Just read an article in the NJ Farm Bureau News Letter that the farmers are all up in arms about the damage the Canadian Geese and Snow Geese are doing to their crops. They are ripping the plants out of the ground, etc . They are working on a plan for action to be developed to try and eliminate some of the damage. We will have to wait and see!
Starlings are eating me out of house and home also. No woodpeckers yet, plenty of other little winter birds. No robins yet. I keep hoping.
MID ATLANTIC BIRDS IN OUR GARDENS
All the blackbirds fly away as one if I just walk up to the window.
I don't even have to bang on the window..
They see my face--and off they go! NOT a really positive thought.....:o(
I have not seen any Woodpeckers yet...Maybe they are there, but
I am not...
Question---IF I just nailed a suet to the tree, would it hurt the tree?
Wuld it keep the "pigs away? Like no place to land--for foot support...
Seepy! been up since 4:15AM. had a 6AM Store meeting...
Working until 3PM...so--an early day.
Gita
I shot my 410 off at the starlings a couple of times last year, and this year I only have a stragling 3 or 4 here and there. They scatter when they see me. My dogs always run out to the feeders too. The starlings stay away ... but the nice birds come back pretty quickly. I have seen a couple of red headed woodpeckers here. I don't know if they ever left.
Crit---
BUT--Do you ONLY get Starlings that ravage your feeder?
You know they all flock together. The Grackles--the Cowbirds--the Starlings
and the Cowbirds. ALL grouped in the category of "Black-Birds".
They ARE All for one--and ONE for all! Chow down on any feeder available!
Trash it---Eat everything---Keep all the other birds at bay...etc....
I DO hate them all! They DO need to eat as well--BUT, total gluttony is another thing.
I DO NOT spend my $$$ to buy seed to feed Blackbirds!
I buy it to sustain the smaller birds that need nourishment in the winter.
The Blackbirds can go and pick on a dead deer carcass on the side of the road.....
UGH! Gita
I think if you nailed suet to the tree the squirrels would eat it. I put a suet cake in a wire hanger then hung it on a plant hanger that was connected to the fence. The squirrels were all over it within minutes, and managed to pop open the door even. I chased them away and put it on a stand alone sheperds hook. They don't seem to be able to get it there.
I have so many squirrels! I wonder if it would do any good to trap them and move them to somewhere else!?
If you have a place to take them, I say why not? Sneak them into a wooded park.
They can be so destructive.
In high density squirrel communities moving a few five or more miles likely will show no long term decrease.
Moving a hundred and maintaining the effort may help. Look up their breeding habits and timing. The first litter is soon due in the Northeast. They commonly have four with a fifty percent female ratio. The female will be carrying young before the little ones are off mother's milk. The new born will be breeding within a few short weeks. Now do the math. They produce fast and have few predators. Could this be why they are called tree rats? The backyard feeders are their main source of food. Cut off the food in a large given area and they will move away in massive migrating groups. Cut off a single property feeding and they simply move in on your neighbors who feed the little dears as well or better than you feed.
Years ago in my war on squirrels I trapped and moved them thirty miles as the crow flies. Upon release we used a red dye on their tails. Three weeks later at least one red tailed gray squirrel was back to where it was trapped. Most likely reason would be it got chased out of the mountains by healthier stronger squirrels plus the natural homing instincts of all animals including man.
Today I maintain an ear corn feeding station just for the squirrels. That keeps them off the bird feed somewhat. We expect to see six to ten at any one observation and more when the neighbor runs out of food or just decides to stop feeding. When this happens they quickly grow in numbers. Squirrels are going to eat some of your bird feed all of the time. They seldom if ever bother nigra seed which the finches like so well.
They still cost less than a cat and create no house damage or other work unless they are permitted to enter and stay by lack of house maintenance.
Yesterday while working in my backyard I heard a hawk cry, saw two of them. I have no idea what kind but I do love seeing and watching them.
