Counting Birds/Exploring Chalet Feeders

Welcome back.  As Project FeederWatch continues,  I hope you have set up a feeder and are participating in this worthwhile project. 

My first two consecutive counting days were November 14th and 15th, and following are the species I observed along with the maximum number of individuals for each (12 Species).

• European Starling (1)
• Blue Jay (3)
• Black-Capped Chickadee (3)
• House Sparrow (12)
• Tufted Titmouse (1)
• House Finch (4)
• White Breasted Nuthatch (1)
• American Goldfinch (2)
• Hairy Woodpecker (1)
• Northern Cardinal (2)
• Downy Woodpecker (2)
• Mourning Dove (1)

This was a good showing of birds for the first week of the season,  There was no snow cover on the days I counted.  A few days later we had about an inch of snow and cold windy conditions, and there was definitely an increase in bird activity.  However, even though you can choose any 2 consecutive days of the week to record your counts, you can't count more often than once per week.

My 2nd count was done on November 21st and 22nd.  The counts were as follows (13 Species):

• European Starling (1)
• Blue Jay (7)
• Black-Capped Chickadee (4)
• House Sparrow (8)
• House Finch (2)
• White Breasted Nuthatch (1)
• American Goldfinch (2)
• Hairy Woodpecker (1)
• Northern Cardinal (2)
• Downy Woodpecker (1)
• Mourning Dove (7)
• American Tree Sparrow (1)
• Dark-Eyed Junco (4)

If you compare the lists, they are almost identical with the exception of the Tufted Titmouse from the first count was replaced by the American Tree Sparrow the second week and also a few Dark-Eyed Juncos made an appearance.  Once we get consistent colder temperatures and snow cover, I expect the number of species to increase.

In my last few posts regarding bird watching, I have been providing information on different bird feeder types.  So far I covered platform and tube feeders.  This week I will talk about chalet type feeders. These feeders typically have a hopper covered by a roof, and two seed troughs to dispense the seed.  I have provided a link if you are interested in purchasing a feeder.

Chalet Feeder

Suet Feeder

I am also showing a different type of suet feeder that I purchased a few years ago.  It is mounted on a garden pole that pushes into the ground.  This feeder was originally designed for a product called "Suet Balls".   I haven't been able to find them lately, so I just break up a normal suet cake into 4 pieces to fill it.

As you can see, I also have suet baskets (deigned to hold a suet cake) on my chalet feeder and the platform one as well.

The chalet feeder, which can be used by both large and small birds, offers several advantages.  First, the hopper holds a fair amount of seed so you won't have to refill as often.  The seed is also protected from the elements especially compared to the platform style feeder.  They can be made from wood, plastic,  and even metal.  They can be hung, pole mounted, or even window sill mounted.

Thanks for reading.  In my next post I will explore eBird, which is also run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Using eBird, you can submit bird counts anytime, anywhere.

I will leave you with a few photos from this week.

Black-Capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch

Planting Flower Bulbs

Welcome back.  I wrote this post about a month ago but didn't publish since I have been focusing on bird watching lately.  I planted the bulbs in mid October.

This post is a little different for me, although I do at times cover flowers, mainly perennial.  We haven't planted bulbs in many years.  Now that I am retired, I'm finding more time to expand my horizons.  

We decided to plant some bulbs in a new bed I created last fall underneath a crab apple tree in the side yard.  Planting bulbs is pretty straight forward, hopefully the results will be good.

When planting bulbs, first of all, be sure that they are correct for the Zone you live in.  Also, be sure to follow directions especially as to the correct planting depth.  Since this bed is mulched with shredded pine mulch, that should provide an extra layer of protection over the winter months.

It is a good idea also to label what was planted, as it may be hard to remember come Spring.

 

I have recently also planted bulbs in the beds in front of our house in-between the shrubs.  In these beds I planted, tulips, daffodils, crocuses and irises.

Finally, a video how to regarding planting bulbs:

Thanks for reading.  Until next time.

Project FeederWatch Begins November 14th/Exploring Tube Feeders

 Welcome back.  As I have mentioned in the last several posts, Project FeederWatch begins on November 14th.  There is still time to sign up for the season, which continues through mid-April.  This is a great family activity, especially during these trying times.  The project involves counting for two consecutive days of your choice each week, or less often if desired.

I have participated in this project for many years.  Project FeederWatch began during the winter of 1987-88 with over 4,000 participants.  Today, more than 20,000 people participate across the US and Canada.  So join today and let the counting begin.

