Backyard birds

Thanks for clarifying, duc, and with your usual fantastic photos, too!!

I am pretty happy with my hummer friends, and the occasional visitor. I heard the woodpecker today, but didn't see him. Without rain, things are drying out fast here on the farm. Except what we water of course. I have a lot of bees too, but DH brought a bunch of hives up a couple of weeks ago. They don't bother me because they just want water, and nectar/pollen from the flowers and to be left alone. I can handle that. I've never been stung by a bee going after water.
Now as for the rest of you (and you know who you are), those orioles are just gorgeous. I didn't realize how colorful they are. They are different from the ones Dad had at his place.
Saw some finches or gnat catchers playing in the water where I have the hose soaking, just planted this spring, Cannas. Of course I did not have my camera with me. I need to turn it into a necklace I guess. Just not enough pockets or hands for everything. LOL!
I too am grateful for the chance to see feathered friends that don't live around here. Always learn something new.
Very thankful that my friends at DG share.
WIB!
SW

I have a pair of Oak Titmouse (don't know if you call them Titmice or Titmouses) in one of my bird houses outside my kitchen window. This is "dad" sitting on my fake branch closeby. He puffs up all proud and loves the click of my camera.

I keep seeing both mom and dad bringing food into the house, but still no sign of little ones. I don't like to open up the house just for pictures, it's more fun to just watch for the fledglings.

Oops, this one if "R" rated! This pair of Tree Swallows have had their nest built for several weeks, but still no sign of little ones.

This message was edited Apr 29, 2009 8:14 AM

LOL! Lovely photo, though - looks like he is nibbling her ear. :-)

...and she looks a little embarrassed to have been caught on camera in such a "personal" situation...LOL!

LOL! It's definitely spring, that's for sure ;-).

Thanks for the info on my oriole pals. The male was back yesterday, but was too quick for my mad camera dash this time. Too be continued...hopefully.

I've enjoyed reading this thread. Last year I purchased another Gazebo style birdfeeder from The Ark Workshop. I had purchased my first one about 5 years ago and planted it on a post in the back yard. Thinking it was far enough away from the Avocado trees I placed a barrier around the pole thinking I'd keep the 4 legged critters from eating all the birdseed but I guess they are jumping from the trees to the feeder. I put the new feeder in our newly landscaped front yard and what a response we have had. It is like grand central station out there. I also built
a circular ground feeder around the post of that feeder and the response is equally overwhelming. Among the stranger vistors are a lovely pair of Mallard ducks who come and go at will. We don't get many varieties of birds where we are but it is fun to watch them. The Orioles and Finchs love the thistle feeders, while the Mourning Doves, Ring Neck Doves, a Rufus Sided Towee, various Sparrows and Finchs visit the ground and gazebo feeders. We have a family of Crows (3) that visit the ground feeder along with occasional visitors that pass through. The other day I looked out the kitchen window and there was our resident hawk sitting on top of the gazebo. Not one to ignore
that challange I went out to shoo him away and he just sat there looking me straight in the eye. That stare down lasted about 5 minutes before he flew off. We enjoy the birds singing.

I rescue English Setters and they have an endless fascination with the back yard bird feeder as well as the veggie garden. We have a veggie garden on the backside of the property and have finally completed a fence around that area. I'll move the backyard feeder into the veggie garden area. Last year the dogs ate every tomato on every bush as well as all the blueberries, any figs, nectarines, apricots and peaches they could reach. They even dug up the carrots while trying a bell pepper or two but guess that wasn't to their taste since they left the rest of them alone. They love lettuce and squash too and always beat me to any Avocados that drop. Well, drastic measures were called for and the dogs are a little pissed at me because they can see what they are going to miss in the next few weeks and months.

Sounds like you're having fun, Barb. If you get pictures, please post them.

Here's a wren on a stick and his house. The house now has sticks poking out and there's a Mrs Wren inside. He feeds her quite often and keeps watch for intruders.

The oriole population has exploded recently. Either we have two families, or the one pair has several youngins! Here's a young male - you can see his black markings starting.

Barbs. it sounds like you really have your hands full. Glad you got that hawk to leave.

I feed my birds cut up unsalted peanuts (my mothr-in-law shells and cuts them up every day). The peanuts attract lots of birds, including some you've mentioned, plus the crows which I dearly love. My crows stay by my house year round and chase off every hawk, osprey and eagle that flies close each day. I thought this was a normal way of life for them and am wondering why your crows don't do the same thing. It's so much safer for my other smaller birds to be out in my open box feeder and as far as I know, I've only lost one quail to a hawk.

Sunny, keep that camera handy!!

And here are two of them at the feeder together. We've seen as many as four at one time.

Here's daddy.

A couple of gold finches bathing in the fountain.

Daddy is a beautiful Hooded Oriole. Cute photos Kaper, sorry I posted in between your photos.
Is that Wren a Bewick's? I have a pair here, but we've got lots of shrubs and trees in the vacant land around us and I haven't spotted where they're nesting yet.

We've been wondering what kind they are, Duc. I think we decided not a Bewick's because we don't see a white eyebrow. OTOH, he moves so fast we don't get a good look! We'll have to remember the binoculars when we're outside.

Great photos today.
I wouldn't open the birdhouse to see the babies either, duc. Parents might abandon the nest if it is messed around with too much. Now if I could set up a camera before the birds moved in, well that could be kind of fun! ^_^
duc, the 2nd photo you posted had me rolling!
sunnyg, buy velcro, attach a square to you and another to the camera, match velcro on your body to camera! LOL! I want a marsupial pouch to carry mine in. LOL!
Really enjoyed hearing about the birds in your back yard, Barbsbackyard. Do send photos when you can.
Loved the Orioles and the pretty gold finches, KC. I'm becoming envious of your bird bath.
WIB,
SW

Can someone tell me how to post photos?
Thank you.

Barb

Hi Barb:

There's a forum called "Dave's Garden FAQ" that has answers to a lot of those sorts of questions. Here's a link to that forum:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/dgfaq/all/

And here's a link to the answer about posting pictures that's part of that forum. Melody's reply from 2003 (the second post) gives the instructions.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/397510/

Looking forward to seeing your photos!

And you can try it out on the test forum.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/test/all/

I like to try things out there.

Should we be starting a new thread for the people that have dial-up? I don't have it, but I understand some people have to wait forever to get to the bottom of these photos?

My Bewick's Wrens have really been active lately.

I love this older photo of the Bewick's personality.

This male Bluebird kept trying to get through the window glass. Guess it saw its reflection.

Here's a shot of our White Pelicans I took last weekend on our lake.

Done! We are continuing here http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/982682/