We feed the birds all year long. My mother enjoys watching the birds and animals that come to our feeders, and it's a simple enough thing for us to do. Filling the feeders is part of my early morning list of chores, and I enjoy the quick visit out of doors before I start my day.
I've been watching the fruits of my efforts. We have a clutch of tiny goldfinches who like the chipped sunflower hearts that I put into a dark green silo feeder. The brilliant goldy/yellow of the bird's feathers shows up elegantly against the green feeder. The little birds jostle for position as they wait their turn at the feeder, and when they have finished, they fly over and cling to the brick on the side of the house.
This morning, I watched a male downy woodpecker put himself into position to eat from the feeder. That's no mean feat, because the perches are meant for small birds, but a woodpecker can go just about anywhere he wishes!
Black capped chickadees have made their appearance. Can fall be far away?
Comments (5)
I envy those of you who can fee the birds during summer. Around my house either bears or chipmunks/squirrels get all the food, so I don't bother.
This year is an especially bad year for bears ecause the weather has prohibited the growth of berries and other foodstuffs that they would normally feed on.
Posted by bogie | August 17, 2004 4:51 AM
Posted on August 17, 2004 04:51
If I was full of energy I would put up some bird feeders in our backyard ~ maybe next year I'll get around to it *smile*......it is so peaceful to watch the birds at your house out that big side window and I'm sure Grandma is enjoying watching them also ~ as long as we can keep Ed to the drooling state right LOL
Posted by Jamie | August 17, 2004 11:01 AM
Posted on August 17, 2004 11:01
We have chickadees all year round, but unless we hear them we're not sure (well, we're never sure!) whether they are black-capped or Carolina. Around here I just call them local chicadees because I'm firmly convinced that they teach one another their songs/calls.
Posted by Cop Car | August 17, 2004 5:27 PM
Posted on August 17, 2004 17:27
Well, Bogie, we end up sharing with the raccoons, the little varmints! It's worth it to my mother to be able to watch the wildlife. Thank GOD, we don't have bears!
Jamie, Ed is surprisingly good about what's on the other side of the window. He seems to understand that there isn't any point in hunting the birds when there's a pane of glass in the way.
Heck, Cop Car! I'll have to get the bird book out. I'm pretty sure that we have black-capped chickadees. I don't have a prayer of telling them apart by their songs.
Posted by Buffy | August 18, 2004 4:35 PM
Posted on August 18, 2004 16:35
The best definition of the differences in the two species is given by Kenn Kaufman in his "Advanced Birding". According to the range maps in "The Sibley Guide to Birds", which is my most recent book (ranges shift over time), both you and I are in the transition/overlap zone and Sibley is convinced that the two species hybridize. He says, "Hybrids are recorded in the narrow zone of overlap (there is disagreement over the extent of hybridization). Song is learned, so not very helpful for identification, as individual birds can learn the 'wrong' song type." Call 'em whatever you want. Who's going to argue with you?
Posted by Cop Car | August 19, 2004 10:02 AM
Posted on August 19, 2004 10:02