Crazy house sparrows and house finches

I've had TONS of these lately. Didn't want to hog up the daily thread though.

Hopper Feeder craziness

3

4. I love how they are all lined up on the baffle awaiting their turn.

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all lined up!

OMG that's alot of House Sparrows! I have tons of House Finch too.

The other day I counted over 100 in the yard.

You have snow already?

just got it yesterday/last night. It was really warm yesterday while snowing so not lots of accumulation.

I did have tons of sparrows and doves and Cardinals and all til a sharp shinned hawk moved into town. Now no birds and I am afraid to feed them and draw them for him. SIGH!!!!!!! BEV

I currently have something new. TEN cardinals. 4 males, 6 females. I never get that many.
Probably has something to do with the snow.

One year we had snow on the ground and when I looked out my bay window there was 14 pr in the yard but that is when I did not have my camera duh!!!

ha. that's the way it always is. and like right now it is too dark! they always like to come at sundown.!

That is so nice, like the way they all line up for their turn. Do they stay all winter for you?
No sign of the Redpolls yet. Had the female Evening Grosbeaks here this morning, and the Juncos have come back, to the yard. Bad weather seem to draw them in.

I can't wait to see the Evening Grosbeaks.

Yes all these stay all year. I can't believe the amount of HOSPs I have though. A few juncos now too. Last year my first redpoll sighting was 12/24.

I didn't keep a record of dates last year, I know they were here in Dec, I have a folder of Dec birds. I started keeping dates from Jan of this year. But glad to know the approximate date. I should get them a bit earlier then you. It's usually about 2 weeks in between when you report yours.
Pelle didn't get very many pictures of the Evening Grosbeak, Go a few but not very good ones, they got spooked when I open the blinds. And I didn't see them after that.

hey burn, do you leave your pond open all year? I just bought something for my pond for next year. It is a pond de-icer that doubles as a bird bath. It seems to be discontinued here, but I see it is still for sale in the UK.

No I close it up for the winter. My pond is only 21/2 feet deep, not deep enough for the fish. I did think of getting a de-icer, but heard they don't last long. Instead I bought a dog bowl for the birds this winter. Do you have a pic of your? Was it expensive? Sound really interesting.

In my old pond I used a 25$ livestock tank deicer. It worked great. This one was only $10 on clearance but had been 109!

Here is a picture. if it doesn't work, then i've only lost 10 bucks.

http://www.bergenwatergardens.com/media/tetraisland1.JPG

$10 bucks!!!! Man that was a deal!!!! Looks good too. Sure hope it works for you. I don't think I would pay $109 for one. I might look into the livestock deicer for next year. My fish are all settled in, in the Rubbermaid tub in my garage, already in dormant stage.

Right, NO WAY would I spend that much money. The other de-icer was also a funny story. There was a fancy greenhouse/garden center that sold them for $50 and I got the exact thing at Farm and Fleet for $25. Just goes to show you. I turned the water fall and bubbler off in the winter and just left the deicer. I did not have a deep pond either. You can get an idea of the depth here

some more late Robins passing through this morning...

my male Red-bellied Woodpecker..

a pair of House Finch waiting for room on the feeders.

Your in the wrong thread nanny.

DANGGG..well the House Finch work...right? LOL :)

LOL,sure.

HA!

:D Nanny.
Mrs-Ed neat little pond, Did you have fish in it or have you just kept it de-iced for the birds?

Just found this thread, Mrs Ed. Your yard looks like a busy place. It must be a hoot to watch.

Why yes, Margaret, many people say it is just gorgeous.

Burn, yes I had fish in there. Just some feeder goldfish (that were healthy and lasted for years) and a couple of cheap koi. Needed those to keep the mosquitoes away. So I kept the pond open for both birds and fish. I'll do the same for my new one. It's funny to watch steam come off the pond on really cold days.

I can't believe I've gone 5 years without a pond at this new house. A condition of getting a new TV this year was that I'd get my pond in the spring! LOL.

Here's more finch activity.

Well good for you, that was just fair. I'm sure it's one of those LCD plasma too.
You'll need a bigger platform, with all those bird. LOL

Whoa Marna...do you have a permit for those House Finches? I only have the occasional one or two that show up. I did have a pair of Purple's today but only briefly. We mostly have White-crowns and Goldfinches. Also had a few Pine Siskins this morning so I guess they are still around.

Nice trade on the TV and pond!

HA you guys are too funny. Yep, it was one of those big LCDs!!!

I know, isn't it insane all these house finches? They are SO noisy too. I have two platform feeders and then a window screen for them all. Here's a pix of the screen with sparrows.

I haven't seen a white crowned sparrow at the house in ages. Nor the white throated. Purple finches are gone too.

This morning (it was still a bit dark), there was a brown creeper flying around the tree. It wasn't landing at all. Just looked like when Superman flew around the earth to stop time. zip zip zip~