In my last post I began a series highlighting different types of bird feeders.  In that post I covered platform feeders, one of the most common types.  As I mentioned, platform feeders work well for attracting larger birds and multiple birds at once.  This can be conducive to good photo opportunities.    

In this post I will cover tube feeders, another popular feeder type.  As I started doing in the last post, I will provide links to purchase these feeders for your convenience if you are interested.   Be sure to also check out the tab at the top of my blog titled "Bird Watching and Gardening Supplies" for more products. 

I have two tube feeders outside the kitchen window.  One holds regular bird seed mix, the other is designed only as a nyjer (thistle) seed feeder.  

Tufted Titmouse

The tube feeder above has 6 perches for birds to feed.  This feeder is designed for the common bird food mixes.  Some feeders come with alternate ports that allow use with nyjer seed.  These feeders typically hang thus are fairly easy to install.

The next photo shows both of my tube feeders, the one on the right is a nyjer (thistle) seed feeder.  It is constructed with a fine screen that allows the small seeds to poke through just enough to allow the birds to access them.  This feeder is visited most often in my yard by goldfinches and house finches.  Occasionally, however, a chickadee will feed from the thistle feeder,  Chickadees typically prefer sunflower seeds,  Its fun to watch them take one tiny njyer seed at a time, go to a branch, and open the seed,  I'm not sure how they are able to do so!

As I mentioned in my last post, tube feeders are preferred by smaller birds, as they give them a chance to feed away from the larger, bossy birds.  Occasionally larger birds will try yo feed from tube feeders, but they usually aren't successful.

So fill up your feeder or feeders, and get ready to enjoy Project FeederWatch.

Finally, a photo for your enjoyment.

Northern Cardinal

Until next time.

 

Bird Feeder 101/Bird Photos

 Welcome back.  In my last post I introduced Project FeederWatch which begins on November 14th.  If you haven't signed up yet, there is still time.  You may not receive your membership materials in time, but you can still count birds, then enter the data once your receive your membership kit which includes an ID number needed to log in.  For more information click the link above or see my featured post in the right hand margin from last week.

In this post I will begin a series of posts regarding feeders with information about platform bird feeders.  I have 3 feeding stations in my yard, each of which contain different types of feeders.  If you are new to bird watching, one feeder is fine if you want to keep things simple.  

For your convenience, I will include links for platform feeders to purchase if you choose, or to get an idea of what to purchase.  Just click on the green links labelled platform feeder.  Also, check out the eBay banners to the right for more platform feeder choices and also for suet feeders..

The feeder I use most often for capturing photos is the platform feeder right outside my family room window.  The feeder is about 10 feet in the air so it is at the same level as the window.  Platform feeders can be hung, pole mounted, or even attached to the outside of a window depending n your situation.  Mine is pole mounted.  I used a one-half inch galvanized pipe threaded into a pipe flange that is mounted to the under side of the feeder.  You can also use a wooden pole if desired.  As you can see, I have attached a suet feeder.

The following photo was taken on the platform feeder:

Male and Female Northern Cardinal, Dark-Eyed Junco, In the Snow

First of all, worth noting is the Dark-Eyed Junco, the first day (November 2nd) we have had these birds this Fall.  They are also known as snow birds, right on que, as the first snow we received was October 30th. 

You can see the pipe extending from the bottom of the feeder.  For those of you not familiar with a pipe flange, one is pictured below:

As I mentioned above, there are several types of platform feeders.  These feeders are good to attract multiple birds at the same time.  However, at times the larger birds will chase away the smaller ones not allowing them to feed.  That is why I have several types of feeders.  A tube feeder is designed for smaller birds and I will profile that in my next post.  Different locations in the yard will also attract different birds.  Some birds prefer more protected areas, for example, next to shrubbery as opposed to an open area.

Finally, a few more photos to enjoy.

Juvenile Male Northern Cardinal

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Until next time.

Fall Bird Watching Is Here

Welcome back.  Time is going by quickly and we are once again approaching the official beginning to the bird watching season.  By that I mean that Project FeederWatch begins November 14th.  For those of you not familiar, Project FeederWatch is a citizen science project that involves identifying and counting birds 2 days per week through early April.

Project FeederWatch is operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada.  Since 2016, Project FeederWatch has also been sponsored by Wild Bird Unlimited.  

