Feeding Wild Birds

[sourland]

I was watching the turkeys feed at the bird feeders while waiting for the shower to warm up when suddenly all froze on high alert. One hen appeared to vocalize and 3 hens and all the poults took to the air. The remaining two hens moved halfway towards the house. A half grown fox came nonchalantly from the back of the property and made a half hearted attempt at the hens. After the fox left the turkeys regrouped within 5 or 10 minutes.

 

[ValerieJ]

DH built a new bird feeder and I bought a new squirrel feeder, so they are all living the life of luxury now. Of course, they thought they were before, but now WE think they are living the life of luxury.

 

[sourland]

Dumb turkeys? I think not. After yesterday's fox encounter, the turkeys arrived to feed early today. At all times at least two of the hens were watching the back wooded area. After feeding instead of taking their normal exit back there, they went to the West into the cut hay field. They are out there now apparently hunting grasshoppers.

 

[sourland]

The word must have gotten out that the buffet is available. Today there were 6 'new' turkeys feeding under the bird feeders.

 

[R2elk]

The word must have gotten out that the buffet is available. Today there were 6 'new' turkeys feeding under the bird feeders.

They like to gossip.

 

[sourland]

They like to gossip.

Must be a fact. Shortly after they left two more hens with three nearly grown poults appeared.

 

[ValerieJ]

I think we have a golden eagle flying over the river in the early evening hours these days. I saw one up close when it captured a large grey squirrel in our yard a few years ago but haven’t seen one since. I didn’t think they were fishing raptors, but not sure. This one goes by when I don’t have the binoculars out here. That makes it hard to identify.

Of course this isn’t a bird I feed, but just interested in any input on large raptors that frequent rivers besides the bald eagle and osprey. I know we have those and can readily recognize them, of course. They are distinctive birds.

 

[R2elk]

I think we have a golden eagle flying over the river in the early evening hours these days. I saw one up close when it captured a large grey squirrel in our yard a few years ago but haven’t seen one since. I didn’t think they were fishing raptors, but not sure. This one goes by when I don’t have the binoculars out here. That makes it hard to identify.

Of course this isn’t a bird I feed, but just interested in any input on large raptors that frequent rivers besides the bald eagle and osprey. I know we have those and can readily recognize them, of course. They are distinctive birds.

Immature Bald Eagles don't have the distinctive white tails.

 

[ValerieJ]

Immature Bald Eagles don't have the distinctive white tails.

Yes that’s true. That is actually what this might be. We have an active pair of eagles who nest on the river up around the bend, and this bird could easily be an offspring from earlier this year. Thanks!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Some baby barn swallows and their parents...
Or guardians. Who knows. All of them go berzerk when you walk near any of the nests