tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21276533925814307902024-02-20T21:30:52.625-08:00SongbirdsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-5513758667481853412007-08-30T13:54:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:39.596-08:00Red-breasted Nuthatch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBr0rZu2E0SfY7qb25xZ5DT9w6kpGuW0yit232HXe00-zYX6UV21MA8wNta4ZCSokgu68-G3I8XTtVBVJU2rfjM09_yr4FZcQlA-H_pfBCB7ad6OB0YTsATuHeno4qACLodL6CKLbnyEiL/s1600-h/Nuthatch1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104600938840203794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBr0rZu2E0SfY7qb25xZ5DT9w6kpGuW0yit232HXe00-zYX6UV21MA8wNta4ZCSokgu68-G3I8XTtVBVJU2rfjM09_yr4FZcQlA-H_pfBCB7ad6OB0YTsATuHeno4qACLodL6CKLbnyEiL/s400/Nuthatch1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Today the <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch.html#sound">Red Breasted Nuthatches </a>finally came down out of the trees long enough, when the camera was handy, so here we finally have a photo to add to our collection of elusive birds. They seem to be hanging around as a pair.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-63437421085779383662007-03-20T13:14:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:39.726-08:00American Robin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcrb5uvUiOfMBiA62Q-3on8YX9Std7JXq5LBjvSOf3imMPI47dwN9FSvkMGJbPdM7gjsUdqbFUubDmg5LnxdwPik-ch532Cz8T5OK2nIQkJ0DZpVvJzETJzOvjoXfluPsv2MlE8Haj_d3/s1600-h/American+Robin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044102902205778370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcrb5uvUiOfMBiA62Q-3on8YX9Std7JXq5LBjvSOf3imMPI47dwN9FSvkMGJbPdM7gjsUdqbFUubDmg5LnxdwPik-ch532Cz8T5OK2nIQkJ0DZpVvJzETJzOvjoXfluPsv2MlE8Haj_d3/s400/American+Robin.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Visits from the local <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Robin.html#sound">Robin</a> family are sporadic as this location doesn't have mature cotoneaster bushes with the berries loved by robins. Maybe we will see more next year?</div><div></div><div>The <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Robin.html#sound">American Robin </a>is considered a member of the Thrush family.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-5214867229930058882007-03-20T13:12:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:39.814-08:00Varied Thrush<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78mQQbOK9OogjvUv0xBOjlnuzkaHzoZMRXxRvMQMwtPYrA3mcFlWJAamNyowng1HhEsSC6p3oF07_s2-HzploE_vsuK9WhKCYFa5eX8ML7D4PtxjM0ac3mLQe34NojJHxXjpbzVyk10La/s1600-h/Varied%20Thrush.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044102416874473906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78mQQbOK9OogjvUv0xBOjlnuzkaHzoZMRXxRvMQMwtPYrA3mcFlWJAamNyowng1HhEsSC6p3oF07_s2-HzploE_vsuK9WhKCYFa5eX8ML7D4PtxjM0ac3mLQe34NojJHxXjpbzVyk10La/s400/Varied%2520Thrush.jpg" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Varied_Thrush.html#sound">Varied Thrush </a>is often quite elusive, but is a common site around peanut feeders in winter.<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-91529072542898314122007-03-20T13:07:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:40.279-08:00Sparrows<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9zvrBYZU3g0NyQugceih4VfYLqaglYG6lOGaWL7JDmoe37qHlpEBfL79B5nEKGtJI3b9uZG-k1kMx91kaE0i265TzUDQySa3A5svAdT5KjvyvCA-xZdyZgnDqKYsx-Lcem7x8LSvMdig/s1600-h/White+Crowned.