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For Kit and other bird lovers |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US 
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Kit and I were conversing recently about birds and landscaping and such things, and I sorta kinda promised her some pictures. Coincidentally, my new camera arrived this afternoon, a Canon Rebel XT, so I sat on the back deck for a few hours playing with its 300mm zoom lens, and ended up shooting nearly 200 photos.  The goldfinches don't actually charge me any rent, but they clearly think this place is theirs. In truth, I don't think they're very happy with the hired help right now because I've failed to properly discourage a neighbor's cat from prowling too near their feeders. The result is that I typically have only a few dozen birds at any given time right now, as compared to the few hundred I had throughout most of the winter months. My yard was one of the few with a heated bird bath during Michigan's cold season, so this all-season resident came from near and far. From November through early March, they (and a few other winter birds) ate 100 pounds of black sunflower seeds and over 400 pounds of their favorite thistle seeds. In the past month, the male goldfinch, often called a wild canary, has molted into his courting clothes, the bright yellow tuxedo you see in these pictures.Much to my surprise, the bluebirds who, last summer, came every day at dusk to take turns bathing in their favorite birdbath, also stayed throughout the long winter months. That's unusual, as they generally migrate farther South, but not unprecedented, I guess. I put out a bluebird feeder for the little fellers, but haven't had a lot of luck with that. Bluebirds don't generally eat seeds, like my goldfinches. They prefer meat, live wiggling meat at that, and my attempts to order mealworms through the mail hasn't met with a lot of success. Yuk. I also put up five bluebird houses, in hopes at least one pair of birds would take up permanent residence. They're very territorial, so it's unlikely I'll get more than one pair. I've seen bluebirds inside one of the houses at the far end of the property, but it's still too early to know if they'll sign the lease.  However, a pair of tree swallows, cousins to my barn swallows from last year, have most definitely claimed one of the bluebird houses as their own. Another pair is "trying" to claim a house at the back edge of the property, and still another pair is "trying" to set up housekeeping in the fifth bluebird house across the street, on my brother's property. The tree sparrows, a non-native species imported from Europe (and often called a London sparrow), keep getting into the houses, though, and are making it tough for the less aggressive swallows. I keep evicting the sparrows, who can nest just about anywhere, but so far, the swallows haven't been able to get a toe-hold. I put up two platform nesting boxes, too, the kind preferred by robins and mourning doves, but there's been no interest at all in them. It's still early in the season, though. There's a string of wren houses back by the woods, and two chickadee boxes, even though I've seen only a handful of those at my feeders in the past year. Interestingly, I had a dump truck load of top soil deposited way in the back, for the plants I'm putting in this Spring, and I've spied quite a few killdeer wandering those parts. Killdeer are unusual birds in that they don't build nests, but instead lay their eggs in stone and gravel areas (and their mottled eggs blend right in). I don't think there's near enough stones in my top soil to interest them, but I hope I'm wrong because they appear to be fascinating little critters. Then again, I've discovered they are also very LOUD critters, with a very irritating cry, so maybe I hope I'm right. The mourning doves and red-winged blackbirds in these pictures are very common visitors to my feeders, and there's usually a large handful in the yard at any given time of the day. Though both are too large to easily get to the feeders, they do a very admirable job of patrolling the ground for what the finches and sparrows drop. The cardinals, this bright red male and a duller female, have only come to the yard in the past few weeks, but they appear to be staying. It's still much too early in the year for my hummers to return, and though I watch closely every day, I haven't seen hide nor hair of my barn swallows either. There are quite a few birds I've seen at my feeders that didn't appear in the few hours I had my camera out today, including blue jays, chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, tufted titmouses (seems like that should be titmice, but it's not), and an assortment of long-necked and long-legged birds that frequent nearby Adam's Lake. The nice thing about these digital cameras, however, is that film is REAL cheap, so I suspect I'll be getting a few more pics in the coming months. 
