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Two New Birds Today, Cooool!

15 years ago

This is my fourth spring living in the country in Northwest IL. I've been feeding a mix that Aldi's grocery stores are carrying for about 9-10 days now... full of different types of sunflowers, berries, peanuts, and little round pellets (but not a lot - it's no filler mix:) The birds love love love it! Eight bucks for a 20# bag......

Please enjoy! i.d.'s would be wonderful.

Dax

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Comments (18)

beckyw
15 years ago
The ones with the yellow are pine siskins and the others are white crowned sparrows.
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks!

Dax
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zaffisc
15 years ago
The Pine Siskins are a hoot to watch. Love the way they spread their wings and flash the yellow. Mine are very frisky right now, and eating me out of Thistle every day. I have at least 6 White-crowned sparrows also, and they are the first to arrive at the feeders every morning. Candy
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
I got a clan waiting each morning. They invade from all directions, I'd say the goldfinches are first on the scene except for the woodpeckers that are right there as well.

The real morning delight is a bluebird that perches very close to my window on an assortment of four shepherds hooks. This morning the female was with him. This is year #2 that the male has been perching on these, hooks. Exciting........woooo!

Today, again another new visitor, but first I need to show off, the bluebirds. I welcome the id's. First I thought this bird was a small hawk or an 'over-sized' pine siskin.

Thanks, enjoy.

Dax

Mama

New Bird:
oscarthecat
15 years ago
That sounds like a mix we get from Ace Hardware in baltimore. The birds clean up every speck of it/ Steve in Baltimore County/
ronkw
15 years ago
I'm envious of your Goldfinches!
I feed /fed literally hundreds during the winter, here in south LA. But, of course, they are not wearing their beautiful breeding plumage at that time.
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
Steve, thanks for the tip. Aldi's will soon no-longer be selling this feed. They buy deals and they're always good, but that birdfood won't be around much longer. I have an Ace Hardware about 4 miles from me... would you tell me the name please of their birdfood and I'll go look for it.

ronkw, you can't help but love those friendly, singing, goldfinches.

Best Regards -

Dax
zaffisc
15 years ago
Your mystery guest is a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. They are migrating thru right now, so that was a good catch.
You have a wonderful assortment of yard birds - and the Bluebirds are a joy to watch as they raise their families.

Candy
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
That is cool - Candy. I'll notch this one up for my obsession with coffee!

Thank you honey,

Dax
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
15 years ago
You should be seeing the male Rose-breasted as well. The grosbeaks arrive here with the orioles just about apple blossom time. Listen for what sounds like a squeaking wheel.

Some nice birds there, Dax. Have you got bluebird nest boxes up?

tj
grinder12000
15 years ago
Have we ID the 5,6,7 photo down from the top - those just showed up today at my feeder 30 miles north of Madison WI!
bob414
15 years ago
Those are White-crowned Sparrows.
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
Tom, it's a wonderful birding site. I didn't know I could hang bluebird nesting boxes, so I will look on the net now for them. Thank you.

What I found most fascinating about the White-crowned sparrows is they are a great blue!

Happy birding everyone.

Dax
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
I built a bluebird nesting box. I followed this plan (link below). I hope they move in soon!

Just specs: made of Western Red Cedar; 5-6' off the ground; 1.5" hole; Air flow 1/2" gap just below front of roof as well as air flow at the bottom; faces north with a lot of places to perch and a lot of places to fly to.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Iowa DNR Wildlife: Iowa's Bluebird Nest Box Plans
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Wow Dax, you have really got some nice birds feeding with you! I was going to ask if you had put out a house for the Bluebirds until I scrolled on down and saw that you had. It is a beautiful box BTW. The one thing that I was thinking was that I would clear out all of the tree branches around that Bluebird box so that the front of it is really open and not obscured in any way. They tend to like a really open site. The entrance hole should be at about 5 feet up. Just some suggestions. ~~Angie
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
I need to share that this morning while I was doing the usual at 6 am, watching birds and drinking coffee and checking emails.. the mama bluebird flew onto my deck with my screen door being the only door open and just sang away! This was the first time I have been greeted by a bluebird. It was fantastic.

Also, the nesting box I built has an occupant. I waited for more than a week to approach the box and looked underneath and found straw draping through the ventilation holes.

This is all so worth the time. It's pure joy, to me.

Dax
bandjzmom
15 years ago
I can feel your joy Dax, and I understand and completely relate. That is the beauty of a forum like this. Like minded people come together to share their joys and sometimes heartaches and tribulations as they strive to be good stewards of the creation. Each and every creature is a miracle.I appreciate your sharing here. I very much enjoy your posts.~~Angie
gardener365
Original Author
15 years ago
I was raised to love animals. I'm very proud of my mother and family. All the times my mom embarrassed me talking sweetly to birds and racoons and just everything, I have the same emotions toward all these wonderful creations. I love having racoons walk up on my deck and look into my window like I don't even exist.

And my poor cat who was once wild. She now try's with all her heart and lungs to produce a sound when birds approach the balcony, 'Helllo' she says in a squeaky sound. I've had some wonderful animals during my life.

Best Regards Angie,

Dax

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