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199956344917217266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9zvrBYZU3g0NyQugceih4VfYLqaglYG6lOGaWL7JDmoe37qHlpEBfL79B5nEKGtJI3b9uZG-k1kMx91kaE0i265TzUDQySa3A5svAdT5KjvyvCA-xZdyZgnDqKYsx-Lcem7x8LSvMdig/s400/White+Crowned.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>White Crowned Sparrow</div><br />We have two pairs of sparrows this spring, the <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.html">white crowned sparrow </a>and <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow_dtl.html">golden crowned sparrow</a>, who come visiting the juniper bush when the squirrels retreat from their breakfast feast. We have been throwing out a bit of Russian Thistle seed that was getting stale, and this seems to be attracting them, which is a surprise.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right">Golden Crowned Sparrow<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199951809431752658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhwtAOa4uD_1NDlR1vHP4WRp8Rgvplm5XQKbmAlh1f8rRO1c8keU60tZ28DVstdRqtWJ0R2uIZvF2nQua5igckSMkH_sRG1N5Wl-v7R6uUrMvMROctjmbsxBMiJOBI-VtoRPZP-OOMPoy/s400/Yellow+Crown+1.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044101132679252386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT945HEfUysjYDqSwaiNGpuOHiAFmBuYnU-YQRxL7mLPxwsMWXMGHVTtGblRhZC2cD5h-apT129M3YmAl2KlFK4SWmwidtHiVJ4iXBGJryddzgUO2mrg7Y44tazZpid0uHkHIy99OfPh5/s400/Fox+Sparrow.jpg" border="0" /> below....<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong><a href="http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i5850id.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Fox Sparrow</span><br /></a></strong>One of those birds who usually just go, <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Fox_Sparrow.html#sound">"Cheep, cheep, cheep"</a> as they travel through the bush year round, and at springtime they give you glorious song to reward your patienced the rest of the year........mind you, I am sure the song is for the mate, not for human entertainment.</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-61636712239903188502007-03-20T12:57:00.000-07:002008-12-12T08:31:25.430-08:00Bushtits<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYB5t2KgCQvBoP1YlLLXysaDMvZvJ4WJjl9ikIw8Q4hwUs3jLy6y03fB9pwV-Wun_xmKzRYqbn_o4OtQse_lmdFIogStuD-WQv5lxJGtzin81v-b-eTldcayqwrLbYW-GR-IPhJd0erOf/s1600-h/Bushtits.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044098843461683586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYB5t2KgCQvBoP1YlLLXysaDMvZvJ4WJjl9ikIw8Q4hwUs3jLy6y03fB9pwV-Wun_xmKzRYqbn_o4OtQse_lmdFIogStuD-WQv5lxJGtzin81v-b-eTldcayqwrLbYW-GR-IPhJd0erOf/s400/Bushtits.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i7430id.html">Bushtits</a></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div>If you sense this cloud of cheaping tiny birds passing over you as if checking to see if you are a tree for landing purposes, it is most likely a cloud of <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.html#sound">Bushtits</a>. They build nests that rival <a href="http://pat-hummingbirds.blogspot.com/"><strong><em>hummingbird</em></strong></a> nests, hanging in a pendulous fashion from a branch, with the entrance in the top. