Birds are on the move.

tcreeley · Apr 17, 2014

While it was 17F this morning, spring is here I suppose!
We have the usual birds- robins, redwings, grackles (common and rusty), juncos, sapsuckers, flicker today, song sparrows and a fox sparrow singing this last week.
The winter snows have brought back our flooding fields (it has been a long time-many years since that happened). Now driving home from work I stop to look at the ducks. 2 lesser Canadian geese, numerous black ducks, mallards (paired up), 3 pairs of wood ducks, and 4 green winged teal. I love watching them in this flooded corn field, coming and going, paddling around, in the water, out. -Probably 75-100 individuals (didn't count). Woodcocks are up and about, calling, along with the Marsh Hawk (Northern Harrier) skimming over the fields looking for a meal.

We had 2" of snow yesterday morning and the ground was rock solid this morning. Driving, one has to be careful of hitting the robins flying across the road.

Bird · Apr 17, 2014

We're having Canadian Geese stop over in a local park, and the bird seed I put in our feeders is being used up fast now, so yep, the birds are on the move. We have doves, cardinals, blue jays, robins, and several whose names I don't know

deerseeker001 · Apr 17, 2014

We have had flocks of Finches and Snow birds the last Month along with a few Cardinals.

oosik · Apr 17, 2014

I'm right on one of the major flyways for all waterfowl heading north. Sounds great doesn't it. Actually, what it means is - I get to listen to the Greater Canadian geese on my big lake honking all night long. They finally shut up around midnight and sleep until about 6am when they head out to feed.

toppop52 · Apr 17, 2014

Right wing conservatives make lousy compost too!

Unlike liberals!

We've had robins since Christmas, they just split into pairs about a month ago, about the same time the cardinals and doves started nesting.

Gary Fowler · Apr 17, 2014

I wish someone would send me a few Canadian geese that can lead this flock we have back North. We had 4 total when we bought this place and they nested each year on an island in our pond. Now I have one on a nest and expect to have some babies running/swimming around shortly. Last time I counted them, we had 36 that stay here year round. We have had a pretty good selection of small to medium sized ducks wintering over. I don't know duck breeds other than Mallards and these aren't (Grey with solid black head). Those darned Canadians sure make a lot of racket fighting over a mate though.

/pine · Apr 17, 2014

toppop52 said:
Unlike liberals!

We've had robins since Christmas, they just split into pairs about a month ago, about the same time the cardinals and doves started nesting.

Ronald Reagan tells joke - YouTube

toppop52 · Apr 17, 2014

/pine said:
Ronald Reagan tells joke - YouTube

:laughing:

tcreeley · Apr 18, 2014

My wife saw a belted kingfisher yesterday coming from work - over a stream (term up here - elsewhere large brook/small river).
It is like having old friends back after the winter. Meanwhile the bluejays are hitting the catfood I put out at 5 this morning. Our 2 chickens make a beeline for the rest when I let them out.

toppop52 · Apr 18, 2014

tcreeley said:
My wife saw a belted kingfisher yesterday coming from work - over a stream (term up here - elsewhere large brook/small river).
It is like having old friends back after the winter. Meanwhile the bluejays are hitting the catfood I put out at 5 this morning. Our 2 chickens make a beeline for the rest when I let them out.

There's a group of about 12-15 blackbirds that have discovered the outdoor cat's food and I can't keep them away, thinking of shooting one and hanging him up nearby, that has worked before.