The eagles have survived the 50 - 60+ mph winds here the last two week ends. Have noticed when I see the male perched on the tall dead tree that he is facing the building entry when all other years they were always facing out towards the water. Last week I stopped a professional dog walker and alerted her to not walk the large golden retriever in the vicinity of the nest, which she agreed to do. One of the residents said I didn't have to do that because the dog was too big for the eagle to get. I said that I was concerned about the dog disturbing the nesting eagles, not the dog. I'm imagining that the eagles are eating fish and rabbits both of which are not scarce in the area. There was a newspaper report several years ago about an eagle swooping into a back yard supposedly after either of two small dogs playing there......
I do remember that I first was taught the name chicken hawk for the red-tailed hawk...Good sighting, Carolyn.
And, friends, I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this, do any of you have any tips for telling sparrows apart? When I turned in my first counts for the Great Backyard Bird Count last week I had 18 sparrows, but they wanted to know what kind of sparrows (duh) and I still can't tell if I have more than one kind or if they are all the same kind, which one it is.
So I didn't report any sparrows , just the other birds I could identify in my yard for 15 minutes. 12 species!! Fun to go to the site and compare what others reported in Maryland or any other state. Most reported bird, the cardinal. State turning in most reports, PA! (Go Doc!)
I did not do the watch Saturday because of the State's Championship Wrestling series.......Sunday because I slept all morning and had company most of the afternoon. We did spot two pair of Carolina Wrens. They show up several times a week....not every day. Their range must include the whole neighborhood.
Sparrows are interesting to learn. Grab a Peterson Field Guide and learn them one at a time. The most common will be the House Sparrow or the English Sparrow. The male markings are definite and the rather bland females stick close to the males. Learn this one absolutely. When some other sparrow appears use the book to identify it. In time you will find perhaps a half dozen different and you will know them at a glance.
I nominate White Throated as next most common sparrow. (Oh Canada, Canada,Canada)Look for a yellow spot above the beak by the eyes?, and big white throat. I also hear Song Sparrow but not sure if I see them at my feeder area. THey are confusing buggers! I never nailed down a rusty-capped one I watched once.
Doc, that is good advise on learning the identity of the sparrows. I do that with weeds, learn one at a time, then you are not pulling out self-seeding flowers.
I have a sparrow with a distinctive white stripe near the eye, need to learn that one, just have not had my bird book with me outside to narrow down the choices. Something to aim for this year.
On TV a few days ago they did a news interview with a park ranger on Presque Isle, he said that with the longer days and the sun getting closer and stronger that the migratory birds will start showing up, the water birds are usually first to arrive. Sometimes I will see something in my yard that will send me running for the binoculars and the bird book.
Thanks everyone, I don't feel so dumb and clueless now! Do different kinds of sparrows hang out together and intermingle at feeders at same time? Do they move as singles, pairs, groups/flocks? If you see one will you see another at the same time area?
When I do storm prep and aftermath feeding in my yard (not a regular feeder of birds here) I have noticed a certain order of feeding ...Last year a male cardinal (several year resident here) was the first to arrive and then acted as traffic cop clearing an area for the female to feed and allowing traffic to move again until she returned.
This year the mocking bird goes first (unless the male cardinal is a super earlt presunrise nibbler..not often) and others wait in the wings (fist mockingbird in a long time here) The mocking bird stays for a short bite , flys away, and returns ten to 15 times and then is gone for the day (this is all early am activity pre 7am ish) Of course everyone scatters when the blue jay announces his arrival sometimes bringing a frien or two. The ground feeders continue feeding at a respectful distance. The tufted titmouse seems able to flit in and out at will without being bothered by even the presence of squirrels doind their thing a foot away (picnic table is my large platform "feeder") The red brested wood pecker seemed to prefer any seed dining off to the side of the main activity.
