Backyard Birding

Mayntz · Feb 19, 2008

Well, I finally got myself a blog... Not anything to do with writing, just with birding which is a new hobby I'm excited about getting into. I'd love to have visitors and feedback, since I haven't a clue what I'm doing! And if you're a backyard birder, let's share tips!

http://backyardbirdsutah.blogspot.com/

Nakhlasmoke · Feb 19, 2008

Hey neat. I'm a very occasional backyard birder, but I always feel kinda stupid whenever I post about the birds in my garden cause the tend to be really common.

Anyway, off to check out your blog.

aka eraser · Feb 19, 2008

I'm a fairly recent devotee of birding too. Although this post isn't quite out of place here in OP, I do think it would be better off in either Blogging or Writing about Animals. I think I'll port it over to the latter for now.

Fenika · Feb 19, 2008

My favorite: Robin shelves
(This is but one design. Google for other ideas)

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

Ol' Boy and I have been birding for about two years now. We've had a blast.

Our coolest visitor - who's become a regular - is this Sharp Shinned Hawk... and we're in the middle of Oklahoma City! (Well... not the middle, exactly, but we're certainly not in the country.) Here's a pic (photography is a secondary hobby that came upon us when we saw all the cool birds coming to the feeders):

AS for tips... this is the best one I have:

Get yourself some 'caged' feeders - otherwise, you'll be feeding nothing but Starlings and Grackles. They're big birds that'll chase all the pretty birds away from the feeders. You can get them at Wild Birds Unlimited - they're a bit pricey, but well worth it - unless you only want to feed Starlings and Grackles.

Nakhlasmoke · Feb 20, 2008

Oh wowo, lovely photo Ol Fashion Girl. Stunning.

I've also got a single word of advice. - Patience.

I was feeding cape sparrows for about a year before I started seeing other birds drop by. At first I was happy, now I know that when the red-headed finches come through they devour an entire bird feeder of seed in an afternoon.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

They're little piglets, aren't they? We're going through pounds and pounds of thistle seed, peanuts (shelled and unshelled), regular bird seed, black sunflower seed and safflower seed. Then, when the hummingbirds arrive, we'll add their nectar, too. In the fall, this place is filled with all kinds of birds, bunnies, and squirrels.

Nakhlasmoke · Feb 20, 2008

Ol' Fashioned Girl said:
They're little piglets, aren't they?..

And how - the finches are also the messiest birds at the feeder. After they've done a fly-by, my stoep is covered with shelled seed.

We don't have hummingbirds here, although you can get sugar and sun birds, but I haven't see any yet. I'm trying to plant indigenous to help attract birds. The previous owners chopped down all the trees so we're basically starting from scratch which is a bit of a pain.

Do you have any other photos of your garden birds?

eldragon · Feb 20, 2008

OFG - have you ever seen that hawk anything (anyone?)

I have refrained from feeding birds here because of the huge hawk population.

But this year I have the most beautiful bunch of Eastern Bluebirds, that I think I'll start putting feed out for them.

Some of them have taken up residence in my purple martin feeder, which I just put up February 1st.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

He eats here about once a week. There are a lot of other feeders in the area, so I'm sure he has excellent choice when it comes to his 'soup du jour'.

We watched him sit for over an hour one day, patiently waiting for this one sparrow who'd hidden itself in a small rose bush (we didn't know it was there). Finally, the hawk went right into the bush and brought him out. We always know when he's near - we can hear the 'ki-ki-ki' of his cry and all the other birds disappear as if by magic.

Nakhlasmoke... I've got bunches of other shots of the hawk (whom we've dubbed 'Jesse') and his backyard buddies... I'll scare some up and post 'em.

eldragon · Feb 20, 2008

So, OFG, just so I'm clear on this...
when you say the hawk eats at your feeder, you mean, he eats other birds?

Mother Nature is so cruel to watch.

joyce · Feb 20, 2008

I've been watching all the great birds in my backyard for years now. I've made my landscape bird/animal friendly so I get the pleasure of seeing all sorts of great things. I see hummingbirds almost everyday and I've also got a sharp shinned hawk that loves the feeder. Mine is so big and last week I saw he had one of my little squirrels balled up in his talons and carried him away. Buy a couple of bird identification books and you are on your way. Enjoy.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

eldragon said:
So, OFG, just so I'm clear on this...
when you say the hawk eats at your feeder, you mean, he eats other birds?

Mother Nature is so cruel to watch.

Yes. He eats other birds.

The first couple of times he appeared, he was just shopping.

Then, one day when I was particularly observant, he was sitting on the ground at the base of a feeder. Just sitting. Looking around.

