Any birders here?

[PumaMan]

I don't really consider myself a birder because I don't belong to a birder club, I don't take trips to look for birds I haven't seen yet, I don't make extensive lists, and I have never been on even a local birder tour (there are many here). It's not that that doesn't interest me, it does, it's just that I won't make the time for it.

Anyhow I've been feeding the birds (and other critters) for the last 25 years that we've lived here.

Here is my backyard list (the only list I keep):

Black-headed Grosbeak (Spring - Apr)
Black Phoebe (Winter) ????
Blue Grosbeak (Summer)
Bronzed Cowbird (Spring - Apr)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Summer)
Cactus Wren
Canyon Towhee
Cooper's Hawk
Curve-billed Thrasher
Desert Cardinal (Pyrrhuloxia)
Desert (Black-throated) Sparrow
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Gambel's Quail
Gila Woodpecker
Greater Roadrunner
Great Horned Owl
Great-tailed Grackle (Summer)
Harris's Hawk
Hooded Oriole
House Finch
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Nighthawk (Summer)
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Phainopepla
Raven
Red-winged Blackbird (Summer)
Rock Dove (Common Pigeon)
Starling
Turkey Vulture
Verdin
Western Screech-Owl (heard just after dark)
White-throated Sparrow (Winter)
White-winged Dove (Spring - Apr)

Hummingbirds:

Costa's
Anna's
Rufous (one time during spring or fall migration)

[Citizen Rules]

That's quite the list! Do you ever photography them?

I'm not a birder persay but I use to put out birdseed in the winter and had all sorts of neat looking birds visit the back yard, then I'd shoot them! with my camera! I've been thinking about photograph lately and I should do that again this winter. As it is, I only have a few good photos. Just last week there was a red tailed hawk laying in the garden...I thought it was sick but it apparently was just taking a dust bath because as soon as it spotted me it took off.

[PumaMan]

That's quite the list! Do you ever photography them?

I'm not a birder persay but I use to put out birdseed in the winter and had all sorts of neat looking birds visit the back yard, then I'd shoot them! with my camera! I've been thinking about photograph lately and I should do that again this winter. As it is, I only have a few good photos. Just last week there was a red tailed hawk laying in the garden...I thought it was sick but it apparently was just taking a dust bath because as soon as it spotted me it took off.

Post your pics here if you want.

Nah. I've never been into photography. I have a few pics of birds that I've seen here -- not many.

I also fed the bees for about three months one year, mixing up 1:1 sugar:water syrup for them. It wasn't long before I had thousands showing up -- no exaggeration, really. I even bought pollen by the pound to put out for them. I used to go out and show my wife how docile they were by inserting my hand in amongst them and they didn't sting me once. Then one day they were having none of that and several of them stung me.

[Citizen Rules]

Post your pics here if you want.

Nah. I've never been into photography. I have a few pics of birds that I've seen here -- not many.

I also fed the bees for about three months one year, mixing up 1:1 sugar:water syrup for them. It wasn't long before I had thousands showing up -- no exaggeration, really. I even bought pollen by the pound to put out for them. I used to go out and show my wife how docile they were by inserting my hand in amongst them and they didn't sting me once. Then one day they were having none of that and several of them stung me.These days even mobile phones take amazing photos. I'll see what photos I have and maybe you can ID the birds. Very cool feeding bees, honey bees I assume? Sounds like you live in the southwest, is there Africanized honey bees in your area?

[Citizen Rules]

I do this every summer:...Did I ever mention I pet bees? Seriously I do:p But only the fuzzy kind, not those damn wasp or hornets.

[PumaMan]

These days even mobile phones take amazing photos. I'll see what photos I have and maybe you can ID the birds. Very cool feeding bees, honey bees I assume? Sounds like you live in the southwest, is there Africanized honey bees in your area?

Yes, almost all hives here are Africanized, but bees will only attack en masse when you disturb their hive. All honey bees will sting you for other reasons, just not en masse.

[Mr Minio]

I'm not really into birds. But I own one. His name is Swan and he is pretty huge for a bird. Hardly fits my cage.

[PumaMan]

I'm not really into birds. But I own one. His name is Swan and he is pretty huge for a bird. Hardly fits my cage.

That's a big ugly bird. Must cost a bunch to feed . . . :D

[Citizen Rules]

Yes, almost all hives here are Africanized, but bees will only attack en masse when you disturb their hive. All honey bees will sting you for other reasons, just not en masse.Oh wow I didn't know that. Here in the Pacific Northwest we don't have many honey bees but we have lots of different kinds of Bumble bees.

[PumaMan]

Oh wow I didn't know that. Here in the Pacific Northwest we don't have many honey bees but we have lots of different kinds of Bumble bees.

Almost all beekeepers here wear beekeeper suits, unlike in years past where they could get away with only a few stings without the suits.

Interesting facts about Africanized bees:

- since they are slightly smaller than European honey bees their stings are slightly less toxic.

