March 2009 Archive
|
| Late
March |
| |
| |
March
28, 2009 - Today we put up our two new window feeders.
There was little interest at first. The birds would land
around it on the branch and grid in front of the window
and the squirrels would use it as a stepping stone to
get to the larger feeders with sunflower seeds.
...
more info and photos
|
|
|
Then a wet chickadee stopped by for
a snack and to get in out of the rain. Goofy watched
this activity with a great deal of interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Later that same rainy day Goofy was
startled at the audacity of a wet gray squirrel to snack
completely without panic even though he could plainly
see the dangerous cat in the window. If that wasn't bad
enough, he then proceeded to lay across the whole
feeder. It didn't matter to Goofy if he only did it to
stay drier, he really had some nerve! But her attempts
to intimidate him went unheeded. After hoping the other
cats Hattie and Maggie didn't witness that embarrassing
scene, she left to take comforting bath and a nap.
|
|
|
|
| |
March
22, 2009 - Food Guy mounted the new nesting box that is
made for any of three different woodpeckers, the
red-bellied, hairy , or red-headed woodpecker. The
first two kinds of woodpeckers are frequent visitors to
our backyard trees and feeders. A number of
professional sources differ about the limits for the
red-headed fellow from: not seen, to rarely seen, to
nesting, to year-round resident in our area. We are
hoping to see the red-headed woodpecker in our yard. If
nothing else, we look forward to our new birdhouse being
put to good use.
...more
red-bellied woodpecker and
hairy woodpecker
info and photos |
|
|
|
March
22, 2009 - We hung our new hummingbird feeder in the
same location as last year. When we had put out our
first feeder last May 24, 2008, a ruby throated
hummingbird landed on it almost immediately. After
changing feeders several times (leaking and poor camera
visibility) we still weren't happy with the interference
of the supply bottle with picture taking efforts (the
hummingbirds were undisturbed by these changes). By the
end of last summer we added more feeding options by
planting flowers and bushes for the natural nectar (the
hummingbirds were delighted with this change).
...
more info and photos |
|
|
|
| |
March
22, 2009 - Always a welcome sight at the end of winter
and before the first crocus, the purple finches came in
a small group to brighten the backyard. They look
even cuter when puffed up slightly to maintain a
comfortable body temperature.
Looking over last year's photos, I
noticed that we have pictures of these birds in every
month but September and December. Because the purple
finch doesn't stay long on each visit, it was surprising
to find the timing was spread throughout the year. I'm
betting they found us in the two off months, as well,
while we were distracted with who knows what. We'll be
keeping a better watch this year. Even though they
really are officially found year round in our area, we
are still surprised and excited when they come to our
feeders.
...more info and photos
|
|
|
|
March 21, 2009 - Today we caught
a woodchuck sneaking out from under the bird food shed.
He and various other digger animals have quite the
tunnel system under all four of our sheds and probably
under the entire front and back yards. Occasional heads
pop up here and there, maybe checking the weather or the
current neighborhood activities. We must traverse our
whole two acres with care for the openings can be quite
the toe catchers.
We can recognize the difference
between two woodchucks. While one is smaller and has a
tan face, they are both working on bulking up. Already
they have found some vegetation on the no-no list
(chives).
...more info and photos |
|
|
|
|
March
21,2009 - The sharp-shinned hawk has been making an
appearance daily between 4 and 5 PM. The birds all
take off at once and the squirrels cling motionless to
tree trunks and stumps. With an almost constant bird
noise day, it becomes so quiet it is absolutely eerie.
We run for the camera and scan the skies ourselves.
More often than not, the hawk leaves for a better, less
alert hunting ground.
... more
info and photos
|
|
|
|
| |
March
21, 2009 - Even though we have few pine siskins now,
they are still exhibiting pushy behavior at the feeders.
With so much food available and less competition for it,
I'm surprised at the energy wasted. When breeding
time and territorial challenges arise, it would be
amazing if more than one pine siskin is left flying.
It's been said that when so many winter this far south,
some of them actually stay to have their families in
this area. It would be interesting to see that.
...
more info and photos
|
|
|
| Mid March |
|
|
March
20, 2009 - Our motion activated camera caught lots of
goldfinch taking flight. Until we set up the camera in
this area I didn't realize that these birds enjoy
safflower seeds and the feed we use with the bigger
birds in mind. I guess the real point is that birds are
pretty adaptable and will eat what interests them. So
the moral is: offer up what you have- they may not be as
fussy as you think.
...
more info and photos |
|
|
|
| |
March
20,2009 - A single European starling arrived on this
day. We saw him awkwardly perched on a suet
feeder. He's the last of the official black birds to
arrive this spring. Normally we see him in the
yard with robins looking for interesting food stuff
there. I'm assuming he needed some quick, high energy
food- thus the shaky pose on the small suet cage.
As days passed he found larger suet feeders.
...
more info and photos
|
|
|
| |
March
20, 2009 - The American tree sparrow seems to have
departed. Last year we have pictures of this bird as
late as April 8th. It's been noted that when he goes,
the chipping sparrow arrives. In 2008 this smaller bird
made an appearance on April 6th. They overlapped by two
days. I wish I had captured the two birds together in a
photo to compare the differences "in person".
