Capt Kirk's Blog at GardenStew.com

The feeder is busy,busy,busy!

Capt Kirk — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:01:18 -0500

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 3:01 pm (GMT 0)

We have our first measurable snow, about 3/4 of an inch. I filled the feeder with cracked corn and sunflower seed mix and the birds are all over it. With the temperature at 18 deg. F the male Cardinals are the brightest I have seen them this year.

No squirrel problems this year!

Capt Kirk — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:11:50 -0500

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:11 pm (GMT 0)

Last year if you remember, I had tons of problems with squirrels getting in my feeders. This year I have only seen one squirrel near my feeders and he didn't even try to get in them. And no chipmunks at all! The reason? Our neighbors cat has been coming back to our place 3 or 4 times a day. I put out a little bit of cat food for him and in return, he keeps the squirrels and chipmunks away! We have formed a partnership!

Started using the big feeder.

Capt Kirk — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:53:29 -0500

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:53 pm (GMT 0)

Was getting too many birds for the small feeder to support, so started using the big one. Lot's of Chickadees and a lot of Goldfinches in their winter feathers. So the big feeder has black oil sunflower seeds mixed with cracked corn and we put peanuts in the small feeder now. As the birds eat the sunfloer seeds, they throw the corn out on the ground. Then the Doves and the sparrows and Juncos Come along and eat it. Once in a while they will get a seed too. I have a plastic dish, a big one, under the feeder and they will get in it and eat. Sometime last night something came up and ate all of the corn out of the dish. I don't think it was a racoon as they usually move it all over the place and upset it. I suspect a deer had visited.

A new visitor to the bird feeding area !

Capt Kirk — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:11:19 -0500

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:11 pm (GMT 0)

We seem to have a small hawk hanging around the front yard where the feeders are. I haven't seen him yet, but have heard him several times. Usually our hawks are Redtail Hawks, but from time to time we do get a Sparrow Hawk come by. They are about the size of a Robin. The Redtails are a lot bigger with wing spans of 5 to 6 ft. As far as I know, we haven't lost any birds to the small hawk yet. Last fall we had a Redtail snatch a squirrel right out of a tree. But they can have all of the squireels they want! :)

The fall feeding season is here!

Capt Kirk — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:28:06 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:28 pm (GMT 0)

I have been feeding the birds with oeanuts on the porch rail all summer. They are funny as they swoop in and grab them up. The Blue Jays don't even land, they just snag them on the fly. We did have a pair of Cardinals and their daughter that ate there regularily. But they are noisey. It amazes me that they can squack with a peanut in their beak. The Titmice are the funny ones. When confronted with a peanut that is too bug for their mouth, they poke a hole in the shell and then grab it up and off the go. I have a small feeder hanging on a crook that I am putting sunflower seeds, cracked corn and peanuts in. Once we get a snow I will start using the big feeder and fighting with the squirrels!

They are back !

Capt Kirk — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:47:25 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:47 pm (GMT 0)

My wife asked me the other day if I thought the Baltimore Oriols woul be back this year. This evening I was out back getting the charcoal ready to start to cook supper and I heard their familiar warble. I looked around to see where they were at and found them in the Mulberry tree. The berrys are just beginning to turn. I saw one pair but there may be others too. You can't mistake the bright orange and black for any other bird.

Summer slow down.

Capt Kirk — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:02:51 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:02 pm (GMT 0)

With the advent of hot weather, 94 today, the birds aren't hitting the feeder as much. The woodpeckers are still hitting the peanuts in the morning, but as soon as the nuts are gone, so are the birds.

Wildlife!

Capt Kirk — Mon, 30 May 2011 09:17:27 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 1:17 pm (GMT 0)

Last night, just at dark, I saw a racoon up on the tree draped over the bird feeder. Then I saw a small face peaking around the side of the tree. Momma had brought her baby. I tried to get pics, but it was just too dark and they didn't turn out. I tried flash but they were too far away. They left and came back about 30 minutes later, except there was 3 babies.

They always amaze me!

Capt Kirk — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:46:44 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 8:46 pm (GMT 0)

I have a small basket from an old dishwasher that I have hanging from a shepherds crook that I put peanuts in. Usually the Titmice take them. Then the Downey Woodpeckers were coming and getting them. Soon the Red Bellied Woodpeckers and the Redheaded Woodpeckers learned how to get them. I have one enterprising Cardinal that had figured out how to get into the basket and collect the prize. This afternoon I saw motion out of the corner of my eye and saw that the basket was swinging wildly and figured a bird had landed or taken off from it. So I looked closer and there was a Chipmunk in the basket swinging happily with a peanut in his mouth! He must have seen me move and decided to leave his perch. He jumped from the basket to the pole and when he hit the pole, there was nothing for him to grab ahold of, so he slid down the pole in a spiral. I laughed so loud that he heard me and took off running when he got to the bottom. I was inside the house watching all of this action.

Taking over!

Capt Kirk — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:16:38 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 12:16 am (GMT 0)

The Redheaded Woopeckers have taken over the yard. They are nesting in the same tree where the pair nested last year. Today one of them caught a squirrel going after one of his peanuts and the bird went after the squirrel. The squirrel backed down in a hurry and took off. Didn't even try to fight! But they really are a noble looking bird. With those colors, you can't miss them flying through the yard.

New bully of the yard!

