Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Quick Steel]

Excellent shots Boji. I just never associated Iowa with Orioles.

[doglegg]

Sitting out on the balcony enjoying the cool weather this evening. There were three Mississippi Kites working the neighborhood. Two landed and got a pics of them. Not very good pics but its the best I could do under the circumstances as they were a ways off for my little point and shoot.

David, my son and I were in a park the other day and saw two. Wonderful acrobats as they feed on the fly. Thanks for the pics.

[Boji]

Excellent shots Boji. I just never associated Iowa with Orioles.

It seems to vary greatly from year to year. 30 years ago when I bought the house I’m in there was a pair with nest 10 feet from the front door and beside the driveway. Then none that I saw.
I didn’t start feeding birds until 3 years ago. 1st year had none, last year 1 pair and 3 pair this year. And the surprise visit from the 2 Orchard variety. The word must be getting out that I have goodies.

[doglegg]

Managed to catch one. Also saw 2 male Orchard Orioles, had never seen them before. Hopefully they come back for their photo shoot!
25DE134B-F1FD-465E-8A46-32FB7BD4E208.jpegFE4EDE2C-39A4-4A94-9C92-02B680C1C6C0.jpegF606E0EF-C867-4FDD-BF0B-321FA90E89D3.jpeg

Beautiful bird pics Boji. Thanks.

[New_Windsor_NY]

From August 1950, New York newspapers.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE (Not pictures #1, #2, #4, #5 & #6).

[Boji]

Not a very good picture but I didn’t want to try and get closer and have him fly.
Orchard Oriole, smaller than the Baltimore and darker coloring.

[Quick Steel]

Good shots Boji. By double clicking on the photo we get a good expanded view. Some newer members may not be aware of this feature.

[Boji]

“Hey woman! The feeders are empty, get with it!”
He has been sassing me and tapping on the door glass. He would fly to each feeder and then back to glass again.
After I filled the feeders he came to the door again and sang me a nice thank you.

[Quick Steel]

Great photos Boji. Superb!

[doglegg]

Excellent shots Boji. Thanks.

[philco]

Boji I'm a bit envious. I had a pair of orioles show up here a couple of years ago. They hung around for a couple of weeks and then were never seen again. They are beautiful birds. Hopefully that jelly will keep them coming back.

[New_Windsor_NY]

From August 1950, New York newspapers.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE (Not pictures #1, #2, #3, #5 & #6).

[Boji]

Boji I'm a bit envious. I had a pair of orioles show up here a couple of years ago. They hung around for a couple of weeks and then were never seen again. They are beautiful birds. Hopefully that jelly will keep them coming back.

In the Iowa Facebook group there were reports of the Orioles disappearing after a few weeks, that was when I started the jelly. Bribery at it’s best! I think watching them is good for my mental health. With at least 3 pair I’m pretty sure they are going to spend the summer.

[Quick Steel]

Boji, would you kindly show a picture of the container you use for dispensing jelly?

[Boji]

Hangs on a shepherd’s hook that is fastened to the railing on the deck. Bought it on Amazon

[TPK]

This ole boy came by for a snack yestiddy afternoon, got his belly full and then strutted his stuff for the boss and me.

Great pictures bighomer!

[TPK]

Seems there are more Orioles here in Iowa than normal, I joined a Facebook group and many are reporting that. No wonder cheap grape jelly is hard to find!
I had just been using a little dish and bringing it in at night so the squirrels wouldn’t get it. This morning I put out a hanging jelly feeder, I had barely got back in the house and 2 were having a feast. Have tried various times today to get pictures but no luck will keep trying.

Jelly? Really?

Never heard of that before. Maybe that could help me draw in more birds. Need to find a feeder like that though if I want to try it. Just grape jelly or have you tried others?

Birds like nuts too. I wonder if they'll eat Peanut Butter too?

Edit: I just read that salt is not good for birds so I guess Peanut Butter is out.

Wonder if they like Jello?

[Boji]

Seems there are more Orioles here in Iowa than normal, I joined a Facebook group and many are reporting that. No wonder cheap grape jelly is hard to find!
I had just been using a little dish and bringing it in at night so the squirrels wouldn’t get it. This morning I put out a hanging jelly feeder, I had barely got back in the house and 2 were having a feast. Have tried various times today to get pictures but no luck will keep trying.

Jelly? Really?

Never heard of that before. Maybe that could help me draw in more birds. Need to find a feeder like that though if I want to try it. Just grape jelly or have you tried others?

Birds like nuts too. I wonder if they'll eat Peanut Butter too?

Edit: I just read that salt is not good for birds so I guess Peanut Butter is out.

Wonder if they like Jello?

You don’t need a special feeder, a shallow dish works fine, just needs to have an edge they can perch on.
Don’t know about other kinds of jelly. Grape in usually the cheapest.
My Mother always fed the winter birds peanut butter. The chickadees and nuthatches loved it. There is reduced sales PB, maybe try that.

[TPK]

Seems there are more Orioles here in Iowa than normal, I joined a Facebook group and many are reporting that. No wonder cheap grape jelly is hard to find!
I had just been using a little dish and bringing it in at night so the squirrels wouldn’t get it. This morning I put out a hanging jelly feeder, I had barely got back in the house and 2 were having a feast. Have tried various times today to get pictures but no luck will keep trying.

Jelly? Really?

Never heard of that before. Maybe that could help me draw in more birds. Need to find a feeder like that though if I want to try it. Just grape jelly or have you tried others?

Birds like nuts too. I wonder if they'll eat Peanut Butter too?

Edit: I just read that salt is not good for birds so I guess Peanut Butter is out.

Wonder if they like Jello?

You don’t need a special feeder, a shallow dish works fine, just needs to have an edge they can perch on.
Don’t know about other kinds of jelly. Grape in usually the cheapest.
My Mother always fed the winter birds peanut butter. The chickadees and nuthatches loved it. There is reduced sales PB, maybe try that.

Thanks for the Info.

[New_Windsor_NY]

From August 1950, New York newspapers.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE (Not pictures #2, #4, #6 & #7).

[New_Windsor_NY]

From November 1950, New York newspapers.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE (Not pictures #1, #2 & #3).

[Waukonda]

This railroad underpass along the Mississippi, was busy with nesting Cliff Swallows. They are similar to the Barn Swallow in color and markings, but they lack the forked tail, and nest construction is slightly different.

[Waukonda]

I noticed a large, dark colored bird in a field, assumed it was a vulture, turned out to be an immature Eagle.

[New_Windsor_NY]

From November 1950, New York newspapers.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE (Not pictures #1, #2, #4, #6, #7 & #8).

[Quick Steel]

Some great photos there Ike. I didn't realize the tremendous density of nesting Cliff Swallows.