Birders Unite

[Celtic Lady]

Many years back (over 10) we had a golden-crowned kinglet in Michigan (where I used to live). Sadly one of our cats had caught him. The same cat also caught a very tiny house wren a few days later.

[Lady Pagos]

Question fer you bird feedin' people- Will the big 20 lb sacks of assorted seed grow if cultivated in a field or planter?

The baby Quail are out and about. They look like small grey cotton balls on short legs.

We sell bird seed at work and we would throw infested or damaged bags out back by the dumpsters.  Before we knew it, we would have wicked huge sunflowers growing behind the store. 

[Sir William Marcus]

[Tremayne]

Down here in AL we had robins this morning and the doves have returned. A grackle and a few goldfinches were also among the mixed flock driving my cat crazy this morning. Last week I was graced with another mixed flock consisting primarily of cedar waxwings, but also featuring a blue bird and a downy woodpecker. So though it remains cold down here, the birds say it's about to be over. And as I've typed this a swarm of not-so-welcome cowbirds have settled in the trees.

[DonaCatalina]

Here just north of Dallas we have
White-winged doves
Collared Doves
Mourning Doves
House Finches
Blue Jays
various species of sparrows
Cardinals
Brown-headed Blackbirds
Starlings
Grackels
Male American kestrel
Pair of Red-tailed Hawks
Prairie Falcon

We put out safflower specifically to attract the cardinals. We have one male we call
Mr. Excitement, because ever since he was a fledgling he peeps non-stop.

[Richard de Graeme]

We are witnessing the return of the Crows here in the Borderland. West Nile decimated the population a few years back. It is like seeing an old friend. A wonderfully mystical bird they are! It is our hope they will remain by Spring and throughout the coming year.

[Tremayne]

When I went out to get the mail yesterday, there was a pair of robins in every yard    I knew a pair had claimed mine and found it amusing that others were staking their claims as well. It's amusing to me that robins recognize our boundaries and adopt them as their own. Or maybe city/suburban life began when someone recognized the territories of robins and began to imitate them. And thus I am living life in a robin mentality without having realized it. 

[Sir William Marcus]

As for a first sign of Spring we always look for the first robin of the year. Although, a good number of our robins have never migrated this year and have been hanging around all winter.  I can't ever remember them tuffing it out all winter

This wacky phenomenon was even highlighted on one of our local news channels. It appears that there are an abundance of berries and other forage available for them now and they find it not necessary to migrate.   

[Sir William Marcus]

February is National Bird feeding Month

This month you have the opportunity to participate in the Twelfth Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) which links citizens with scientist in an effort to collect important data about backyard birds.

The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It takes place February 13-16. Count the birds in your backyard, and simply report the information online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

[Lady L]

I wish it was time for us to see robins returning, but it will be March before that happens.

[Femme Falchion]

We look forward to the GBBC every year. 

I have had a HUGE flock of robins in our holly grove.  The trees are dripping with berries and the robins appear to be having a blast!  I can't get over how loud it is when we walk through that section of woods.  The big consumers in our yard right now besides the Robins are goldfinches (17 count yesterday on 1 feeding station) Red-bellied woodpeckers, Pileated woodpeckers, Juncos, Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, tufted titmouse, nuthatchs and a pair of very visible Barred Owls.  We also have a Sharp-Shinned Hawk that comes through that tends to target our goldfinches.   

Has anyone found a way to deal with the rising cost of seed?  I've been making my own suet but the more I put out, the more my feathered friends demand! 

[Sir William Marcus]

Has anyone found a way to deal with the rising cost of seed? 

Interesting, the only increase I have seen here has been in black oil sunflower seed.






Happened to captured this the other day: Mockingbird vs Bluejay

[DonaCatalina]

My feeders hand from giant iron hooks that we got from Scarby. We've taken to coating them with vaseline to keep the squirrels off.

(that is a show in itself)

Another lady i work with does the same thing. Are we the only ones?

[Richard de Graeme]

We used to do that, but the squirrels always find a way. My garden is filled with native flowers and shrubs and I leave the seed heads stand all Winter for the birds to feed upon. We put out little seed.

Sir William - great picture! Haven't seen a Blue Jay in a while. They went the way of the Crow due to West Nile.

[Sir William Marcus]

Don't forget to count the birds February 13-16!
Count for FUN! Count for the FUTURE!

It's easy to participate

1. Visit www.birdcount.org for easy-to-follow instructions, including tips for identifying bird species.Download the checklist for your area.

2. Count the birds you see, wherever you choose to count. Write down the highest number of individuals you see at one time-that way you will avoid counting any bird twice.

3. After at least 15 minutes of watching in one place, report your results online at www.birdcount.org. (You can spend more time observing if you prefer).

4. You can repeat your count at the same place on each day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. You can also visit other locations and submit separate tallies for those areas as well.

Now in its 12th year, the Great Backyard Bird Count attempts to obtain a snapshot of bird activity throughout North America. Scientists use the information gathered to study bird population trends and migration patterns. Researchers combine the data collected nationwide and use it to help with bird conservation efforts.