Then Ol' Boy noticed he had a sparrow in his talons and was waiting to make sure nothing was going to attack him before he started eating. Here's a pic of him - later in the year, last summer - when he was feeding. All you can see are feathers at his feet, though. (Thank goodness.)

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

Here are a few of our other regulars:

A Hummer

Goldfinch

Mr. Squirrel was once small enough to fit through the wire - now he's wondering why he can't get in anymore.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

A Downy Woodpecker

Mockingbird

The resident bunny

A Dark-eyed Junco (I call him 'Bubbles'.)

A Blue Jay (Noisy, greedy bugger... he likes to steel the peanuts and bury them in my planters. I can't tell you how many peanut plants I had to pull out, like weeds.)

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

And the last round... some Cardinals - some of my favorites:

And in this one, there are actually THIRTEEN Cardinals - male and female. Can you find them all? (I'm not sure I still can...)

eldragon · Feb 20, 2008

OFG, you're quite the photographer and I love your bird feeders!

I know it's natural and everything, but I do find it a bit macabre that you and Joyce see hawks eating your songbirds and squirrels. That's the exact reason why I haven't set up anything elaborate for my birds.

I had read someplace that bird feeders make it too easy for hawks to get the little ones.

I wish I had the photography know-how you do, OFG. We have a bunch of Eastern Bluebirds this year, and they are beautiful. We have an enormous amount of cardinals and robins, too.

joyce · Feb 20, 2008

eldragon said:
OFG, you're quite the photographer and I love your bird feeders!

I know it's natural and everything, but I do find it a bit macabre that you and Joyce see hawks eating your songbirds and squirrels. That's the exact reason why I haven't set up anything elaborate for my birds.

You should see me outside with Ms. Hawk, believe me I'm ridiculous. My feeders are right outside a big fenced area where my labs are when they are outside. The hawk won't come around when she knows they are outside in the pen. When I see the thing in my oak tree I go outside and start throwing rocks at it to make it go away so it won't get my wildlife. The other week I was outside and it had a squirrel cornered and I was throwing stuff at it and it looked at me and screamed then flew away (without squirrel). I know this sounds insane, but the squirrels start their chatting alerts, (I think they are calling for me, hubby thinks I'm crazy which is probably true) I hear the hawk, then mother nature runs outside to start her own attack. I love nature but I do hate seeing the hawk attack. I know hawks need to eat to, and this one is particularly special to our area, but I don't care.....get away from my critters! I'm like Rambo in my backyard.

eldragon · Feb 20, 2008

OK, gotcha Joyce.

See, we live in the country and often there are 3, 4 or more hawks circling around looking for food. So while they are beautiful and I appreciate all wildlife, I don't encourage them.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

The new digital cameras make it really easy, Pam. I literally just 'point and press the little button'.

I do hate to see Jesse kill another bird... but if he and his brother hawks didn't, we'd be overrun with sparrows (which we almost are, anyway!). Now... I've never seen him take a Cardinal or a Junco or a Goldfinch... I'm sure he does, though. I don't think they care what color feathers dinner wears... but that'd bother me more, I'm sure. Yeah... I'm biased, I guess. He can have all the Starlings and Grackles he wants, though!

heyjude · Feb 20, 2008

Joyce, I do the same thing. As soon as I hear that "Ki!" I run outside and chase the hawks away. I know they have to eat too, but not MY birds in MY feeders!

joyce · Feb 20, 2008

heyjude said:
Joyce, I do the same thing. As soon as I hear that "Ki!" I run outside and chase the hawks away. I know they have to eat too, but not MY birds in MY feeders!

Glad to hear I'm not the only Mother Nature with Rambo tendencies out there.

eldragon · Feb 20, 2008

Geez.

Don't those hawks know where the mice and rats live? Alot less cleaning to do to get to the meat!

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Feb 20, 2008

Yeah, I hear ya. I wish they'd concentrate on the rodents and leave the bird feeders alone... but we've done it to ourselves. We have 12 feeders out there on three poles. Three bird baths. A heated fountain. We've set up a lovely buffett for them, whether we initially intended to or not... all the habitat clearing for more houses that we don't need and can't afford has driven them into our backyards right here in the city.

Hummingbird · Feb 20, 2008

I've moved recently, but I used to have a pair of Mississippi Kites in my garden, or actually the trees surrounding my garden. They were so nice to watch. During the winter I'd always have a flock of Titmouse around, hoping for some food. We also had Cedar Waxwings, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Mourning Doves. I wish I had pictures to show to everyone! It killed me not having a camera. You can find my gravestone at the head of my bed. ^_~
I finally have a camera, but where I live now the landlord won't let me put up birdfeeders so all I see are Grackles and Starling. If I go to Walmart I see Seagulls though. ^.~

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