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Dawn
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| Posted: March 04 2006 at 6:48am | IP Logged
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I may be imagining things, and probably rushing things a bit, but could I have heard a new kind of birdsong this morning? Have the birds embarked on their springtime routine?
I stepped outside to get the paper early this morning, and - mind you, it's only 23 degrees here - but I really think the birdsong sounded different today ... it sounded light and spring-y to me.
This could just be my winter-weary heart grasping at straws, but is it too early to hope the birds, at least, are thinking spring? 
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mary
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| Posted: March 04 2006 at 6:51am | IP Logged
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yes! i have an avid bird watching son. the bluebirds came back a few weeks ago, and we've seen a nuthatch making a nest. my son is leaving out bowls of nest making materials today - even though it's a frigid 17 degrees here in ohio! here's hoping that the birds are right - i'm tired of winter. 
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 04 2006 at 7:59am | IP Logged
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The migrating robins (as opposed to the ones who stay around) came back last weekend, and are looking cold and miserable outside my window.
The sparrows are definitely showing mating behavior, and the male cardinal is singing his mating song.
A towhee came by yesterday. They are known to winter in the north east, but he is the first I have seen.
I supply not only seed and suet, but also dripping water (not on purpose  ) in the English ivy right under the feeders. We get a huge variety of birds, and those that migrate often stop for a drink, even if they are heading for more rural areas.
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momwise
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| Posted: March 04 2006 at 9:20am | IP Logged
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We've started hearing the Woodpecker's mating calls on some mornings. On another note, I saw the first Tulip leaves poking up about 2-3 in. yesterday!
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momwise
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| Posted: March 04 2006 at 9:23am | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
I supply not only seed and suet |
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How do you do it? I can't remember a time I made suet snacks for the birds that the squirrels didn't have it all eaten within a few hours. I just get so discouraged. I did finally buy a shepherd's hook and set 10 ft. away from every tree and fence and there's a peanut feeder on it. We'll see if that works
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 04 2006 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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I buy suet by the case, and keep it in the freezer these days. The kids made their own, but I think they got tired of making it (and without a stove, it's a bit hard to melt the suet...). It does hang away from the tree, but not more than a foot.
The squirrel battle is ongoing  , but the feeder hangs on a long line well away from the trunk of the tree.
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MacBeth in NY
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lapazfarm
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In the past couple of weeks we have had Bluebirds and many other birds show up and today there was a flock of probably 30 or more Robins that came through! The past few mornings I have been awakened by a long-absent birdsong chorus. Our Daffodils are in full bloom, too! I just love spring! 
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 05 2006 at 5:38am | IP Logged
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Last evening, just about dusk, there was a HUGE flock of robins hopping all over a neighbor's yard! How they warmed my heart! I felt like they were there just for me. 
We are also avid birdwatchers/feeders, and usually winter is such a fun time for doing just that. But you know, by March it's getting a bit old. I'm begging dh to fill the feeders before he leaves for work because I don't want to drag all the boys out in the cold. We hardly watch at the windows anymore, except for brief glances, or to watch this one squirrel with a stump of a tail (Stumpy, we call him) and speculate on what happened to his tail.
I feel renewed now -- maybe it's time to fill the birdbath, revamp the feeders, set out the nesting materials and start watching more closely and listening for new activity and subtle changes.
Thanks all for sharing ... Has anyone else seen signs of spring in their backyards?
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 05 2006 at 5:41am | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
| Our Daffodils are in full bloom, too! I just love spring! |
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Oh, Theresa ~ I have to say I'm a bit jealous! We still have smatterings of snow on the ground!
I think we may go on a "green" hunt through our yard this afternoon! There must be something happening out there ...
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Sarah
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| Posted: March 05 2006 at 4:48pm | IP Logged
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The red-wing blackbirds are back and threads of snow geeses are trailing through as high as the eye can see. The literally look like thread in the breeze, they fly so high.
When we see our first grackle , then we know its really spring.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 05 2006 at 5:18pm | IP Logged
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OK, one less robin flying north. We were quite shocked to see a small hawk swoop down and snatch a robin right out of the holly tree in our front yard. Surprising, but fascinating. I didn't get a close enough look at the hawk to see what kind it was, but it was quite small-barely able to fly off with the robin! Our cat was watching and looked quite impressed. 
we also saw a flock of cedar waxwings (my favorite!) and dd spotted a pair of house finches.
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 05 2006 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
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We hung a birdhouse on our family-room window today. It's the kind where we can see inside. Has anyone had any luck with one like this? We hung it well away from our feeding stations, and just a bit above eye-level so hopefully our activity will be less noticeable and not distracting.
We also cleaned out a milk carton, and once it's dry, we will cut open the bottom on one side, and stuff in dryer lint and scraps of yarn, string, etc. Then we'll hang it outside.
lapazfarm wrote:
| we also saw a flock of cedar waxwings (my favorite!) |
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Oh, I have *always* wanted to see a cedar waxwing! They're so much like my favorite cardinal. I think they do come this far north, but I've never seen one ... Theresa, do they come to your feeders for any particular food? I'd love to try to "lure" them to my yard!
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MacBeth
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We had a flock of cedar waxwings once in the neighbor's yard. Last fall we saw them on a hike. They like berries, so sometimes you can lure them to a tree that's heavy with berries in the fall.
They are very cool to see. I had a friend who had a pet waxwing--it was blind, but would respond to his voice. He fed it blueberries.
Theresa, there are hawks everywhere today, including the middle of a busy intersection! They do seem to like to hover near my feeder .
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lapazfarm
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Dawn,
MacBeth is right, they do like berries. I am not sure what they are eating right now, but they were all over my crepe myrtle and hydrangeas-maybe leftover seeds or buds or bugs? Perhaps they were waiting for the robins to vacate the holly. I usually see the waxwings in the summer when they cover our weeping cherry trees in the front yard. So nice to sit on the front porch and watch them passing the cherries to one another.They are truly stunning birds. They also like the wild cherries in the side orchard, but not as much.
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 06 2006 at 6:52am | IP Logged
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I was looking through The Rodale Backyard Birdfeeder's Bible this morning, and there is a nice section called 10 To-Dos for Spring Feeding. I thought I'd post them here just to keep (or maybe get!) those spring juices flowing :
1. Increase the amount of millet in your feeders to satisfy the many small seed eaters that may be stopping in, such as indigo buntings, finches, siskins, and native sparrows.
2. Add another tube feeder if needed to accommodate the burgeoning numbers of goldfinches.
3. Pull out the special treats to keep birds loyal to your feeder: nuts, peanuts, fruits, peanut-butter delicacies.
4. Put out hummingbird feeders.
5. Serve mealworms, a real treat for migrating tanagers, thrushes and other insect eaters.
6. Offer crushed eggshells to replenish minerals.
7. Keep a ready supply of fresh water available to the birds.
8. Watch for plumage changes in male goldfinches, as they switch from winter olive drab to dandelion yellow spring dress.
9. Learn bird songs as you begin to hear them from courting couples.
10. Note the arrival dates of spring migrants this year on a calendar page for the same day the coming year; it's fun to know when to expect them next year.
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Here's hoping for an early spring!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 06 2006 at 9:15am | IP Logged
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I have a Rufous-sided Towhee outside my window right now reminding me to "drink your teeeee" I guess he doesn't know it's not tuesday! 
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Are the birds thinking spring?
