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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
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lilac hill
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Posted: April 12 2005 at 6:01am | IP Logged Quote lilac hill
The purple finches returned to the feeder yesterday. Whay are they called purple? Heathered red seems to be a more accurate description or do I have my birds confused?
The Goldfinches have also started visiting the feeder. They are so showy and bright.They will occupy the hedgerow down the road for the summer. They like to play dodge with the van in the warmer month.
Have not seen any bluebirds yet, but I know they are out there somewhere. No bluebirds have started nesting in any of the boxes around the field.
Viv

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MacBeth
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Posted: April 12 2005 at 9:55am | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Hey Viv!

I think maybe New Englanders named the purple finch. My parents both agree that the finch is purple. And they call clothing of that color purple, too.

I hope your bluebirds come back soon. I have not seen any on LI yet (they are quite rare here).

What are you feeding the goldfinches? I have seen them here in the city parks, but I have never had one at the feeder, no matter what food I put into it.

Last week we saw three red-tailed hawks circling, and a pair of osprey building their nest, all in a big estate-turned-park on the north shore.

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Beth in MD
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Posted: April 19 2005 at 11:45pm | IP Logged Quote Beth in MD
MacBeth,

We get lots of goldfinches, when we fill up our thistle-seed feeders. That seems to be all they eat, at least around here.

I actually came here to ask a question though: is there a "best" time of the year to do a birding unit? I had hoped to fit one in this year, but it just didn't work out. I thought about doing it over the summer, but honestly I don't think we would do it justice with our more relaxed schedule, and there is SOO much we could do during a bird unit.

So -- fall, spring, winter? What do you suggest?

Thanks!
Beth in MD

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MacBeth
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Posted: April 20 2005 at 9:18am | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Hey Beth! I prefer spring for a birding unit because they migrate in great numbers while there are few leaves on the trees--that means we can actually see the birds, not just hear them.

OTOH, winter provides a nice close-up look at the feeder visitors, and the Cornelll u. ornithology lab has Feeder Watch going all winter.

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Beth in MD
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Posted: April 21 2005 at 11:39pm | IP Logged Quote Beth in MD
Thanks MacBeth,

You are absolutely right about being able to see the birds better, and more of them, during the spring. It's also neat to see how their colors get brighter and brighter, and of course to watch their nesting patterns. Guess it'll be another year for us, then!

I have a really old list of the birds we've sighted in our backyard, actually with the dates (my dad's idea; he was an avid birdwatcher, always had his binoculars hanging on his chair in the kitchen and his field guide right next to his place) The oddest bird I have sighted so far was an albino blackbird. Took me a little while to figure out that that's actually what it was.

Thanks for the link -- I will go check that out right now!


Blessings,
Beth in MD


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