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Birdwatching:  More birds arriving daily!  |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 25 2007 : 12:49:14 PM
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| This is a fun time of year. All the parents are bringing their babies to the feeders. Last year we had a momma junco feeding her "baby" a cowbird. Yesterday a downy woodpecker starting pecking at the wood pole and then spotted birds at the thistle feeder so he was trying some thistle out too. JoAnn |
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2007 : 8:26:34 PM
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MB,
Even through the screen ya got a good capture!
Elizaray
I watched our woody woodpecker working on my split rail fence this morning.
JoAnn how many feeders do you have? How often do you have to fill?
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2007 : 06:57:17 AM
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| Ellen, Right now we have only two seed feeders up (we have more in the winter)one for thistle and one for black sunflowers. They are on the front deck. Jim usually tops them off daily. We have four hummingbird feeders and three suet feeders. A funny story on trying to get suet here when we first arrived--I couldn't find any and when I asked at Safeway I was asked what I wanted it for? duh to feed the birds. They still don't have it out. They told me to call ahead for it. Before they would take it out of a scrap bag. Now they said once it's in the scrap bag they can't take it out. ?? Super1 carrys it now all the time but they grind it up. I have to ask for chunks. JoAnn |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 11:45:21 AM
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That's funny, JoAnn - maybe suet is more of an eastern thing? What do you think, western girls?
When I was a kid (in MO), my mom always bought it pre-made with the fat & seeds and hung it in a little suet "cage" in the winter.
Last year, I was thinking of making suet with deer fat. Got lazy, though, and just threw a few chunks of fat out on the feeder one bitter cold day, and several of the little seed-eaters (chickadees, wrens, juncos) seemed to like nibbling at it. Hope to get more organized this year with my feeders!
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 12:50:45 PM
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| Jen, Here's an idea rather strange but it worked. Jim doesn't hunt deer but someone left the rib cage of one on our property. It still had lots of stuff on it so he strung it up in the trees and the birds loved it. Now he goes looking for them to hang. I demand he puts them a little out of sight : ) JoAnn |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 5:08:20 PM
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I am not really educated about Suet. Is it more of a cold weather food for the birds to have energy?
Elizaray |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 6:07:31 PM
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| Elizaray now that you asked the question why I had to ponder the answer: ) We did come from a cold place(Minnesota) It is kinda a substitute for insects in a bird's diet. It really lures them in so it's great birdwatching. Have to watch it closely in the hotter weather so it doesn't go bad. We bring it up to the cabin when we go there and the Canada Jays empty it out almost immediately. JoAnn |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 4:36:17 PM
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I see! If you feed it during the summer, does that mean the birds don't eat the insects as much? I really like seeing the birds, but would rather have the insects gone!
Elizaray |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 4:58:30 PM
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| Elizaray, I think they do both. What you need is a bat house. They'll eat those pesky insects and don't come to the feeder, well I don't think they do : ) JoAnn |
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2007 : 11:27:37 AM
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My Pop Pop told me to take suet down once it got to 70 because it gets into the birds wings and fat on feathers messes with their flying skills. And your right Elizaray ya want them eating the borers and cankerworms.
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 07:26:58 AM
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| Ellen I have never heard that and I have never experienced it either. I'll watch the feeders during the hot spell we're are suppose to get and see how the suet reacts to the heat. JoAnn |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2007 : 7:00:44 PM
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I heard a new bird this morning- in fact it woke me up. I think it was a male pheasent or something? It was not a pretty sound. It was a "Squank! Squank!" sound. Sort of a squack sound, but it almost sounded like a duck quacking too! Weird... and loud!
Elizaray |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2007 : 12:35:27 PM
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Male pheasant calls always remind me of a horn on an old-time car -- you know, that kind of "Ahh-ROO-gaa!!!" sound? I know, I'm off my rocker, but that's what it reminds me of!
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
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blueberries in alaska
outstepping
109 Posts
Jo
hillsides of the Chugach
AK
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2007 : 12:23:02 PM
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Some of the summer nesting birds are leaving now, isn't that crazy? The unsuccessful breeders and males leave first on their migratory route..... later on will be the young and mothers. We've turned the corner from solstice so the days are getting shorter already (and I'm sleeping better!).
Has anyone seen "Winged Migration" fabulous film I highly recommend. You probably all saw it before me!
http://www.sonyclassics.com/wingedmigration/index_flash.html
I know you are all in the middle of summer, we have our summer rain and I know August will feel like fall here once again....... jo
there's no place like home....
http://web.mac.com/thomja/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html
http://homepage.mac.com/thomja/PhotoAlbum22.html |
Edited by - blueberries in alaska on Jul 08 2007 12:40:37 PM |
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2007 : 1:13:19 PM
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In my dreams... August felt like fall  
how far do temps dip for you to think fall arrived?
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Birdwatching: More birds arriving daily! |
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More birds arriving daily!
