South Texas birds

I don't know my birds at all but our butterfly park put in a bird feeding area. Was able to get photos of these colorful birds. Any help with identification is appreciated.

~ Cat

Don't know this one either but it's a beauty!

~ Cat

I know this is an Altimira Oriole :o)

There were so many different birds having a field day at the 'peanut butter' feeders. One of our park friends made feeders with holes drilled at a diagonal and filled them will a mixture of crunchy peanut butter, cornmeal and bird seed. It was fun to watch the birds having a go at those feeders!

~ Cat

Great Kiskadee at the Peanut Butter feeder.
Also same Red, Black and White bird at the regular bird seed feeder.

~ Cat

Green Jay...these birds are noisy :o) but colorful.

~ Cat

Woodpecker having a go at the Peanut Butter feeder too.

~ Cat

Road Runner watching from a tree.

~ Cat

What the bird feeding area looks like.

They had to put some inverted trash cans over the poles holding up the feeder line because the raccoons were climbing up the poles and knocking down all the feeders. Guess they like peanut butter too :o) But the inverted trash cans has so far put an end to their raids.

Off to the right side is another smaller inverted trash can and a flat feeding tray that holds grapes and other fruits. The woodpeckers, chachalacas, greenjays and other birds also frequented that until it was empty.

There are also several bird baths with water drip hoses to keep them filled. Good thing too because you could see the birds going for a drink after getting a beakful of peanut butter!!! It was funny to watch but they kept hitting up the peanut butter feeders. I had no idea so many birds (and raccoons) liked peanut butter.

Ah...and there are plenty of places for birds to perch on. Lots of the smaller birds liked to go into that pile of branches to look for bugs and other insects.

~ Cat


This message was edited Apr 26, 2009 9:30 PM

Photo of one of the Peanut Butter feeders up close.

Again, they use a mix of crunchy peanut butter, cornmeal and bird seeds to fill the holes. I was informed that they use cornmeal because it is digestible. Someone asked about using oatmeal but we were told birds can't digest it properly.

~ Cat

Wow! Bird paridise! How neat to have in your area.
Pic #1 has a pair of painted buntings (top and right) and indigo buntings (lower center and left
Pic #2 is a rose brested grosbeak
What a great idea to use the barrels or trash cans to block the critters!

OOPS!! The bird on the bottom left has been identified by Resin as a song sparrow. Sorry!

This message was edited Apr 27, 2009 8:35 AM

What a wonderful area, Cat. Beautiful birds. I love the Roadrunner

Wow what a great variety of beautiful birds!

Great feeding station.

Thanks for showing these to us Cat!

Bottom left on pic #1 is a Song Sparrow

Woodpecker in #6 is Golden-fronted

BirdFiles would like some of the pics! Particularly Altamira Oriole doesn't have any at all yet: http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/go/267/

Resin

I knew I was in trouble with the females.....glad you came along to set us straight! I'll go fix that...

Wow...thanks for sharing these beautiful birds! I would faint if I saw so many in one area...just great!!

What great shots , may I ask what park in South Texas you were visiting?? I really like the creative bird feeders.

DaneaJ

Thanks everyone for the identifications!!! I love that Rose Breasted Grosbeak - what an unusual coloring. I'd not seen that one before :o) I will have to invest in a bird guide book soon.

I had never seen a bunting either...so it was a thrill so see so many in one place. There were a good dozen of those blue ones but everytime I'd try to get close or lift my arms to hold up the camera for a photo they'd all fly off. I had to sit at the picnic table near there and wait with camera in the ready position for way too many minutes! :o)

The park is called the National Butterfly Center in Mission, TX located on Old Military Highway and Butterfly Park Drive (about a mile east of the Bentsen World Birding Center). The NBC was formerly known as NABA IBP. North American Butterfly Association International Butterfly Park but the name was changed a few months ago.

Yes...I got such a kick out of watching so many different birds coming to the peanut butters feeders that showed photos to my father and asked him to make me some for my yard as well as for the ranch. Dad is retired and loves nothing better than to putter around in his work shop :o) Mom loves it too as it keeps him out of her hair!!!

~ Cat

My goodness you sure stumbled on a nice banquet of birdies!

Oh Cat, so not fair that you have all those great butterflies AND these birds ;)!!!

Think I'll need to retire near that park!

So true Mrs_Ed :o)

We just have to put up with some horribly hot summers which run from January to November :o) Ha! Ha! But ah, how we look forward to the fall season for the best butterflies!!!

~ Cat