my front yard bird feeder, I found that some bird (most likely a Weaver bird) had thought to do some nest building on the bird feeder...

View media item 7967346
View media item 7967345
View media item 7967347
View media item 7967348
I am sorry to have missed seeing him in action.