Backyard Birds
I’ve moved the bird feed in the backyard so that it’s up higher than it was before, and I’ve changed the seed mixture from all seed to a combination of seed, nuts, and fruit. I’m amazed at the change in the number and variety of visitors in just 24 hours!
Mrs. Cardinal: Her mate has been around too, but he’s camera shy so I haven’t got his picture yet. Actually, I think there may be two separate pairs of cardinals; they come in from opposite directions and always leave the same way they came in. But I’ve yet to see more than one male and/or one female at a time, so I could be wrong.
Ants on the Hummingbird Feeder: Does anyone know how to alleviate this problem? They’ve got a regular convoy going. At any point in time, I can see at least 4 - 6 ants going in either direction. I’ve moved the feeder a couple times, but they keep finding it. The hummingbirds don’t seem to mind, and it’s not that I begrudge the ants some of the nectar; but they’re carpenter ants and they’re on my deck.
Whilst having my coffee this morning, I also saw a woodpecker, and at least 4 other varieties of wild birds that I can’t identify. Clearly, I need a bird book!
UPDATE: I’ve ordered a bird book from my friends at Amazon. In the meantime, I went to enature.com and, using their excellent field guide, I’ve identified all but one of my backyard visitors. They were the red-bellied woodpecker, tufted titmouse, brown thrasher, purple finch and ruby-throated hummingbird. The one I can’t identify is a deep blue, almost purple, cardinal-sized bird with some black on the wings and back. Nothing at their website for my part of the country even comes close.
Welcome to the wonderful world of birding. Habit forming isn’t it? One might also call it an obsession.
joated
26 May 07 at 7:40 pm
“deep blue, almost purple, cardinal-sized bird with some black on the wings and back.”
Would that be a blue grosbeak by any chance?
joated
26 May 07 at 7:44 pm
Dear Morning Glory: You are so very lucky to have a Woodpecker at your feeder!
One little hint for the ants might be to purchase some of that copper tape with the self-adhesive backing (sorry, but I don’t know it’s proper name…it’s in most hardware stores), cut off how ever much will go around the post of the feeder, and when the ants crawl up their bodies react with the copper and…they don’t go up any further. This is also helpful for putting aroung hostas to control slugs.
A few helpful tips from Canada.
Veritas et Fidelis Semper
Deborah Aylward
26 May 07 at 8:14 pm
joated, I looked up the blue grosbeak at e-nature, and you’re absolutely right. That’s what it is.
Coffee is almost ready; time to go out on the deck and see what this morning brings to the feeder. Today, I’ll remember to take the camera outside with me!
MG
MorningGlory2
27 May 07 at 7:27 am
Here’s a link to the blue grosbeak at the Cornel site, All About Birds.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Grosbeak.html
joated
27 May 07 at 3:26 pm
They make ant baffles that actually work. http://www.duncraft.com/search.aspx
Some hummingbird feeders have them built in (like a moat)– the “Hummzinger” is one we have; we like it b.c. it’s really easy to clean. Do you have a “Wild Bird Center” store near you? They carry a lot of the items that Duncraft has.
Mo K
27 May 07 at 11:22 pm
Oops. The link doesn’t take you to the items I found. Just put “ant baffle” in the search box.
Mo K
27 May 07 at 11:23 pm