Tag: Bird

Picture of the Day for May 13, 2016

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While not a returning summer bird, the appearance of a Pileated Woodpecker is not real common in my yard but they are rather noisy when they do show up. The Pileated Woodpecker is a very large woodpecker, with a wingspan nearing 30 inches and has a long neck and a triangular crest that sweeps off the back of the head. It reminds me more of a prehistoric bird than a woodpecker. They dig rectangular holes in trees to find ants and yesterday this woodpecker was checking out my raised garden beds made out of fallen trees, but he must not have found any ants as he didn’t stay long.

Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Picture of the Day for April 29, 2016

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The little house wrens returned more than a week ago, but you didn’t hear their loud singing during the cold, rainy week. Now that the sun returned today, the yard is filled with their song again and soon they will start building their nests.  The House Wren has one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the New World so many yards see the fierce little warrior.

Noisy Little Bird

Noisy Little Bird

Picture of the Day for March 25, 2016

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Just twenty miles north of my place, there was no snow yesterday and I spotted a Red-winged Blackbird on a cattail stalk singing the spring tune. But there is no singing here and even the geese have left my pond as it was cold enough overnight to create an ice layer. I haven’t heard the other summertime birds, like the bluebirds or killdeers, this morning either as they are probably wondering why they came north too soon. The forecast calls for more snow tonight and tomorrow so probably no blackbird spring serenade near my pond until the snow is gone.

Songless Red-winged Blackbird

Songless Red-winged Blackbird

Picture of the Day for March 22, 2016

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For the last week, I have heard Sandhill Cranes way up in the sky but haven’t spotted them as they can be heard up to 2.5 miles away. And while some of my property is rather marshy at the moment from the snow runoff and recent rains, I don’t have the wetland habit large enough for them to nest in so I have to see them on other marshes and bogs.

Their long windpipe create the crane’s unique tone of their trumpeting sound and their long legs provide the graceful courting dances, as well as stepping through a wet meadow with ease. But their long legs will come in handy tomorrow night will possible foot of snow falling so they just might want to head south again for a few more weeks.

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

Picture of the Day for February 15, 2016

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The Great Backyard Bird Count started Friday and ends today and they give you tips on how to count the birds you see but with the hundred or so finches, that is rather tough especially since about the time a majority of the birds land at the feeders, my cats on the porch jump up and scatter the flock and then you have to start the count all over again. It is easier when you see just one bird like this heron, who seems to be ignoring the rushing river in the background.

Heron Near Rushing River

Heron Near Rushing River

Picture of the Day for January 26, 2016

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The other day I had a lone Redpoll at my bird feeder. Normally they come in a large group but only stay for a short time so I don’t know if this female was on a scouting trip to see where there are feeders and if I will be invaded soon. At the moment, there wouldn’t be room for anymore birds as the finches are stocking up on seeds while it is snowing.

And while a lot of the birds go south for the winter, the Common Redpolls do to, but their southern range is here in the cold winter areas and not the sunny warm areas. Their summer range is on the lands around the Arctic Ocean. Common Redpolls can survive temperatures of –65 degrees Fahrenheit and will tunnel into the snow down four inches and more than a foot long to stay warm during the night.

Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll

Picture of the Day for December 5, 2015

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The spring flowers are not the only thing which involves a four or five month waiting period to see again. The non-wintering birds will spread their return dates out over several months and some of the early arrivals may have to deal with some late snow showers before they build their nest and start raising their young. It is a rather tough for bluebirds to find insects to feed their young when the ground is covered with snow.

Bluebird Bringing Lunch

Bluebird Bringing Lunch

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