- when their hives are molested they are more easily riled and will send out thousands of bees on the attack and chase you for 1/4 mile sometimes -- as opposed to European honey bees which will only send a few hundred and won't chase you very far.

There is anecdotal evidence of Africanized bees on the attack flying about swimming pools and other bodies of water, waiting for people hiding there to pop their heads out of the water. Not sure I believe those accounts . . .

[cricket]

We sold our house last October and feeding the birds is probably what we miss most. Went through about 40lbs of seed per week and we had something like 6 or 7 birdbaths that I would fill multiple times per day.

[Mr Minio]

That's a big ugly bird. Must cost a bunch to feed . . . :D I feed him bs stories about being his friend. In reality, I'm his best friend. But, hush, this is a secret. Don't tell him.

[PumaMan]

We sold our house last October and feeding the birds is probably what we miss most. Went through about 40lbs of seed per week and we had something like 6 or 7 birdbaths that I would fill multiple times per day.

I have one LARGE regular seed bird feeder which uses 40 lbs of seed in 8-13 days, depending on the season, one thistle/nyjer seed feeder for the Goldfinches, one suet pan, and (now) one hummingbird feeder. I used to hang several hummingbird feeders.

What's nice is all of these feeders can be seen right outside by study/man cave window.

I have what we call "the pond", which is a small, shallow, concrete watering pan/bath that has running water, albeit a trickle, 24/7. This is a godsend for wildlife here in the Sonoran Desert.

[PumaMan]

I also fed the bees for about three months one year, mixing up 1:1 sugar:water syrup for them. It wasn't long before I had thousands showing up -- no exaggeration, really. I even bought pollen by the pound to put out for them. I used to go out and show my wife how docile they were by inserting my hand in amongst them and they didn't sting me once. Then one day they were having none of that and several of them stung me.

Anyone interested in seeing a very good movie and learning a bit about the life of a professional Florida beekeeper, check out the 1997 film Ulee's Gold, with Peter Fonda and a new actress (at that time) named Jessica Biel. It's my favorite Peter Fonda movie. The Florida Beekeeper's Association gave Peter Fonda their highest recognition - he was named Beekeeper of the Year.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120402/

[John McClane]

I also don’t partake in any clubs, I can’t identify birds by their songs, and I only know a handful by their feathering but I definitely consider myself a birder. We have tons of species around here so I just sit out back and listen.

[PumaMan]

I also don’t partake in any clubs, I can’t identify birds by their songs, and I only know a handful by their feathering but I definitely consider myself a birder. We have tons of species around here so I just sit out back and listen.

John, the internet makes it easier to identify birds by sight or by sound (call or song). But it can still be difficult.

http://www.whatbird.com/

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

[Citizen Rules]

We sold our house last October and feeding the birds is probably what we miss most. Went through about 40lbs of seed per week and we had something like 6 or 7 birdbaths that I would fill multiple times per day.

I have one LARGE regular seed bird feeder which uses 40 lbs of seed in 8-13 days, depending on the season... That's a lot of bird seed! I once bought a 40 pound bag of black sunflowers and it lasted all winter, but that's because I would put a handful of seed out just whenever I thought about it.

This thread has got me wanting to by a little bag of seed and see if I can't get a few nice pictures through the window glass.

[PumaMan]

That's a lot of bird seed! I once bought a 40 pound bag of black sunflowers and it lasted all winter, but that's because I would put a handful of seed out just whenever I thought about it.

This thread has got me wanting to by a little bag of seed and see if I can't get a few nice pictures through the window glass.

Yes, I spend a LOT of money feeding the wild birds, and indirectly feeding a few mammals (rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, etc.) which are also fun to watch. I've been doing it for 25 years at this house -- I just economize in other facets of my life.

[cricket]

That's a lot of bird seed! I once bought a 40 pound bag of black sunflowers and it lasted all winter, but that's because I would put a handful of seed out just whenever I thought about it.

This thread has got me wanting to by a little bag of seed and see if I can't get a few nice pictures through the window glass.

We used to dump a bunch on the ground besides filling the feeders. A 20lb bag at Walmart was less than $7

[Citizen Rules]

The cheapest wild bird seed at Walmart nowadays is a 20-lb bag for about $10.

It's the thistle/nyjer seed that's expensive. $35 for 20-lb bag.

And the suet cakes are about $1.25 each and last one day -- sometimes less.How much do you totally spend per month feeding the birds?

[PumaMan]

How much do you totally spend per month feeding the birds?

I just figured it up -- about $130/month. That doesn't include the 10-lb of sugar/month for the 16-0z hummingbird feeder, which gets re-filled every other day.

I purchase almost all from Walmart, a trip every other week, so it's as cheap as I can get it.

