topic Re: For bird lovers in Garden

For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 15:22:07 GMT

A Painted Bunting has been spotted in Maryland!

While I have seen an Indigo Bunting in my back yard, I have never seen another bird as beautifully colored. Until now.

There are many stories on the sighting, so you can find them if you like. However, I must post a picture (not one I took, by the way). Nature at her most glorious!

Re: For bird lovers

BlueFinch — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 14:46:28 GMT

How beautiful. Thanks for sharing a pic.

Re: For bird lovers

JYWilliams — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 14:52:18 GMT

What a beautiful bird with a rainbow of colors.

Re: For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 14:53:04 GMT

@BlueFinch

Amazing, isn't he/she? I am not a bird watcher, but live in the woods and love seeing them. We used to have numerous feeders and would have upwards of 20 Cardinals and Finches all winter.

For several seasons, I had an Indigo Bunting that would visit. I cried the first time I saw him. A tiny bright teal blue spotlight in the woods. They are amazing.

However, the squirrels and other critters destroyed and emptied EVERY feeder we tried...even those claiming to be squirrel proof. They tore them out of the trees and off their stands. Even tearing down my suet cake holders.

So, I gave up feeding them. Now, I rarely see any Cardinals.

I just watch the parade of other birds...and Wild Turkeys, but don't put out any food

Re: For bird lovers

Lilysmom1 — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 15:01:54 GMT

@Witchy Woman , I am in Nova Scotia. One late Fall day I looked in my back yard from my seat in the living room and I caught the sight of a turquoise rag in my garden. Then I saw it move. It was an indigo bunting, very unusual sighting in my location. I managed to get some photos. It was strikingly beautiful. It came to feed on my holly berries.

Some research showed it was the northern extent of its range and was probably blown in during a storm. So beautiful. I have since seen several at once and one time only. What a treat!

Thanks for posting your find.

Re: For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 15:18:49 GMT

@Lilysmom1

Just to be clear, I have not seen this beauty, but it was spotted in Maryland (where I live).

There is some question about why it is this far North this time of year, and it has caused a huge stir among birders who have rushed to spot him.

The Indigo Buntings alone are impossibly beautiful in person. So tiny and bright! But his bird is amazing.

I'm not much on going out into the cold and watching for birds, but if they are in my back yard, I take great pleasure. I doubt I'll ever see one of these beauties in person.

Re: For bird lovers

DSD2 — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 15:19:37 GMT

A visual treasure! Simply stunning.

All credit to you, the photographer. to capturing the glorious colors in all their glory,

Re: For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 15:20:50 GMT

@DSD2

See my post above...not my photo, and I apologize if my original post mislead. I just couldn't resist letting others see what it looked like.

Re: For bird lovers

BlueFinch — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:05:22 GMT

@Witchy Woman Yes, it's a shame that the squirrels prevent us from enjoying our feathered friends. I can't feed anymore either.

In S. TX., we don't have many colorful birds. I have some Cardinals and Jays, but otherwise it's shades of brown and gray. So, it makes me really happy to see the colors some display in other parts of the country.

I LOVE birds, preferably in the wild, but my father had a huge aviary, of over half an acre. He was well known. He even consulted with our large city zoo, being a bit of an expert in setting up the healthiest environments. Birds in his care had to have the best of everything. I learned from him to fully appreciate their beauty and value to the world. It was a special gift.

And, that kinda explains how I became BlueFinch .

Re: For bird lovers

Still Raining — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:06:20 GMT

Oh my, wish we had such a delight out here.

We do have year round hummers. Now I have the time, I do think some have been given names 🥳

Re: For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:33:03 GMT

@BlueFinch

I love birds, and, thankfully, living in the woods gives me a glimpse of large and small alike.

How lucky for you that your father was such a positive force in the bird world. Wonderful that he had an aviary where you could observe them up close. And, the best, to pass along his care and compassion for these wonders of nature.

Every time I see a tiny bird land outside my windows, I want so badly to feed them again, but it's just not possible.

We have Red-tailed Hawks, Barred Owls and Wild Turkeys as regular visitors.

But nothing beats seeing a tiny, colorful bird! And, I just looked up a Blue Finch. They are stunning!

Re: For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:34:54 GMT

@Still Raining

Every now and then I will see a hummer, but not often.

I never encouraged them to feed in the area, so they are just passing through.

They are miracles of nature.

Re: For bird lovers

Krimpette — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 17:23:24 GMT

I have four feeders on my deck. They're on shepherd hooks. If a squirrel tries to get at them, I sprinkle some hot pepper flakes in the seed and around the feeder. I also have a bottle of some liquid hot pepper stuff, but haven't used that in awhile. I'd be lost without my birds!!!!!!!!!

Re: For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 17:51:15 GMT

@Krimpette

I used to mix jars of pepper flakes and cayenne pepper into my black oil sunflower seeds.

I swear, I think the squirrels and racoons grew to love it. It didn't even slow them down.

They chewed through or tore down every feeder I put up, no matter how it was mounted. Even one that was supposed to give them a little shock.

They ate all around the feed holes/perches, pulled them out and the left gaping holes all over the feeder. After that episode, I just took them all down.

Re: For bird lovers

Krimpette — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 18:04:12 GMT

Wow! You've had some aggressive squirrels in your neighborhood!!!!!! Easy to understand why you ultimately gave up!

Re: For bird lovers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 18:58:59 GMT

@Krimpette

Made me laugh, but so true.

We are in the woods, so there were "herds" of them.

And, I had cats at the time! It drove them crazy.

I would never harm the squirrels, but didn't want to fatten them up, either. There were tons of acorns from our oak trees....AND hickory nuts....but the bird feeders were easy pickin's.

Once they were gone, the squirrels had to work for their meals

Re: For bird lovers

Krimpette — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 19:16:35 GMT

@Witchy Woman I often admire the tenacity and agility of squirrels!!!!!!!!

Re: For bird lovers

Bookplate — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 20:46:35 GMT

Apparently one was also spotted in Brooklyn NY recently.

Re: For bird lovers

BlueFinch — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 23:45:48 GMT

@Witchy Woman Yes, the true Blue Finch is beautiful and somewhat rare. It's edging toward becoming a threatened species, sadly second to environmental manipulation.

A fun thread. Glad to share the love of birds with others equally passionate about them.

Re: For bird lovers

Still Stylish Lady — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 23:53:25 GMT

We get them down here in Fort Myers FL in winter, real snow birds. DH days they migrate here from the Carolinas. We sometimes have 4 mate pairs at our feeders. DH used to keep a record of them for a Painted Bunting tracking web site. When they feed here, often with cardinals, it is a lot of color.

No idea why any would be up north.