Any birdwatchers out there?

[gardener34]

yes I am also a birder. From when I was a little kid, we used to vacation in the northwoods and I would bring the binocs and my peterson guide then.

We do not have a feeder since a yard cat adopted us, so I cannot justify leading birds to our yard to a feeder, they might get eaten. But we have planted our yard with many bushes and cover with berries. So we get lots of visitors. Also we live on water and get lots of migratory birds that are quite different.
Last week the sandhill cranes flew north over our house during their migration. THAT is something to see. My goal is to go to CO and see their migration.

We also see bald eagles on occasion. Ospreys mostly though.

Last year, we had a indigo bunting that came around. So pretty. And lots of little warblers every spring. So cheerful.

We have a local Internet hotline for a bird watch - so you can report rare sightings online. That is handy. I am not involved in any clubs though.

[Dendroica11]

Originally Posted by Back to NE

I guess birdwatching doesn't do it for the younger masses bleery eyed from the various screens that dominate their lives.

Ah, tell me about it! I'm a 26-year-old birder. I don't mind how the birding groups I occasionally join along on a watch with being much older than myself, but what I wouldn't give to have someone around my age who I can talk to in person about birds who wouldn't look at me like I had two heads. Certainly not a popular activity for those my age.

I go out to a nearby state park or a nearby preserve every weekend to spend a few hours birding, and the rest of the week I bird at home, watching the feeders. Someone else mentioned it's like natural gambling, and that's what it is for me! You just never know what you might see. And I absolutely love watching and listening to the common species; tonight I was out planting seeds and having about 10 American Robins out there calling was nice.

[rickers]

This guy was fighting his mate for a fish just before I got this picture.

[1eyedjack]

I have an interest in the birds, been feeding them for over ten years now. One feeder I use is just sunflower seeds, which seems to draw a wide variety of birds. There is a cage around it to help keep the squirrels out. I have to bring it in at night to keep the coons from tearing it down. There is also a suet feeder which hangs just outside the window where my computer is. There are many types that frequent the suet, they kind of get used to me being an arms length away as long as no sudden moves are made. Learned to identify many from books, and online sites. I never knew there are so many types of woodpeckers either. This link is good for identifying, along with some other links that some might use.All About Birds, Browse Species

[Twinkle Toes]

Yes, I'm a birder too! I love all birds, but my pet parrots own my heart.

[NJ~LuLu]

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

Yes, I'm a birder too! I love all birds, but my pet parrots own my heart.

LOL... I am also Owned by pet parrots, they run the Roost here. So funny. I always know when a red tail hawk is about, big bird alarms go off.

Cheers

[gardener34]

The orioles are just starting to make their nests around here. Those nests fascinate me, little woven bags. I don't know how they do it. And such beautiful songs.

[jodyrose]

Originally Posted by gardener34

The orioles are just starting to make their nests around here. Those nests fascinate me, little woven bags. I don't know how they do it. And such beautiful songs.

Gardener, I would love to see an oriole nest, do you have any photos of one?

I have 3 Baltimore Orioles and one immature or a female hanging around eating my homemade suet. I have never seen so many birds on my feeder since I started putting this out. I recently spotted a scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, several new warbler varieties, the orioles, ruby breasted grosbeaks. Goldfinches, song sparrows, cardinals, bluejays. All manner of woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches, chickadees and titmice.

For seeds I only feed niger and black oil sunflower and I feed hulled peanuts, although since the arrival of the home made suet, they are eating less peanuts all the time. I am done buying store suet and may end up doing away with the peanuts as well.

I dont allow any English sparrows to stay around and I have at least 3-4 newly hatched bluebirds in the nesting box.

I am sorry I didnt find this thread until after the poll closed for adding a Birding forum to CD...maybe someday!

[anitajas]

I am new to birding. I recently moved to the piedmont area of Western NC, and have a feeder on the deck in my back yard.

I purchased two books to help me learn to identify the birds that visit our feeder. I really enjoy watching them. So far we have had scores of Cardinals, a few American Goldfinches, a bluejay, and many Chikadees, along with some little brown ones I imagine are sparrows. I can see the feeder as I write, and a tiny little bird (brown on top, white on bottom) is munching away!

Any suggestions to birding websites or books would be greatly appreciated...

[jodyrose]

Originally Posted by anitajas

I am new to birding. I recently moved to the piedmont area of Western NC, and have a feeder on the deck in my back yard.
Any suggestions to birding websites or books would be greatly appreciated...

Hi Anita, I wouldnt be without my Roger Tory Petersen id book. I have made notes all over it through the years, identifying the birds and dates I saw them. The back cover has a time table of the first bluebird nest I have had. I was able to get the mama n papa bluebird to eat some of the meal worms tonight for the first time and I am THRILLED to pieces. Next, nest checking to keep any blowfly larvae from feeding on the precious babies. Good luck with your feeding. I would carefully ID your sparrows. The native sparrows are great...charming little things and sweet songs. The English sparrow I do not welcome into my yard.