* For those with a faster connection and a bigger monitor, the pic above links to a larger version of the same. |
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| © Copyright 2005 Ron Carnell - All Rights Reserved | |||
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
sigh... How can ya not love a guy with a heated birdbath? geeeeeeeeezus Ron. You melt the witch.  Stunning photos, and thank you. This wasn't even on my cheer-me-up list, but it helped. |
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timothysangel1973
since 2001-12-03
Posts 1725Never close enough |
Wow !! These are amazing.. and all this in your back yard? Geez... here in the South all we have are mosquitos and dirt dobbers... all of which the kids chase and try to kill..... dont ask me why.. I told them that they are doing what they are born to do which is buzz and bite... lol But you know kids.. they see a bee and its already stung them.... Anyway, these are beautiful... especially the yellow ones !! Great camera work Tima |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Love the pictures!! I bet the wildlife will be lining up at your door to have their picture taken.  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Aren't these digital cameras fun? Besides excellent quality photos - the disk storage space takes up less room than the boxes of photos we still store from photos of old. I also noted that you've some new instructions to offset the photos right and left [to borrow a serenity phrase, gleeeeeeeee../] In my [today is moving day!] new back yard, I noted that I've a lot more butterflies of varying species, so I imagine that with a little patience and luck, I may be able to capture some of them critters later this spring and summer to share. I'm so glad you spent some "down time" with the birds, Ron, and managed to give everyone a "lift up".  |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Ron, the pictures are great! That camera is going to turn out to be a fantastic investment!  Oh, I love the bluebird. I haven’t had a chance to see one of those over here yet. Your goldfinches have really turned colour. Ours are just barely beginning to brighten up. They aren’t nearly as brilliant as your gorgeous little fella yet. The linked picture with the swallows chasing the sparrow is priceless – you caught them beautifully mid-flight. What a shot! I couldn’t get the link to the killdeer to come up. They are definitely noisy little guys, aren’t they? Cute as a button, and no mistaking their cry. I love sitting outside and just listening, trying to distinguish all the different whistles and songs to try to figure out who is up and about. Have you got any woodpeckers there? I hadn’t hear you mention them yet. We’ve got a couple of downy woodpeckers and a red-bellied woodpecker who have been back and forth to the feeder all winter. Also, I don’t think you’ve mentioned nuthatches? Have you had any of those coming and going ? We’ve got one cute little guy we call the professor. He does a funny, deep “peep, peep”. He’s adorable. Our hummingbird and oriole feeders are going up this weekend. It's a little early for us here yet, but we might catch a few early birds heading north. If so, it will be worth it. We usually get the permanent residents by May 10th or so. OK, now about that heated bird-bath … what a wonderful treat! I still can’t believe the amount of seeds you went through, lol. A birdy paradise for sure! I’d love to see more pictures Ron! I’ll keep my camera handy too. Karilea, I'd love to see some pictures once you get settled. It would be great to see what types of birds and butterflies some of our PiPs get to see from all over. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Tulips & birdwatching... Yeah!... I'll be going shopping for one of those weird bird-watching hats today...  |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
*ahem* um, yeah, Ron. What about dem woodpeckers?  (and came back to edit too, but only to add--that first photo is a glory - the contrast of texture, color, and just the pure fragility of the moment--totally lovely and it's not just the camera, Ron--that was taken with a loving eye) nice |
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NewEnglandlazurlu Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470A Mountain Paradise |
Fabulous pictures! I have goldfinches at my feeders but not nearly as many as you! It's wonderful that they have turned such a bright yellow! Have fun with your new camera. hugs, Marti A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. |
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Trillium 
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098Idaho, USA |
Ron: I thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful bird pictures and the text that went along with them. It was a real treat to see and read. Here in North Idaho, right now, we have many mourning doves.........I love to hear them........woodpeckers and are they ever busy. They especially like a telephone pole in front. Right now it's the downy woodpeckers but later we get the pileated too. Since we have two creeks here, we have mallards and mergansers nesting right now and also where the confluence of the creeks lie, several pairs of Canada geese. They are very vocal! We have Steller's bluejays at the feeder all the time, competing with the squirrels for sunflower seeds. We also feed a posse of masked raccoons who come in every evening and put out cob for the deer, who also come. we have had as many as 7 feeding at a time and that is so enjoyable. Saw my first hummer of the season yesterday and it was a rufous, so I immediately put out a feeder. They are usually the first to come. They nest along the creek in back so we get to see the babies when they first emerge too. I have a digital camera too, although not as nice as yours. I'll have to see if I can get some pictures of our wildlife. Thanks for sharing! Betty Lou Betty Lou Hebert [This message has been edited by Trillium (04-21-2005 11:05 