Do you all see any patterns like this at your feeders...who goes first or alone, who can share, most active time of day Do you do anything different when a storm is forcast or afeter it has passed in terms of feeding (and yes, Doc, watering and sanding!) ? I want to offer the best "port in a storm" I can .
PS No wonder the cardinal was the most reported bird!!!
Last year--after years of never seeing any--Ii too saw the
Mockingbirds again in my garden.
Can't miss them! They think they own the place!!!
Yesterday--I saw 2 starlings :"going at it'... (ahem...)
.Man! I thought he was killing the other--and for a long time too.
He had her pinned down in the grass for about 5 minutes....
This is the pair that owns the best hole in my old Cherry tree
on the cyrb. Picture is above..somewhere...
gita
I call them little brown birds. I have never really been able to tell the sparrows apart. Doc does have a great idea if I can learn just one at a time instead of looking at all of them in the bird books at once.
lol Holly, and they just keep moving!
I used my field guides and decided I had several "chipping sparrows" but when I went to input them on the count I got the mesage to double check the id as chipping sparrows were unusual in my area. Sigh.
When I next visit daughter in Vermont I plan to go to the Birds of Vermont Museum which is the life's work of a very talented wood carver who just turned 91. He has carved almost all of the 500 "birds" on exhibit. They don't move! Here are links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birds_of_Vermont_Museum
http://birdsofvermont.org/collection.php
Just a note...I now have a wonderful pair of binoculars but my feeding area is so close to my house that even the closest adjustment is blury...Sigh
Crow looking for what ever. Had three in my side yard today.
At first glance I thought you said C O W
ROFL!! Just had my eyes checked yesterday dang it!
DH noted they often work in threes. Have you noticed that? It seems to be that way many times that I look for it.
Sallyg, now what am I going to do with you?? I have had a lot of strange critters in my yard but no cows yet. When you live in a small town surrounded by farm country you never know.
I'll have to do a three count when I see crows, sometimes I get groups of 5 or more flying over head.
You've never had them in your yard???? Heck, I've had them in my livingroom! lol We use to raise cattle and whenever a baby was born during winter and would die if we left it in the pasture, we would bring them to the house and put them by the wood stove to warm up. I had 3 there at one time during one spell. LOL But they lived and were able to go back to momma. Thank goodness for LARGE tarps! :-)
I have put out a Finch Feeder--as well as a small "sock feeder"...
Last few days have noticed some "customers"....Today--for the first time--
at the "sock" --which hangs pretty high under the corner of my patio roof, I saw
some Goldfinches--NOT all that "gold" yet....They were picking away! .
I am happy! WHY buy the Thistle seed--if no finches would come????
My "sock feeder" is quite small---like a child's sock hung up.
It--and the seed for it, was only $3.50 at "Redmers" Grocery Store----
Never been there before. It is a bit more upscale "warehouse type" Grocery
store than "Aldis"....BIG! Reasonable prices.....BUT--about 7 miles from my house.
Too far! Gas has to be configured into the expense nowadays....
OK! Off to a different topic......
I found an old garden catalog today--from 2007. Hope you check it out.
Lots of cute garden craft ideas in it--stuff someone handy could make---
general garden accessories--as well as some real plants...Neat stuff!....
The catalog is called---"Gardeners Supply Company"----
The Website is: www.gardeners.com Take a look!
FlowAjen--There were some things in there that made me think of you and
your fancy Faerie Garden.
Gita
WOW!!! I just looked at this link myself!
All you gardeners will love it!!!! Gita
FIVE THROUGH THE WINDOW BIRDS WIN PRIZE
A local nursery ran the contest. I entered the five best I had shot through the window glass. All have been shown on this forum. The five images as a group won first prize. The most liked image was that of the starlings gobbling up my suet. The first prize was a dandy high end squirrel proof feeder and half a winter's supply of high quality bird seed. Guess I'll need to change my business card to say..."AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER". ]:O)
LOL Crit, I have never had cows in the living room but we use to bring in the baby goats and bottle feed them in the mornings and there have been baby chicks, ducks and bunnies set up temporary cages in the living room.
