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Post by bixaorellana on May 19, 2009 4:22:31 GMT
This is a selection of some of the birds around where I live. Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) These are common in open fields. They're so pretty, it's a thrill every time I see one. Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum) This beautiful little guy came to my window today and peered in curiously. He then flew up to one of the porch rafters and sang his lovely song very loudly. Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major ) There are quite a few in the neighborhood, but none right around my house. That's okay, because once they discover a birdbath, it's almost impossible to keep it clean and filled. They remind me of jays with their crankiness and lack of fear of humans. House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) There are scads of these around. Across the driveway from me is a one-room house that the owner uses to store stuff. These finches have easy access to the interior as the tin roof fits loosely on the eaves. It's quite an experience to go in there and see the place full of birds -- and it's loud. Be sure to listen to their song in the link -- most pleasant. White collared seedeaterThis one is a little elusive. I haven't seen one this year yet. There are many other birds to see and hear -- sparrows, robins, turtle doves, to name a few.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 13:36:10 GMT
Those house finches really get around,we have them here,I love them. Their song is quite loud as you say. And the grackles,thousands.Quite a nuisance in some areas but fortunately not in my garden. I think the crows keep them at bay.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 4, 2009 21:06:19 GMT
This precious darling has been visiting my yard the past week or so ~~ vermilion flycatcher. (no, I didn't take this photo)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2009 16:17:38 GMT
My brother shot cardinals and robins with his BB gun because the red made them an easier target.
(I already said elsewhere that we have nothing in common.)
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 20, 2009 5:19:17 GMT
I have a very large Pachypodium lamerei ("Madagascar palm") on my porch which is in my line of sight when I sit at the computer. A bird kept visiting the plant, but I couldn't get a good look because he'd be hidden by the leaves. I finally saw that he was building a nest in the crotch of the very spiny branches: These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago. You can see the nest was in its early stages: . I kept trying to get a good look at the bird, but even with the binoculars it was hard, as he'd be in silhouette against the light, plus the pachypodium is in full, showy flower right now: Lately the bird has been sitting on the nest, singing loud arias that are amplified by the metal roof right over his leafy house. I finally got a good look, and it's a house finch (2nd to the last bird in the OP). Today I got up on the ladder and saw how nicely the nest had been made and what a perfect cradle it is for the four little eggs inside: Stay tuned!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2009 11:03:15 GMT
You say "he",do the males build the nests or is it a joint venture as with some bird? What a treat. I love the pale,pale blue color of the eggs and bird nests always amaze me.
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Post by gringalais on Jun 20, 2009 19:39:17 GMT
Great kiskidees are beautiful, they're one of my favorite birds.
Very cool about the bird's nest. What kind of bird made it?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 20, 2009 23:26:14 GMT
G ~~ it's the 2nd to the last bird in the OP. You can hear its song if you click the link.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 28, 2009 0:54:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2009 11:24:17 GMT
OMG! What a gorgeous blue! Have never seen a bird that deep a shade. I've seen the Rose Breasted Grosbeak once on a telephone wire while riding my bike late one summer in NY. His song caught my attention. Nothing compared to your lovely blue guy. I'm sure you'll be keeping your eyes peeled for future sightings! What a treat! Rose Breasted Grosbeak
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 28, 2009 15:13:30 GMT
I was pretty thrilled. I thought it was an indigo bunting, as that's the only other bird I've ever seen in that shade. Looked it up, & the indigo bunting is apparently only here during the winter. It's no good for taking along bird watching, but the internet really helps with bird identification. I guess the trick would be to take along pencil & paper to make notes on bird sightings.
Seeing that rose-breasted grosbeak must have been super exciting.