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://andtheboys.blogspot.com/"><strong><em>The boys</em></strong> </a>and I call them "birdy mice".<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WixlFgVb5DTGRVG-Oluel1NS5hkrWVwiIDmcGefCIleIb5uICttjyIfsJvCdkavoGn96anq0LhBV91yxHDDnYXX74wQdWO2H5OPO8ji7koBV0cO9cjTN13s7umgAPJT1osKVchCCVmRi/s1600-h/Bushtit+in+the+bush.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044099461936974226" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WixlFgVb5DTGRVG-Oluel1NS5hkrWVwiIDmcGefCIleIb5uICttjyIfsJvCdkavoGn96anq0LhBV91yxHDDnYXX74wQdWO2H5OPO8ji7koBV0cO9cjTN13s7umgAPJT1osKVchCCVmRi/s400/Bushtit+in+the+bush.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8dTVyiZ_xiLNBZvhaNWeEh8u40SYOfJ7_3_i-qlzlIeiTz9lP8fAgJvODw9IvfB8wiVXCCuTfCwoJxywPWyIjUlqaS2CYI82j2cOwHYzoFfpSThLPNuXZIhKzANh8_dlPyGiJ8hcBs6K/s1600-h/Bushtit+Nest1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278940564196951042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 281px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8dTVyiZ_xiLNBZvhaNWeEh8u40SYOfJ7_3_i-qlzlIeiTz9lP8fAgJvODw9IvfB8wiVXCCuTfCwoJxywPWyIjUlqaS2CYI82j2cOwHYzoFfpSThLPNuXZIhKzANh8_dlPyGiJ8hcBs6K/s400/Bushtit+Nest1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>At left is a bushtit nest, (behind leaves and branches), that housed at least 12 babies in the year this was taken. The nest is too delicate to last past a year as rain and snow basically destroys the nests once they are empty. It is interesting that these nests are so similar to hummingbird structures as the bodies of bushtits are not much larger than larger hummingbirds.<a href="http://localfauna.blogspot.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278941781619225330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 64px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrM-XFQ9SWXOljwKjiqpyY2vIVn_qDFKjLQ3kwFUTGaDoqtZToQoeNYIORqgy0Nrp7Xtu8Mo2gtmLZSjxcHICUPoNp-3kzJbMdJbVyO0h0Igew-lwkQVBszNgA7oa42gqG1ghkXgvaPoU/s400/hum_back.gif" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-31776892900901492572007-03-20T12:55:00.001-07:002008-12-08T17:56:40.909-08:00Chickadees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn66_zTSwj8wc4xkewraHmybpTS8Up_ET66b0L8v3G0hqFT2qU9Iqf9WAgPouZV2EYee9ewAmZwwgCzb1poew9LOvZunioY4yKYNG8ynTMXrlf7n2q1aGhls2eWQ_eI5Oggj4B8MrtV7QK/s1600-h/Chestnut+Backed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188448405241586690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn66_zTSwj8wc4xkewraHmybpTS8Up_ET66b0L8v3G0hqFT2qU9Iqf9WAgPouZV2EYee9ewAmZwwgCzb1poew9LOvZunioY4yKYNG8ynTMXrlf7n2q1aGhls2eWQ_eI5Oggj4B8MrtV7QK/s400/Chestnut+Backed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-dH7InsH4yjG4szWwZw-bMre-LGlosl_zHOTeIZOQhyRrFSozfxHieyg6ZIq8zafcorp9TusxhvnL5q_gxSEQDUEi_ZXdjNty1JTmcI0OIL56I8ZgjLxxCoP3MZvWQ7BFL0I4rKEXONi/s1600-h/Black+Capped+Chickadee1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044098036007831922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-dH7InsH4yjG4szWwZw-bMre-LGlosl_zHOTeIZOQhyRrFSozfxHieyg6ZIq8zafcorp9TusxhvnL5q_gxSEQDUEi_ZXdjNty1JTmcI0OIL56I8ZgjLxxCoP3MZvWQ7BFL0I4rKEXONi/s400/Black+Capped+Chickadee1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRDh1NAd6ZPiYVJIG6m-lnd6dxUGIjC-gS3VoC-w6CMuj7dX7DjrejPTDECSSuepSdY_TV-YtCDfLy-37SS_dm17aeES81nGzlPoGtC6CEFj12zsHM7G__mDKoUYl_5tGlO7zNY_KT3_Z/s1600-h/Mountain+Chickadee1.jpg"></a>The <a href="http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i7410id.html">Chestnut Backed Chickadee </a>is slightly smaller, and often chased out by the <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-capped_Chickadee.html#sound">Black Capped Chickadee</a>. If you start catering with chickadee food, the chances are that you <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__PmpnjqOh25JJHGmxfwnANQIEr3jVgS0tGIzgzWKFm_vLS89mst_G0qLkzvaaqCZK499CcQJd04Yg2RPE7Z17Q3Gez6aIno0ZUWCyRN0sFyyATLXlzAhvb7qiZpJqnO1C1jV2dauLJbY/s1600-h/Chestnut+Backed+Chickadee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188100110074355762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__PmpnjqOh25JJHGmxfwnANQIEr3jVgS0tGIzgzWKFm_vLS89mst_G0qLkzvaaqCZK499CcQJd04Yg2RPE7Z17Q3Gez6aIno0ZUWCyRN0sFyyATLXlzAhvb7qiZpJqnO1C1jV2dauLJbY/s400/Chestnut+Backed+Chickadee.jpg" border="0" /></a>will lose the Chestnut Backed Chickadees, in our experience.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-81253881048243481232007-03-20T12:51:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:41.364-08:00Pine Siskins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW3u7MSBh4SXXEOh48-sQFNm4DpMyFkC6oa7f7VZdjn8VEAjNE0fmnxaimYZzXf073bpVMQ9vITaK3zdLMdzknXsJi_9aABF-k7Tlru-kC5WDNShh3GyBy_r1PRUTjQXTykWBpAGZ9TjU/s1600-h/Siskin+Couple.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044097185604307282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW3u7MSBh4SXXEOh48-sQFNm4DpMyFkC6oa7f7VZdjn8VEAjNE0fmnxaimYZzXf073bpVMQ9vITaK3zdLMdzknXsJi_9aABF-k7Tlru-kC5WDNShh3GyBy_r1PRUTjQXTykWBpAGZ9TjU/s400/Siskin+Couple.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.html#sound">Pine Siskin </a>Couple having a quiet meal before the hord found the location.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUipddaUxaApyInZSMSueLwkiFEW3StpQpHrrGhKCNH8tvqVzQDl67mDKRnxm87e6Qo3y5xOtKTt39X81WKfkDFc40Zlqf9SfoEVHQsXYPNhK-tav_8d48Ui0SpxX8I6ZuS_lT4daCFtp/s1600-h/Food+Frenzy+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045941324302125858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUipddaUxaApyInZSMSueLwkiFEW3StpQpHrrGhKCNH8tvqVzQDl67mDKRnxm87e6Qo3y5xOtKTt39X81WKfkDFc40Zlqf9SfoEVHQsXYPNhK-tav_8d48Ui0SpxX8I6ZuS_lT4daCFtp/s400/Food+Frenzy+1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNJQvWUSHr_ONib9MGFtPTVoK9dfJiYcfH6c2pKM8ISFTKpRq9WIV-jDPHu-sU1Tes3YRZAUs4JCTc9vxd23S1M67NG5VbXsylyiUN0chEuzN5_zp97BYsWXQYvmUKatxBMw38Q4NDyoA/s1600-h/Perch+Bully.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTUYHHiYgOPF4vWjQhtgjII-R3x3ITiQxAKsv_ZmcPzEmzuDM2I7UDJcQb7UTGJeBl7c9DUnzPZxcbdhxCuiQb_JJb7gAd3yxDc58GfrjI5N8jJ86I7jq_uj1vlTGImHwqvwGrAumKHqJ/s1600-h/Food+Frenzy+2.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmZujbGuHuQ0b0mBKOTeprYHxu2wTsdas5armASK47H60v2de6tJAqCW0lq83HLUK5DgyDe4wnkonKD90h_WtYzn70xeYSo-buhTo9ia0HgNnA5663pENnuLMYHEXqv5F4qeLNPTmvorG/s1600-h/Food+Frenzy+3.