Wrapping up the bird feeder season

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Saturday, March 28. 2009

Wrapping up the bird feeder season

We'll quit putting out bird seed as soon as our diminishing supply runs out: the bugs are coming out despite our sub-30 degree nights (the earth is cooling, you know - climate change), so the birds can go off welfare for a while. What's been around ye olde feeder today?, you ask.

Cowbirds, Redwing Blackbirds, Mourning Doves (tons), White throated Sparrows (lazy ones - should have migrated north by now), Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Purple Grackle, Cardinal, Goldfinch, Red Bellied Woodpecker, House Finch, BC Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, WB Nuthatch. All in their splendid breeding plumage.

Plus some Chipmunks and, of course, Grey Squirrels working the system.

Photo: A male Goldfinch, before fully changing into his Spring plumage.

Posted by Bird Dog in Natural History and Conservation, Our Essays at 12:51 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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Went out the night before last around midnight and it was 26 degrees and snowing heavy big flakes. Only stuck on the cars and the decks. Grounds too warm now. Chopped up some small standing dead maples for firewood so I wouldn't have to break into next years supply.
Stopped loading the bird feeder about two weeks ago, so as to not attract the bears. Still get straglers coming around and searching through the broken sunflower seed shells on the ground around the feeder. Heard a woodpecker beating his head against the seasonal road sign in front of our house. Sounds like an automatic weapon. Must have a heck of a headache after a day of that.

#1 sean on 2008-05-01 17:13 (Reply)

Sean and Bird Dog Have you seen the price of sunflower seeds lately? It's fifty bucks for a fifty pound bag . I paid thirty three in Dec. of 07. I love feeding them all year long, but with gas @ 3.55 a gallon and feed at $50.00 I hope the frost we had last nite didn't kill to many bugs. As far as the bears go I hope I dont see the thieving bastards.

#1.1 jappy on 2008-05-01 18:58 (Reply)

And the thieving raccoons.

#1.1.1 BD on 2008-05-01 19:58 (Reply)

Last bag I bought was a twenty pounder at Walmart for $8. Hope the price goes down before next October.
For some reason we don't have racoons in my general area. Plenty of whistle pigs ( woodchucks ) to rip up the garden.

#2 sean on 2008-05-01 20:51 (Reply)

Watched two ospreys catch fish last eve. One had to let his go. Fish was so big it kept dragging the osprey back down into the lake. Two huge eagles were circling and watching. Think they were wanting to chase that osprey down and take that fish.

Have not been filling the feeder. The steller's jays are so loud! They start doing daily battle with the crows at about 4:30 am. I do not want them too close to the house at that hour but they go for the bugs in the eavestrough anyways. Thought someone was trying to break in the house this morning but it was a herd of about five jays on the deck.

#3 Patina on 2008-05-02 08:45 (Reply)

You are correct. Those eagles are fish-stealers.

#3.1 BD on 2008-05-02 13:12 (Reply)

We'll all be bringing in our feeders very soon, since the bears will be out of hibernation. Bears love bird seed.

#4 rightwingprof (Link) on 2008-05-02 13:21 (Reply)

Prof, the bears have been up and about for weeks now, I've seen three in parts of Penns Valley and another near Rock Springs. The flock of geese and arctic swans behind the house just headed north two days ago.

#4.1 Dan D on 2009-03-28 20:31 (Reply)

Our cat Skookumchuk gives the squirrels a run for their money. Last year we found her cat collar high in a favorite squirrel tree. So the squirrels are somewhat dissuaded and the birds should have something in the feeders. Of course, the cat also watches the feeders with a keen eye so sometimes I have to carry out a quick feline intercept. When I can.

Nature red in tooth and claw...

#5 Skookumchuk on 2009-03-28 14:09 (Reply)

I've never figured out why they insist upon calling squirrel chow bird seed.

#6 Roy Lofquist on 2009-03-28 15:12 (Reply)

It's too bad you stop feeding. Many different species are attracted all summer. My favorite rare visitor is the Indigo Bunting. I too get the bears, but they are scared sh*tless when I let the dogs out.

#7 Northwoods on 2009-03-29 11:20 (Reply)

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Saturday, March 28. 2009

Wrapping up the bird feeder season