A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2004 BIRD WATCHING???

We seem to get a lot of birds that I never saw in my old neighborhood.

Once while taking a cozy nap on the sofa I looked out of the window and to my surprise saw what I thought was a large owl....when it turned and flew away I realized it was some kind of hawk!!!! It was huge! And gorgeous. I've been seeing goldfinches (past spring/summer) and all sorts of birds....woodpeckers...

It's a lot different here then where we used to live all we ever saw there were starlings and the common brown birds. I enjoy feeding them.....and have made the acquaintence of some very determinded squirrels!! In fact, whenever my fat squirrel friend sees me come out the back door he is right there hoping for a snack! When we first moved here the squirrels used to dig in our trash...so I started throwing out bread crust, p, b and j sandwich remnants and now they don't get in the trash....but wait by the back door for me to bring them deliveries!!!!

Beware those #$^&#@ squirrels - they'll eat you out of house and home!!! They have managed to get into every feeder I have, and have taken whole suet cakes out of their holders and run off with them!!! The only thing they are good for, is entertaining my cats through the sliding glass doors.

plants & pots,

I know...I know squirrels are very determined!!! The reason I feed them the table scraps is because they were chewing into my trashcans~! So, I decided to save them the trouble and feed them!! It seems to work...only now whenever I open the back door my fat little *friends* are waiting for me!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Last summer we had something funny happen. A male cardinal kept dive bombing one certain squirrel. No matter what, when this ONE squirrel was out and about in my yard, the cardinal kept going after it, ignoring the other squirrels! I almost felt sorry for the squirrel! Not!

Barbara

Wish I could have seen that, Barbara!!! Cardinals are one of my favorite birds - can always tell when they are about because of their distinctive chirp. That must have been something to watch!!!

Lynne, after I read your post about the squirrels taking your suet cakes, I went out this morning to check on mine (a few days ago, I put one on our wooden steps leading to our "upper" yard)... It's GONE!!!! Dang!
I'm going to unwrap another one & put it where I can watch from the window...what a hoot!

We've become backyard bird-watchers....Two books: "An Introduction to Southern California Birds," and "Birds of Los Angeles" have been great reference sources. We put bird feeders on the crest of our backyard hill within sight of the kitchen window. We're having the best time identifying the little guys that visit. Sightings so far: California Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, House Finch, tiny little Bushtits, and of course, the ever-present Scrub-Jay (the peanut-eating birds I mistakenly labled "Bluejay") and Cooper's Hawks circling above it all.

We got one of those fancy suet-cake holders & put it on a garden hook...so far, no takers....we might have it hanging in the wrong spot. At least it's out of reach of the squirrels...

Jillie - so glad you are enjoying your feathered friends! This year has been a great one for birdwatching here - my indoor cats would agree too!

Just curious as to what kind of "fancy" suet holder you got? Is it the cage type? or something different? Also, what kind of hook are you hanging it from? You'd be surprised how easily the squirrels climb up my shepard's hooks, etc... I have tried greasing the poles with vasoline - had read about that, and also put a slinky stretched out on the pole - also read about that - NOTHING DETERS THOSE PESTY VARMITS!!!

Oh, Lynne, I've seen our little squirrels doing that "hand-over-hand" climb up our shepherd's hooks...the hooks are still new-ish, so they're very slick...they can't quite get to the top; they keep sliding down. It's such a hoot to watch. The suet-cake holder is a cage with a little copper roof (got it from Tar-jay) with a hanger on one corner. It's on a shepherd's hook, too. It might be a little too close to the ground, or too near the other bird feeders....

Hey, try Armorall on yer poles!!!!!! NOTHING can climb on that stuff!

hmmmmmmmmmmm... Armoral - will have to give it a try!

Your suet holder sounds very nice - don't ya just love Tar-jay?!? I just have the plain ol' 99cent cages from Christmas tree shops - but they had their suet really reasonably priced all winter - 3 cakes for $2! I think they are at the end of their stock though... I'll have to make another trip over there and stock up! :rolleyes:

.....still no action with the suet holder, except I saw a squirrel swinging from it this morning, tail twitching like mad for balance....trying to get at the little corn kernels imbedded in the suet.....

Hello again and I love to watch the birds too! My favorite is the humming birds that I feed during the summer months they are so much fun watching them fight over their food. Their size is so neat,also see the blue jays beautiful in color but very loud birds,we have so many robins and they push their orange chest out like they own the world,I have right now a lot of american finches that are changing the colors now to a pale yellow and soon be be a bright yellow? Wrens are out here too but have not seen any chick a dees or red cardinals either. Lots of starlings or black birds we have a dairy farmer across the road from us so we have in the summer time some different kind of smells if you know what I mean. Well hope to see everyone around and remember keep those hands of yours dirty bye

Seems we have hundreds of blue jays here, no problem, cept they are bullies and every year they chase my cardinals off! Gold, purple finches abound, and a host of sparrows. I think my faves tho are the ruby breasted grosbeaks and the cedar wax wings And I have some farmers around here that do things to MY liking, they use TURKEY doodle for fertilizer! Ummmm, smells soooo good!

