Project FeederWatch Kicks off 25th Season Today!

....and I made a little movie to pay tribute. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afms284xnig

Water Wiggler

I found an interesting gadget at my local Wild Birds Unlimited store called the Water Wiggler. It's main purpose is to discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs in the bird bath but that's not why I bought it. I bought it because the rippling water effect is supposed to attract more birds to your yard. Since winter is approaching, I now have my bird bath heater going at night and rippling water. I'm hoping that winter birds will visit my yard while searching for a refreshing drink or a nice warm bath.
I would eventually like to get a larger birdbath since this gadget doesn't really leave room for bigger birds to bathe, but for now I would say most of the birds that visit my bath drink from it rather than bathe. It took about 7 days for the birds to get used to it...but I think they've finally accepted it as something safe to go near and are starting to visit the bath again!

Here's a little video:

Blue Jay

This isn't the first time I've seen these vibrant Blue Jays in my backyard, but I see them so rarely that I welcome their beautiful blue color!

Bushtits!

This was a first sighting for me! I thought they were baby Chickadees until I learned that they were, in fact a group of Bushtits! Cute little things and I've only had them visit this one time that I'm aware of. Sort of a "now you see us, now you don't" kind of visit!!

Molting Northern Flicker

Birds can look so scraggly when they molt! I just want to go pluck all those feathers out for her!

Chipping Sparrow

This photo was taken in my backyard on Sept. 30, 2011. About the same time every afternoon for about a week, a fairly good size group of Chipping Sparrows fluttered to and fro amongst the trees, chittering and chattering a happy tune. Little buggers were difficult to get a photo of, though. This was the best I could do, considering the rapid movement of my target. Not a great focus but at least enough I could figure out what kinds of birds I was listening to!

Common Grackle

About mid September, I had a whole large flock of common Grackles race through my yard like a motorcycle gang! There must have been a hundred of them. In that last photo above, I can count over 20 and the rest were in my trees. They didn't stay long but they sure made a lot of noise while they were here!

American Robin with Crossed Beak

I noticed this little fella amongst my Elderberry bushes. I didn't notice his crossed beak until I got close look at him. I sure hope he can learn to grab worms with that beak. He seemed to be able to eat the berries and he certainly looks like a well-fed bird. He may still be getting food from his parents at this point but I'll keep an eye out for him next summer to see if he makes it through the winter.

Unfortunate House Finch with Avian Pox?

Howdy!!! If you still follow this blog, you're in for a treat because I have lots of pics to post ans will be getting to it very soon I promise!!! I will start with the most recent and eventually work my way through them all for you to enjoy.
This unfortunate female House Finch showed up at my feeder a couple of days ago (Oct 4th) and I immediately noticed something different about her behavior. First, she was alone and this time of year the finches are starting to really gather in flocks for protection but this gal was sitting on my feeder, not eating, just sitting. OK, she did eat a seed or two but not much. I sat and watched her for the longest time. I got out my camera to see if I could see signs of eye disease but I think her eyes look fine (maybe not? ). Eventually, I moved a little closer and she flew to the fence where I spotted her ailment...a bad foot. She then flew up into the tree where she stayed, perched with one foot and sleeping at times, for at least another half-hour. I had to leave for a bit and when I cam back she was gone. In general, just by her behavior, I don't think she was a well bird. She seemed to be in pain but there was nothing I could do. I called a bird rehab and they said if she can fly away, there's nothing they could do and the hope it that she will eventually heal. I hope so!!!!
Edited to add that according to some opinions on my Flickr page, this bird seems to be suffering from Avian Pox. The best thing for me to do is disinfect my feeders to discourage spreading of this contagious disease.

On another note....the squirrell is still trying to figure out how to get the seed out of that feeder. He gets his fair share of dropped seed and suet plus the corn and apples I give him. He's a well fed squirrel!!!

House Finch Nest and Farewell To a Tree

Looking out my front window, I used to see a tree. A little pine tree that was planted by me in a poor spot. We received a free pine tree many years ago (maybe 12-15) from TCI Cable Co. I transplanted it into a coffee can and had it on my kitchen windowsill for awhile. I finally transplanted it into a whiskey barrel in front of this window. There it stayed for the next many years. It's roots eventually busted through the bottom and this little tree thrived and became quite large. To my enjoyment, the birds came to love this tree. In the picture above, a wintering bird (House Sparrow I think) stopped by for a nibble on the pine cones.

In May of this year, this House Finch built a nest in our little tree. I wondered if this was the same House Finch that made a nest in this tree 2 years ago.

I really enjoyed watching her work on her nest for a few days from inside my window!



I decided not to invade the nest with my camera to see how many eggs were laid but after I heard nestlings, I snuck this photo from a distance with my zoom lens. Eventually the nest was empty and we had to make the tough decision to remove the tree for our landscaping project.

We had the hardest time parting with this tree, but because of the roots being in the whiskey barrel, it had a low chance of being transplanted and it was smashed up against our house. After waiting a few weeks to make sure the nest wasn't going to be re-used, we said farewell to our tree.


And a few days later, we went to the nursery, bought a new tree and planted it (further from our house this time). This Autumn Blaze Maple will turn red in the fall and it will be a joy to watch it grow. I hope the birds find some enjoyment from it, also!

Cooper's Hawk Nest was Successful!

Back in early April, I posted about a Cooper's Hawk building a nest on the greenbelt where I walk everyday. Well, turns out it was a very successful nest this year! After the nest was built there wasn't much activity so I thought it was abandoned. Then one day I walked by and saw mama hawk sitting on it so I knew there must be eggs!
I kept my eye on it and eventually I saw a little head poking up. This nest is very high but with my Sigma 50-500mm I got some decent shots!
I walked around to the other side of the nest and saw another head and even had the pleasure of seeing mama feed it!
I apparently overstayed my welcome under the nest because shortly after mama fed them she stood on the edge of the nest, looked right at me and proceeded to dive-bomb me. I kid you not, I thought she was going to hit me so I ducked. It made my heart race and I quickly made my exit. If I wasn't so busy fearing for my safety, it would've made some great photos :0)
I waited a few days before returning and to my surprise noticed there were more than two babies in the nest...
there were 4 ! In the above photo you will see 3 in the nest and one already making it's way onto a nearby branch!
On my next visit, 2 of them were on branches with 2 still in the nest.


I continue to see them near the nest on my walks...calling out to mom and dad and learning all their hunting tricks!

Birds By The Lake

Snowy Egret

Western Meadowlark

Red-winged Blackbird

American White Pelican

Mourning Dove

An appropriate bird for this post. Around the time of my last post, my pup Kayla had to have an emergency surgery to remove her spleen. Long story short, turns out she had cancer and we had to say goodbye to her on June 21...5 1/2 weeks after her surgery. Words cannot express how much I miss that girl :(
During the time of Kayla's last weeks, I continued to follow a couple of nests that I will soon be blogging about. Also I have some misc photos of the ever-present House Finches in my yard and a couple photos from our camping trip. Stay tuned while I get caught up...

Colorful New Visitor!

I was a bit down about the House Finch nest being abandon this morning but was quickly cheered up when I looked out my kitchen window and saw a very colorful new bird at my feeder! A Western Tanager!!! A first sighting for me and even more exciting that all I had to do to see him was look out my window. He was a welcome sight on this dreary, rainy, cold spring day! So far he has been hanging around all day coming and going to my feeder and the nearby trees. I hope he decides to stay.