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzu2pK6cUBdMmbOKVT_R2pTp8I5G2mrp3f4vVZUinWl10eBUaXnlSHME-qRAmGPuurTqkuLaXWpQD1L5deH9RVJmPryY6NhnVR13I49FdOvz6Ccy_-gGheLIVxsSVnHpCK6IEoyZTYcsO/s1600-h/Food+Frenzy+1.jpg"></a></p><p>At left is a very small portion of the feeding frenzy that happens when a flock of <a href="http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i5330id.html">Pine Siskins </a>arrive. They are the noisest of birds, shouting "here I am" to their preditors, with their only protection being the very large numbers in the flocks they travel with. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyfgTOIfAfQMXA82dTLzpbv6ZM2vvjsaqkj-20lJIgXvlMxix7XOiqBXsZJnBFLlXctFHG_2vLf8RGFeM3BOuPKOgE45DoCJUkU6dfo4xn4qiYyCTeQ6QQmVaTGwu96N3Bv8HBly5erBn/s1600-h/Cleaning+up+the+bugs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045943647879433042" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyfgTOIfAfQMXA82dTLzpbv6ZM2vvjsaqkj-20lJIgXvlMxix7XOiqBXsZJnBFLlXctFHG_2vLf8RGFeM3BOuPKOgE45DoCJUkU6dfo4xn4qiYyCTeQ6QQmVaTGwu96N3Bv8HBly5erBn/s400/Cleaning+up+the+bugs.jpg" border="0" /></a> All other sounds are drowned out by these birds; traffic, rushing water of flooding creeks, other birds, everything fades into the background.</p><br />Last year we had the yard dug up for drainage, and also had a load of sand dumped next to this area for use in making cement. The picture at right is not the clearest as any disturbance to find another lens would have caused the birds to all fly off, which they did, after the photo was taken. It was a reminder to me that birds need sand in their crops to digest food, and we have the ideal location, particularly whey it is raining. Most of the little grey lumps in the photo, (right), are Pine Siskins hunting a digestive aid between battles at getting to the perches on the feeders.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-66933224291260716522007-03-20T12:48:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:41.910-08:00Finches<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D5vcZxjQTm1rHWYMBX326hir_Nz5J6XmgoD8iyJANAK5SI1vGXapaEy_gq1n-DswxWfhYm4jyZpIm3y6cmM6YEFlJTayF6f6zxp4un2PinUXkLA6k2spn-p-cKw62R2F5K9RUE-SLGKR/s1600-h/Hofi+Male+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044096622963591474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D5vcZxjQTm1rHWYMBX326hir_Nz5J6XmgoD8iyJANAK5SI1vGXapaEy_gq1n-DswxWfhYm4jyZpIm3y6cmM6YEFlJTayF6f6zxp4un2PinUXkLA6k2spn-p-cKw62R2F5K9RUE-SLGKR/s400/Hofi+Male+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFANEVClhI18aHp5jqmRAsNVW7RVJcSB1JmZb1bvi8VnelF4l1I35wfsxkb9j3prwI9OSW0-so9jIQAjxyZ4OtNRb0EwAameMYITgah1uM_vCvGjAuT_mTiP3D0nk_GtCIPusU3hyphenhyphenXAOp/s1600-h/American+Goldfinch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044096098977581330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFANEVClhI18aHp5jqmRAsNVW7RVJcSB1JmZb1bvi8VnelF4l1I35wfsxkb9j3prwI9OSW0-so9jIQAjxyZ4OtNRb0EwAameMYITgah1uM_vCvGjAuT_mTiP3D0nk_GtCIPusU3hyphenhyphenXAOp/s400/American+Goldfinch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D5vcZxjQTm1rHWYMBX326hir_Nz5J6XmgoD8iyJANAK5SI1vGXapaEy_gq1n-DswxWfhYm4jyZpIm3y6cmM6YEFlJTayF6f6zxp4un2PinUXkLA6k2spn-p-cKw62R2F5K9RUE-SLGKR/s1600-h/Hofi+Male+2.