Today at the feeder (8 Viewers)

[snowyowl]

That's interesting as a possibility. I've seen feather plucking in cage birds but never considered it as a possibility in the wild. In cage birds it is often a symptom of stress.

 

[amasara]

My son in law looked up the nude headed birds & found they have a fungus that causes this.
Hoping phoebes will fly soon. Dads done in!! Such a deligent bird!!
I helped w/ 80 mealworms. Petland sold out. Saw them watching bugs from nest Sun

 

[snowyowl]

Interesting! I haven't seen any this year so far.

 

[amasara]

Phoebes fledged!! Saw them all in nest @ noon. Hubby got more mealworms & I ran them out 1 hr later - gone!! Dumped them in anyway in case dad cruised the porch for bugs.
Such a good dad!! Worked 6am - 8pm non stop Feed & carry fecal sacs out! I helped him w/ 80 worms. I worry what he does now w/ 5? Scattered thru the trees!! Julie Z was a big help & encourager She's just taken in 3 baby blues! Glad mine stayed in nest! I hope 5 fledged but I see suspicious form in back of nest. Counted 4 heads a m afraid back row might not have been fed as much. Nature! Now to clean up the leftovers!!

 

[snowyowl]

Typical father!!!

 

[snowyowl]

Male Red-winged Blackbird at my feeders today. The first one this year.

 

[amasara]

Indigos at feeder finally. Have seen them on driveway
W/ so many jays I'm amazed they brave it!
No sign of phoebes. Julie said he may take them away!

 

[snowyowl]

I would love to have an Indigo visit. we don't usually get them here and when one shows up, all the birders go looking for it.

 

[amasara]

Saw Dad phoebe Fri. No sign of kids. Suspect they're on their own!
Mealworms gone in tray Emptied last tub. Think Dads got a taste for them!
He deserves them! Thought grackles had left but back after I filled feeder along w/ redwing my fav! Wishing u an indigo Dan !

 

[snowyowl]

OK, not at my feeders but not far away. When I went outside this morning I could see three adult Gray Partridge and nine chicks in our driveway. We have a lot of Red Elder growing around the property and that seems to be what draws them in.

 

[amasara]

Well that's a new one for me. What's red elder? Tree or shrub? Have seen quail but non recently Saw phoebes in front yard yesterday but not sure re count. Looks like most survived!

 

[snowyowl]

Red Elder is a common shrub around here. It carries a large crop of bright red berries and seems to be an important food source.

 

[grobble]

Just discovered why my fatballs are disappearing fast recently.

The resident Jay has discovered them and doesn't appreciate my telling him they're for littl'uns.

 

[snowyowl]

I can relate. My Jays love suet but then so do the grackles.:-C

 

[amasara]

What r fatballs?

 

[snowyowl]

Essentially suet sometimes with stuff like nuts added.

 

[snowyowl]

I was surprised to see a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at my feeder today. I usually only see them in the spring. Lots of juvie grackles and Blue jays around at the moment. There is a group of five crows that have started picking around under the feeder. I suspect hat they are also young ones. There are three Northern Flickers in the driveway everyday now. The same sort of thing happens every year at this time so again, I suspect they are youngsters.

 

[amasara]

Nice selection! Nothing interesting here. Grackles are filling up for departure next month! As are hummingbirds !!
Indigos coming to feeder finally after Jays bed down
Swear I heard a bald eagle in woods but no see. Possibly youngster as it was familiar squeeing I've heard on Raptor Resource website!?

 

[amasara]

Just saw that two of three hawks from Cornell nest have died
No reason yet. Nature's rough . Black birds gone. Bummers filling up!
Summers over so soon?

 

[snowyowl]

All true!:-C