The thread for birds and birding

[FreshFish]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

Gurt's post from earlier today reminded me of something spectacular that happened to us back in 1999 when we lived in the southwest corner of Wyoming. Usually, when we drove into Salt Lake City, we'd take I-80 the whole way. For this trip, though, we decided to take county roads through the mountains to get there instead.

We are driving along, listening to Chestnut Mare by The Byrds, while the section quoted below is playing, when we drive past the carcass of a dead mule deer, upon which an eagle is feeding. It starts flying along next to us, maybe 12 feet away, no further, at the same speed we are driving, about 8 feet off the ground, for maybe 250 feet or more.

We are all agog. The kids still remark on it 14 years later as one of the most amazing things in their life, having an eagle escort us (or us escort the eagle) for a stretch of roadway like that.


Talk about synchronicity! Music by the Byrds, lyrics about an eagle, as a wild eagle flies alongside us, keeping pace.

Well she takes off, runnin' up on to that ridge
Higher than I've ever been before
She's runnin' along just fine, till she stops
Something spooked her
It's a sidewinder, all coiled and ready to strike
She doesn't know what to do for a second
But then she jumps off the edge
Me holding on

Above the clouds
Higher than eagles were gliding
Suspended in the sky

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

So I'm not really much into birding personally, but I saw something kinda interesting yesterday. There's a hummingbird in the back yard that we've seen off and on for a good while now, but I just noticed yesterday it had this odd pattern. It would stay still, hovering about 10-15 feet above the ground over a small tree or bush, making some soft chirping/peeping sounds, for probably about 10 seconds or so. Then it would fly pretty much straight up, I'd guess at least 100 feet, and then do this J shaped dive-bomb between our house and the neighbor's, stopping and hovering over the tree again. Somewhere from the bottom of the J to the hover point, it made a much louder, single chirp. It followed this pattern for at least a good 10 minutes, and that's just when I started watching.

The tree is actually in the neighbor's yard, and behind hedges, so we couldn't see what was in there. We were thinking maybe there was a squirrel, bird, or nest in the tree, and maybe there was some harassment going on one way or the other, but couldn't tell for sure. Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys had seen something like that before, or knew what it was doing?

It's a dive display. Likely defending/defining his territory.

On another note, I had species numbers 28 and 29 visit my feeders this morning. Some indigo buntings and a gray catbird.

My full list: Carolina wren, white breasted nuthatch, redbreasted nuthatch, cardinal, white thorated sparrow, white crowned sparrow, house sparrow, house finch, purple finch, goldfinch, tufted titmouse, red bellied woodpecker, downy woodpecker, dark eyed junco, bluejay, grackle, starling, red wing blackbird, brown headed cowbird, morning dove, eastern towhee, northern mockingbird, hairy woodpecker, brown thrasher, carolina chickadee, rose breasted grosbeak, ruby throated hummingbird, indigo bunting and gray catbird.

[manurespreader]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

My son is big into Birding and so during spring training this year we would go birding in the morning and a game in the afternoon. in 3 days we saw over 40 species. An arugula was one I had never heard of until then. Also saw a kingfisher for the first time, a really cool little bird.

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

As I was making coffee this morning, I looked out and saw a female oriole on one of our patio chairs. She was looking at a bright orange squirt gun that was on the table, probably wondering if it was edible.

I've never seen an oriole here before, but they do spend the summer throughout Wisconsin.

I put an orange slice up on top of the playset. Hope she (and he) comes back.

[Carter]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

As I was making coffee this morning, I looked out and saw a female oriole on one of our patio chairs. She was looking at a bright orange squirt gun that was on the table, probably wondering if it was edible.

I've never seen an oriole here before, but they do spend the summer throughout Wisconsin.

I put an orange slice up on top of the playset. Hope she (and he) comes back.

We have several pairs of orioles every spring, and we have great luck feeding them grape jelly. We use this feeder http://www.amazon.com/Droll-Yankees-...m_sbs_indust_1 and put about half of one of the larger jars of jelly in it. They really go nuts for it.

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

We have several pairs of orioles every spring, and we have great luck feeding them grape jelly. We use this feeder http://www.amazon.com/Droll-Yankees-...m_sbs_indust_1 and put about half of one of the larger jars of jelly in it. They really go nuts for it.

Seriously? Does the jelly attract bees & wasps?


Do the orioles stay or are the migrating?

I always thought that they migrate, but I read today that their summer territory is the whole state.

[Carter]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

Seriously? Does the jelly attract bees & wasps?


Do the orioles stay or are the migrating?

