Striped sunflower seeds are larger than black oil sunflower seeds and have a thicker shell; this makes it harder to eat by small birds but large birds like cardinals, jays, woodpeckers and grose-beaks have no problem breaking through the delectable nutmeat inside. Carolina chickadee, titmice, finches, tufted titmouse and nuthatches considered small by some, can easily open those shells.
Humans and birds compete for this variety, since the seeds are the type the snack industry cultivates and roasts to sell at the supermarkets. They are nutritional for birds and us, they contain protein, carbohydrates, good fat, high oil content, calcium, magnesium, zinc and vitamin E. The crops are screened so that the larger seeds go to humans and the smaller striped sunflower seeds are sold as wild bird food making it easier for more species to enjoy.
The birds that usually come to the feeder are American goldfinches, house finches, Carolina chickadee, Tufted titmouse and cardinals. Many many years ago Alden and I saw a Blue Jay come to the feeder, we were so surprised!
American Goldfinch fly with a bouncy, undulating pattern and often call in flight, drawing attention to themselves. Spring males are brilliant yellow. Females are duller yellow underneath and olive above.
Cardinals beautiful bright red even during the winter months; they perch on the kiwi trellis and look astonishing! At first only females came to the feeder, now males come to. Lisa read they don't like swinging feeders.
Carolina chickadees are curious and acrobatic, they have a black cap, black bib, gray wings and back with a whitish underside. They have a four-noted song and a faster chick-a-dee call than black caped ones.
Cardinals beautiful bright red even during the winter months; they perch on the kiwi trellis and look astonishing! At first only females came to the feeder, now males come to. Lisa read they don't like swinging feeders.
Carolina chickadees are curious and acrobatic, they have a black cap, black bib, gray wings and back with a whitish underside. They have a four-noted song and a faster chick-a-dee call than black caped ones.
House Finch cheerful red head and breast males, or plain grayish-brown with thick, blurry streak females and a long twittering song.
Tufted titmouse is a little gray bird with an echoing voice; their large black eyes, small round bill and brushy crest gives these birds a quiet but eager expression; they flit through the woods, hang from twig-ends or the feeder's perch. Once they get a seed they will fly to a perch to crack it with sharp whacks of their stout bill.
Other birds that are around but do not perch on the feeder are:
House Wren is a plain brown bird with an effervescent voice; when I hear their rush-and-jumble song in summer I see them zipping through shrubs or low tree branches snatching at insects; they nest in the fern basket, or in the woodpile holes; I have also found their twig-filled nests in shoes, boxes or other available spaces in the porch; I just have to make sure they are not within Flame's reach. They don't come to the feeder.
Black Phoebe a small black and white bird; it pecks on the ground all over the south area. When the fly to go under the azalea or forsythia its tail spread like a black and white striped fan... pretty!
Common ground dove such sweet cooing!
Black Phoebe a small black and white bird; it pecks on the ground all over the south area. When the fly to go under the azalea or forsythia its tail spread like a black and white striped fan... pretty!
Common ground dove such sweet cooing!
Bird House
Jamie Finley made beautiful bird house with bamboos that grow in their yard. He gave them to friends and neighbors for Christmas. I am so grateful for Jamie and Susan's friendship, they are amazing persons in many many ways!
We plan to install it under the new barn sometime in April, Alden wants to hang it under an eve to protect it from the rain.
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| Jamie Finley |
Bird Bath
Last Monday 2/25 we found the perfect bowl to make a bird bath, it is green and has a cup in the center for a deeper bath! On 2/28 Alden made a beautiful, artistic, three legged stand with treated wood. It is built to wrap around the bowl and be placed in the garden under the fig tree by the water faucet. It will be shaded in the summer, and at 4 feet high it will also be out of Flame-the cat's reach. Total cost $20 and homemade!
Alden installed the wood stand yesterday, and this afternoon March 1st, I put the bowl outside with some water to see what the birds would do. Currently they drink water from the cat's stainless steel bowl at ground level; because it is a deep bowl I have it tipped sideways so the birds can reach the water perching on its side. Within and hour I only saw two birds drink from the new bowl... among all birds there is always a Jonathan Livingston seagull!
