Backyard birds

OK, since we're having so much fun with the hummers, I thought I'd start a thread for the other birds. I know we have a bird watching forum, but it's not as easy to chat there.

Here's our female (I think) Oriole.

Great idea, KC! Your oriole is gorgeous!
WIB!
SW

This guy has been hanging out all month.
WIB,
SW

I believe that the bird in your picture is an American Gold Finch. I have a backyard full of them every year, they love my fountain and will come in droves if you feed them! I buy Wagner's Nyger Seed, you can get it at the grocery store or much cheaper at Wal-Mart. If you buy a starter kit they provide a "sock" for the seed. They do not perch to feed, they will cling to the side of the sock. Good luck, they are alot of fun to watch.

Way too big for a finch, edrcook1. I can see the how it could be mistaken for one, though, from the photo. She was feeding on nectar at the time. The only question in my mind was whether it was the female or a juvenile - they look similar to me until I see them a few times or together.

We have lots of gold finches without feeding them anything. They cover the native plants we have in our garden, but what really draws them, I think, are the water sources we have.

Ka, I am amazed that you got pix of your oriole. Mine are so shy----I hear them (their sound is so distinctive) and I catch flashes of the male, but he never sits still long enough where I can see him to photograph!

ed, I got a finch sock yesterday. They always harvest my liquidambar balls and crape myrtle seeds, and they cling to the concrete of my waterfall & bathe in my other pond inlet---TOO cute!

I take photos from inside the house through the window! It's the only way I can get them. Even then, I have to be several feet back. I have to wash the windows, too, 'cause they are awfully spotted right now. When they are around a lot at certain times of the day, I focus on the feeder, then shut the camera off and set it on the back of a chair so I can grab it when they feed. This is the first year they have really been perching on the feeder - usually they would just hang from the post in the middle and flit at the first sign of movement anywhere. The males seem to be extra twitchy.

Probably because they're so darn COLORFUL---the un-twitchy ones have probably been "Darwinized"!

I'll try to remember tomorrow, when I hear them, to take a photo of the geese migrating overhead. You can hear them coming. Their "clucking" is an amazing sound. They seem to "run" the canal. We have a dozen or more ponding basins throughout town and they often stop and wander around for a time. And often one or two will remain throughout the summer, moving back and forth from ponding basin to ponding basin around town.

I don't remember hearing them before the last couple of years, although that's likely as not because I simply wasn't as aware of my natural world before that as I am today.

I'll try to get a pic.

Linda

{edited for punctuation--geez}

This message was edited Mar 28, 2009 9:10 PM

Oh, and BTW, I added a second finch sock to the environs this afternoon and the many many finches hereabouts are fighting less, as there is more territory to lay claim to.

What's cool, too, is that this one has a black side to it so the contrast in colors is different. The yallers are easier to see on black socks.

Too cool!

Eeeeek, where'd everybody go?! Do you want me to be quiet? I will, if you want me to :..(

Until you tell me otherwise, tho, I have a question. The finches were chirping up a storm up until a minute ago and all of a sudden, with the first call of a crow, got quiet and have remained so. How did that crow, which left as soon as he arrived, scare them off? Would a crow chase or otherwise attempt to attack finches?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Linda

TwinCol, they probably didn't want to advertise their presence or that of their clutches to the crows. Crows love to eat other birds eggs.
I saw the same behavior with finches hiding when the raptors are around.
May have been a flurry of movement, just before or just after the crow spoke. They may have even alerted (guard bird) before the crow spoke, and found cover.
I haven't gotten any photos of the crows that have been hanging around. They don't intimidate the hummers, but I've noticed the chickens get quieter (they used to be free range chickens).
Anyway, that would be my guess based upon watching them for years.
Smile, you aren't abandoned, we're trying to stay ahead of the weeds! LOL!
BTW, like the photo you sent of the finch sock. How does that work again?
WIB,
SW

SW, where are their nests? They must be nearby, mustn't they? Gonna hafta Google finches and learn more about them.

Another question, SW. Will either the finches or the hummies drink outa the bowls I set on the ground? Or do the hummies just want to shower? I'd be reluctant to return the misters to my fence, sadly. The Sally Holmes, next to the rose tree above, suffers from some mildew already. I would be afraid to add moisture to the shade she enjoys, although I suppose if I were to figure out some kind of water toy further out on a scheduled basis my hummer might visit at the same time each day. I notice that she comes by the feeder at mealtime, well duh! So, as summer progresses I might have a toy ready for her when she comes by and see what happens.

