Nature Abounds This Morning

[abkeenan]

13 hours ago, Champ188 said:

You should trap those hawks and bring them to the lake to add to your weaponry at that super secret boat dock that shan't be named. 

He's on to me!

Currently working on a Kevlar carbon fiber head harness that fits them properly. Yet also has easy access for me to calibrate the death laser should it jostle loose during cove dive bomb raids. I hope your boat has a reinforced bunker in the hull, Heitman!

The "breeding program" is doing well. MDC and the Department of Defense have been most accommodating in their grants for my "conservation" and "research" efforts.

[Quillback]

Cardinals are getting pretty active.  There is always a pair nesting in the Burning Bush, every year.  When the leaves come off the Burning Bush in the fall, it exposes the red berries and the cardinals really like those berries.  Right now they are eating the Crepe Myrtle seed things.  Not the greatest pic, but the males are so skittish.

 

 

[Smalliebigs]

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2020 at 9:32 AM, skeeter said:

Wow ! ! !  How fortunate to see dozens of Pileateds at one time and location..  We've only seen two at a time together while chasing each other around the base of a hardwood tree.  Had no idea they would ever gather in flocks like that.  We've seen an occasional single at our suet feeder only. 

Last year I took MDC's advice (maybe never again ) and stopped bird feeding from May 1 through Nov. 1 and, yeah, it cut way back on the Varmint problems ( numerous Skunks, Possums and Coons) but the large variety of songbirds we had previously never re-appeared at the feeders.   Now it's mostly sparrow-type birds plus  Carolina Wrens, Dark-eyed Juncos (snowbirds), Tufted Titmouse (which will fly right up on the one feeder when I'm re-filling it ), just one pair of Cardinals and several Blue Jays.  Doves on the ground and the Three-Amigo Crows that hang around. 

We also followed MDC's request to stop feeding the Deer two years ago due to the CWD in Stone County and hardly ever see a Deer anymore in the Baxter/Lampe area.  Our neighbors around here say the same thing....like where did they all go ? 

hahahaha don't do what the MDC says......I'm in surburbia yet, I have 85 acres of woods behind my house but, we get so many animals and birds its kind of a joke. I mix all my own seed and I feed in the morning and they eat it all and then the crazy deer don't get to munch hahahaha I feed all the animals in my yard screw the MDC and enjoy all of them especially all the Barred Owls and Great Horned Owl couple

 

[Terrierman]

We have a clear feeder hanging on our kitchen window.  I feed black oil sunflower seeds.  It's one of the best things we ever bought.

[abkeenan]

24 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Cardinals are getting pretty active.  There is always a pair nesting in the Burning Bush, every year.  When the leaves come off the Burning Bush in the fall, it exposes the red berries and the cardinals really like those berries.  Right now they are eating the Crepe Myrtle seed things.  Not the greatest pic, but the males are so skittish.

 

 

Same here in Saint Louis. Started showing back up about a week or two ago.  They love hanging out in our Japanese Maple for some reason.

Last year we had two males about a month apart die as a result of running into our front windows. Hate to see that when it happens.

Also had a common grackle knock itself out on the back deck glass door. Heard a loud thud and pretty much knew what had happened. Bird was laying there quivering for a bit. Then stopped. My girls thought it was dead and I figured it was too. About 10 minutes later it came around to consciousness and just sat there. I left it alone as to not stress it out anymore. Took it about another 30 minutes to get its whereabouts and then took flight into the woods. Not sure if it made it but I've never seen a bird make a comeback like that after a glass window collision. Tough bird.

[snagged in outlet 3]

We have a family of foxes living under some guys porch a few streets over.  They dug a burrow under his porch and he just let em stay. 

One morning one of them was running back and forth behind my house like somebody was playing fetch with it.  By the time I got my phone he went around the side of the house. 

[ness]

We're seeing more cardinals recently. One likes to sit on our deck furniture and fight with himself in the reflection in the window. 

[Terrierman]

Cardinals use our window feeder all the time.  Not quite as many of them as there are chickadees or titmouse, but still a lot.  Red breasted woodpeckers are there every day too.

[jdmidwest]

I fill my feeders twice a week.  2 clear towers with black oil sunflower and 2 other feeders with wild bird mix beefed up with sunflower.  2 suet feeders and scattered peanuts on the ground.

Cats love my yard for some reason.

[Bill Babler]

Smallie like you I mix my own.  I want ZERO milo as the song birds just rake it out.  Of course the turkey's, dove and squirrel will eat it.  I see you have one Squirrel Buster feeder out.  They are my favorite by far.  Your spread puts mine to shame.  We have 5 Squirrel Buster's one Suet and one thistle feeder out.

Consumption is about 6 pounds per day, unless a storm is coming and then it jumps up to 10 pounds.  If its warm and sunny the feeders are not hit that hard.  If its cloudy cool and damp they are all over them.

Kind of reminds you of fishing don't it.