Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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How to Honor Labor Day, Every Day
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Friday, February 22. 2008

Snow Birds and Niger Seed

Beautiful snowy day. I have only seen the usual suspects: Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, White Throated Sparrow, SC Junco, Cardinal, BC Chickadee, WB Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker. Somebody around must be offering Niger seed (which is not really thistle seed) because I haven't seen any Goldfinches. Hoping for something exciting to come by, like maybe a California Condor or a Dodo. 

 

Posted by Bird Dog in Natural History and Conservation, Our Essays at 12:22 | Comments (14) | Trackbacks (0)

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Oh my. Yesterday, my little white snowdrops bloomed, as did a small mass of yellow crocuses. The glads are up about 4 inches. Don't know where the heck the fancy Irises are--but, clearly spring has arrived in this part of the world. We go to the flower/garden show today--
#1 applepie on 2008-02-22 12:45 (Reply)
I heard a Dodo here yesterday, but it was a Winnipeg politician.
#2 Art C. on 2008-02-22 13:07 (Reply)
Ice over snow in Ohio ths morning
http://home.att.net/~rhharding/backyard067.jpg

note roosters in bushes
#3 Ron Hardin (Link) on 2008-02-22 13:14 (Reply)
I've got over 50 birds at the cracked corn, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Juncos, Mourning Doves etc. I also keep a thistle feeder and a sunflower heart feeder going and they're full of Goldfinch and Titmice. No Dodos yet but I'll keep the camera ready.
#4 Santay on 2008-02-22 13:49 (Reply)
We get Pterodactyls at our birdfeeder here in Nashville. And on rare occasion, an Archaeopteryx, if the weather is just right. Have to watch out for the Phorushacid birds, though - they will eat your pets if you are not careful:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6381194
#5 The Dylanologist on 2008-02-22 14:39 (Reply)
With global warming, we hope to see more Pterodactyls in New England in the future. What do they like? Cracked corn?
#6 BD on 2008-02-22 14:42 (Reply)
Got any of these:

http://sped2work.tripod.com/evidence.html

huh? I saw some on TV just the other day. There was a pilot who saw them. Half as big as his plane!
#7 Knucklhead (Link) on 2008-02-22 15:02 (Reply)
Nice snow there. Better you than me. Have had my fill for now. Still lots on the ground. Nice that the West coast is catching a break apple pie. Cannot wait for some blooms.

Pretty sure I saw a bald eagle about a quarter mile away last week. Mostly see stellar jays, some flickers and big crows and lots of ducks and geese at the waterfront.

There is a fight going on again about the city okaying the killing of some of the geese because there are so many and they make a real mess and they are stripping the grass on the quite expensive ball fields. Also the area there is the approach for small planes to the airport landing strip. When anyone brings up shooting some of the geese, the discussion turns nasty real quick. The head of city works guy who suggested it is now called Rambo. I like the geese but would not want to play soccer there. The field is covered in goose droppings.
#8 Patina on 2008-02-22 15:17 (Reply)
We had a similar problem in the Seattle area. The ban on killing was lifted (quietly, very quietly) then the Asian community appeared at dusk with large bags like pillow cases. Zippee the problem was gone in about two weeks, and some folks (who don't need USDA inspectors) had some very good eats!
#9 apple pie on 2008-02-22 20:17 (Reply)
My dear Aunt, my Swedish Aunt, who taught me what love really is, and has been gone now these many years, my, when the Cedar Wax Wings would come in the winter, for a few days, did she love that!
#10 bob on 2008-02-22 22:26 (Reply)
bob... those cedar wax wings... what a treat to see them... a gorgeous bird. Your aunt knew her love.
#10.1 Luther McLeod on 2008-02-23 00:39 (Reply)
Patina, we have the same problem here-(Lewiston, Idaho)-too damned many geese, crapping all over the parks. Here, we have had a 'contolled shoot', in the city limits, to move 'em out.
#11 bob on 2008-02-22 23:07 (Reply)
I had six feeders. A bear took care of every last one of them.


In the picture, is that a white cockatiel taped to the big feeder?
What... did he have a fowl mouth?
#12 Meta on 2008-02-22 23:19 (Reply)
A female Cardinal/
#12.1 BD on 2008-02-23 06:27 (Reply)

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