Hmmm, it seems to me that I've seen a pic recently with finches swimming about in water. I'll have to find that thread and send it to you. It was awesome.

Linda

Linda, one of the reasons I'm so mad at those crows is that they are keeping the other birds away. But I've noticed, as SW said, that the hummers barely pause in their activities. We'll never see our bluebirds if the darn crows don't get lost. They used to be here just for nesting, then they'd go elsewhere, but now they hang around all the time. Did you know the collective term for them? A murder of crows. I'd like to....

Whatever water source you have should be up off the ground and ideally have a drip or something to make the water move. It attracts the birds, but also keeps mosquitoes from laying eggs in it. Otherwise, empty and fill the bowl at least daily. Oh, and we have smooth rocks in ours for them to stand on - bathing birds are the most entertaining thing around. Our hummers sit on the edge of the fountain and bath or drink.

OK, here they are from the European forum. Look at these birds enjoying themselves. I'd love to make my birds this happy. Look at how the different birds share the water! Now THAT'S awesome, isn't it?

Linda


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=3517801

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=5274462

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=5267091

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=3507333

Twincol, perhaps a mister you turn on for a short time in the afternoon, out in the middle of the lawn/garden. One of the kids sprinkler toys would probably work for the hummers. I've also seen them bathe in the waterfall.
Last time I saw a finch nest was before our cats figured out how to walk the four by four railings supporting the porch roof. Some made "bags" of loosely woven material with the eggs at the bottom, and there was a narrow opening at the top where the parents entered and exited. My finches don't like their nests disturbed and will not rebuild in the same spot. Had one in a rose bush until I found it when I was trimming the rose. Had some mad birds. Then they moved it to the Lilac bush, but I went and told the boys about that one and they took it down.
I need to swipe those binoculars or get a pair of my own. Birds will try to trick you into leaving the immediate vicinity of their nest. The wounded bird ploy is my favorite. They will also fly right into your face to distract you. I always figured that their nest was their private space and try to respect it. I'll go nest hunting and take pics. I'm not climbing any trees or ladders though.
WIB,
SW

Twin, those birdbath pix you linked to are incredible. I've NEVER EVER seen different species sharing a birdbath like that. Often I get a little "lineup" by my pond inlet where different varieties are taking turns, but they're never in the same water at the same time.

Over the weekend I saw a pair of red-tailed hawks courting on the thermals over the house, and they were being harrassed by 4 crows. Couldn't help but think of obnoxious high-school boys without dates bothering a couple....LOL!

I put up a finch sock the other day hanging over the pond. Guess the birds haven't discovered it yet, as I haven't seen a single client.

We had a pair of killdeer here for a couple of years - they do the wounded wing thing to draw predators away. They nest right out in the open and we would watch them with binocs and stay away from the nest. I might have pics somewhere.

The wren is still working on his nest in the gourd - I wonder if it will get used. He's stopped singing, so we think there might be a female involved now.

Darn crows have now discovered the little bird bath the finches use a lot. grrrrr....

Put a cat out there. LOL!
Here is one of my pesty birds. I took the photo just for you, KC. I noticed that the chickens got very quiet, and that the hummers weren't approaching the feeder right after I watched one crow fly overhead. The other one decided to perch. It was only after I scared him off did the chickens start clucking and crowing again.
BRB.
WIB,
SW

Another view.
WIB,
SW

Another favorite perch. BTW, DH says that crows eat the smaller birds, and that is why they hide.
WIB,
SW

Hmmm, I think I'd quiet down, too, SW! Linda

Linda

Wow, I knew they ate eggs, but not BIRDS. Maybe that's why I haven't see the flocks of bushtits lately. Can't get much smaller than them.

Finally figured out what the banging on the roof is every morning. Sneaked out and found a crow on the peak (we have clay tile) with a big piece of SOMETHING and he was using the roof for a work surface. BANG, BANG, BANG trying to tenderize or break this THING up. I do not want to know...

I've never heard of crows eating other birds. They certainly will eat their eggs.

Crows have a bad reputation but really are one of the most interesting and intelligent birds there are. I have many at my work and frequently have "chats" with them. They will respond when spoken to if you are around their domain on a regular basis. I saw a documentary on crows a few years ago on either Discovery or The Learning Channel and developed a new respect for them after that.