Capt Kirk — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:06:21 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 6:06 pm (GMT 0)

The Blue Jays are no longer the reining bullys. The Red Headed woodpeckers have now taken the crown away. The Blue Jays have been chasing the wood peckers away from the peanuts. But now the Red Headed Woodpeckers are retaliating and chasing off the Jays. Now every time the Jays come into the front yard, the Reds go after them. I think it's really funny !

More new arrivals.

Capt Kirk — Tue, 10 May 2011 09:49:16 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 1:49 pm (GMT 0)

Have a pair of reheaded wood peckers in the yard now. Last year I had a pair nesting in the one tree. But one got killed up on the road and after a few days the other one left. But now I have a new pair. We are in their range but we don't normally see them.

Yesterday the squirrels dislodged the spring on the bird feeder, so it was closed all night. I went out and reset the spring this morning. I have a chipmonk that has realised that he is light enough that he can get on the perch and it dosn't move.

The humming birds are hitting their feeder pretty regular now.

It's a female!

Capt Kirk — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:13:17 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 6:13 pm (GMT 0)

She has been back to the hummer feeder several times. She must be one from last year that has come back. She knew just the area where we normally hang it.

New arrival !

Capt Kirk — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:33:29 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 1:33 pm (GMT 0)

I was out putting peanuts out for the woodpeckers and Titmice and a hummingbird buzzed. So now the hummingbird feeder is out. I sat out on the porch for a bit, but he hasn't come back yet.

Funny squirrels!

Capt Kirk — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:21:46 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:21 pm (GMT 0)

Been watching the squirrels trying to figure out how to get the seeds out of the squirrel proof feeder. They grab ahold off of the perch and it moves down and closes off the seeds. They keep trying but haven't figured it out. But you can see their little pea brains churning trying to figure out a way to bypass it!

I'm an old softy!

Capt Kirk — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:15:07 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:15 am (GMT 0)

This morning I had birds on the porch railing demanding food! So I broke down and bought a 50 lb. bag of black oil sunflower seeds. But I put some in the second squirrel proof bird feeder. It's one that has the movable perches on it and if something too heavy gets on it, the perch moves down and closes off the feeder. So the squirrels can't get any of the food. Unfortunately, if 3 or 4 big birds get on it at the same time, it does the same thing. I filled it and set it up, but after 2 hrs. the birds hadn't found it. I hadn't used that feeder at all this past winter. So I put 3 peanuts on the perch and the Titmice found them. And they found the seeds also. Then it didn't take long for the other birds to find it! So now they are no longer setting on the porch rail stareing at me with long faces! :)

Slowing down.

Capt Kirk — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:50:24 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 1:50 pm (GMT 0)

Action at the feeder has been slowing down. I ran out of sunflower seeds, and put that feeder away. I did hang a seed block out and am waiting for them to polsih that off. The Goldfinches have returned to the woodland for their normal feeding. One the seed block is gone, I will suspend feeding until late fall. I don't want the birds to become reliant on my feeding them year around. Late May, I will start putting my Hummingbird feeders up.

This morning I saw a different kind of Sparrow on the ground under the feeder. I looked it up and it was a White Crested Sparrow. A very white little tuft on top of his head with a grey chest and belly. Brown wings and back. They do appear in this area but are not common. Their primary area is Northern Californis, Oregon and Washington State. Their range then filters down into the Rocky Mountain area. I wonder if he may have gotten blown in during some of the recent storms that we have had. This one is on the eastern limit of his possible area.

Things are changing.

Capt Kirk — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:34:33 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:34 pm (GMT 0)

Have noticed several things changing at the feeders this week. The wire feeder has now been taken over by the Goldfinches instead of the Chickadees. The Downey Woodpeckers have taken over the peanut feeder from the Titmice. The woodpeckers are eating 15 to 20 peanuts a day. The Doves still come in on the ground along with the Juncos. But the Juncos are turning to there summer colors. In the winter they are slate grey with white breasts and stomachs. But now they are sporting dull brown with a dingy looking light great underneath.

Finally, new action at the feeder!

Capt Kirk — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:04:20 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:04 pm (GMT 0)

Up until today, the action at the feeder has been pretty boring. But now the Goldfinch males have turned fully yellow and back. They add a fresh burst of color to the yard. Very colorfull when both male Cardinals and the Goldfinch are at the feeder.

The Downey Woodpeckers have learned how to get into the hanging basket to get peanuts. Also the large Red bellied woodpeckers have learned where they are at also. Both of them together will eat 15 or 20 peanuts a day. The Titmice have competion now!

This evening we had a new visitor to the feeder. A male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak has been feeding this afternoon. This is an area that is part of their territory, but not a common bird here. So it was well worth seeing him. The last time I had seen one here at the house was in June of 1988.

Cow bird

Capt Kirk — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:25:42 -0400

Author: Capt Kirk
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:25 pm (GMT 0)

Sat out on the front deck for a while this afternoon. The sun was out brightly, but the wind was out of the northeast and was brutally cold. But in the sun and out of the wind was pleasant. Had a male Cowbird come up to the feeding area and was getting some seeds and cracked corn off of the ground.

The Cowbird is a weird kind of bird. It looks like a black bird but has a brown head. It hangs out with blackbirds and starlings. They female dosn't build a nest. Instead she lays her eggs in nest's of other birds and lets them raise her young. She may lay as many as 3 doz. eggs this way a season.