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Feeder report
Hurray!
UPDATE:
Behold … the American Goldfinch or Carduelis tristis.
Perhaps he is sad, tristis, because he isn’t an Indigo?
You would think that tristis might a better name for this "blue" Bunting.
I have at least two of these now, both males. I haven’t seen an females yet.
Now here we have the orange variant of the House Finch, or Carpodacus mexicanus.
Remember what I said about the Goldfinch Eating Team?
There were six hangning around on the socks a little later, and two on the feeder.
I am going to have to put my donation button on the bird entires just to keep their greedy little beaks busy.
Here is the confirmation that I have at least two male Indigo Buntings.
But I think there is another. Just after shooting this I went into the kitchen and out of the window I saw another.
Also, I found that Mr. Red-Breasted Grosbeak had taken the Missus out to supper.
Notice how much smaller the sparrow is.
And batting cleanup is the Mourning Dove, Zeniada macroura.
Lovely pictures… not just here, but throughout. Very peaceful and enjoyable.
Thank you :)
Comment by Jack Regan — 17 May 2008 @ 10:34 amWhatever their names these are all basically different colored sparrows. This one seems to consume inordinate amounts of blueberries. Some birds, (pay attention if you like the bottle) as told by Ionston Ian (1603-1675) [notice I’m not using the verbotten “J”’s] in his De Avibus get blasted on fermented grapes and cure the hangover by stuffing some herbs into the beak and walk around till they get better. (Ingenio non destitui si ex uvarum esu ebria herbam ori inserere et circumambulando sibi mederi.)
PS I promise not to quote this author again at least not till the weekend is over.
Comment by mastigia — 17 May 2008 @ 10:40 amFather: do the socks help keep out the furry enemies? I can’t keep bird feeders because the squirrels think it is a 24-hour diner and manage to spill half the food when landing on it for a meal.
Regards,
Comment by Andrew — 17 May 2008 @ 1:26 pmBeautiful. I love those Indigo Buntings. Do you have any oranges out for Orioles?
Comment by Jason Keener — 17 May 2008 @ 3:50 pmThis blog is becoming for the birds. ;)
Comment by Stu — 17 May 2008 @ 4:17 pm“Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Blue bird, blue bird, through my windwo.
Oh Johnny aren’t you tired.”
Didn’t anyone play this little singing game in the playground?
Why are the males in the bird world always the prettiest? I know. To make THEM the target.
Have you ever noticed how the male Cardinal will take a seed down to the female on the ground and feed her?
Comment by CK — 17 May 2008 @ 7:33 pmAs a child growing up in Ohio, I used to deliver papers early in the morning. I would hear the distinctive sound of the Bobwhite: “Bob-WHITE! Bob-WHITE!” Nothing quite like it. (I forget the other name for them.)
Years later, in the back yard of a house I used to own, we had a male and female Cardinal built a nest in the same tree every year. We referred to them as “Mr and Mrs Cardinal.” We just assumed it was the same couple returning each year.
Funny, I never was one much for birding. And yet they get my attention every now and then.
Comment by David L Alexander — 17 May 2008 @ 10:00 pmHey Fr Z,
Comment by MSusa — 18 May 2008 @ 8:57 amAren’t the girl birds a different and more neautral color than the males so they won’t be easily spotted when sitting on the eggs? I suppose what I am trying to get at is, could the female “blue” bunting be…brown?
Such as these pictures
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030515.html
Have you seen any of these Father?
Comment by MSusa — 18 May 2008 @ 9:01 amPerhaps you can help me solve a problem. Besides the Cardinals, bluejays and other beautiful and interesting birds that visit our feeder, we have many huge, ugly and voracious blackbirds who take over and gobble up 1/2 of the seeds. I’ve tried putting foils of various kinds up, mostly of chicken wire, but to no avail. They still manage to muscle in. Any suggestions?
Comment by Richard — 18 May 2008 @ 1:35 pm