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Author Topic: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters  (Read 146539 times)

Offline tageed-lee

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #460 on: May 27, 2020, 06:37:58 PM »
I'm also having trouble finding the difference between a house finch and a purple finch.

Even with the Merlin app! I always feel like most of my pics can be either or...

Check the belly (not the breast) and the wing - only a purple will have red there. Purple will also have a lot more red on the entire head, not just the crown and the face.

There are some other differentiators, but these are easiest and would typically be enough for a positive ID.

Here is a great article explaining the difference between the two

https://www.thespruce.com/house-finch-or-purple-finch-387318

The chart at the bottom is great!

Offline tageed-lee

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #461 on: May 27, 2020, 06:57:07 PM »

Looks like your daughter has got the photog gene...

It's pretty interesting to watch birds in the rain... And always makes for interesting pics!

I always think to myself "they are so devoted", and then i remember they are just hungry!  ;D
« Last Edit: May 27, 2020, 09:38:38 PM by tageed-lee »

Offline good sam

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #462 on: May 27, 2020, 07:25:22 PM »
This started out as all fun and games but this is no laughing matter. The backyard birds are eating us out of house and home. The feeders are emptying every other day. We cannot keep up with their appetite. Some days we have to choose between filling the feeders and our children's cereal bowls. Do they think bird seed grows on trees? How do I keep up with them?
Sincerely,
Overworked Underappreciated Fowl Supporter
Btw I'm not even joking. Is it normal to have to refill feeders every 2-3 days? This is going to be more expensive than I anticipated.
If you don't care why would you comment?
HT: DMYD

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #463 on: May 27, 2020, 08:07:04 PM »
Btw I'm not even joking. Is it normal to have to refill feeders every 2-3 days? This is going to be more expensive than I anticipated.

That's normal.

- Buy bigger bags of seed (cheaper)
- Buy a bigger feeder (refill less often)
- Determine which birds are eating more than their viewing value, and get food only only others like. For example, get rid of mixed seed and use only safflower.
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Offline Mikes@Micro

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #464 on: May 27, 2020, 10:06:24 PM »
This started out as all fun and games but this is no laughing matter. The backyard birds are eating us out of house and home. The feeders are emptying every other day. We cannot keep up with their appetite. Some days we have to choose between filling the feeders and our children's cereal bowls. Do they think bird seed grows on trees? How do I keep up with them?
Sincerely,
Overworked Underappreciated Fowl Supporter

Is this the fastest growing thread on DDF? 0-100 real quick?
Quote or engagement  equals full throated endorsement and vote!
H/t PinchosL

Offline good sam

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #465 on: May 27, 2020, 10:36:52 PM »
That's normal.

- Buy bigger bags of seed (cheaper)
- Buy a bigger feeder (refill less often)
- Determine which birds are eating more than their viewing value, and get food only only others like. For example, get rid of mixed seed and use only safflower.
Who eats and who doesn't eat safflower?

I'm finding that the house finches and white breasted nuthatch are spending the most time at the feeder and indulging plenty with each visit. The cardinals and chickadees eat their share as well but they're so gorgeous I could watch them all day. The tufted titmice are not greedy. The blujay would eat more if he could navigate the feeders better. The catbird has moved on to greener pastures.

The grackles hog the suet, barely leave time for the woodpeckers to feed there. But they eat modestly from the other feeders when the suet is out.

And today we had a treat! A wild turkey came around to eat some fallen leftovers.
If you don't care why would you comment?
HT: DMYD

Offline whYME

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #466 on: May 28, 2020, 01:13:18 AM »
Is this the fastest growing thread on DDF? 0-100 real quick?
Not even close.
There are threads that have had this many posts in a day or two.

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #467 on: May 28, 2020, 01:17:07 AM »
Not even close.
There are threads that have had this many posts in a day or two.
Is this the fastest growing enjoyable thread on DDF? 0-100 real quick?
FTFY

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #468 on: May 28, 2020, 01:57:53 PM »
Getting more daring - and cheekier!



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Offline CountValentine

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #469 on: May 28, 2020, 02:11:49 PM »
I think that is Alvin. Has Theodore or Simon (no Google) come around?  :)
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Online EliJelly

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #470 on: May 28, 2020, 03:02:23 PM »
I think that is Alvin. Has Theodore or Simon (no Google) come around?  :)
Oh thought you're limited to chaim

Online Yehuda57

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #471 on: May 28, 2020, 06:58:24 PM »
I think that is Alvin. Has Theodore or Simon (no Google) come around?  :)
You mean Avi?



*Anyone know what I'm referring to?

Offline pointer

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #472 on: May 30, 2020, 10:58:34 PM »
Getting more daring - and cheekier!




This is sharp! the details....wow!
What did you shoot with, and what post production did you do?

Online aygart

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #473 on: May 30, 2020, 11:42:50 PM »
From erev Yom tov. The Cardinals are proving difficult to catch.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #474 on: May 30, 2020, 11:44:23 PM »
From erev Yom tov. The Cardinals are proving difficult to catch.

Very nice >:( >:(. I've been dying for bluebirds for years, and you get then within weeks.

Chutzpah.
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Online aygart

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #475 on: May 30, 2020, 11:45:45 PM »
Very nice >:( >:(. I've been dying for bluebirds for years, and you get then within weeks.

Chutzpah.
I was seeing them around even before we put up the feeder.
Feelings don't care about your facts

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #476 on: May 30, 2020, 11:46:42 PM »
I was seeing them around even before we put up the feeder.

Yeah, yeah, rub it in ;D
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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #477 on: May 31, 2020, 09:59:13 AM »
.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #478 on: June 02, 2020, 08:15:43 PM »
We've had a lot of success at our birdfeeders and have added mockinbirds, woodpeckers, wrens, catbirds and chickadees (in addition to our usual sparrows, cardinals, robins, starlings and blue jays). But the absolute best thing I've seen so far was a cardinal get pooped on by another bird and then decide to just keep eating.

DSC_3573 by saw50st8, on Flickr

DSC_3577 by saw50st8, on Flickr

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters
« Reply #479 on: June 02, 2020, 08:42:38 PM »
ALOL that's hilarious.
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