wildrose
Offline
smolt
Profile Status:
Reged: 09/15/02
Posts: 23
Loc: WA
|
|
Hi everyone! I am new to this wonderful and informative website. I have lived on the olympic peninsula for years and have always enjoyed birding - in fact probably to the point of driving other people crazy ![[Embarrassed]](images/icons/blush.gif) )
I have gone searching for birds all over Washington state and have even been lucky enough to go to several birding "hotspots" in southern Arizona. One of my "dream" birding experiences would be to go to Hawk Mountain and watch the raptor migration.
Every year I set up bird feeders and have had lots of success. Last march we had a late, unexpected snow storm and I had so many pine siskins on the feeders I literally had to brush them off with my hand in order to refill it!
I would love to hear about other peoples' experiences, what kind of feeders and visitors they have, and what thier best birding days or birding dream trips are.
Thanks!
--------------------
na
|
busybeaver
Offline
sockeye
Profile Status:
Reged: 03/31/01
Posts: 91
Loc: Western Washington
|
|
I am a bird beginner but have had some fun bird experiences. Sand pipers running at my feet, close encounters of the gray jays kind, Large number of heron groupiing on the log rafts in the harbor, eagles fighting on the shoreline of sekiu, marbled murlett viewing.
I would like to see the skagit eagle migration where they have a 100 birds in one tree.
--------------------
Marty
Welcome to my home ...
|
wildrose
Offline
smolt
Profile Status:
Reged: 09/15/02
Posts: 23
Loc: WA
|
|
Sounds like you are off to a great start! The skagit eagles are pretty neat. I went a few years back.
I hope you are able to find a good person to go with on your birding adventures. The right company makes a lot of difference.
--------------------
na
|
busybeaver
Offline
sockeye
Profile Status:
Reged: 03/31/01
Posts: 91
Loc: Western Washington
|
|
Now theres a thought...hmmm
--------------------
Marty
Welcome to my home ...
|
Maltby
Offline
Native Slab
Profile Status:
Reged: 12/17/00
Posts: 1183
Loc: Woodinville, WA, USA
|
|
Welcome and thanks for the post. You mentioned one of my favorite birds, the pine siskin. They are pretty easy to tame and years ago I had a flock spend the winter around my yard. They would land on my head, my shoulders and one even took a nap snuggled up at the top of my coats zipper. I would put sunflower seeds in my mouth and they would land on my chin and pluck the seeds off my lips. If happened to be nearby I would just whistle and the whole flock would come. When spring came, they left for parts unknown.
Unfortunately, Pine Siskin poplulations have been decimated by a highly contagious disease that is spread quite easily by dirty feeders. Be sure to keep your feeders clean.
I do most of my bird watching locally but some of my best sightings have been at 60 mph. It is amazing to me how well many birds have adapted to our road systems and the little wetlands that have popped up.
[ 09-18-2002, 06:18 AM: Message edited by: Maltby ]
|
wildrose
Offline
smolt
Profile Status:
Reged: 09/15/02
Posts: 23
Loc: WA
|
|
Keeping bird feeders clean is so important! I completely agree with you. I think that if people want to feed birds they must take the responsibility for keeping the feeders clean and safe (from cats and windows too!). Its so awful to see crusty seed feeders and hummingbird feeders with mold floating in them. EWWW!
(( I always get plastic or metal feeders that I can rinse in a bleach solution.)) Hopefully, the biggest danger the birds who visit my feeders encounter is the sharp-shinned hawk who sits in the bushes.
Pine siskins - That time last winter was the first time I have ever had them visit my feeder. They are usually all around where I live but apparently find better stuff to eat on thier own )
Have you had any sucess with a thistle feeder?
--------------------
na
|
Maltby
Offline
Native Slab
Profile Status:
Reged: 12/17/00
Posts: 1183
Loc: Woodinville, WA, USA
|
|
Yes, I have had luck with a thistle feeder. It is the favorite of the gold finch though they seem to be just fine eating sunflower seeds too. Pine siskins seemed to prefer the sunflower over the thistle seed.
What has been noticeably absent from the bird scene in our area is the Evening Grosbeak. We used to see large flocks come and go but they haven't been around for a few years. We have Black Headed Grosbeaks nesting in our yard every year but the Evening Grosbeak has been absent.
|
Maltby
Offline
Native Slab
Profile Status:
Reged: 12/17/00
Posts: 1183
Loc: Woodinville, WA, USA
|
|
Here is a photo of a juvenile Western Tanager that hung out for a couple of hours this year just a few feet from our deck.
|
wildrose
Offline
smolt
Profile Status:
Reged: 09/15/02
Posts: 23
Loc: WA
|
|
Nice tanager! We had a pair this summer and last that lived near our house. They loved the cherry tree. This summer some cedar waxwings nested nearby. One morning really early I heard a strange noise and went out to look. The babies were fledging and were on the ground and the parents were desparate to get them going!
Youre right about the evening grosbeaks. I have only seen a couple of them and that was near Mount Rainier several years ago. Its too bad really, they are great birds
--------------------
na
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: