Spring Movement
One of the more evil participants on our crane tour just emailed over this photo. On the ride home, I made a little nest for myself on the luggage and fell fast asleep. I was happily dozing when I heard, "whisper whisper...is she awake...whisper whisper...oh if only we could put this on her site..."
Now it all becomes clear...
Leave it to spring to get people excited about blackbirds! The red-wings are starting to descend on the feeding stations here in Minnesota. Yesterday was an insane 81 degrees in the Twin Cities. Above 80 in Minnesota in March--that was a record. Non Birding Bill and I took a walk around the neighborhood before his rehearsal and heard at least six species singing on territory: mourning dove, house finch, kestrel, cardinal, rock pigeon, and starling. There was one intrepid grackle giving it a try but his call was even squeakier and rustier than usual. They always sound like that when they first arrive in spring. I wonder if it's because of the journey or if it has just been several months since they've given that call? It sure is the equivalent of a bird cracking its voice.
I think this is my favorite nuthatch shot I've taken so far. I have no other reason for posting it, other than I thought it was cool. I'm having trouble thinking at the moment. We were incredibly busy at The Raptor Center this morning, it was non stop programs and tours. My final program was a very rowdy group of kindergartners. I'm bushed.
Hey, did anyone else see the corgi on Cute Overload this morning? I wonder if that's Phoebe, the Stokes' dog? If so, I'm very impressed.
Labels: Bird Trips, digiscoping
posted by birdchick at 1:43 PM
7 Comments:
The RWBlackbirds and grackles are hitting my feeders very hard; anything we can do to keep them away?
There's nothing worse than the "catch her asleep!" photo....
I think maybe the "bending to pick up a beer while wearing very short shorts that have a hole in them" might be worse than the asleep photo op.
We were at Goose Pond Saturday and felt overrun with red-wing blackbirds staking out their areas. Heard as many of them as we saw geese, I swear.
Is it too late to put up kestral houses in MN? I always intend to put one up, then it's Spring already.....
dguszman,
I've never found a food item that red-winged blackbirds will not eat. I've had great success keeping grackles away by having one tray feeder filled with plain safflower.
vashti,
hmmmm, you're one up on me with that one.
anonymous,
get thee a kestrel box up now! They're looking for real estate at this very minute. Do not delay.
SUPER nuthatch photo! Absolutely terrif! I struggled to get one that was a keeper, and it was nothing as good as that.
dguzman: RW blackbirds eat anything and everything. My strategy is to have multiple feeding stations to give the other birds a chance at food. So far, they haven't tried for the Nyger feeder (small holes, upside down perches). Also, I have a caged feeder that only the little birds can get into (sparrows, bluebirds, chickadees, etc; downy woodpeckers are about the biggest ones that can use it.) Helps keep something away from the starlings and grackles.
~Kathi
Well, Sharon, at least you weren't drooling.
Those stinkers.
That's one seriously endowed Corgi.
So it's spring rite -- and it's a kestral box -- put it up now -- maybe next year they will nest in it.
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