Bird pics.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

6 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

squirrels found it and had eaten a hole in the feeder one day

 

I've got 1/2" mesh galvanized wire all around mine.  They haven't succeeded in getting through that yet.

 

[Ed Kennell 38,170]

13 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

they are slow and stupid and easy to catch.

Have to disagree Jeff.        I assume, like most birds, they have a low IQ.     But I can assure you they are not slow and easy to hit with a scattergun.  Dove have been clocked at 35mph.  I am a fair wing shooter on grouse and ringneck, but due to there ability to quickly change direction and speed, dove are a challenge to "catch".https://www.shutterstock.com/de/video/clip-27834934-mourning-dove-flight-super-slow-motion-take

 

Edited January 8, 2022 by Ed Kennell

[ebinmaine 67,486]

21 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Have to disagree Jeff.        I assume, like most birds, they have a low IQ.     But I can assure you they are not slow and easy to hit with a scattergun.  Dove have been clocked at 35mph.  I am a fair wing shooter on grouse and ringneck, but due to there ability to quickly change direction and speed, dove are a challenge to "catch".https://www.shutterstock.com/de/video/clip-27834934-mourning-dove-flight-super-slow-motion-take

 

 

The "lowly" pigeon is one of the best flyers. 

I've personally watched one outrun a peregrine falcon. Weaving in n out of the pillars under a 2 story highway in Somerville Mass. 

I'd heard of it but might not have believed it had I not seen it.  

 

 

[bc.gold 3,403]

Woodpecker enjoying the suet and Bluejay after loose seed.

 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2022 by bc.gold

[Ed Kennell 38,170]

A couple visitors today.    It is entertaining watching big Woody reach in the feeder and pluck a sunflower seed with his tweezer beak.   Then wedge it in the bark and hammer it to shreds.

[Digger 66 3,478]

No pics but standing outside work today we saw 2 adult Bald Eagles flying above us .

Also spotted 2 Snowy Owls a couple times . I think I have a terrible pic on my phone .

I'll upload it if anyone wants to see it .

[ebinmaine 67,486]

23 minutes ago, Digger 66 said:

think I have a terrible pic on my phone .

I'll upload it if anyone wants to see it

I'll chance it!!

 

 

 

Had a bald eagle fly over today too. Driving so no pics...

[Digger 66 3,478]

22 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I'll chance it!!

 

 

 

Had a bald eagle fly over today too. Driving so no pics...

[ebinmaine 67,486]

Hummingbirds showed up here in Maine a couple days ago.  

 

 

[WHX?? 48,815]

Here too .... Orioles in full regalia. 

[ebinmaine 67,486]

18 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Orioles

Excellent. 

One of my favorites.  

They aren't here yet. 

Should be any day now.   

[8ntruck 7,003]

We've got a flicker working on a nest in one of the oak trees.  Saw a humming bird fly by today, an Oriole fly by yesterday, and a ring neck duck stopped by the other day on its way north.  The loons should be showing up soon.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

37 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

loons should be showing up soon.

 

Sorry, I won't be there this year, gas is too high!

 

 

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

On 5/8/2022 at 7:28 PM, ebinmaine said:

Hummingbirds showed up here in Maine a couple days ago.  

 

 

@ebinmaine… Do you know why hummingbirds hum ?

[ebinmaine 67,486]

7 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

@ebinmaine… Do you know why hummingbirds hum ?

I'm almost afraid to ask....

But I'll bite. 

 

So.... why do hummingbirds hum?

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

@ebinmaine… because they don’t know the words…

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

Quite a few different species around here this year, or maybe I'm just watching more?  

 

So far, not mentioning the 'regulars':

 

Red-headed Woodpecker (not the Red-bellied variety, those are here all the time)

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Baltimore Orioles

Black and White Warbler

Another warbler I don't remember the name of, he had some yellow on him.

Towhee

Northern Flicker

and I'm sure some others I don't remember atm.

 

These are the ones that migrate through, not here all summer.

 

[ebinmaine 67,486]

7 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Quite a few different species around here this year, or maybe I'm just watching more?  

 

So far, not mentioning the 'regulars':

 

Red-headed Woodpecker (not the Red-bellied variety, those are here all the time)

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Baltimore Orioles

Black and White Warbler

Another warbler I don't remember the name of, he had some yellow on him.

Towhee

Northern Flicker

and I'm sure some others I don't remember atm.

 

These are the ones that migrate through, not here all summer.

 

We don't get those woodpeckers here but the rest are likely migrating north. We see them during the summer. 

 

I haven't seen a Northern Oriole yet this year but Trina heard one yesterday. 

Oranges are cut and out on the trees so they should be around. 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

8 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Oriole

 

I wish the zoom on my phone camera focused better...  just put out some fresh oranges and this guy is going to town on them.

 

 

He also enjoys intimidating the hummingbirds at their feeder:

 

[Handy Don 12,217]

Focus is fine. Not enough pixels with digital zoom.

[Wheel Horse 3D 3,795]

Had a killdeer nest on the lot at work and went to place my hat near the nest so we could easily avoid it while shuffling some vehicles around and got some serious attitude from momma!

Id seen the "hey dummy! Im injured, and would make an easy meal" act while they flutter and lead you away from the nest but this momma was bowing up at me!

 

[giddyap 1,569]

I have no birds to show.  And that's good, because I just seeded my revamped front yard.  After spending about $75 for seed, fertilizer and before the straw was put down I was shocked to see 3 or 4 dozen House Sparrows come out of the hedge and feast on my seed. Looking for a good way to keep the HOSPS out, I turned to YouTube where I found helium filled mylar balloons were guaranteed to work. And day one the balloons were a success. Then the birdbrains figured out safe areas and I had to double the number of balloons. I found that a 10x10 foot area needs a balloon and moving them once a day is effective. Ha, not all animals are smarter than me.      

[ebinmaine 67,486]

18 minutes ago, giddyap said:

not all animals are smarter than me.      

I was told many moons ago that one must be smarter than the item one is trying to conquer. 

I am regularly defeated by cardboard.  

[8ntruck 7,003]

We have a black raspberry patch along our fence.  As the berries were ripening, the birds found them - blue jays, robins, cardinals, etc.  I put up a kinetic sculpture of an owl next to the berry patch.  It is an impressive thing with a wingspan of about 3 1/2 feet.  Moves when the wind blows.  Seems to have kept most of the birds away, as we had a really good crop of them this year,

 

Recent bird sightings - young bluebird, the loon family (only one chick this year), blue herons, a crane of some sort, an ospry, king birds, king fishers, humming birds, an indigo bunting, purple martins, shifts, and a Super Cub on floats (the loons HATE that one).

[giddyap 1,569]

36 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

and a Super Cub on floats (the loons HATE that one)

 A Super Cub on floats is a beautiful "bird". 

The dozens of House Sparrows I have are frightening. I have been able to control them in the past and have been rewarded with Pileated and other woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Bluebirds and other cavity nesters but not this year and now I know why. Now I must lure them to the back yard which they have learned to avoid.