Any Birders here?

[Davey Crockett]

One house full of martins building away but shunning the new house so far. Funny thing happened with the orioles. Last spring we had bunch and then they seemed to disappear and our neighbor had lots of them. I told my wife they must have better jelly. FF ,this year , wife and I were talking a few days ago, wondering they weren't eating the jelly on the deck but the one a ways away and she said "maybe they are scared of the owl" I'm like what ?? Sure enough Wife has/or/had this fake horned owl to keep birds out of her strawberries. I took it away and within an hour we had a few pairs on the deck but nothing like last year . I think we have 3 pair this year compared to too many to count last year. Those things really work .

My office view today. The jar was empty so I set it down to get a spatula and an Oriole was in the jar eating when I came back so I just let them fight over it and clean it out.

 

[snow2]

Today whilst enjoying the afternoon smoking a cigar taking in the beautiful day,blue birds and rose breasted gross beaks visited,damn downy woodpecker "rad-da-tat tat all afternoon on barn steel roof little annoying somebeech.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Orioles and hummers showed up in big numbers and were hungry during the snow storm yesterday. went through a big jar of jelly in 2 days. It really blew hard out in the open with 6-8 '' heavy snow. No idea where the Martins took off to but they left and there were sparrows on the houses but the Martins came back this afternoon. They must head for the heavy timber and hunker down.

 

[svnmag]

Orioles and hummers showed up in big numbers and were hungry during the snow storm yesterday. went through a big jar of jelly in 2 days. It really blew hard out in the open with 6-8 '' heavy snow. No idea where the Martins took off to but they left and there were sparrows on the houses but the Martins came back this afternoon. They must head for the heavy timber and hunker down.

I know they like fruit, do you just put the jelly on a plate?

 

[Davey Crockett]

Yea, wife has several plates of jelly out and oranges. Once they eat the orange we put jelly in the orange skin.

 

[svnmag]

What would you recommend to initially lure them in?

 

[Davey Crockett]

Blaze orange hunting vest or cap to get their attention and half of an orange or a bit of grape jelly .

 

[svnmag]

Thanks!! Mom in the Hills loves them and wants to see more. I ASSume the Baltimore variety have the same tastes/habits. I'll look into it.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Thanks!! Mom in the Hills loves them and wants to see more. I ASSume the Baltimore variety have the same tastes/habits. I'll look into it.

There are quite a few different varieties here, I'll get some pics and try to figure out how many. It's all a learning process.

 

[MSA]

Anyone in the turtle mountains still see pileated woodpeckers? Maybe I got the name wrong, but they're the big ones, black n white with the red Mohawks, like really big, crow size. I used to see them up the bow hunting when I was a kid

 

[svnmag]

Anyone in the turtle mountains still see pileated woodpeckers? Maybe I got the name wrong, but they're the big ones, black n white with the red Mohawks, like really big, crow size. I used to see them up the bow hunting when I was a kid

Never seen one in ND. In the Hills; their call is reminiscent of jungle noise to accompany the rest of the annoying fuckers and blue jays: If you see a fallen tree stripped of bark with "snake trails" along the side; the bastard is near:

 

[Davey Crockett]

This guy hangs around once in a while . They sound like a machine gun

 

[Davey Crockett]

They eat bout 1/3 of a suet block at one sitting

 

[Trapper62]

I have only ever saw one in the hills and that was quite a few years ago now!

 

[guywhofishes]

we have the pileated in the yard too - yes, they're hell on suet

We have a male Indigo Bunting in the yard again this year. Talk about a bird that makes you do a double-take. Unbelievable.

photo not mine

And the red-headed woodpecker this year is a head turner too - with that pure white waistcoat. It's another bird I'm unaccustomed to seeing out west while growing up so they sure turn my head.

photo not mine

 

[guywhofishes]

the pileateds remind me of pterodactyls when they swoop in/out of the feeder area
they're way bigger than a guy expects

 

[Davey Crockett]

We have a wide variety of woodpeckers but this is the first year we've had a red headed woodpecker visit us in quite a few years.