May 2008

Birdnote

We finally have a few days of nice weather! Of course that means that I have more work than I can possible do! Instead of doing any of it, I installed my new Boltek lightning detector... but that's another blog. :)

I took down the oriole feeder. I had one more hummingbird feeder, so I figured, why not?, and placed it where the oriole feeder had been. Hilton Pond had a note about hummers this week. They say that, even though I haven't seen any hummers, I should continue to keep the feeders clean and full. Hummers are more plentiful at the end of the summer. I planted two types of vines that attract hummingbirds, ten plants are up. The hummers will have plenty to keep them happy, if they ever show up!

I saw the swallows again when I was mowing the yard. They really zip around, and I can't get a good look at them. I'm sure a birder could glance at them and tell me exactly what they are. Unfortunately, I cannot. Without a picture, my best guess is that they are Tree Swallows. Since they eat flying insects, they are more than welcome!

There is a brief program on PBR (Public Radio,) called Birdnote. They are also on the web in MP3 format. The one I listened to was called, What Birds Can Hear In Songs. Worth a listen.

Tube Feeder

I didn't see many birds at the tube feeder since I moved it. I always enjoyed taking pictures at that feeder, so it was really disappointing. The last few days I saw the return of all the favorites, plus the goldfinch pair. This is the first I've seen the goldfinch at that feeder. Oddly, I am seeing them at that feeder more than at the nyjer feeder! I don't know if birds are simply slow to adapt to a change, like moving the feeder, or if the anti-cat fence is working? Either way, I'm glad to see them back!

The other feeder has remained busy. When I looked out a little while ago, I saw a pair of sparrows at the feeder, a pair of blue jays, some mourning doves and a starling feeding on the ground under it . I really ought to come up with a name for that feeder... the box feeder?? The green box??

Nothing new to report on hummers or orioles, no sign of either. After reading other reports, I think that I am going to pull the oriole feeder, there is no chance of seeing one here. It takes a week to ten days for the cypress vine to sprout, so that is not up yet.

Don't Fence Me In

Since I did not see any hummers, I put up another feeder. In for a penny in for a pound. Anyway, I guess the oriole feeder was a bit overly optimistic. I'll give it until I run out of nectar then I will take down that feeder.

I put up the trellises today for the cypress vine. I guess I should start the seeds inside, because it is still too early for them, but we'll see how it goes. If there are no hummers, it doesn't much matter, anyway. Today I also put up the anti-cat fence. It isn't very high, but hopefully it'll give the birds enough warning.

When I was mowing the yard today, I saw a bird flying around above me. It was acting a bit like a jay trying to protect it's territory, but it had a tail like a swallow. I should have stopped the mower and taken a good look at it, but then I still wouldn't know what it is, and then I wouldn't have an excuse for not being able to identify it. :)

The only good thing to report is, I saw a chickadee at the tube feeder, when I was working on the fence. I haven't seen any in all the bazillions of Wingscapes images. Maybe they don't like that feeder.

Lull

Outside my living room window, I have hummingbird, tube, oriole, and suet feeders. The hummer and oriole feeders have seen no action at all, and the other two have seen very little of late. I didn't understand why the tube feeder wasn't seeing any birds. I was watching my web cam, when I saw a cat run around the tree and pounce on a bird sitting in the bush. Luckily, it missed. I have tried everything here. The Cat Stop didn't work. The Water Scarecrow would, except I cannot use it there. The only thing left is to put up a fence. I hate to do it, but what else is there to try? The fence idea is, the cat has to jump over the fence, alerting the bird to danger. I have some chicken wire and posts, so I will try and put it up this weekend.

This past weekend I wanted to put up the trellises and plant the cypress vines. Friday I switched from Dish Network to Direct TV. I got an HD DVR and free Starz and Showtime. Well, cypress vine doesn't like cold, and we can still get a frost, so I put it off until this weekend. :) Did I really need another reason to sit around and watch TV??

The activity in the other yard remains about the same. The feeder and birdbath are in the open, a cat cannot pounce on them. I have moved the Wingscapes camera from the birdbath, back to the feeder. I hope something new shows up, I am tired of looking at the same old, same old!