skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

Birds

17 years ago

Last year I was visiting a friend in a nursing home. There was a finch feeder outside the window. I was so impressed. It had birds at it continually and so many colors. All I was familiar with was the gold finches. So this year I bought one and put it up. There have been a lot of birds there but I haven't a clue what most of them are, besides the yellow one. Another one has a very rosy red head and the same shade on other parts of the body.

I came home from getting groceries the other day and on the front step - no where near the feeder, there was a very small bird huddled up on the front step. As I approached, it got under the railing. I knew we couldn't leave it as we have a dog who goes out there and it would be a tasty lunch. My son came out. We have never seen any nests around so have no idea where it came from. It appeared that it was very young. He carried it around near the feeder and went to put it on the ground and it flew about 6 feet and sat itself down by the next door neighbours house. We left it but kept watching out the window, periodically. It was there for sometime and then we haven't seen it since. It was a dark colour but all the feathers on the tips of its tail were bright orange. I have never seen anything like it.

Any ideas? And what should we do if it happens again?

thanks

ivamae

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

marlingardener
17 years ago
Ivamae,
You really need a bird ID book! May I suggest the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. It is easy to use and friendly to the newcomer to bird watching.
The rosy headed finch is either a purple finch or a house finch--really hard to tell apart.
You are kind to worry about the young bird. If it flew about 6 feet, it was probably on one of its first flights from the nest. Young birds often sit and rest up between practice flights. If you find another that is capable of flight and is not where the dog might snack on it, just leave it alone. It will eventually get its nerve up and try that flying thing again!
Enjoy your bird-watching, and be warned, it is addictive. Next you'll want a pair of binoculars, then a sunflower seed feeder (attracts a lot of various birds) and then a watering station, and on and on. Go for it!
ivamae
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion. I have checked on line and our library system does have it, so I have put a hold on it. They will contact me when it arrives at our branch.
Thanks again. Tshould really help
Related Discussions
birds won't use our bird bath
Q
Comments (5)
A standing birdbath on the patio has gotten only limited use for several years. Also far from the house and a pain to keep clean. This year I bought one of those deck-railing birdbaths. It's only steps from the kitchen so easy to keep clean in hot weather, and it's being used for both drinking and baths. The red-headed sparrows that drink from the ant cups unfortunately still use the ant cups as well as the birdbath. Well who wouldn't like to have two sources of water? :) I thought a brick too high so used a small flagstone type stone and a couple of 3-4 inch river rocks in the middle. However, they drink from the edge.
...See More
Birding question..Which bird does this?
Q
Comments (16)
It doesnt sound like the Carolina Wren or the mockingbird unless its repeating a louder and more annoying call than the ones on the website lol. I would love it, if it was Screech Owls. I have seen them around but they sound different than what we are hearing. We also have a big nesting of Barred Owls in the woods behind us and they get in the trees by our bedroom window and put up a racket of monkey noises some nights. They are hysterical. I hear them some afternoons too in the little meadow area between us and a neighbor. It sounds closest to a cardinal mating call but it consistently has only two "notes"/syllables to the call with the second being a slightly higher pitch than the first. It waits a few seconds before repeating it. It Doesn't sound like a typical chirpy songbird or a crow or hawk etc. It does sound a little astroid or video gameish but it is loud! I guess I should get some binoculars so I can try and see it. Maybe some small ones w a camera in them so I can take a photo and then I can look it up. This has been going on for several years every spring so its probably a mating call of something lol. I will have to look at reviews on amazon lol.
...See More
Two bird questions, California birds
Q
Comments (1)
If the small bird had a true crest, an oak titmouse perhaps. Scrub Jays don't migrate, but they can shift about a bit within their range between winter and summer months. Inland, they are more likely to be found in a lower mountain shrubs and oaks type of habitat, rather than flat expanses of farmland.
...See More
help with pot bound Bird’s- nest fern
Q
Comments (6)
I would most likely not repot it quite yet, give it a bit of time in its new residence. These guys can be a little melodramatic. If it’s seemingly healthy and still producing new leaves, it’s okay for now. You will likely have some really solid growth in the meantime. I have made many mistakes by repotting immediately after purchasing a new plant and caused undue stress. In fact, my biggest rookie mistake was the constant itch to repot at the first sign of roots. With that said... You COULD definitely size up an inch or two when you’re ready to pot. I would pot in a loose peat based mix. (Or coco coir blend if you have any), and NOT disturb the roots, as they look fragile. I would plop that in a new pot with a 1/3 of soil and just fill the potting mixture around it and allow it to loosen on it’s on. It is not always necessary to loosen and spread the roots.. Unsure where you are in terms of humidity but I live in dry Colorado climate and use pebble trays for all my ferns and they respond very well. I have two birds nests in the shower l and they are very happy and have no crisping, which occurs easily in them. I hope this helps!
...See More
sue_va
17 years ago
Ivamae, here is a site where you can type in the name of a bird and get some info and maybe a pic.

We have house finches here, but not purple finches.

I hope your little visitor is safe.

Sue
grammahony
17 years ago
I agree, it was probably a house finch. I also think that the other one was probably a fledgling from a nearby nest.
Leslie
azzalea
17 years ago
I always keep a bird book handy. Actually have several of them--one has a small recording devise that plays the songs of each bird. You'll enjoy your feeder so much more when you start to know who your friends are. Remember to start your 'life list' of birds you've seen and identified (I write mine in the back of my bird book).

Just last week, I put up a hummingbird feeder. Mind you, I've had HB feeders before, in the suburbs, but never seen a humming bird in the wild ever. But the beginning of last week, I saw a couple hovering around the country house. Right away ordered a feeder, filled it and put it up. Within an hour, I had my first visitor--and have enjoyed several since. They're so amazing to watch. You might want to get yourself a feeder for them, as well.
ivamae
Original Author
17 years ago
I expect you are right, Grammahony but we weren't able to find any nest. I really do hope it is all right. My son put his hand out and it went right up on his hand itself.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Northern Cardinals in the Snow, and Other Red Birds

By Habitat Network

Brilliant crimson feathers make these friends stand out in a crowd

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Wild Birds Transform a Woman’s Garden and Life

By Mary Jo Bowling

How Sharon Sorenson created a wildlife haven and became the Bird Lady of Southern Indiana

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Bring on the Birds: Natural Habitat Ideas for Gardens of All Sizes

Provide nesting, watering and perching spots inspired by the Costa Rican jungle and watch the birds flock on over

MODERN ARCHITECTURE Keep Your Big Windows — and Save Birds Too

Reduce bird strikes on windows with everything from architectural solutions to a new high-tech glass from Germany

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them

GARDENING FOR BIRDS What to Know About Birds Nesting in Your Yard

By Mitchell Parker

Learn how to observe, record data and help ornithologists with NestWatch’s citizen science project understand bird trends

OUTDOOR PROJECTS Bring In the Birds With a Homemade Bubble Rock

By Mary Jo Bowling

An avian expert from Southern Indiana shows how to make a burbling fountain that migrating birds will love

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: How to Care for American Goldfinches

By Habitat Network

The American goldfinch is a bright-in-the-summer visitor and one of the only vegetarian songbirds. Here's how to give them a healthy habitat

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Create a Home for American Kestrels

By Habitat Network

These copper-colored birds of prey can be found throughout North and South America and often find habitats near human activity

Sponsored

J.Holderby - Renovations

4 Reviews

Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

More Discussions

Looking for input on possible early dementia (long)

51

TYPE OF LIGHT FIXTURE GLASS

6

Smile today -8/23/26

5

Pizza art and science

11

Sunday Brain Game

16