^5 Holly ....... now THAT's what I'm talkin' 'bout! :-)
CONGRATS doc!!!! That's quite impressive!
Crit, Holly, sounds like fun!!
Gita, yay on the goldfinches! They'll be getting yellower soon I think.
doc- CONGRATS! So nice to have your bird hobby support itself for a while!
Doc, I missed your post somehow. Just adding a BIG CONGRATS! That is a pretty nice prize.
There is a reason that we don't have more than a small area rug in the living area.
Now is the time to go to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Thousands of Snow Geese and Swans stop here on their way back north to the Arctic.
http://berksawhile.blogspot.com/2009/02/middle-creek-wildlife-preserve-80000.html
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/middle_creek/13905
I too missed several posts this past week. We had a death of a family friend that affected my family tremendously and things have been rather hectic. I apologize for missing out on saying congratulation to Doc and all the other things that I may have had to overlook.
Back today just to report that I SAW A ROBIN THIS MORNING. ONLY ONE. BUT, I AM SURE THERE WILL BE MORE LATER IN THE DAY. It was early when Barney and I were taking our morning walk. So, hopefully when the wind dies down more will appear.
Have a great day everyone. JB
Hey Doc!!! Congratulations on your contest win! Good for you!!!
Thank you all..........I made that note post anouncement more to suggest you all look around and try some of the contests. I see more and more good images as many of you improve your photography skills. The improvement really has been noticable over the past year or so.
To post a "for instance" There was a regional bank seeking images from within the region for their calendar. One of my friends got a nice cash prize for an image in this year's calendar. Another got about a hundred and fifty dollar camera bag for an image of her dog. Google will seek and find photography contests. I never pay to enter any contest.
Sure would be fun to have a win, and get some $ besides.
You all have probably noticed the current one here. I've made a couple entries. For the birds category you could have starlings or english sparrows. I don't know that we have any other technically invasive birds here. THere is a site called Invasives.org that you could use to check a particular species. Overwintering geese maybe? Mute swans?
This message was edited Mar 6, 2011 9:21 AM
I was thinking of the overwintering geese that don't go home in the spring. They are a big issue at some of the local ponds and lakes here. Big push in the area not to feed them. Several small lakes and ponds have signs asking you please don't feed the geese. They make such a mess in some of the local parks that the kids can't play and people can't walk around or sit at the benches.
Coleup.........back there somewhere you ask some good and interesting questions about bird activity and associations. Yes sometimes they are paired up most noted when it is breeding time. However even with eggs or chicks on the nest moma will sneak out and mate with a total stranger while her nest mate looks after the nest or the chicks. I have never seen any co-mingling with different named birds of the same family. There is some order to be sure but the males will be chasing any female in heat. The female seems to move out and about the neighborhood just as she is coming into heat. The female selects the time but any guy bird handy seems to be welcomed. I expect a real schollar could tweek up this report a bit. This is only what I see in my own little backyard.
Well doc, in my back landscape my female finches are definitely fooling around with different cousins because I have some of the males that have fabulous different colors. I am having a rehab of the back landscape irrigation, so as soon as that is complete, probably 3 more days, I will set up my camera upstairs and get you photos. Hope you do not mind Sharon from Las Vegas joining in. If you do, just say so because I have thick skin.
Hello Sharon, what is that old saying, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" even the birds are street smart out there.
out there?
Sorry, I just had to say that.....Welcome Sharon! What finches do you have? We only have the purple ( and why do they call them purple when they look more red) and the yellow. Would love more, but nature does its own thing and I have only seen those two here. JB
Hi Sharon Welcome!
Heck no.........Sharon, you might just educate us all.
Now doc, everyone knows you are the "MAN". Doc taught me everything I know about worms and worm casting tea.
JB, that was a good one.
Thanks everyone for the welcome. Sharon.