PM).] |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Your heart is showing  and it suits you. Those were lovely pictures and thanks for sharing them. Now I have heard of everything - a heated birdbath! I am thinking you are going to heat the garage next and put up a big welcome sign over the winter.As for the cat - perhaps the neighbour will put a bell on its neck at least so the birds are warned? I hate mornings by the way if you have not heard, and I have a woodpecker that loves to play taps on the tin chimney at 6:30 every morning, and he is driving me insane! Those yellow birds are what I have here, and all this time I thought that was a wild canary. They hang around outside my window and love those thistle seeds for sure! I feed them Niger seed, must be the same? Well, have fun with the flora and fauna and sure would love to see your lilacs, and blackberries when they are ready to show themselves too? Beautiful job of the pictures I might add, have fun with the camera. (Just in time for some lovely tulip pictures too.) |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
I LOVE BIRDS!!! My best friend is my pet zebra finch, Gandalf. I loved your pics... when it comes to wild birds, I like the little regular brown sparrows.. they like to pick on me. They regularly come near me, making me think I could maybe touch them, but nope! Away they go :P Maybe I'm a birdbrain, eh? hehehe Love's a lovely lad |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
 I got this news from Nancy Lee this morning. Well, okay not exactly as pictured |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Well, not many birds down in these parts except for desert critters, like the roadrunner. We did get a smorgasborg of snowbirds though, and you're more than welcome to the entire lot. They are raucus, territorial, blatantly aggressive, uncivil, and take up a lot of space. Males generally spend a lot of their time away from the nest, especially if mated. Of the genders, the females tend to be very aggressive if a male snowbird doesn't have a mate. Those are often called 'golddiggers'. Thankfully, most of these snowbirds have already left for their northern primary nesting area.  PS: Couldn't resist. |
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PhaerieChild Senior Member
since 1999-08-30
Posts 1787Aloha, Oregon |
LOL Alicat!!! Mysteria...love the toon!!! Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Persnikitty one, isn't he??. I do like the fabric softener thing...  |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Nan? What were those huge birds called that had their nest up high on those platforms down there? Now that is my idea of a bird! Sort of like dogs, there are those weenie ones and then there are the "real" dogs you know? Maybe take one with you and introduce it to Ron's family of birds, and then lets see how much food they go through |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
quote:  And, as you can readily see, they chase off all the other birds, too. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
OMIGOD!!! - Whassat??? Well - If you build it - They WILL come... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Got it! Osprey? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Osprey, Sharon - They're Osprey - They're huge and hawk-like. They nest on a platform about ten feet above the water. Yeah that.. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I found the picture of the Osprey's nest, but not the picture of the actual bird. Now how would you care to have this bird visit your yard Ron? Trust me she hangs over the edge of that huge pile of sticks, and I mean big sticks, not twigs!  I have to say you sure look like you are enjoying the fruits of your labor, they are absolutely incredible pictures Ron. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
ROTFL - This nest sits on the edge of a marsh beside the beach here on Cape Cod. We took this shot on Sharon's visit here (between shopping o-sprees). I'll run down there today and give that lady-bird your address, Ron, so she can go scare off that white thing for you... |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Ron, I tried to look up that bird in my book, but I can’t find it anywhere. What is that big white thing, rofl? Is that the snowbird Alli’s talking about? It looks like an albino turkey, lol??? And Nan & Sharon, I remember that one! God, that was a beautiful huge bird (and nest, lol). OK, soooooooooooo … who on earth ordered the snow up here in Ontario??? Oh poor birds!!! We’ve got about 3 inches of snow out there on the ground after being out in shorts just last weekend. We’ve got limbs down, cedar and spruce branches hanging so heavy they look like they’re going to break, and our poor birds are scavenging out there amidst it all. We were into a specialty bird store buying a new hummingbird feeder with bee guards and ant traps yesterday, and the snow started while we were there about noon. It hasn’t stopped since then! I got a few pictures this morning. I’ll only copy a couple in here, and I’ll link the others. Here’s our Yellow Shafted Flicker:   Here’s our little goldfinches shivering on the apple tree branches:  Here’s a few more linked to my site: I missed a great shot of the mourning dove. She was covered in snow, but she shook it off just before I took the shot: http://kit.netpoets.net/mourningdove01.jpg Here’s another of the yellow shafted flicker – couldn’t resist, he’s so beautiful. He just got back about 2 days ago. That’s snow blobs falling in front of him: http://kit.netpoets.net/flickerys04.jpg We’ve got a lot of Canada Geese. These 2 were out in the farmer’s field a day or two ago before the snow flew: http://kit.netpoets.net/cangeese02.jpg And last but certainly not least (though it’s not a bird shot Ron, lol) is an adorable raccoon that was peeking out over the crook in our willow a couple of days ago: http://kit.netpoets.net/coon01.jpg OK, off to get some cleaning done. I just wanted to share some pictures. Ron, this is going to be a great way to look back next year and remember which birds comes back and when! Thanks so much, I'm really enjoying this! |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Oh boy I am going to visit Snow White! What a shame, we had that last year and the birds as well as humans get very confused. Poor things! Send them to Ron's heated birdbath maybe? LOL I thought Ron's white bird WAS a turkey? Ron, they run after you in MA no kidding! I could not believe it! Ours come in plastic wrap here I hope you all will keep this up, and here is my contribution to the birdwatcher's society here. My resident chickadee.   