Today at the feeder (1 Viewer)

[snowyowl]

As a curious but not very well informed Australian, I'd like to ask if those turkeys are the original native turkey or have they become crossbred with the domesticated 'table' turkey. And ----Dare I ask------Is one allowed to shoot one for the Thanksgiving dinner table?

I hope I don't cause an uproar here!

I'm sure Sara will answer but meanwhile I can tell you a bit. Wild Turkeys have been re-established in many parts of eastern North America. They are wonderful birds to see in the wild. They can be hunted seasonally with a license. There was, still is, a proposal floated to introduce them here for hunting. All of the groups who care about nature and environmental issues have fought the proposal because the bird was never native is this corner of North America. We stopped the introduction last year but are expecting a new attempt this year.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Only hgad 1 House Sparrow today the weather has been really wet & windy

 

[amasara]

Are you talking reEI Dan? We do have turkey season down here - they are prolific as you can see. Have you ever heard of Bob Evans the restauranteer?
Gallipolis is his home town - never left but used to sit in my husband's dental office waiting room practicing his turkey calls! His name is on a chain of restaurants thruout our eastern half of the USA. He died last year at the age of 89. I don't know why this group of hens has suddenly started strolling by - they don't get in a hurry unless I inadvertantly let out the dog!
Then they will fly to the tree tops!! I'm wondering where the toms are - mating season is soon....they are such fun to watch in display!

 

[snowyowl]

I'm talking about PEI as far as introductions are concerned.

 

[snowyowl]

Warning

I was at my desk a few minutes ago when a commotion outside my window drew my attention. A Blue jay had his foot caught in a plastic sock containing a suet ball. He was hanging upside down and flapping wildly. I went out and freed him and away he flew so apparently no harm done. I had heard that socks used for Niger could catch birds but I never thought of the suet ones being a problem. Personally I will avoid using those socks in the future and stick to the metal cage type suet feeders.

 

[amasara]

good advice - I use them for finches but I guess the larger birds won't try them.
Don't know how it is up there but winter won't let go down here - not much snow as far south as we are but dreary......and wet! My dog ate a goldfinch the other day!! We had an inch of snow and I let her out the back door and she scooped up the bird out of the snow!!? It might have been window shocked although I have snowflake decals on the entire bay window where I hang feeders in winter only to see birds up close! I chased after her thinking if she would drop it I could rescue it but when I saw her adjust it in her mouth a few times I gave up. At least I saw that it was a finch and NOT my favorite C.wren - I might have killed the dog!!

 

[cavan wood]

This morning just as I was leaving for work, I noticed a rather docile looking chickadee at the feeder with its back all puffed up. I popped out to take a quick look. The feathers on the back were all puffed up looking, but stiff (i was able to touch them). The little guy pecked at me a couple of times and then flew into the spruce tree. Is it possible that it got wet somewhere and now has frozen feathers? I will look for him (or his remains) when I get home tonight (yes, office computer, but class is out for the day). It was -23 C this morning, so I'm not optimistic.

Scott

 

[cavan wood]

It seems the frozen chickadee has made it. A chickadee with a similar looking back, (puffy and weird texture) was at the silo feeder near the kitchen this morning. It was much brighter than yesterday, but it did stay on the feeder to peck open its food rather than flying off like the others do. I wasn't sure it was the same one until another landed beside and I could see the difference in the back feathers. Watching them in the wind it occurred to me that the bird with the odd back might have roosted with it's back to the wind allowing snow to blow between the feather and crystalize. This would explain the near torpor state yesterday (hypothermic) and the weird texture to the back. Just a guess though.

Scott

 

[Parus major]

Ooh! I can tell I'm going to love this thread! :t:

Those turkeys are amazing, amasara! Impressive birds. Sorry to hear about the dog v. goldfinch, though.

Glad to hear the little chickadee seems to be doing ok, Scott. I hope he continues to get better.

Something made off with my suet ball yesterday (or rather picked the mesh open so that it dropped two flights down to my neighbor's garden). I suspect it was a pair of crows that had been pulling at it earlier in the week. Clever, naughty birds. |=)|

 

[snowyowl]

Welcome to the thread.

Ooh! I can tell I'm going to love this thread! :t:

Those turkeys are amazing, amasara! Impressive birds. Sorry to hear about the dog v. goldfinch, though.

Glad to hear the little chickadee seems to be doing ok, Scott. I hope he continues to get better.

Something made off with my suet ball yesterday (or rather picked the mesh open so that it dropped two flights down to my neighbor's garden). I suspect it was a pair of crows that had been pulling at it earlier in the week. Clever, naughty birds. |=)|

 

[cavan wood]

This little sharpie came by yesterday. It's not much of a photo, but it's nice when they are this easy to identify. Unfortunately for the hawk, lunch was not served.

Scott

 

[rosbifs]

Just had a Cirl Bunting at the feeder vying for space with a Great Tit.

Really choughed........

 

[Parus major]

Thanks for the welcome, snowyowl!

Yesterday I had a robin nibbling on my balcony suet ball. Not uncommon, but I rarely catch them there, so it was delightful to see him.

Had a couple of Rose-ringed parakeets there today. I've got mixed feelings about them. They're beautiful birds and fun to watch (they're so cheeky), but they don't belong here, and I can't help but wonder how their increasing presence here is affecting native species. |8(| It worries me. Plus, they decimate the feed.

 

[cavan wood]

First there was the red-winged blackbird at the feeder. Then I went outside and while I was listening to the redwings, a group of american robins arrived. Hey spring is here... right after this next major storm.

But then a bunch of bohemian waxwings arrived.
How often do you see those two species in the same photo?

Scott

 

[amasara]

where do you parakeets come from?

love your waxwing photo Scott - we see them down here every so often

 

[rosbifs]

Yesterday I had a robin nibbling on my balcony suet ball.

I'm not sure this is the forum for that sort of thing..........

 

[Parus major]

where do you parakeets come from?

Originally from India, I believe, although they came here through the pet bird trade.There's various stories about how they escaped/were released, but no one knows for sure. They've been breeding and surviving the winters here since the '60s and there are quite established colonies in Amsterdam and The Hague. Not sure how many of them there are here, but I'd say it's a lot. ("A lot" being the most scientific measurement I can muster at the moment. )

I'm not sure this is the forum for that sort of thing..........

:-O

 

[amasara]

I was in your country in the late 60's - my husband was stationed in Germany at Landstuhl General Hospital - didn't notice any parakeets but admittedly was too enraptured by your beautiful country and gracious people!

 

[Parus major]

Aww... thanks amasara. I'm glad you liked it here. Truth be told, much like the parakeets, I too am a transplant. Although I've lived here for much of my adult life, I grew up in the US. I actually went to college in your state.

I'm not surprised you didn't notice them here in the '60s. When I moved here in the mid '90s they were still a fairly rare sight. Now they seem ubiquitous.

I must say, I'm envious of all you folk in semi-rural and rural areas, or who have gardens. I don't get a huge amount of variety at my urban balcony feeder. There are some lovely old trees in the schoolyard behind my building though, and that helps up the number of species I can spot out the kitchen window. Have been seeing a lot of lovely Long-tailed tits lately.

 

[DragonHeart]

Nothing yet today, but yesterday I saw a male cardinal and two mourning doves. I've also heard robins, though I haven't seen any yet. Spring is coming and not a moment too soon.

~DragonHeart~