Two robins were sitting in a tree when one said "I sure am hungry after that long flight back up to Albany." The second robin agreed, then suggested they fly down to the ground for some nice fat worms. After stuffing themselves, the first robin said he was to full to fly back up into the tree and suggested they stretch out to bask in the warm sun while their dinners digested. So they did. Shortly thereafter, a very hungry cat strolled by, gobbled up the robins and then decided to take a little nap in the sunshine. As he stretched out, he rubbed his tummy and with a sigh and very large smile, said to himself... "Nothin tastes as good as basking robins." (Sorry, I just couldn't resist.....) AdaO

Kittysmith's vocal discription sounds like a European Starling to me. Those of us familiar with the Common Grackle know it's song is little more than the sound of a rusty hinge. Being human, there are definitely things that I don't care to have on my property. Right now the Japanese beetles are terrible, I can't remember a July without them. If I never see rats again it will be fine with me. European starlings and house sparrows are little more than feathered vermin. We can either discourage these birds and have a greatly improved environment or live in a "Polyanna" world, its a choice each one of us has to make. Sam

Pretty birds. Have never seen one.

i live just outside of Durango Colorado and i have gambel oak brush outside the door. The acorn woodpeckers like the small acorns and pinyon nuts but also carry off corn and sunflower seeds. The Lewis Woodpeckers don't come often but i got a photo of a male this week. The flickers come through in the fall and spring back and forth to the mountains, and the downeys come in the snow storms of winter. I had a pair of scrub jays nest in the oak brush this year and they had 2 young ones whoi are regular visiters. Since we got a few snow showers i have dozens of Juncos and finches and sparrows daily.