|
Post by VanIsleRover on Mar 18, 2018 12:43:44 GMT -5
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Apr 20, 2018 7:09:25 GMT -5
I'm not a big birder, but do like watching them sometimes.
With all the snow that has been covering things up here in Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa, the birds have been having a tough time. Even starving. Some TV stations have provided pictures of dead robins. I added mealworms and raisins to the sunflower chips that are on the menu for my visitors. They are gobbling it up like crazy.
The snow is supposed to melt away in the next few days so hope the natural food becomes available again soon.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on May 12, 2018 6:50:25 GMT -5
I had a Baltimore Oriole land on my Hummingbird feeder several days ago. Purchased a feeder for orioles, filled it with nectar, grape jelly, and a slice of orange and now have at least a pair of orioles showing up every day. House Finches like that grape jelly too. This morning will be clean up and refill time.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Jun 24, 2018 22:41:05 GMT -5
Those Baltimore Orioles only came to the feeder for about a week. I have not seen one since and the neighbors had the same experience. Hummingbirds are around, and today I had a yellow headed blackbird show at a feeder. My neighbor tells me they are here during the summer.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on May 12, 2019 7:02:36 GMT -5
Baltimore orioles are back; hope to see more of them. 1 lone male hummingbird has shown at my neighbor's feeder, and hope the warmer weather that is forecast prompts more to show.
A few Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks have shown up, and I hope to see my first Indigo Bunting soon too.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Jun 7, 2019 6:50:28 GMT -5
The orioles have left for parts unknown. I had a good run with them using up over 4 lbs of grape jelly, of course the house finches ate a bit of it, and the grackles started raiding it. Hummingbirds seem to be gone too. My neighbor across the street hasn't seen any orioles or hummingbirds lately either. I did get to see an Indigo Bunting about 2 weeks ago, but only one. Neighbor had a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak a couple days ago, but they have been scarce.
The Goldfinches are at the feeder again after seeming to disappear for several days.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Jun 11, 2019 7:38:18 GMT -5
A couple days ago there were about a dozen Cedar Waxwings next door near a berry tree. No berrys yet, and I haven't seen the birds there since then.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Nov 8, 2019 7:43:10 GMT -5
The Dark Eyed Juncos have been back here in southern parts of Minnesota for a few weeks now. And the Goldfinches have changed over to their winter plumage. Chipping sparrows and House Finches are showing at the feeders, along with Downy Woodpeckers and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers from time to time.
On Tuesday, I was over by Blue Earth and noticed a Bald Eagle and a few Crows dining together on a road kill deer.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Aug 26, 2020 6:51:02 GMT -5
Hummingbirds have been regular visitors this summer. I need to check the feeders a bit more often since they have really been draining them. Goldfinches are always around, with some House Finches and the Cardinals show now & then.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Oct 8, 2020 7:14:37 GMT -5
Better update here. The last time we saw hummingbirds was Sept 26th. I think they can sense when it is time to leave. I left the feeders up until last Saturday, and finally pulled them for the season. Other birds have been a bit scarce the past few days. There is a Cooper's Hawk in the area, maybe that is keeping them away. A local birder had observed the first Junco of the season on October 1st, so it won't be long until I start seeing them too.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Dec 15, 2020 8:22:44 GMT -5
Lately, I haven't had so many birds coming to the feeder. I guess there must be lots of other natural food since we are still snow-free here in southern MN. A few sparrows, goldfinches, house finches, black-capped chickadees, cardinals, and juncos are what I see. Just not as many. Once in awhile I see a downy woodpecker, or a red-bellied woodpecker. Since conditions have been very dry, most are probably somewhere closer to water.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Dec 27, 2020 7:48:48 GMT -5
Yesterday, I hiked on a portion of the Cedar River Greenbelt Trail, which is just west of Osage, IA. Birds were scarce, but I did see a Red Headed Woodpecker. Most of the river is frozen, so the eagles are somewhere else.
|
|
ddt
Champion Member
Posts: 1,975
|
Post by ddt on Jan 1, 2021 23:46:49 GMT -5
birds are great i wonder how the populations are doing these days! remember "the birds"! easy to see where that idea came from! some can be such aggressive scavengers!
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Jan 5, 2021 7:07:33 GMT -5
After not seeing this one for a few weeks, I heard, then saw the Red Bellied Woodpecker on the tree in the front yard.
If I'm out for an evening walk, it will be time to listen for the owls since they are in their mating season now.
|
|
rodking3
All Star Member
It's not mine either.
Posts: 13,541
|
Post by rodking3 on Jan 16, 2021 8:06:40 GMT -5
We finally got 6.5 inches of snow here to cover the ground real well. So, I hope to see more birds at the feeders.
|
|