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We have a number of the finch family visiting our feeders. The <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Goldfinch.html#sound">American Goldfinch </a>has a penchant for nyger seed, and the <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.html#sound">House Finches </a>prefer the sunflower seeds. Both these birds add to the lilting sounds of your garden immeasurably in the spring as they hang out with filled tummies, basking in the sunlight.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvNiWCgeVOH6t9F1jmZZRdU72k8gO7Lb-xeih4-iHwQ0WGrbDqj31BZqN-_3Y5VlvPOts2dmS4CROMh3aeKwjbzvw77dQKjzVUd01A6RzyrXULKmoxoNNE5e_u7RefyTTFutReNocxudA/s1600-h/Hofi+Family2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044096395330324770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvNiWCgeVOH6t9F1jmZZRdU72k8gO7Lb-xeih4-iHwQ0WGrbDqj31BZqN-_3Y5VlvPOts2dmS4CROMh3aeKwjbzvw77dQKjzVUd01A6RzyrXULKmoxoNNE5e_u7RefyTTFutReNocxudA/s400/Hofi+Family2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://localfauna.blogspot.com/"></a></div><div></div><div>See<a href="http://localsongbirds.blogspot.com/2007/03/junco.html"> Juncos </a>and <a href="http://http://localsongbirds.blogspot.com/2007/03/towhees.html">Towhees</a> <div><a href="http://localfauna.blogspot.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044106415489026594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NKV_e0md_uKReGfYd7tsd3rsADyEs9FLrGmBq4yedmQ5_1NiwVCUsi2aX2rKVlYqO1OUV1ETD7Ep9Xsm5-n-QV2Cvd1Kn0OgENFEdYAGgWY4RarJixDwQ3REvyb-l0LaRAyhTmC7Qd7P/s400/hum_back.gif" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-4713108589037949652007-03-20T12:43:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:42.560-08:00Junco<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaDJRCsjlAmqN0_1jDoH9J7w0JvVy2IJpi9cL8zyF4IfZobOZHJnjqhrsOo_fx2IL4w8j5B2j9cWtlBmpgVp7JjUMC71BzGeWZixDyWvEun5FxlyQ1MhyIhXAvEbXREKsgYfMfPGzJ7G2/s1600-h/Junco.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044095459027454210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaDJRCsjlAmqN0_1jDoH9J7w0JvVy2IJpi9cL8zyF4IfZobOZHJnjqhrsOo_fx2IL4w8j5B2j9cWtlBmpgVp7JjUMC71BzGeWZixDyWvEun5FxlyQ1MhyIhXAvEbXREKsgYfMfPGzJ7G2/s400/Junco.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.html#sound">Dark Eyed Junco </a>is the first sign that fall is here, and winter coming.<br /><br />Most of the time they are around us, they make a slight 'clicking' sound, and then, like a lot of the song birds, the males break out in chorus when spring is here, trying to woo a mate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RKOwkRlbWsSoup5036uJ_E6SyWycYBg31k5r2nypkgFSzbVpZoHSGyIuhIrxtNhMbDvBNCTqPx4GjapJ24keT0TZpIFEqaxbsbClUG_y8hmTCLZGZPq4qVUvhhpiXy2rhF3rKR47c8Az/s1600-h/Bath+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045902094070844130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RKOwkRlbWsSoup5036uJ_E6SyWycYBg31k5r2nypkgFSzbVpZoHSGyIuhIrxtNhMbDvBNCTqPx4GjapJ24keT0TZpIFEqaxbsbClUG_y8hmTCLZGZPq4qVUvhhpiXy2rhF3rKR47c8Az/s400/Bath+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Moving water is a bird magnet. When it rains, it is common to see a lot of birds bathing, around early afternoon. One bird will get the urge, and then the others, because of the moving water caused by the first bird, must follow.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRKDiDAyBE15acHuu2_UPgAA4Oy5PpQ1UjTyeUpvpxSG6agatDX37zn471hnQez6z0PY2rXMxNzNvsDqxSR58IgXlk4AXQZIo7p2wNruNJPbD3FuN_v7ruHaWeHkAqyRuu_y1TxOiT_in/s1600-h/Getting+Behind+the+Ears.