I am in full-grackle mode. They showed up last week and I am prepared for the confrontation. For the past several years, grackles have attacked my yard and birdfeeders like the Russians going after Ukraine real estate. It wouldn’t be so bad if there were 6 or 8, but they come in swarms, as many as 50 or more in a gang. I cannot afford to feed 50 grackles. In order to continue to feed my … [Read more...]
The Robin Tree
We once had three dogwood trees in our front yard. They were planted when our house was first built. About 20 years ago, we lost one of our dogwoods to a young teenage girl who wasn’t paying attention to where she was driving and plowed into my dogwood. The girl was okay, but the tree didn’t make it. A couple year ago, we lost the second tree to old age. We had trimmed and trimmed it until it just … [Read more...]
A Pair of Downy’s
I have been seeing a pair of Downy Woodpeckers at my various feeders recently. They particularly like the peanut suet bar. One Downy with a cherry red patch on the back of his head (the male) will peck on one side and one without the red patch (the female) will peck at the other. Obviously, I have had a mating pair of Downy’s, and they will no doubt soon be nesting near or on my … [Read more...]
A “Supreme” Birdseed Value
I don’t even want to know how much I spend on birdseed. Moneywise, I’d probably come out better if I played the ponies instead of watching birds, but when I see my little flock of 11 snowbirds scratching around for old seeds, I go the shed and toss out a couple cups of millet, their favorite. I also keep peanuts for the blue jays, corn for the crows, hot pepper suet nuggets for the bluebirds (as … [Read more...]
Invasive House Sparrows
I have a fly-through bowl feeder just outside our den window, primarily to entertain Foster, our parakeet. Foster chirps and tweets and hops from bar to bar in her cage when the various birds fly in and out for a bit of seed. Something that got my attention, however, was that the house sparrows dominated other birds of that size, most notably my bluebirds. I didn’t realize how aggressive … [Read more...]
Kroger Crows
They must like to shop at Kroger’s. Otherwise, why do so many crows gather in flocks near Kroger’s. Sometimes every tree limb and light pole in the lot have crow claws clinging to them. I have noticed this phenomenon for the past several years. This morning, there must have been 100 or more crows chatting away about whatever crows chat about. But then, they break up into small groups – there is … [Read more...]
Bluebird Candy
I have discovered bluebird candy. Well, not actually candy, but my little blue feathered friends eat it like a bag of Tootsie Rolls and Reese’s Cups on a Halloween night. My daughter, Angelin, knowing that I love bluebirds, gave me a bag of Birdacious Bark Butter Bits for Christmas. At first skeptical, I put a cupful in my open end, glass bowl bird feeder and the blues were on it like … [Read more...]
Remember the Suet
Water is the number one need for backyard birds in the winter. Number Two? Suet. Suet is a Super-Food for birds. It takes a lot of energy to keep birds warm in the winter, when temperatures drop to frigid numbers. Suet is a high-fat food that can provide that extra energy. While pure suet is fat, commercial suet combines fats and food to add nutrition and appeal. You can make your own suet – … [Read more...]
An (Almost) Christmas Cactus
For 11 months, our little house plant sits in the corner, biding its time. Then, at Christmas, it goes into full bloom. It is, after all, a Christmas Cactus. Except, our little plant gets excited when the Christmas lights go up, and Christmas music echoes throughout the house. Then he blooms prematurely, sometimes as early as Thanksgiving. This year, our plant held off till early December to … [Read more...]
Peanuts and Blue Jays
I try to use a wide variety of bird seed and foods to draw a wide variety of visitors to my yard. My staple is sunflower hearts, universally enjoyed by most all birds, especially bluebirds. I also toss out bits of cracked corn, millet, sunflower seeds, a little fruit, and some nuts. Titmice, chickadees, and blue jays enjoy nuts. My blue jays come and go. I’ll usually have a couple … [Read more...]
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