Yes, I believe they are one of the few birds who use tools in a purposeful way. Don't like anything that big coming in such huge numbers, though. They really need predators to keep them in check. We need something that eats crows' eggs!

Raccoons, Foxes and snakes like 'em. If they can get them. Foxes can climb some trees. I've seen them do it in real life. We were all surprised. Bobcats/Mtn. Lions/Cougars like them too. Saw a hawk trash a crows nest once. I figured that crow must have really upset the hawk. I've seen some doves, and caught a quick glimpse of the roadrunner.
Maybe he is cracking open snails up on your roof, KC! LOL!
WIB,
SW

Oh man!!! I watched a big crow chase a hawk around in the sky this afternoon for easily 10 minutes. Dive bombing and flying close, past that hawk. I figure the hawk just decided the crow just wasn't worth the energy to chase off or grab and nibble on. This hawk is one which sits atop a 5-story building near my office scoping out the environs regularly.


But why on earth would a crow be allowed to pester a hawk like that?

Linda

Hawks are funny that way - perhaps it's not worth the energy to really go after them. If they are in the air, it's a pretty good bet they are hunting and would not want to waste the time.

One of my favorite things is to watch a mockingbird go after a hawk - those little guys are fierce. That's probably one of our problems, we haven't had a mockingbird nesting here for two years!

I truly do not try to be perverse but........I love crows. Ravens. Magpies............

I probably could like them, if they didn't come in hordes!

No, it is murders of crows, not hordes. LOL! I've often seen crows and hawks harrassed by smaller birds whose nests they'd either gotten too close to, or had raided. The hawk was pestering the crow and the crow was retaliating the only way it knew.
Mockingbirds will chase you down and peck you on the head.
Guess what I woke up to this morning? Okay, I'll tell you. I kept hearing a tapping noise at the window, so I walked over to check, and discovered a Bushtit tapping on my window. They've nested by that window before, and make nests that look like bags. I don't know if babies are in the offing or not, will keep an eye on the situation, and keep you posted.
WIB,
SW

My DS told me there was a little bird tapping on his window the other day when he was painting the living room. He took a picture, but it wasn't good enough to get an ID. Bushtits are SO cute, and I LOVE saying their name....yes, I may be an 11-year-old boy at heart.

It's funny, but I like saying that, too! My DH is from England and often talks about the tits there. LOL They are lovely little birds.

No, SW, they are HORDES!

A number of crows is referred to as a 'Jury of Crows' also which I find rather fitting as I think they're somewhat judicious......

LOL at the tits! We had a large gang of crows stop by for several weeks, and now they've disappeared. Man those suckers are loud!

Yeah, well I wish ours would disappear!

Send them West on the 76 Kathleen. They can join my 'jury' here at the Mira Costa campus.

What I find amazing about crows is HOW they can disappear into the thick SPINEY (sp?) crown of those huge Canary Island Palm Trees. The spikes on those palms are lethal, so I can't comprehend how they don't get impailed by the blasted things. Their bodies must be made of steel under their feathers.

I was out gardening today and saw a pair of mockingbirds (presumably a husband and wife) chasing a giant crow for about two hours. They were relentless and the so was the crow. Finally the crow gave up, then the mockingbirds kept a vigil for a few more hours.

A few years ago, there was a dead crow hanging upside down and tangled in the branches of an elm tree near our office. There were easily 200 or more crows hovering all around and in the tree making the worst racket imagineable. It was a scene straight out of a Stephen King novel. People were afraid to even walk down the sidewalk or get out of their cars.

Finally, the city workers came and set off some sort of sound gun (?) and scared them off. Then they extracted the dead one from the tree. The crows did return, but only briefly.

I also saw a bunch of them scarfing on road kill at an intersection on Kanan Rd. in Malibu.
They wouldn't even move for the cars. People had to drive around them.

Very creepy birds.

I snapped this picture of a hawk that was sitting in the limbs of the Mulberry tree last fall. I only knew it was there because I saw it's shadow on the lawn as I walked by, so I ran and got the camera.

It stayed there for over an hour and I watched it, but it didn't move, so I went inside to see what it would do. Then I noticed feathers blowing out of the tree about six feet from the hawk. I got my binocs and could see there was a carcass of some kind of bird laying on it's back across some limbs.

I got my big ladder out and climbed to the top to see what the dead thing was. Couldn't tell if it was a pigeon or what because it was on it's back, but clearly dead. Meanwhile, the hawk didn't budge. It stayed right where it was.

Here's the photo. The story continues in the next post.