I always thought that they migrate, but I read today that their summer territory is the whole state.

Oh, absolutely seriously. Jelly is recommended in most bird books as food for orioles. They look pretty funny with goobers of it hanging from their beaks. We have an occasional bee around it, but that's about all. The house finches and purple finches may stop by to eat it too. Plus, it generally keeps until it's gone. I guess once in a while we pull it down when there's still some old ratty jelly in it for a cleaning and refill, but usually we wait until it's empty. The orioles are nesting on or around our property, but they show up a lot less frequently during the heart of summer. We always figured it was due to the richness of the natural foods becoming available.

[goldy_331]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

As I was making coffee this morning, I looked out and saw a female oriole on one of our patio chairs. She was looking at a bright orange squirt gun that was on the table, probably wondering if it was edible.

I've never seen an oriole here before, but they do spend the summer throughout Wisconsin.

I put an orange slice up on top of the playset. Hope she (and he) comes back.

My next door neighbor used to feed the orioles and we had one pair nest in our silver maple last summer. That neighbor has since moved away, maybe I should try to feed them now to see if they'll stick around.

[aygwm2]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

I thought you birders might like this from Slate.com:

What the State Birds Should Be

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

I thought you birders might like this from Slate.com:

What the State Birds Should Be

As a birder this may be the funniest thing I have ever read. And I agree with the author on every single one.

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

So I had starlings destroying my suet. They were going through 4 suet cakes in a little over 2 days. So over the weekend I converted my suet cages into upside down cages. Basically built a box for them to fit in that that had them hanging horizontally instead of vertically and the only open area is the bottom side. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens and other desirable birds have no problem feeding on that but starlings cant hang upside down to feed. It worked wonders. Did not see a single starling today and already had a red bellied woodpecker use the feeder(s) with no problem.

[Hopkinja]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

So I'm not really much into birding personally, but I saw something kinda interesting yesterday. There's a hummingbird in the back yard that we've seen off and on for a good while now, but I just noticed yesterday it had this odd pattern. It would stay still, hovering about 10-15 feet above the ground over a small tree or bush, making some soft chirping/peeping sounds, for probably about 10 seconds or so. Then it would fly pretty much straight up, I'd guess at least 100 feet, and then do this J shaped dive-bomb between our house and the neighbor's, stopping and hovering over the tree again. Somewhere from the bottom of the J to the hover point, it made a much louder, single chirp. It followed this pattern for at least a good 10 minutes, and that's just when I started watching.

The tree is actually in the neighbor's yard, and behind hedges, so we couldn't see what was in there. We were thinking maybe there was a squirrel, bird, or nest in the tree, and maybe there was some harassment going on one way or the other, but couldn't tell for sure. Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys had seen something like that before, or knew what it was doing?

Actually it's displaying...trying to attact a mate. Most hummingbirds in the US do something like that. Each one has a different pattern.

Also, there's an episode of the show "Nature" about hummingbirds in which they discuss that loud chirp you mention. It's actually made by the birds tail feathers. When the bird gets to a certain speed, the feathers funnel the air to the point that they make a loud chirp noise. fascinating, huh?

[aygwm2]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

Actually it's displaying...trying to attact a mate. Most hummingbirds in the US do something like that. Each one has a different pattern.

Also, there's an episode of the show "Nature" about hummingbirds in which they discuss that loud chirp you mention. It's actually made by the birds tail feathers. When the bird gets to a certain speed, the feathers funnel the air to the point that they make a loud chirp noise. fascinating, huh?

I'm not much of a birder either, though I kind of know some birds because my dad was into bird watching when I grew up.

Nevertheless, hummingbirds are a riot to watch. For such a small bird, they are a pugnacious avifauna and will fight off their brethren from food supplies and chase each other helter-skelter to maintain their territory. It is fun to hear their constant peeping and chatter when they are being defensive and protective.

Here is a link to the PBS Nature show that you can watch online: Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air

[Hopkinja]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

Nevertheless, hummingbirds are a riot to watch. For such a small bird, they are a pugnacious avifauna and will fight off their brethren from food supplies and chase each other helter-skelter to maintain their territory. It is fun to hear their constant peeping and chatter when they are being defensive and protective.

I've actually seen one dive on an eagle in flight. They are aggressive little buggers.

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The thread for birds and birding

Driving into work today on a country road and I could see a little bird taking evasive action over the road up ahead and then saw the smallish hawk or falcon that was chasing it. In short order, the pursuer caught the smaller bird in midair, wheeled and flew back past the van, basically showing me its catch.

Never witnessed that before.