I took a walk back to where the blue birds hang out.
They are pretty wary. I wasn’t able to get very close.
A couple sparrows were having a mid-air tiff.
Back to the Bluebirds.
I need one of those telephoto extenders, or a more powerful lens, I guess.
I just couldn’t get close enough to get a really good photo.
And from this you can get a sense of why the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker is called what it is called.
BTW… with some donation money, I got some saffron seeds for a fly through feeder with a cover. I am hoping to attract more Cardinals.
Father, I love seeing the photos of your backyard birds. Thank you for sharing them.
AWESOME, Fr. Z. Yes, they are initally very wary but they can be very tame. We begin with the meal worm feeders way out back by the house. Then we progressively bring the meal worm feeder closer to the house. We currently have the meal worm feed right outside my office window. They will come to my window on the opposite side of the house and hover, waiting for their worms. They see us walking around inside the house, and fly up the the window feeder waiting. So, while as you say the are wary at first, they will come right up to your window with some training. Worms can be ordered from http://www.newyorkmealworms.com and then after we bought the first 5,000 meal worms we have decided to grow our own and currently boast a farm of at least 100,000 mealworms. Fr. Bill
Those birds are really amazing. The colors are very vibrant.
Thank you for sharing your pictures, Father. It’s wonderful to see the Bluebirds. That was a great feat to get the mid-air spat on camera. The YB Sapsucker is one colorful bird. Do you have birdbaths around, Father? Moving water is also very attractive to the birds. They are drawn to the sight/sound of a trickling water feature – it’s a magnet for the birds.
Bluebirds-the state bird of New York!
The ‘sparrow spat’ is pretty funny-it’s a riot watching birds fight.
Whoa-that’s one gorgeous Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker!
Always love your photos, Father Z!
Is that all you have to do to attract Cardinals? To think, I’ve been writing letters to them instead!
I’m going to have to break down and spend a little over $100 for another lens for my Nikon—I just love birds! Thank you, Father, for sharing these. :)
Father, what sorts of bird feeders do you use? I’m looking to set some up myself.
You would be amazed at the different birds you can attract with meal worms.
Oh, the Sapsucker is just gorgeous!