Wild Bird Thread!

[rodriguezpoultry]

Here's my idea of why it's called that:

It has a "tuft" like a cardinal
Makes a "tit" noise
Is as big as a mouse

Therefore...tufted titmouse! Course, you could go a completely different way on that one too!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I always thought the blue in indigo buntings was from light diffraction in their feathers, instead of pigment in their feathers. They look the brightest blue in full sun and much darker, almost black, on dark stormy days. I think males become more blue as they mature, also.

We've gotten another set of migrants in the last couple of days. They've been bathing in the pond out back. The scarlet tanagers, rose breasted grosbeaks, orioles and I think a few warblers have shown up. The indigo buntings have been here a little longer. We also have ruby-throated hummingbirds, bluebirds, cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, goldfinches, purple finches, house finches, mourning doves, phoebes, tufted titmice, cowbirds, hairy woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, flickers, wood thrush, cedar waxwings, bluejays, barn swallows, juncos in winter, greater horned owls, and red tailed hawks. There are some small hawks around, but I'm not sure which ones. I don't see them often. There are also wild turkeys that come to visit. We see pheasants along the side of the road sometimes, plus there are blue herons, Canadian geese and an assortments of ducks at a creek by our house. Red-winged blackbirds. They don't usually come in our yard, though. I normally just see the cranes flying over head.

I once saw a rufus-sided towhee here, which was really exciting for me. I only saw it the one time. Building a pond with a small pool and shallow bathing areas has really improved our bird watching. Not all birds will come to feeders. The only time I see the scarlet tanagers, bluebirds, wood thrush and an assortment of warblers is when they come to the pond to drink and bathe. I never see the great horned owls, but I hear them call in the woods at night, during the winter mating season. We have a cd of bird calls, that helped us identify which owl we were hearing. All the other birds we've seen.

For feeders, we have separate tube feeders with black oil sunflower seed and thistle seed. The finches like the thistle seed, but everyone likes the boss. We also have a feeder we call the party house. It has a hopper feeder at each end, with a roof covering the whole thing. It usually has quite a crowd in the center section when the weather is bad, like a shelter house in a park. It's easier for the birds that like to eat on the ground, like doves and juncos to eat there. I used to have boss in one end and some white millet in the other end. The last year or two, I've gone to boss in both ends and just put a little millet in the center section. I like to have a little millet and even a bit of cracked corn for certain ground feeders. In winter we feed suet. In warm weather we have an oriole feeder up and sometimes a hummer feeder. The hummers really like the oriole feeder, so I often just have that one up. I also have squirrel feeders, because I like squirrels.

We also plant flowers, shrubs and trees that provide nectar and fruit. The only time we see the cedar waxwings is when the mountain ash berries are ready to eat. Then we get an entire flock that strips all the berries in one afternoon.

Gee, I know I am forgetting more birds, but that's most of them. Ok, I know. I forgot the native song sparrows! White striped and chipping, for sure. I knew somebody besides the doves ate the millet and liked to feed on the ground! Robins, pine siskins, crows. Not many grackles, starlings or house sparrows, usually.

Really, a tube feeder of boss and a bird bath are enough to make almost all birds want to come to your yard.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

This is a one of a kind female Cardinal that used to live in my backyard for a couple of years:

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Quote:
I have always wanted to see a killdeer! I guess we dont have the right habitat.

Oh, and we have candain geese everywhere!!!!

 

[Gonzo]

we have lots of birds around here! I love the owls, and the Pileated Woodpecker. We have lots of those. I love waking up the the woodpeckers hammerings!

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Is that your pic?

 

[Kansaseq]

Quote:
I'm jealous!

 

[Laurajean]

I have the little Downy woodpeckers at my suet all day long, and lately the larger Hairy ones are visiting. I did see ONE Pileated Woodpecker in a tree a couple of weeks ago, I was thrilled to see one in person, but he didn't stay long. Still cool to know that they are around at least.

I just love woodpeckers. It cracks me up when the Downies and Hairies are at my suet and I walk into the yard. They lean to one side and "peek" at me, then go back to eating, then peek at me again, it's so funny!

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Quote:
Aw, I have the occasional red-bellied woodpecker. They are fun to look at but are one of the more drab species...wish I had more of a variety!

 

[Gonzo]

Quote:

I wish I was that pretty!