Do it. Sadly we don't have the activity like in the past. Again we don't watch it all the time and I guess we expect one to be there when in the kitchen. She wants to go take the neighbors HB feeder down.
The swallows have a full nest again. Monday/7 days after the last batch flew the nest. This one showed up. 5 days later/today and it's full.
Gangs of grackles and starlings descended on the suet feeder. Time to break out the upside down suet holder. It's entertaining to watch the black birds "bounce" off the suet as they fly up and try to peck at something. Over and over. They'll tire of doing that and move on. Downside is some others that need to perch are not able to get at it. Woodpeckers have no problem hanging upside down
Sad tale from yesterday while I was mowing the lawn. I found a deceased female bluebird laying on her back close to my Crimson King maple tree in the front yard. I could tell it was female because there was an egg showing partway. Didn't see any wounds so not sure what happened. It could have been the weather (deluge of rain was so hard I got 3/4" in less than 10 minutes - and the next 3.5" wasn't much slower), egg binding or something else. I mowed around her and am leaving her for nature to take care of.
I had our hummingbird feeder out since May 1 and hadn't seen one yet. I cleaned and changed food regularly. Yesterday I saw a female 3 times and saw a male already today. I have to think they just arrived, as much as I've been watching. I was right by the feeder today when the male started feeding.
Maybe it is a newly formed pair that had to find their own territory. Or maybe they haven't been enjoying our rainy weather and stayed a bit further south for a while.
We have been feeding Orioles this summer. We seem to have lots of them around. We go thru 2 32oz jars of grape jelly a week. We have sparrows, grosbeaks, cat birds, wood peckers all eating the grape jelly.
We go through 50-60 jars of grape jelly a season. Mostly Orioles eat it. A pair of cat birds and a few grosbeaks partake as well.
I noticed a flicker on the ground, pecking for something in the turf. It was there for several minutes. Pictures were through a windows and max zoom. Hadn't seen one on the ground like that, before today.
I caught one Sunday doing something weird. Got any idears? https://youtube.com/shorts/U0ODWMHhMM0?si=tvkwRmJ2xkBSlDc5
They love ants and I see them like that during the warm weather. Only see them on the suet in the cold.
Laying motionless so a predator doesn't see you. Works when a T-rex is after you! Remember Jurassic park? All kidding aside I've seen birds in my yard do the same. Seemingly stay motionless for an extended period.
Lol. I originally thought it hit the window and was regaining consciousness. I first saw it when i was in the garage without my phone. I watched it for a little before going in the house for the phone. It's eyes were wide open and it was moving it's head around, albeit upside-down. I'm kinda leaning toward it was just sunning itself. I've seen them on the patio before picking at the expansion cracks.