I really don't know why but one of my favorites [besides watching the hummers] is hearing the old basic Chicka dee dee dees. And they are just so cute! Short and fat and round[like me after a Minnestoa winter] . But my favorite sighting is when we had an Pilleated Woodpecker in the back yard, they are just so huge and I love their punk hairdo.

Gosh, Sham, you guys have "real" bird-sightings....all the stuff I've seen in bird books, but aren't indigenous to Calif....
I'd love to see a cardinal...or a chickadee...

Wooooohooooooooo!! spring has arrived on the wings of "Anthony's Robin" again this year. He (my oldest monsterboy) says spring is not here until "Mr. Robin" arrives. Since he was old enough to walk around in the yard he has had a little guardian (we think it's the same Robin every year--and REFUSE to think otherwise..hahah) following him around.

I first noticed "Mr. Robin" as I said when he was three. That was 7 years ago (Yikes!! I'm gettin' old!) That spring as I was cleaning out some beds I noticed that a Robin was just following him around as he played in the yard. It stayed about 3ft away from him at all times, but went everywhere he did. Anthony never tried to catch it, or harass it in any way and they both seemed happy to keep each other company while enjoying the sunshine. I wondered if this would continue through the spring. It did...and has continued every year since then.

Normally when I see a robin in someone's yard...I see several. We only have 1 every year..."Mr. Robin". It is just the most amazing thing to me!

We have thousands of sparrows, and tons of cardinals, chickadees, mockingbirds, blue birds, blue jays, cow birds, and so many others that I don't know the names of...but only 1 robin... and he only likes Anthony...hahaha...he flies away when anyone else is in the yard, and sits in a tree across the road from our yard watching...waiting for "his boy" to return so that he can keep him company. I don't understand it!

Like Anthony said...spring is here in Louisiana because "Mr. Robin" has returned yet again, and we are overjoyed at his safe arrival.

P.S. Last year some mean little brat (hahaha) at school told him that it was not the same bird, that "his bird" was probably dead..to which my amazing son replied..."I doubt it...birds don't lie like some people do, and try to be something they're not, they're happy just bein' birds...and besides he's my friend and I would know the difference." Talk about out of the mouths of children!!! Sorry...but my eyes water everytime I think of that moment!! Someone hand me a kleenex, will ya?

Ahhhh Angelia.....your story touched my heart!!!

Angelia.....
That is such a cute story!!
Must be a soul mate!!
Thanks for sharing!!


Jillie and JC have a bluebird that eats
peanuts out of their hand.....

Weezie

What looks like a small cardinal, but is a grey color..even the "top knot"? We have attracted some type of seed eating bird that no one seems to know what is!! We have about 5-6 of 'em, and they spend alot of time at the bird feeders, but for the life of me I don't know what they are!! I recognize our local birds, and even most of the ones that pass through this time of year, but this one has me stumped. It looks like a cardinal, but is the wrong color! Any ideas?

Looks like a tufted titmouse. Does it look like the bird in this picture

I am pretty new to bird watching/hosting. I have had a couple of birds come to my yard & hang around most of the day for the last week non-stop. They always travel together & it seems to be the same two birds each day. Can someone tell me what kind of bird they are? The look kind of like doves, only not white. Here is a photo I snapped today of them. Thanks Chrissy

Chrissy, those are Mourning Doves. They're named for their somewhat mournful call, although if one looses a mate, the survivor really does seem to mourn for a while as they mate for life.

Thank you Terry:) How wonderful...I am so glad to know what type of bird they are & I am so happy they seem to have chosen my yard as home

When we first moved into our house, I kept thinking that I was hearing owls during the daytime

I just went back and read the original posts in this string. Ladystressout was talking about american finches, I think she meant goldfinches. Anyhow, I have 2 birdfeeders hanging outside my dining room window. One is a thistle feeder, and the other is tower feeder with 6 ports that I have black oil sunflower seed in. The goldfinches seem to like the tower feeders better for some reason.

I usually have a few goldfinches hanging around, but the other day, I counted about 50 goldfinches on the feeders, and on the ground beneath. A sight to see.

I would love to have goldfinches come to my yard. I will have to try the tower feeders & thistle to see if I can draw a few this way. They are beautiful...I bet you really did have a beautiful sight to see