After seeing Orioles with nesting material in the yard,
I decided to try and capture them taking it with Birdsy. I filled a suet cage with sheep wool that is sold as nesting material, and added pieces of natural string that I disintegrated into pieces that are less than 9 inches long and separate at an instant. You can see that too when the bird takes off. The blue and white plastic ribbon was something an Oriole brought to the yard, and I thought I would just add it too.
Please do not put out dryer lint or pet hair from a pet that has been treated with medication or flea/tick stuff. Bird babies will not be able to tolerate the chemicals. there are informative articles by Audubon and Cornell Labs out there about what nesting material to offer. Try to be as natural as possible.
Video: Rubythroated Hummingbird lady
I saw several hummingbirds today, and it finally warmed up as the day progressed, and I think we finally have some real spring coming here in Michigan. This must be the latest spring start I ever experienced, and as a May child, I cannot even begin to express how excited I am. I decided to name her Martha, after my wonderful niece who was named after my fantastic and resilient great grandma.
Video: FOY Rubythroated Hummingbird
Today finally was the day where I saw my first Rubythroated Hummingbird of the season. Usually, I see them around the beginning of May, and I was impatiently waiting. We are having another night frost tonight but I hope this is the last of it - the forecast looks good.
Video: Robins at the bird bath
Robins are natural born bathers, and will use a bird bath frequently. The Birdsy camera captured this hilarious scene involving three excited Robins and a Starling that was not tolerated at bathing time.
Video: White-crowned Sparrow bathing
White-crowned Sparrows are a native species of America, and I only get them in my yard during migration time. It is hard to capture photos of them too because they are quick, shy and only rarely go to the feeders. The Birdsy camera caught him taking a bath, and he goes into the pool just like me :D
A double puff
is better than a single puff. Grackles have a very impressive way of showing their beauty and dominance during mating season.
Video: Bird identification - the Brownheaded Cowbird
This is the time where many people see these birds and wonder what the heck they are.
Well, this is a Brownheaded Cowbird, either a female or a young adult. Many people dislike them for their nesting habits (they lay eggs in other birds’ nests so that they raise their babies) but this is how they evolved. They used to follow cattle and never settled anywhere to nest. Now that humans are destroying habitat, not as many herds wander around, and the Cowbirds come to our backyards (it is of course more complex than that, but that is the gist). It is their survival strategy, and other birds have found ways to survive nevertheless. Cardinals for example have several broods, and usually only the first one seems to be affected. (This was recorded with a Birdsy camera.)
Video: She's got a voice!
Lagertha the Bluebird lady came in the early morning and could not stop singing. She has been very busy in the nest and still is trying to make it comfy. Ragnar, her partner, has been bringing feathers into the box occasionally, and I always wonder if that is something like gift-giving amongst them.
