Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Paladin]

FRJ we agree on a lot of things but on the subject of Grackles I'm afraid we are far apart. But I'm glad someone likes them.

I literally hate those sons o' guns!

Ray

[FRJ]

FRJ we agree on a lot of things but on the subject of Grackles I'm afraid we are far apart. But I'm glad someone likes them.

I literally hate those sons o' guns!

Ray

In my circumstance they don't cause me any harm. As I recall, they some how got here from Europe.

[Dinadan]

FRJ we agree on a lot of things but on the subject of Grackles I'm afraid we are far apart. But I'm glad someone likes them.

I literally hate those sons o' guns!

Ray

In my circumstance they don't cause me any harm. As I recall, they some how got here from Europe.

Joe, I believe you are thinking of starlings. Grackles are native to North America, and not nearly as annoying as starlings. I mainly hate starlings because they nest in cavities or bird houses and displace our native birds like woodpeckers or flycatchers when they (starlinigs) become common. And yes, they displace our native birds at the feeder, too.

In cattle country, I see starlings, grackles (there are multiple species), and blackbirds (also multiple species) all flocking together to feast on spilled cattle food.

[FRJ]

Thank you, Mel. Starlings are the intruders.
Doesn't seem like either one is very well received.

[WillyCamaro]

2 of the most hated birds around (here anyway). Sparrows get into sheds, make a big mess, and not to mention carry bird flu (dangerous to chickens). Blackbirds damage oat crops really bad. Both reasons for dad to buy his very first shotgun. All them they good for is target practice .

[cudgee]

You blokes over there have the same pests as us down under Sparrows, starlings, blackbirds and mynah birds, all introduced pests that have thrived here and do untold damage. Hope everyone has a good week.

[Dinadan]

Funny thing about starlings is that it took multiple efforts to establish them in North America. Now we cannot get rid of them. I am not a fan of house sparrows either, but in my own personal domain (i.e. my back yard) I have not had any sparrow infestations.

Just about the first birds I ever shot were mixed grackles and blackbirds. When I was about seven, on a winter day the birds were covering the ground where we fed our cattle. My dad loaded a single shot 20 gauge shotgun with birdshot and told me to go out and get as close as I could and shoot them. I killed either five or seven, my memory fails, with that one shot and I was as proud as if I had killed a lion. That was illegal even in 1960, unless the birds were destructive pests. I guess they were since they were eating our cattle food.

In my area the water oak acorns are ripe and falling. Gray squirrels and blue jays are feasting! When I am out in my back yard I hear the (uneaten) acorns pattering as they hit the ground. Lots of movement in the outer branches of the oaks as the acorns are harvested.

[treefarmer]

Mel that Cyanocitta Cristata looks to be a juvenile. They are usually an aggravating tribe of bandits. Their common name around here is plainly, Jay Bird, kinda' like the Cardinal is usually referred to as a Red Bird. Common names seem to vary from region to region.
Treefarmer

[FRJ]

This Drake and Hen were at the water line of a small pond, 50 ft.x 90 ft.?? where I walk daily. The pond is connected by a culvert to the large pond. It's almost over grown on the sides. I don't think people know its there in spite of walking right by it.
I peeked through the tall grasses to see these two. They were about 50 feet away under a lot of growth and enjoying the seclusion the little hideout afforded. It was a very nice setting for them. Beautiful birds.

[doglegg]

FRJ I like everything about that photo. They are relaxed as if you are not there. Beautiful.

[FRJ]

Thank you, doglegg.

[treefarmer]

That is a great picture!
Treefarmer

[Paladin]

That is a great picture!
Treefarmer

FRJ I like everything about that photo. They are relaxed as if you are not there. Beautiful.

Yeah, what they said!

Ray

[Steve Warden]

I'll agree! A great shot, FRJ!!

[FRJ]

Thank you very much, guys, I'm pleased to read your nice comments.
Glad you liked the picture.

[Dinadan]

Very nice mallard photo, Joe.

Today we had some unusual visitors at our feeder. I think they were Lonchura punctulata, commonly called Scaly-breasted munia. I have seen them once before, about a year ago. Native to Southeast Asia, a common cage bird, and becoming naturalized here in Southeast North America. They are a Finch. Kind of cool to see. I have lived long enough to observe several species of invasive birds move into my area. I hope these finches are fairly innocuous. Until I have some reason to dislike them I like seeing them.

[TripleF]

Nabbed a photo of some Sand Hill Cranes a while back...

[doglegg]

Interesting Mel, they must not be here yet. But they are an unusual bird.
Knice pic of the sand hills Scott.

[FRJ]

Thank you, Mel. That Finch is finely dressed.

Cool Cranes.

[treefarmer]

Mocking Birds are the state bird of Florida, very common in the southern part of our country according to the bird book.
We have one that has been attacking his reflection in a window of our house. He sits in the branches of something called a Japanese Magnolia and keeps flying into the glass and causing the Dachshund alarm to keep going off. We usually keep that room's door open as we now use it as our "office" but in order to keep the dog quiet we must shut the door as the bird has been doing this all day for several days. At dinner today we noticed two Mocking Birds on top of the cart roof doing so sort of dance, not fighting but just bobbing up and down and circling each other.
Here's what I saw yesterday:

Mocking bird sitting on a branch preparing to attack his reflection

Hitting the window with beak and wings.

Mini-Dachshund alarm system responding to the noise.

Treefarmer

[Quick Steel]

Had a Mockingbird stay around the house for a while this afternoon. Not common around us.

[Doc B]

Great entertainment, for you and the dog! Great pictures. You would think the Mockingbird would get a headache...and figure it out.

[Mumbleypeg]

TF, the Mockingbird is also the state bird of Texas and very common here. They are aggressively territorial. One in particular has lurked around the east side yard of our house for several years and annually nests in a crepe myrtle tree there. We have a bird feeder nearby, and it's a constant show. Birds of various varieties come there to feed on the bird seed and the Mockingbird, which doesn't even eat seeds, chases them away. As soon as the Mockingbird chases after those birds some others come to feed. In a few minutes the Mockingbird returns, chases those new birds away, and the whole charade starts over again!

BTW the ones dancing around each other are "courting". They'll likely mate and start nest building somewhere nearby. Nests are typically a platform made of small sticks. The one flying into your window sees its own reflection in the glass and probably thinks it's competition for its territory, so needs to attack it. You can probably stop it by putting a decal or two on the glass.

Ken

[WillyCamaro]

Catching up after a month of super business.
Great bird pics/stories everyone .
FRJ, Dan, and Scott those 3 pics are calendar quality, especially that mallard shot. Can't get any better then that, for sure .

[FRJ]

Thank you, Willy.

Here are some pictures of a cute little Grebe and those Mallard love birds.
Also a little sparrow that was very entertaining.

Thanks for looking.