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Post by tillystar on Jun 29, 2009 11:37:26 GMT
Oh what beautiful birds, I would be very excited to spot those brightly coloured beauties!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 29, 2009 14:40:20 GMT
Thanks, Tilly. This is the niftiest house for watching birds. It was empty for five or six years, so the birds are really used to flying through the porch. Also, the windows are slightly tinted, so they can't see me moving around inside. I finally got a (somewhat blurry) picture of "my" vermilion flycatcher: . I'm hoping other people will want to start threads about birds where they live. I still also use a bird book for identification, but the internet is fantastic for that.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2009 17:04:30 GMT
We have pigeons and sparrows. And a few hawks living in the gothic towers like Notre Dame.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 1, 2009 18:05:12 GMT
You poor little nature-deprived creature! City birds can be most interesting, even famous. Until you write your book on the hunched hawks of Notre Dame, familiarize yourself with your surroundings with this audio aid. It took un an et un jour to load, but it's worth it, not least because the rainette verte is included. (also the vent!)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2009 18:10:43 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 6, 2009 5:20:24 GMT
An update on the bird nest: got up on the ladder today & got this picture. They haven't started peeping yet. I'll probably hate them then.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 12, 2009 21:04:00 GMT
Yet another bird update, with a photo taken yesterday. They create quite a racket now when they want to be fed. I couldn't figure out what those fat objects on the edge of the nest were in the photo above. When I took the picture yesterday, light dawned -- that's poo-poo! Erk. And in the new picture, the teensy white specks are the lice walking around on the birdies. Nature is disgusting! Look how the pachypodium -- the tree hosting the nest -- is still flowering so nicely!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2009 21:06:17 GMT
Just love the bird photo. It reminds me of all the little baby birds we used to discover in the orchard in B.C. and yes, those would be lice! They all seem to have them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2009 0:44:44 GMT
Those little guys have grown so fast! Yes,most all have lice,the parent birds pick them off until they are old enough to groom themselves. What a beautiful "house" they chose for their nest. Thanks for these.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2009 4:47:04 GMT
I can see why birds want to leave the nest.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 13, 2009 18:01:18 GMT
Those are very special pictures Bixa. Really exceptional. Thank you. I am so excited to see your vividly-coloured Mexican birds. I will now make an effort to take pictures of our dull English ones!
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Post by gringalais on Jul 13, 2009 19:09:47 GMT
I have a few bird pictures I can dig up when I get the time. I love the variety of beautiful birds in Mexico.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 14, 2009 15:53:11 GMT
That would be great, Gringalais, as you seem to be our sole South America "correspondent". Always love reading about where you live and your travels. Well, the baby bird saga is ended. Yesterday afternoon there was a bunch of activity around the nest, as all the aunts and uncles came to help teach the little guys to fly. There were at least four adults involved, flitting back & forth from the nest to the nearest tree, the eaves of the porch, and the nearby power lines. I tried to catch four together on the power lines, but only got one and one taking off. Just a few minutes ago I was outside leaning over the new porch planting when I felt little eyes on me. Less than two feet from my face was a baby bird looking up curiously. Zipped back for the camera, but when I came back out he flew away. Although sorry I didn't get his picture, I was glad to see he was able to fly and recognized possible danger. I then climbed up to peer into the nest, which is indeed empty. I'd wondered what happened to the fourth egg, and there is a baby bird corpse in the abandoned nest.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 14, 2009 22:57:23 GMT
Bixa, it has been very special following the saga of your birds! I have never been so 'close' to this. It must be wonderful to have all of these beauties flying so close to your home. Since it was abandoned for so long they are not afraid and probably are wondering about you.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2009 1:13:44 GMT
Great tale B.,thanks.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 7, 2009 15:16:07 GMT
Snapped this with zoom day before yesterday. Wasn't it nice of them to pose for me this way?
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Post by traveler63 on Aug 8, 2009 2:19:19 GMT
We have had two pair of cardinals that have been hanging out. Kirk has pictures so I will see if he can send them to me.
We also have a Harris Hawk that lives in our front tree. No picture. We also have many of the hummingbirds, and a tiny little bird with green and yellow.
Bixa, the first bird on your post, reminds me that yesterday hanging from our hummingbird feeder. we think it was s a Hooded Oriole, which I checked in our Field Guid for Birds of North America. He went away too fast, no picture but we hopefully will get another chance.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 3:15:24 GMT
I have been watching a pair of these woodpeckers carry on in the tree outside the bedroom window since springtime. Surely they must have had babies by now but haven't seen.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 8, 2009 3:25:30 GMT
Oh, I am so thrilled to see that woodpecker. There used to be tons of them when I first moved to Covington in 1990, when there were still lots of trees & way fewer people.
I miss cardinals, T63! I used to love to see a pair of them at the bird feeder, the way one would watch out so the other one could eat with security. There aren't any here. Hope you get to see the oriole again.
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