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| Alden in the basement shop, building the bird bath |
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| Final adjustments |
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| Leveling the bird bath |
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| It looks great! |
I noticed my anticipation at seeing the first bird land on the edge of new bowl to check it out, see it is their size, they can even walk on it getting their paws wet but not drowning! well that hasn't happened yet except for the two intrepid ones that perched on the edge and drank. I am sure with time they will all find it; the same thing happened the first time we hanged the bird feeder many years ago, it took birds 3 days or so to start coming, and look now a hundred plus birds in the yard!
A week later the bird bath has become a gathering point. They land on the fig branches and go for the edge of the bowl. At present it is no used to bathe only to drink water. It has been windy and dry I am sure the birds enjoy the fresh water!
I'll have to bring the bowl indoors for the next couple of nights, freezing weather on the forecast. I am not sure if this bowl could crack.... it didn't!
April
New birds are arriving to the garden around 6:00 am we listen to a bird concert that lasts about 30 minutes + it makes me feel so happy and alive, recalling their songs makes me smile all day!
The most unusual guests this spring are two Black Vultures that for two weeks regularly around 11 am swirl and perch for a few hours on the south oak trees, they must enjoy the view! Then I read that a pair of Black Vultures may assure themselves of the site’s isolation by perching nearby for a period of weeks before egg-laying. Oh well, they didn't chose to nest here, Ringo enjoyed chasing them away.
Brown thrashers accomplished songsters that may sing more than 1,100 different song types; it is a pleasure to see them sweeping their bills through the leaf litter and soil with quick, sideways motions.
Chimney swift are flying around catching small insects in the evening, they like the open space in the west area.
Dark-eyed junco are neat, even flashy little sparrows that flit about forest floors. Once the juncos arrive it is time to put our the hummingbird feeder.
Ruby throated Hummingbirds arrived the third week of April, they are enjoying the sweet water in the feeder, the crimson clover flowers.
Rose breasted grosbeak are here around April 19, making a stop on their way to the north, they stayed here for about two weeks; beautiful!
Blue grosbeak arrived by end of April, they are also songbirds, males have beautiful blue feathers and chestnut colored wings.
As the weather warms up we listen to the Chuck-will's-widow singing to the moon light.
We go to sleep listening to frogs croak, hear the Chuck-will's-widow during the night and wake up to song birds... amazing!
A week later the bird bath has become a gathering point. They land on the fig branches and go for the edge of the bowl. At present it is no used to bathe only to drink water. It has been windy and dry I am sure the birds enjoy the fresh water!
I'll have to bring the bowl indoors for the next couple of nights, freezing weather on the forecast. I am not sure if this bowl could crack.... it didn't!
April
New birds are arriving to the garden around 6:00 am we listen to a bird concert that lasts about 30 minutes + it makes me feel so happy and alive, recalling their songs makes me smile all day!
The most unusual guests this spring are two Black Vultures that for two weeks regularly around 11 am swirl and perch for a few hours on the south oak trees, they must enjoy the view! Then I read that a pair of Black Vultures may assure themselves of the site’s isolation by perching nearby for a period of weeks before egg-laying. Oh well, they didn't chose to nest here, Ringo enjoyed chasing them away.
Brown thrashers accomplished songsters that may sing more than 1,100 different song types; it is a pleasure to see them sweeping their bills through the leaf litter and soil with quick, sideways motions.
Chimney swift are flying around catching small insects in the evening, they like the open space in the west area.
Dark-eyed junco are neat, even flashy little sparrows that flit about forest floors. Once the juncos arrive it is time to put our the hummingbird feeder.
Ruby throated Hummingbirds arrived the third week of April, they are enjoying the sweet water in the feeder, the crimson clover flowers.
Rose breasted grosbeak are here around April 19, making a stop on their way to the north, they stayed here for about two weeks; beautiful!
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| rose breasted grosbeak enjoying the view and the food! |
As the weather warms up we listen to the Chuck-will's-widow singing to the moon light.
We go to sleep listening to frogs croak, hear the Chuck-will's-widow during the night and wake up to song birds... amazing!
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