YardCrap BIRDS

YardCrap BIRDS

Having been a backyard bird watcher for decades, decided I might add to my fun by posting about eperiences as I sit on my porch.
I find it to be never ending excitment! From my chair I have ID on over 100 birds. I have photos.

I actually know some "real" expert birders who can answer questions here.   Just post in comments or email.
I have thousands of photos, but will mostly post fresh ones regardless if they are 'magazine' quality.  
Join in. Email your posts/photos to add to the interest here.

Most photos will be at about 50ft from my 'Catbird' chair. The goal is "good enough" to ID the bird. My camera is a used Olympus OM-D E-M1 from ebay.

Bird Food

My friend Fonda asked, "Where do you buy your birdseed and what kind".
Here is the "short" answer.

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My experience is feed types change with the seasons. The very best time to attract birds is in Winter and Spring. In Summer and Fall it is more of a challenge to compete with Mother Nature.

Different types of feeders are best for different birds. I have many, change them in and out as the seasons change. Basically you need tube types which mimic tree limbs to perch on and hopper types to mimic jumping around on the ground. One MUST have a suet feeder to attract those that don't care as much as to seeds. I am always on the look out for some new/clever design.

On this blog I put up a step by step easy way to make a perfect hopper feeder. https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2019/03/build-a-bird-feeder.html

--- Sunflower seed is the standard. Not all birds care as to it, but many do. Best place to buy is Tractor supply where the seed is fresh (unlike supermarket crap). A 40# bag is most times under $20. I generally pick up a few bags.

--- Shelled sunflower is good. There is less mess, and pound for pound as to actual food and not shell, it is comparable to in the shell as to $$. At Tractor Supply it is about $30 for 20#. Some birds who can't open sunflower in the shell will also eat this.

--- White millet is a must in Winter and some eat it all year. Don't buy that "mixed seed" crap at the supermarket or Lowes. Just buy white millet. I get mine at a feed store in 50# bags. Go to a feed store, if they don't have it, they can get it in.

--- Suet, I have some real suet right now, but what they prefer is a mix I keep out year. If you want to attract the song birds, this is the way. Put a pot on the stove and mix in crunchy peanut butter and cornmeal. For the Winter mix I add real lard. Melt the peanut butter in the jar and lard in the tub in the microwave and pour it in with the cornmeal. I make a big batch in my beer brewing pot a couple times a year. Birds who live on insects love it. Pure seed eaters pass on this. Don't mix in other things like bird seed. Birds have enough problem cracking those, making them oily does not help.

---Thistle is good for finch, but expensive, I rarely buy it.

--- Safflower is one many like. Squirrels don't. A new version came out a couple years ago called Nutra-Saff . The hulls are tender and more nutritious, or so they claim. It is more expensive, best buy is Walmart online with free delivery.

--- Peanuts are fun, in and out of the shell. I mostly use shelled. I chop some as birds like the Carolina Wren need a little help. Many birds love these. I get a #50 pound bag on Amazon and it last a year.

Birds Today

Sunny day, some birds are about.

Downy Woodpecker
House Finch
Gold Finch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Titmouse
Blue Jay
Red-bellied Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-Breasted Grosbeaks (A few have been around for days.)
Chickadee
Fish Crow
Pileated Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Cardinal
Canada Goose
Dove
Hummingbird - (Got up and it was 58degrees. A Hummingbird was sitting on a feeder. I thought all were gone.)

That is a decent backyard list considering only two are not year-round.

Rose By Any Other Name

These two great looking birds are in the yard right now:

Good and BAD

I don't want any snakes in my yard. If yall like them, great, will bring mine over.
I looked out the window and saw this guy on one of my Humming Bird feeders waiting on a meal to fly up.

I don't like that!! It is a Tasmanian Devil Viper or maybe just a Black snake, don't care. It is not welcome.

On the good side, my first Fall Rose-breasted Grosbeak just arrived. She is on her way to South America.

CatBird

My bird blind is named the 'CatBird House', and my chair is named the 'CatBird Seat'.

When my chores are done, I like to sit out here.

I was lucky and had an outdoor job for 30 years, still prefer that.

 

Who should show up today --> a Catbird.

That is not common or rare.

I always have one about the yard, but mostly hear and not see. They tease me sounding like a cat in distress. I hate that! They can also mimic other birds quite well.

 

I see one from time to time.

I have never seen one at a feeder.

I don't recall having seen one in my water things, but often in the bushes around them.

One is kinda lucky seeing them at all as they stay in the shrubs.

 

Snapped these photos just now. I don't have great gear or use a tripod, but I think most times my photos are good enough to ID a bird and maybe help others who may not have the time to sit on their ass and enjoy critters.

 

Update on Previous

Junior showed up for a bath.

I am hoping Pop will show.

American Redstart

---- Life is good ----
My first observed migrant just breached the yard.
A female American RedStart is taking a bath in my branch.

Waiting on a Warbler

I see last year got on the porch on the 20th:
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-throated Viero

Hope springs eternal.

Gnomes and Water

Here at the Catbird seat keep out some water, lets see - 5.  Water is always in demand.
A good porch water station must be small enough to quickly dump and refill - often.
That is due to birds being messy and skeeters.  Plus a coon can empty it at one drinking.

Put out water and birds will come.  I promise.
This is just "drinking water".

Right now at the branch in my yard, 3 birds are taking a bath.  There are most always birds in it.  That is more than most are interested in doing, so just put out a shallow bowl on you porch.

Today I put out #6, need to retire a couple.
I ran across this and wanted it.    I set it on the deck rail.

Red-headed Woodpecker

 

I had these many years back. A couple were in a big Oak and would come to the porch for suet. They even would guard it. Then ,for years have had none. I did photo a juvenile passing by a couple years back in the YC Migrant Contest.

They live in this area and most of the USA all year, I just never have any.
It is a striking bird. Many people will see a Downy or a Red-bellied and say they saw a Red-headed.
Males and females look the same.

"These birds fly to catch insects in the air or on the ground, forage on trees or gather and store nuts. They are omnivorous, eating insects, seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, and occasionally small rodents. About two thirds of their diet is made up of plants."

One has shown up here off the porch the last couple of days. I hope he hangs around.

For comparison, here is a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the yard. I see these every day all year. It generally arrvives sceaming at my bedroom window feeder before I get out of bed.