...
more info and photos |
|
|
|
March
20, 2009 - The red bellied woodpecker male and female
have eaten suet and peanut nuggets from our feeders all
fall and winter. We've never seen multiples of
these birds, but sure hope to at least see some young
ones, since we know a little better what to look for in
a baby bird.
Here he is puzzling over frozen maple
sap. He pecked gently at the "syrupcicle", but it
fell off anyway. After a few attempts at the original
opening in the branch, he gave up and flew away.
... more info and photos
|
|
|
|
|
March 19, 2009 - We have what
appears to be a single song sparrow. He hops merrily
around the yard, double scratching and seems quite
content to look under feeders and last year's
vegetation. Sure hope he draws other song sparrows to
our back yard.
...more info and photos |
|
|
|
March 16, 2009 - We saw our first
woodchuck of spring. He was skulking along the back tree
line at dusk. Since he was rather thin, he could
move fairly fast. He almost looked like a youthlet (one
of Food Guy's made-up words. Unfortunately it was too
dark for photos.
...more info and photo
|
|
|
March 15, 2009 - It seems that
this is the day we have seen the last of redpolls for
this winter season. Six of these birds stopped by
for a sunflower seed fill up before heading back home.
Such a cute, hearty little bird, that we look forward to
seeing the next time.
...more info and photos
|
|
|
|
|
March 15, 2009 - The cowbirds were the
next of the blackbirds to come back to us in multiples
this spring. The smallest of the blackbirds, they
comfortably fit on most feeders. While the practice of
laying and abandoning eggs in other song birds' nests is
historically understanding (What's a nomadic bird to
do?), we can't help but wish for a natural readjustment
now that this behavior is unnecessary and a burden and
danger to other innocent (albeit "shortsighted" - with
the pun) birds.
...more info and photos
|
|
|
|
| |
March 15, 2009 - The red-winged
blackbird males arrived with the grackles. At that
time, there was little to no red on the wings (just a
thin yellow band). The gang looked like just a
bunch of good ole boys. First comes the staking out of
territory. With the arrival of the females much dancing,
posturing and showing of the red began (and probably a
few other activities behind the bushes). These
birds tend to exhibit the most conspicuous sign of
spring in our backyard.
...more info and photos
|
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2009 - Sometimes I
just can't get the camera equipment ready on time, or
it's too dark to focus, or the visitors are too
infrequent and unexpected. Today we spotted an Eastern
Cottontail at late dusk instead of the usual early
morning hop through; a striped skunk trying to drink
from our pond in full darkness (okay we used the porch
light to see him); and a red fox scurrying across our
backyard while we were busy working on the dreaded
taxes.
|
|
| Early March |
|
|
March 10, 2009 - Food Guy saw a
male bluebird checking out the bird houses, but the best
camera was out of reach in my watching corner.
|
|
|
March 8, 2009 - We took a count
today of all the critters we could see at one time in
our backyard. Needless to say, they could not be lined
up for family portraits, so I'll just show one of each.
There were distinctly (seen at one time by both the Food
Folks) 5 red squirrels, 7 gray squirrels, and 5
chipmunks.
...more
red squirrel,
gray squirrel and
chipmunk info and photos
|
|
|
|
|
March 7, 2009 - For the last couple of
days there have been considerably less goldfinches and
pine siskins. Where did they go? Wandering and
pondering? Tired of the constant battles for the right
to feed next? Is the feeder fuller down the road?
(Impossible!)
Of course, this all occurred when we could just take
advantage of the newly released supply of nyjer seed in
the stores. The birds still had plenty in their feeders,
but maybe they heard our discussions of where to shop
next for the elusive nyjer seed.
Well, a portion of the birds came
back - probably all the goldfinches and some of the pine
siskins. We're starting to see more house and
purple finches too.
A Lesson Learned:
Be careful with seed you stock.
Take a handy bird feeder clue.
Because the vast and busy flock,
May turn into only a few.
|
|
|
March 5, 2009 - The big boys are back! While we
had had occasional visits from a stray blackbird or two
since last fall and through the winter, the group is
settling back in for the comfort of home stuffed
feeders.
...more info and photos
|
|
|
|
|
March 2, 2009 - We had several sightings of the house
sparrow today because of the pictures captured by the
Wingscapes camera (motion activated). We get
excited about almost any bird or creature who might
venture into our backyard.
...more info and photos
|
|
|
|
|
March 2, 2009 - We finally took a picture of three
separate cardinal couples. These guys plus several white
throated sparrows and a junco are enjoying a safflower
snack on several levels. These groups of birds
have stuck with us during what seems like a forever
winter.
...more
info and photos
|
|
|
|
March 2, 2009 - In the midst of a small snow storm and
during a frantic flurry of finches and pine siskins, we
saw three redpolls. Regrettably, we didn't see any of
these little guys for the Great Backyard Bird Count.
...more info and photos
|
|
|
|
|
March 1, 2009 - Squire the Squirrel has a Great
Adventure
This little picture story took place today on a
relatively calm start to the last winter month (came in
like a lamb). One of our five gray squirrels (all dubbed
"Squire" by the imaginative Food Guy), looked around the
backyard for some excitement (okay, just something good
to eat).
...the story and pictures continue
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
