Birdwatching, Anyone?

[dovespirit]

I seen two sparrows feeding each other the cutest thing ; and I seen a bluebird ; I love owls but haven't seen them around ; I like hearing them at night

 

[A New Dawn]

Today was the day to hear baby killdeers down at the pond at the dog park. They were sounding all over the place, but I couldn't see any of them!

 

[rdcast]

For a couple of weeks now, I've watched kildeer watch over their 3 eggs in a parking lot. I'll make a short video to post here. Their eggs are due to hatch soon.

 

[dovespirit]

there was one sparrow landed on my barbecue handle I was talking to it it was tilting its head like it was listening lol it wouldn't fly away either must have been a baby ;so cute ; has anyone ever heard about the bob bird feeder you sit in the chair named bob wth hands open wide wth seeds in them and the birds fly into your hands and eat I had a couple of chickadees do it it takes practice lol

 

[A New Dawn]

I know the adult killdeer sitting on the nest tries to draw off animals who get too close to the nest by faking a broken wing and hopping away from the nest, enticing the predator to follow them instead of making for the nest.

 

[rdcast]

there was one sparrow landed on my barbecue handle I was talking to it it was tilting its head like it was listening lol it wouldn't fly away either must have been a baby ;so cute ; has anyone ever heard about the bob bird feeder you sit in the chair named bob wth hands open wide wth seeds in them and the birds fly into your hands and eat I had a couple of chickadees do it it takes practice lol

That would definitely be awesome.

 

[rdcast]

I know the adult killdeer sitting on the nest tries to draw off animals who get too close to the nest by faking a broken wing and hopping away from the nest, enticing the predator to follow them instead of making for the nest.

Yes, it is amazing. Thinking about it, it's an excellent example how some animals can use psychological manipulation on other animals outside their specie. Can this behavior be explained by inherited instinct? It would seem to me, there is an awareness of predator psychology. The old bait and switch routine is a practice I would have thought only humans had perfected.

 

[MountainBluebird]

I'd love to see a bluebird one day but have never seen one. I've hand fed chickadees at a park once or twice and it was a wonderful experience. I tried to get them to eat out of my hand at my home, but never succeeded. I have had a Stellers Jay or two take peanuts from my hand though.

 

[dovespirit]

another idea too you can see a varity of birds right in your bedroom or living room get small to med fish tank put the open side outside your window make a little door above to pour your seed in and your ready to see them ; I put a protective wire on the out side so squirrels don't get in just make a hole big enough so birds can go in and out

 

[rdcast]

The pursuit of trying to get closer and closer to birds may be more of a feminine desire. For instance, my wife loved having Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds perch on her hand or shoulder and simply loved it when they would fight over her or even pee on he. I'm not sure if birds mark territory that way or not, but those little guys seemed intent on doing so.

I tried to get video of the Killdeer, but for some reason it wasn't playing along. An onlooker told me that they lay 4 eggs and that it could take two weeks to lay them all. I was surprised about that. So far there are three. Apparently they wont set on them to incubate them until the clutch equals four.

 

[katautumn]

I have a question that I'm not sure if it's been asked already, so I'm apologizing in advance if this is a repeat

I have multiple feeders in my front yard and a bird bath. I feed black oil sunflower seed and thistle and the songbirds love it. The problem is that about three days ago, the bully birds invaded my yard, making quick work of emptying my feeders and scaring away my other birds. So far I've had Grackles, Cowbirds, Starlings, and the Red Wing Blackbirds. The Grackles seem to be the most aggressive and make the biggest mess.

Anyway, several online sources swore up and down that replacing sunflower seeds with safflower would get rid of the nuisance birds. I spent a good bit of money on a bag of safflower, completely emptied all feeders and refilled them with the new seeds. Imagine my disappointment when I looked out there today and my yard was loaded with Grackles. They've even started bullying the Hummingbirds away from their feeder

I know they make special feeders that shut when large birds perch to eat, but they can be kind of expensive. Would hanging a squirrel baffle on top deter the Grackles?

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

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[MountainBluebird]

I'm not familiar with grackles but I get starlings sometimes. One thing that you could do is leave your feeders empty for a few days or longer until the bully birds have moved on. I bought an upside down suet feeder to discourage some of the bigger birds and it worked for some time, but eventually the bigger birds figured out how to eat from it too.

I've had house sparrows nesting in my yard for years but I am getting tired of the noise. I am seriously considering taking down their box after nesting season is over. Maybe I will move their house but living on a city sized lot, I can't get it very far away from my bedroom window either way. My biggest concern is that they would try to take over the chickadees house, if I take their's down. Any ideas?

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

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[BlueLioness]

My husband and I have been backyard birdwatchers for quite a while, but recently have expanded to going on birdwatching walks and trips.

Anyone else into birdwatching?

I don't want to just watch the birds. I want to hunt them down and make a collection out of their dead bodies like a naturalist would do. I want to use Taxidermy to perserve their dead bodies and make them into beautiful decorations.

My dad is a hunter. Maybe wanting to hunt birds is just in my blood, whatever.

There is this website called Barnes and Noble.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

They sell books. They have Field Guides on their website, which I've been collecting -- the information is helpful because the guides show me thousands of different bird species. What has me exhausted is thinking about catching every single species (there are thousands, remember?). Its like sorting out the needles in a haystack; it might take me years if I did it on my own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_guide

I've memorized the names of a few bird species: American Crow, Red-Tailed Hawk, Red Cardinal, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Sparrowhawk, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Dove, among others.

 

[dovespirit]

I would like to know where I can find various birdwatchers clubs in my area in penna I don't have a drivers license so id like to find a penpal a bird watcher to take me ; I wish someone on here live close by me I love nature it gets depressing I cant find anyone ;

 

[A New Dawn]

I would like to know where I can find various birdwatchers clubs in my area in penna I don't have a drivers license so id like to find a penpal a bird watcher to take me ; I wish someone on here live close by me I love nature it gets depressing I cant find anyone ;

Dovespirit, are there any birding stores in your area? Look in the yellow-pages for bird stores, or if you don't find any, try a local Agway/Farm & Tractor type of store. They might be able to help you find a birding store or group. Asking at a birding store would yield the best results, though.

If you find a group and get a contact number, you can ask if they have birding outings and see if you can find a ride with people from the group.

 

[BlueLioness]

My husband and I have been backyard birdwatchers for quite a while, but recently have expanded to going on birdwatching walks and trips.

Anyone else into birdwatching?

What I would give to see at least one Kingfisher out in the wild.. o.o

 

[BlueLioness]

My husband and I have been backyard birdwatchers for quite a while, but recently have expanded to going on birdwatching walks and trips.

Anyone else into birdwatching?

Holy crap, it says in your signature that you are the administrator, wow, nice to finally meet an admin. *Faints*

 

[BlueLioness]

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I don't know how to do it.. 9.9