I haven't died

I haven't posted is ages, and I know it!

I have been a little down as of late as foot problems have been preventing me from enjoying the unseasonally warm weather around here. I also have been dog sitting for a while and it looks like that the dog may become ours. I don't mind. His name is Donny, and he's a breath of fresh air compared to our previous dog. The interesting part is trying to figure out how to position the bird feeders in the backyard so Donny can still play and not disturb the birds. This should be interesting. LOL!

I promise to not be a stranger to this blog and keep it updated.

Birding Update

Well, this is my first post using Word 2007 as a blogging medium, so we'll see how it goes.

 

It's been an interesting month when it comes to birds. I have noticed that starlings have been flocking up in great numbers. I've seen one flock that had at least 100 birds. I've also been seeing red-tailed hawks all over the place. The one bird that I haven't seen a lot of is the vultures. I usually see them in the afternoon on the highway on my way home from work. I'll have to keep my eyes open for them.

 

More later once I know Blogging with Word 2007 works! LOL

Another Robin Update

I thought there were only a couple of robin chicks in the nest, but I have FOUR chicks!

They are growing very quickly and should be fledging any time now. It's weird to see them all crammed into the nest. I keep waiting for them to overflow out of the nest. LOL I am going to try to get some pictures later today of the chicks.

Shannon
http://www.birdingcommunitylinks.com

Robin Update

The eggs have hatched in the robins nest, and they are growing fast. I was able to get some video of the chicks.


Mom and Dad have been very protective of the nest, but they are getting used to our presence. We can actually park a tad closer to the nest instead of in the middle of the street. (A friend of our actually made the comment about not having any guest parking. I informed him we did have guest parking. It was just above the light in the driveway and occupied at the moment. LOL!) I'm still trying to get a picture of one of the parents on the nest with the chicks.

Birding otherwise has been nothing but the usuals in the yard and one the drive to work. I haven't seen the pine siskins lately, but I'm still on the look out for them. I have the feeders topped off for them. The waterfall fountain had to be emptied due to us cleaning the deck. It's sitting in one of our planting beds at the moment. I made sure the birdbath the robins use daily was accessible to all the birds. I just have to make sure that I check on the water level regularly since the robins can quickly empty out the bath with their baths.


Shannon
http://www.birdingcommunitylinks.com/

Update

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything to which I apologize. I have had computer problems which forced to buy a new laptop. (For those geeks out there, it's a Gateway 4 GB dual core with 500 GB hard drive. I lovingly call it "My Baby Cow.")

Now, for the bird updates...
Spring is in full swing. The redtails and Turkey Vultures are out in force on every highway. It's not uncommon to see at least 3 Vultures in one shot circling over the road. I have yet to go driving through North Park lately to see what is there. I am off Friday, so I hope to get there.

The Pine Siskins are still around! Yea!!! They have been hanging out with the Goldfinches. They have also been drinking from the new fountain I have on the back deck. I didn't think there would be any takers on the fountain, but the siskins love it.

The other major thing of note is a surprise nest in the yard. I had the early roll out this morning had to leave the house around 4:30am) and headed to my car to pack my crap inside. As I was walking toward the passenger side door, I spooked a robin from her nest on our double spotlight. The light is motion activated, which for her sake is good. I don't want any scrambled eggs. LOL I feel so bad. I didn't know that she was there, and the morning was kind of cool.

I did check the nest when I got home from work and could feel two eggs in the nest. There were warm from her incubating them. I know that nest hasn't been there for long since we always go through the garage. Well, we just won't be using the garage for a while. I'll try to get some pictures of the nest without disturbing the parents.

April Wonders

A couple of the wonders of April...
* I wonder why it insists on snowing in April especially after a 60 degree day.
* I wonder why I always see the "good" birds on my way to work when I have no time to stop.

Well, the past week has been rather interesting from many different fronts. Sunday brought one of many that I had to work. It was a lovely day. I would have given anything not to have gone in. That point was well made on my way in Sunday. On my normal drive in, I spotted a few male Red-winged Blackbirds, a Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Wild Turkeys. Those were in addition to my usual findings: Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Titmice, Chickadees, Robins, and Starlings. I made sure my boss knew it was really difficult to keep that car moving towards work.

