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Post by gakaren on Feb 22, 2015 8:24:33 GMT -5
We have robins in the yard this morning. We only get them during the migration. Once in a great while one or a pair will stay in the area but I think they have a hard time getting worms from our clay ground/soils.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2015 8:29:39 GMT -5
We have robins in the yard this morning. We only get them during the migration. Once in a great while one or a pair will stay in the area but I think they have a hard time getting worms from our clay ground/soils. I'm perusaded that robins are leaf kicking birds (its how they rustle up worms). If you want more robins, keep more mulched areas...
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Post by binnylou on Feb 22, 2015 10:26:05 GMT -5
We have robins in the yard this morning. We only get them during the migration. Once in a great while one or a pair will stay in the area but I think they have a hard time getting worms from our clay ground/soils. Keep those robins at your place a little longer. We have no worms...the ground is rock hard and they can't get out/up.
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 22, 2015 12:53:37 GMT -5
This morning we had a female Cowbird at our deck feeders. I've been keeping a spreadsheet of what I call "Seasonal Firsts" for a number of years now, & between now & the end of March is when Cowbirds start appearing. In fact, back in 2010 I saw the first ones at our deck feeders on this exact same day! (That's one of the things that has made keeping this list so much fun.) Although thanks to our 10"-12" of snow, I bet they wish they'd waited a few weeks before arriving.
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 22, 2015 15:13:55 GMT -5
That's interesting BG, because I saw a cowbird at my feeder yesterday.
Today I heard birds singing in the woods but I didn't recognize their song and I couldn't find them but it definitely made me think of Spring.
BTW - Robins eat berries in the winter. I had a big flock of them cleaning up the holly berries on my tree last week.
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Post by gakaren on Feb 22, 2015 23:46:15 GMT -5
I don't like the cow birds! We get HUGE flocks of them here, some times up to 200 at a time. They wipe out the feeders if they have a chance and they have laid their eggs in the blue bird nests before! I haven't seen any of those yet, but that's fine with me!
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 23, 2015 8:33:34 GMT -5
Oh, I don't like them either. Just thought that it was interesting to see them at the same time as BG. I am very happy not to have flocks of them.
For those of you who don't know, Cowbirds do not make their own nests, they just put their eggs in other birds nests and the babies get raised by their foster parents to the detriment of the smaller birds in the nest.
We usually have chipping sparrows nesting low in our shrubs so we check the nests and remove cowbird eggs when we see them.
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 23, 2015 8:57:19 GMT -5
I don't mind the Cowbirds, but then I never get hordes of them - just a pair or two. Same with the Starlings. I have to give both species credit for being the most tireless birdie field workers around here. During the warmer months, they constantly work the lawn & fields for weed seeds & insects - moreso than any other species. They only bother with my feeders during the winter.
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Post by gakaren on Feb 24, 2015 0:01:06 GMT -5
And to add to what BR said about the cow birds, their young will also push the babies of the foster parents out of the nest and hog all the food.
When we have a big flock in our area, I head outside with the firecrackers. That usually get rid of them!
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 24, 2015 8:42:40 GMT -5
I picture that tiny, little chipping sparrow mama struggling to feed some big, hulking cowbird baby and I don't feel a bit guilty throwing the cowbird egg out of her nest.
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Post by gakaren on Feb 24, 2015 13:34:40 GMT -5
More signs....the neighbor's pear tree is starting to bloom!
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Post by brownrexx on Feb 24, 2015 13:36:06 GMT -5
I heard Goldfinches singing this morning.
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Post by binnylou on Feb 24, 2015 13:43:46 GMT -5
I have ants in the cat food bowl..nothing to be cheerful about, but they might be a sign of spring. And since Kitty is on the hairball formula, we should have no hacking ants. And, the Cadbury bunny commercial is being shown on tv.I love that commercial.
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Post by binnylou on Feb 27, 2015 12:38:51 GMT -5
Musical sounds coming from the birds....not just cheeping...actual song. I think it was probably a purple finch...light and lilting. Hubby feeds on the deck and out front, so we have a lot of birds...and usually six squirrels.
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Post by ncgarden on Feb 27, 2015 18:54:35 GMT -5
You guys are all hallucinating and it is clear that spring is never coming.....
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