BIRDS

[SwampDonkey]

Up here in the land of tax and regulation, we can't hunt with falcon's yet we can with dogs. I see no logic. :-\

[Chuck White]

Seen a few Tree Swallows here!

They always compete with the Bluebirds for the birdhouses.

[Mooseherder]

The Stork brought something.
The Stork brought something to the pond. - YouTube

[Mooseherder]

Stork fishing. - YouTube

[WDH]

There is a lot going on in that pond. 

[Mooseherder]

The Otters have been back everyday.   I think their activity is drawing in the birds.

[SwampDonkey]

Some birds just gravitate to ponds by their nature, as do otters, beaver and alligators....and leeches.

[Mooseherder]

Sandhill Cranes - YouTube

[SwampDonkey]

Edging your walk way for you. :D

[woodroe]

Had an interesting encounter with a Palm Warbler yesterday.
Was by the firewood pile edge of field and saw it in a young tree nearby.
Gave it a couple whistles and he came over and landed on the woodpile 10' away.
Pretty little fellah with his bright yellow belly and curious too. He must have sat there for a good minute checking me and my whistles out . Second sighting of one in a week.

Palm Warbler Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

[SwampDonkey]

Bluebird has been on eggs this week. Probably 5 eggs.

[woodroe]

1st batch of tree swallows fledged 2 days ago, 3 batches to go.
A house wren took over the empty box yesterday and was house 
cleaning.
Spent an hour tossing the feathers and other non desirable 
materials out. 
The whacko bluebird we had moved on after I took all the houses down
for a spell.  8) When I put the houses back up the tree swallows were waiting
and watching me. I got 20' away and they were on them and in them.

[SwampDonkey]

Wow that is early for swallows. They have only been nest building here. Last 2 years they died from cold. Adult dead in the nest.

[WV Sawmiller]

  I checked my bluebird box yesterday and confirmed all 4 hatchlings have graduated and left the next. I removed the nest so they can build another as I understand they do no tlike to use the same one although they did before. I need to knock down several nests on the eaves and boathouse where the young should already be gone.

[Mooseherder]

There was an Eastern Phoebe nest under the porch eave when I got to camp.  I think this is the 4th year they do this.  The hummingbirds were buzzing me wanting the feeders I hadn't put out yet.  I got to the store and got some along with another feeder a couple of days later.  We had 3 right away but this morning there was at least a dozen of them just going nuts.  We had to cover a fire extinguisher inside because they kept banging into the window.  If they don't sort it out we may have to move the feeders away from the camp.  The Eastern Phoebe isn't happy.

[WV Sawmiller]

  I walked to the mailbox a little while ago and a family of Carolina wrens had just left the nest and were fluttering around making little flights of 10-15 feet. The young were distinctive with their shorter tails. I love to see them when they first learn to fly like that.

   I watched a pair of eastern bluebirds lighting on the fence and posts of the back pasture fence then to the front yards catching grasshoppers and such. They raised 4 in a box in the front yard a few weeks ago and I removed the old nest in hopes they will build another and repeat. 

   A big old Yellowhammer (Great Northern Flicker) lit by the creek and hopped around in the yard and my wife saw a shadow pass then walked over and scared a big crow off the porch where he was stealing Sampson's dog food from the dish there. 

[doctorb]

For those of you that haven't tried to add a little technology to your birding, I highly recommend the Merlin BirdID app from Cornell.  It's free.

It's absolutely amazing.  It helps you ID birds by color, location, behavior and size.  Very helpful, especially when traveling away from your home area.  But what is even more incredible is it's ability to ID birds by birds calls. The Sound ID feature has you hold up your phone, push a button, and just let the birds sing.  It's so sensitive it picks up calls you would describe as too faint to make out.  You certainly don't have to be right next to the bird to get an identification.  Really cool app.

[beenthere]

Thank you for that heads-up. 

Will give it a go. 

[Jeff]

I'll miss ya @SwampDonkey , Im downloading the app!

Bill just identified what I call my Beeper birds as white throated sparrows. I hate to trade him in, but the app fits in my phone

[Hilltop366]

Does the app require data/internet to operate once down loaded?

I don't have data and there is no cell service where I canoe.

[doc henderson]

the tree and plant ID apps do require internet, so one could assume. 

[beenthere]

App works great. 
And I identified the phoebe that was sitting on the blue bird house this morning.. couldn't without the app and the phoebe's are not a usual bird around the house. 
Thanks for that tip. 

[SwampDonkey]

Pheobe's have been nesting around the house here for the last two or three years. Which is very odd, I usually only hear or see them in deep woods. In the fall when the house flies are looking for a place to winter, and are around the siding and doors, the pheobe's are bad for leaving doodoo on the hand rails when resting after picking flies. :D

Is the app by Cornell? I always go there for the bird songs.

[doctorb]

Yes, the app is from Cornell. 

I don't know the answer regarding internet service while using the app

[doctorb]

Swamp-

Down in my neck of the woods, Phoebes are known for nesting under structures.  Eaves of houses, rafters of open sheds.  I had one nest every year under a wooden dock at my pond.  Had about 1.5 feet of clearance between the water and the dock.