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045902403308489458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRKDiDAyBE15acHuu2_UPgAA4Oy5PpQ1UjTyeUpvpxSG6agatDX37zn471hnQez6z0PY2rXMxNzNvsDqxSR58IgXlk4AXQZIo7p2wNruNJPbD3FuN_v7ruHaWeHkAqyRuu_y1TxOiT_in/s400/Getting+Behind+the+Ears.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br />At right, getting behind the ears. The lack of fear of water is amazing.<br /><br />I guess the need for cleanliness overrides any fears they have.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://localsongbirds.blogspot.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045904477777693442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyTJgH30z6VNeBy4BINyGIsyxRlg-PAW9WXOlHqf0HLkG6UBrWRDE330OWcguZUOURRKSqrAxyuVV_7jKouqkbL-AhxhNv_zFlViRFrIyaAGy4ptnAJRzAFN_62YpSVgdJCUF7QpOD25e/s400/hum_back.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRKDiDAyBE15acHuu2_UPgAA4Oy5PpQ1UjTyeUpvpxSG6agatDX37zn471hnQez6z0PY2rXMxNzNvsDqxSR58IgXlk4AXQZIo7p2wNruNJPbD3FuN_v7ruHaWeHkAqyRuu_y1TxOiT_in/s1600-h/Getting+Behind+the+Ears.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://localsongbirds.blogspot.com/"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2127653392581430790.post-91354118851844673742007-03-20T12:41:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:56:42.879-08:00Towhees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IYPgDCkBypCb1Y3q9piGSfl6E4o-GXuyxwGeknEEIzhTQRc9RaDlY7-D0y8m5zFhUBKmF6U9wc3GJGjFQ2YOBRjZXq7xYq2pZHHlaErr_U9d0CIrSc1pDWDdOQW-O4CrFOvzYwwP-N6i/s1600-h/Towhee+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044104276595313106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IYPgDCkBypCb1Y3q9piGSfl6E4o-GXuyxwGeknEEIzhTQRc9RaDlY7-D0y8m5zFhUBKmF6U9wc3GJGjFQ2YOBRjZXq7xYq2pZHHlaErr_U9d0CIrSc1pDWDdOQW-O4CrFOvzYwwP-N6i/s400/Towhee+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Towhee.html#sound">Spotted Towhees </a>nest in the most surprising places. We found one out at Colony Farm one year, right beside the main walkway for the gardens, where people passed by on a fairly continuous basis. They will pick a spot like a fenceline with last year's dead grass draping about, and nestle in underneath where they won't be noticed. Quite amazing when you discover them.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR1c7hPir0A2xJoZgAGng4jiaB-XGrzhMViFhBPrREtYCkqDBZWE5Oqpk6vj8Rhn-J4c5iGIRLCEjVTkk5wSNdkMWevdR0mmqIg-aRRPJwCCRD-oIRJ8HS__yXuFU5iCoH5_XbybGRTEj/s1600-h/Towhee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044094393875564786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR1c7hPir0A2xJoZgAGng4jiaB-XGrzhMViFhBPrREtYCkqDBZWE5Oqpk6vj8Rhn-J4c5iGIRLCEjVTkk5wSNdkMWevdR0mmqIg-aRRPJwCCRD-oIRJ8HS__yXuFU5iCoH5_XbybGRTEj/s400/Towhee.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://localsongbirds.blogspot.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044105487776090626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B0Td1flrPsECRloXjgrUmgn_qHaRMAVWWCfafzvb9j5TCrYS17j9GZIIgYewrYGc_HIXlFVdopGPRRUCWAXdjA88abOxPHtPvkuoHrtkccsQFgP0xOf4uviwdSSDbFLUxGkGtisTaRWl/s400/hum_back.gif" border="0" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0