Taken during our snow as well.I found the picture of Nan's resident bird - here she is  and also found what we love the most about British Columbia - this gal rests up at the end of my street at the little man-made pond there. Shame they are becoming less and less.  |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
This swan builds her nest (about 4' diameter) on the edge of our marsh as well... and... NOBODY messes with her. Her hubby (they marry for life) swims sentinel around her at all times. Signets are born in early May and both parents will care for the brood for the first season... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Nan, the swan on page 1 is our resident swan here in B.C. These belong to you down there in MA!MOM  DAD  Ummm, I have a question - if that is a white turkey then is it all white meat? I would think twice about chasing it away, fatten it up for the next Thanksgiving and invite us for dinner?[This message has been edited by Mysteria (04-25-2005 01:32 AM).] |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Did the birds come back to live in your garage yet Ron? |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
On April 28, we had another return guest. This time a beautiful Great Blue Heron. We were told by our neighbors, that he summers in the small pond across the road and pops over to our place to sift through for goodies in the flood plane when the spring waters are high. I managed to take a few pictures, but I’m afraid they’re terribly out of focus. The first is really fuzzy, but you can make out the white head with the incredible black crest feathers that run across from his eyes and out beyond his head. He’s about 4 feet tall, but the wingspan must be much broader. To see them in flight is phenomenal. I caught him flying in the second picture, though it’s from the back and so hard to gain perspective of how big this beauty is.   Our returning birds have been joined yesterday by our first sightings of the Rose Breasted Grossbeaks. We saw at least one male and two females so far, coming and going at the feeders yesterday. Then to my absolute delight, we discovered that the Orioles have returned as well, just yesterday. I looked out the front and saw the beautiful orange songster drinking deeply from the feeder, and only later saw his mate. They've been singing all morning. No pictures yet of the newcomers ... just enjoying the delight to have them return. |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Oh boy ... just in heaven here. Ron, we just had an Indigo Bunting stop by a few minutes ago. I haven't seen one since my gal, Misty passed away, exactly 6 years ago. I don't know if I ever told you about our amazing experience outside with the birds that very day in Misty's last hour. It was a sad time, but amazingly uplifting because of the wild birds that flocked down and surrounded us. Every type, every kind, landing gently all around us. I've never seen anything like it before ... or since. I'll try to tell you more about it some time. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
I got hummingbird feeders for Mother's Day - The challenge is on... |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Nan, keep that hummingbird feeder out ... we just saw our first one a few minutes ago. They're baaaaaaaaack. Woooohoooo! I love this time of year. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Kit, please, please, tell all of us more... and today? Well, not only do we have our new back yard to build upon, but we have our neighbor's back yard to spy upon... and this is what the neighborly spying wrought...  The Charming Garden In a quiet little neighborhood Somewhere safe and pretty, kind and good Came the prettiest birds I ever did see Flew in to eat thistle, singing merrily. Safe and away from dogs and cats, Instinct says, “this is where it’s at,” And though they are brilliant against blue skies, We hope they will rest before they fly! And sing they do, their breakfast song ~ Though they won’t stay near very long ~ Presenting us beauty for the price of seed Offering comfort that is like a need. To know that our cherished friends in flight Find a charming garden, come break of light. I took the above over to our new neighbor, wished her Happy Mother's Day...and I believe became a friend for life. I can photograph in her backyard "anytime" and if I add words? Her smile was wide... You see, there is no fence between our driveway and her yard [thank goodness] and their own dining area looks out upon their charming yard... It was a magical day, in many ways... |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
"Our returning birds have been joined yesterday by our first sightings of the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. We saw at least one male and two females so far, coming and going at the feeders yesterday." Kit, Ron, anyone, Last week I saw three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at my ground feeder. The book said they migrate back from Mexico and South America in early May, and are seen in the Midwest and northeast. I wonder why they were here in central.east coast of Florida? martyjo |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
For the scenery, dear...and the view!  |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Ha ha.Sunshine, nice thought. I wondered if they were off course? |
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