It was a stark contrast to the weather of today. It was made worse by having to be at work at 5am. I usually don't mind being at work that early, but on cold days it seems even worse. I somehow managed to get to work before the snow squalls hit. When I left work early in the afternoon, it was very cold and windy. Flurries were still blowing all over. I passed by the cemetery that I spotted the banded goose, and the grounds were covered with starlings and robins eating on the ground. I don't think I've every seen that many birds there in one shot. I know the cold weather was keeping the birds grounded.

And speaking of the banded goose I found recently... I received a tad more information on the bird. It looks like the goose was banded by a member of the PA Game Commission and the goose was hatched in 2003.

Banded Bird

I had the early shift this morning, so I was able to duck out early. My regular travels take me past a cemetery. I have found a number of birds there in the past... Nothing stellar or out of the ordinary. I decided to make a quick trip through to see what I could see.

After finding my binoculars in the back seat, I started through the cemetery. The crows were active in the tree tops. They were very vocal for no "caws." LOL! Down below the tree, a large flock of robins were feasting on what ever they could find. A little further down the road there were a flock of starlings bouncing all over the place. Finding one that stayed in one spot for anymore than a second was very difficult.

The interesting part of the trek was a pair of Canada Geese that hang out at the cemetery. I was getting ready to head home when I spotted something around the leg of the male goose. I pulled the binoculars to my eyes and discover it had a band. I maneuvered my car in such a way that I could get a closer look at the band. (Do you know how difficult it is to make a big blue car non-threatening to a bird?) Once I was in position, it took several minutes for the goose to move around so I could see the whole band. As soon as I got home, I sent the band information to the officials in charge of banding birds. It turns out the goose was banded in June, 2004 somewhere in Pennsylvania. Hopefully, I will soon receive more information about the bird such as where it was banded in PA.

I'll post that information as soon as I get it.

In the meantime, if you discover a banded bird you can go to the below website to file a report: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl

Birdwatching in Central Park Conan O'Brien

I just came across this video. It's too funny not to share.

Spring has Sprung!

With Spring officially beginning this past Friday, it turned out to be a definite turning point of the season. The warmer weather seemed to have brought the first male Red-winged blackbirds of the year to a marsh near a local church. I'm sure the females are not that far behind.

Some of the other notable sightings in no particular order:
* The Red-tailed hawks have been much more visible. They have been circling near every ridge and sitting on many a light pole.
* Turkeys have been more visible, too. I have been seeing them in a field near one of the area parks.
* My pine siskins still have been frequenting the thistle feeder. They are not in the numbers they were during the winter, but still around.
* Friends have been telling me the the goldfinches have started to turn yellow. I have yet to see that, but I'm sure it's a matter of time.
* The grackles have returned as well. I haven't had any seed out in the hopper feeder since the raccoons have been tearing everything apart. I'm hoping the grackles don't make themselves at home.

I think that's about it for now. More to come. :)

Winter Update

Well, it's been some time since I've posted anything, so let me hit the highlights.

The pine siskins continue in the yard with the goldfinches. They have been eating me out of house and home. I had to downgrade the feed from the straight nyger to a finch mix. It's a bit easier on the wallet and gives the birds a variety of seed. I use the Scotts variety since it has a pour spout to go with it.

I have yet to find the White-winged Crossbills that have been in Pennsylvania. It's not for lack of trying, though. The siskins seem to know when I'm coming and just scatter. I'm going to try one more time on Monday at a well known locations for them. It would be another lifer for me. If I can't find them after Monday, I'm just going to write it off as it wasn't meant to be.

The latest problem in the yard is raccoons. They have been a holy terror!!! I'm missing a nut feeder they they pulled down in the middle of the night. They have been bold enough to come up to the back door and trying to play with me cat. (Thank heavens there is piece of glass between the two of them.) I am at a loss of what to do. I've read one thing that says that nothing will keep them away. I've read other articles that say to try coyote urine to deter them. It would also deter the deer at the same time. :( I might have to bite the bullet and try the urine and hope the deer will forgive me.

One last note, I was reading on PABIRDS, the listserv for bird sightings in Pennsylvania, that Scotts had a recall on it's suet that contained peanuts. The nuts used came from the factory that was involved in the nationwide peanut recall. If you have any of this suet, please handle it carefully as you can be putting yourself and the animals in your life at risk. I would either throw it out or take it back where you purchased it for a refund.

Until next time... Happy Birding! ^v^