The Featherless Heads

What's this bird?

Well, what's this bird?

If you said the first one was a turkey, you're right. And the second one? A turkey vulture of course. Now you know where they get their name.

Bird feeders are not just reserved for little song birds. The wild turkeys seem to enjoy them as well.

Happiness is...

Freshly filled bird feeders.

One homemade, one store bought.

They like them both...

But they actually prefer the homemade feeder.

Bird Photography Weekly

This little Red-breasted Nuthatch has been coming around from time to time to feed on the suet. I was so pleased the first time it showed up. And have loved every time since. I had seen one only once before last fall, but only glimpses of it as it darted from tree to tree. So to have the chance to get good looks and a few passable pictures was great. They are so dang cute!

Even though this first picture is blurry, I like it, just because it's the first picture I have been able to take of this little, flitty bird.

I was of course very glad when it came back, and stayed a while. At least long enough to enjoy a few nibbles of the suet.


I love watching these little critters, even if it is for short little bursts of time. :)

Bird Photography Weekly

These were taken during the Backyard Bird Count. The reason I put suet feeders up in the first place was to attract some Northern Flickers. But the only things that had been coming to consume the suet had been Magpies. Then a Chickadee or two nibbled on them. A couple of Stellar's Jays stopped buy - that was fun.

Finally on the first day of the Backyard Bird Count a Flicker came by. It was like it was saying, "You know I'm here, now you can count me".

Northern Flicker

Click the link below for more birds to enjoy.

Placing Bird Feeders

I've learned a little lesson in the placement of bird feeders. I worried last week just before taking several days off for Christmas, that the feeders would run out of food. So I filled them as full as I could, and left hoping all would be well, that the birds would have seed-a-plenty through the week.

It turns out it wasn't food I should have been concerned about. It was snow. I returned today to see two of the three homemade feeders missing. A huge slab of snow slid off the roof, and took the feeders with them. I knew snow slid off the roof right there, I just didn't realize they were directly in the slid-off path. So two of my feeders are burried under about 4 or 5 feet of snow. I just hope there were no birds on the feeders when it slid.

The snow slab from inside looking out. The hole I dug trying to find one of the feeders is on the right.

I tried to dig one of the feeders out, but after excavating a hole as deep and as big around as I am tall, I still hadn't found it. Sigh. All I could do was re-fill the one remaining feeder, throw some seed on the snow, and call it good. And I was actually rewarded with a short visit from a new feeder friend - a single White-crowned Sparrow.

The one remaining feeder with a visiting chickadee.

Bird Photography Weekly

This is the first winter my bird feeder has been up. I was pleased when my first visitor arrived a few weeks ago, and couldn't wait for him to bring his buddies. Surprisingly, it was a House Finch. Okay, that in and of itself isn't so surprising, as they are very common. What was surprising what that it wasn't a House Sparrow. I actually haven't had one, that I've seen, at my feeder.

I was very pleased yesterday, as I was out shoveling snow, to notice a few other visitors. Juncos. And I also have my resident Mourning Dove hanging around.

But for today's Bird Photography Weekly, I'll share a few of the Juncos, with a House Finch mixed in there as well.



My best guess is a "pink-sided" race. But the book I'm using isn't all too clear on that. I'll have to double check later.
Note: I think these are actually 1st year "Oregon" Juncos.

For a look at other wonderful, feathered friends, click on the link below!

Bird Feeders

The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up in February. I wanted to do something in the park to help get people excited about it, and just birds in general. Do you have a bird feeder in your yard? Well, why not? Can't afford one? Well, can you afford milk? Can you afford a 2-liter or 16 oz. bottle of something? Ok, then you can make a bird feeder.

I made three feeders the other day here in the visitor center in about an hour. I hung them up and waited for the birds to find them. About a week later they did. So far I have black-capped chickadees, with dark-eyed juncos gathering what's on the ground. The suet feeder is receiving a steady flow of magpie visitors.

The 2-liter feeder

Anyway, I decided this would be a fun event to do with some of the locals. Invite them to bring milk jugs, egg cartons, 2-liter bottles, etc. And show them how to make a very effective and very economical bird feeder. I may even do the pine cone rolled in peanut butter and mixed seeds. There are so many easy ways to help the birds out this winter.

The 16-oz. feeder with a plastic dish attached to the bottom, and a chickadee flying contentedly away.

So if you ever need a fun, and easy craft for the kids (or for yourself), one that will continue to add joy even after it's complete, try making a homemade bird feeder. You won't be disappointed.