From the Project FeederWatch website:  What sets FeederWatch apart from other monitoring programs is the detailed picture that FeederWatch data provide about weekly changes in bird distribution and abundance across the United States and Canada. Importantly, FeederWatch data tell us where birds are as well as where they are not. This crucial information enables scientists to piece together the most accurate population maps.

For more information, I am sharing the following video:

This is a great family activity, and given the current pandemic, it will be a safe activity for families this Fall and Winter.  So join today to ensure a Winter of enjoyment with your family.

This Fall we have been enjoying young Cardinals and Blue Jays in our yard.  We normally don't have these birds nesting right in our yard. We do typically have house sparrows and finches nesting, along with tree swallows and robins.  Our yard is only an acre and a quarter, however, we are surrounded by farm fields and we do have trees bordering our yard.  We also have abundant fruit, shrubbery, and a pond.  So we really do have an ideal yard to promote bird nesting.

Following are some photos to perhaps encourage you to enjoy bird watching if you don't already.  It is a great hobby and is very relaxing as well.

Juvenile Female Cardinal

Juvenile Male Cardinal

Male and Female Juvenile Cardinals

Juvenile Blue Jay

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada each have a live bird cam.  For you enjoyment I have included the links below.  They are very enjoyable to watch, and the geographic locations provide a wide variety in bird species, since the Cornell cam is in Central NY State, the Birds Canada cam is located in Ontario, Canada.

Cornell Lab Bird Cam

Birds Canada Bird Cam

Thanks as always for visiting.

The Fall Garden - Cold Hardy Vegetables

Welcome back.  In my last post which covered the garden cleanup process, I mentioned that I had some cold hardy vegetables remaining even though in general the growing season is over.  So with proper planning you can continue growing some vegetables in October and even into early November.

Shown above is Swiss Chard.  This is extremely hardy second only to kale.  Just occasional trimming is all that it needs nd it will last throughout October.  I have already had temperatures down to 25 degrees and it remains in great condition.  Swiss Chard is very healthy as it is loaded with anti-oxidants.

Next is kale, which is also extremely hardy and is amazingly resistant to cold.  I have curly and regular kale this year and look forward to using it this Fall.  Kale makes a great addition to soups, stir fry, salads and more.

Shown above is lettuce, which is somewhat cold hardy but not to the level of kale or Swiss Chard.  I planted my last batch of lettuce in late August and it is doing quite well.  I have some Iceberg and several types of Romaine.  The plants probably would benefit from a plastic cover or cold frame glass panel to increase warmth;  they would grow faster.  I may try that.  Stay tuned.

Another cold hardy veggie is the leek, shown here next to another bed of lettuce.  I grow these every year, starting them from seed in March.  They grow slowly so they continue to grow into October.  They actually get sweeter with frost, so they are one vegetable that actually gets better as the cold weather sets in.  Leeks are also good in stir fry and soups.

Finally, the carrots are doing well as they also tolerate the cold.  This year I grew Kaleidoscope Blend from Burpee seeds, a multi-color variety.  I am looking forward to using these soon.

Thanks for reading as always.  In my next post I will talk about planting flower bulbs, a new topic for me.  In future posts, I will transition into bird watching as that season is fast approaching.  Project FeederWatch begins on November 14th.

Fall Garden Cleanup

Welcome back.  It's hard to believe but the growing season is officially over, at least for most vegetables here in Central New York.  This Summer went by quickly and Fall is definitely in the air.  We have had multiple killing frosts, with the low temperature so far being 25 degrees on September 21st (actually still Summer).

The Fall garden cleanup process is a daunting task but it goes fairly quickly once you decide to tackle it.  By this time of year, we often let the garden go and it gets overgrown with weeds and remaining vegetation.  It is important to "clean house" to get the garden ready for Spring planting.  Leaving the mess until Spring will most likely discourage you from planting next season.

Not only will the garden look better, but it will also allow a chance for the soil to be enhanced by some methods I will describe in future posts.

As you can see, these photos show that a great deal of work needs to be done to get the gardens into shape.  The upper garden (top photo) shows that where the potatoes were dug was already in good shape.  The following photos show the gardens after the cleanup process and one of the cartful of garden debris indicating how much vegetation remains at the end of the growing season.

As you can see, there are some veggies remaining in the gardens that are cold hardy.  In my next post, I will cover which vegetables remain and also garden soil enhancement.  Thanks for reading.