[cricket]

Oh yea the damn suets, my wife used to have me buy those too. $6.99 for an 8 pack at Ocean State Job Lot

[Citizen Rules]

We used to dump a bunch on the ground besides filling the feeders. A 20lb bag at Walmart was less than $7Good old Wallmart, even I can afford $7:p

[Citizen Rules]

I just figured it up -- about $130/month. That doesn't include the 10-lb of sugar/month for the 16-0z hummingbird feeder, which gets re-filled every other day.

I purchase almost all from Walmart, a trip every other week, so it's as cheap as I can get it.Thanks and if it's what you love to do, then it's worth every penny.

[Stirchley]

I I have what we call "the pond", which is a small, shallow, concrete watering pan/bath that has running water, albeit a trickle, 24/7. This is a godsend for wildlife here in the Sonoran Desert.

I wondered where you live.

Husband is a fanatical bird feeder year round here in CT. He’s always at Home Depot buying wild birdseed. Very diligent about water too for them. All kinds of birds. We have cats outside, but they never harm the birds.

For the first time this year we had two woodchucks. Husband freaked thinking they’d eat all his veggies in the garden, but he doesn’t seem bothered by them now.

For the first time in my life I have been stung twice this summer. So painful & my hand swelled up. Don’t know what kind of bee it was - something that doesn’t leave a stinger. Had no idea they can fly up from the ground & get underneath clothing, which happened to me.

[Citizen Rules]

https://i.imgur.com/vdBYlIm.png

So I got out my camera today and to my surprise there was a flurry of bird activity in the back garden by the bird bath. I even seen a hummingbird, so I took this photo. I think it's an Anna's Hummingbird?

[cricket]

Wow that's a cool photo CR

[Citizen Rules]

Nice picture. :up:

I'm guessing we have about a dozen that stay here all year round. Sometimes during the spring and fall migrations we get a large influx of hummers.

I have trouble IDing the hummingbirds. The juveniles of one species look like the adult females of another species. You need to get really close (or telephoto lens) to ID them. Also their iridescence in the sunlight makes them look wholly different than they do in the shade.

Here's a funny: Sometimes when I'm carrying the hummingbird feeder, one will follow me, trying to land on it.That was shooting through a double glass window that needs cleaning! The hummingbird was about 20 feet away. That was with a 250mm lens but if I had a 400-500mm lens I could've had a much closer view.

I'm in western Washington state and it can get cold here in the winter, sometimes down into the teens and yet I've seen resident hummingbirds even during the winter. I don't know what they use for food?

[Citizen Rules]

Wow that's a cool photo CRPhotoshop:D Not that it's fake, it's real, but I was able to make it look way better than the crappy original I took.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm in the Sonoran Desert but at about 2,500 ft elevation so even though the temp can get as high as 110 degrees F here in June, we do occasionally get winter temps down into the mid to low 20s and twice in the last 25 years here I've recorded 18 degrees and 19 degrees. But most the time the avg winter temps here are upper 30s at night and 50-60 during the day.

Hummingbirds eat insects for protein and syrup/nectar for energy. They need both.Interesting, I didn't know any of that.

[Citizen Rules]

Actually I'm on the very edge of the Sonoran Desert. The lower elevations (Phoenix, Yuma) have blistering summer temps -- above 120 degrees F sometimes -- and milder winters.

You can tell if you're in the Sonoran Desert -- if there are Saguaro Cacti around, you're there. :)My wife's mother lives in Arizona, we've visited twice, once in summer and once in winter. The desert is very beautiful! We drove out to see the Saguaros and some of the highlights in the area, I was impressed!

[beelzebubble]

I wondered where you live.

Husband is a fanatical bird feeder year round here in CT. He’s always at Home Depot buying wild birdseed. Very diligent about water too for them. All kinds of birds. We have cats outside, but they never harm the birds.

For the first time this year we had two woodchucks. Husband freaked thinking they’d eat all his veggies in the garden, but he doesn’t seem bothered by them now.

For the first time in my life I have been stung twice this summer. So painful & my hand swelled up. Don’t know what kind of bee it was - something that doesn’t leave a stinger. Had no idea they can fly up from the ground & get underneath clothing, which happened to me.
Sounds like a wasp. Probably a yellow jacket.

[Stirchley]

Sounds like a wasp. Probably a yellow jacket.

Ugh. So wasps don’t leave a stinger?

[beelzebubble]

Ugh. So wasps don’t leave a stinger?
No they don't.

[Stirchley]

No they don't.

Must have been wasps then. Horrid things. I wasn’t bothering them at all. And SO painful.

[beelzebubble]

Must have been wasps then. Horrid things. I wasn’t bothering them at all. And SO painful.
Yes they are much more aggressive than bees.

[Stirchley]

Yes they are much more aggressive than bees.

Lesson learned.

[Citizen Rules]

Anyone got some backyard bird photos? I mean you're own of course, not google.

[Stirchley]

Anyone got some backyard bird photos? I mean you're own of course, not google.

Nope