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Post by Wheelgarden on Dec 1, 2020 15:52:24 GMT -5
I've had a "bevy" of Mourning Doves about lately, wandering around on the ground in a group of about a dozen. There seem to be two or three pairs of adults, and several yearlings, all roaming together.
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Post by gardendmpls on Dec 1, 2020 20:12:35 GMT -5
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Post by tom π on Dec 1, 2020 20:39:28 GMT -5
If you have an Ivory Billed, I think you have it -- a female Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Cornell Lab would like to know.
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Post by armjr on Dec 1, 2020 21:29:15 GMT -5
We have a pair of Pileated that nest somewhere near our house. When we don't see them we can sure hear them whanging away at trees. I don't know how any animal can withstand the punishment their heads must receive hitting a tree. I couldn't make that much noise with a hammer.
We saw two Robins today. Does that mean it's Spring!
Alan
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Post by Wheelgarden on Dec 1, 2020 21:35:26 GMT -5
Thanks, gardendmpls and tom π ...we have pileated woodpeckers aplenty, they are much larger than what I saw. The pileated cluck loudly when they roost, to some entertainment. And yes, armjr, they do hammer like a jackhammer! Perhaps it was a juvenile, dunno. I searched the Cornell site, to no avail. We often get transient birds along our migratory flyway this time of year. And oh, if I ever saw an Ivory-billed woodpecker, I'd be out with a camera and in touch with our OG Community, GA Forestry, Cornell, and the local ag extention folks right away, you bet.
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Post by Mumsey on Dec 2, 2020 4:37:33 GMT -5
We saw a Downy woodpecker at the suet feeder yesterday. It must have been very hungry, it didn't leave when I went out the door with the dog. It continued eating and chirping as if to scold us. Lots of bluejays and I've seen Juncos. Sparrows everywhere, gathering in the trees. I head a load knocking on the siding the other day, thought someone was at the door. I went downstairs, but the sound was coming from above. Must have been a woodpecker but didn't see anything. A very distinct steady knock like what a woodpecker would sound like.
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Post by gardendmpls on Dec 2, 2020 20:04:58 GMT -5
I have the Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America and find it better than the others in my stash. Use it all the time.
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Post by armjr on Dec 2, 2020 20:39:11 GMT -5
One lone Blue Jay raisin'hell all morning..
Alan
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Post by Mumsey on Dec 3, 2020 5:44:46 GMT -5
A pair of mourning doves yesterday. They looked very fat and happy!
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Post by James on Dec 3, 2020 11:41:40 GMT -5
I like: Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America
Also: The Sibley Guide To Birds
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Post by pondgardener on Dec 3, 2020 12:18:08 GMT -5
Plenty of white winged doves this morning, a couple of ring necked doves, couple of blue jays, a couple of flickers and a bunch of house sparrows...all lining up to get a drink from the settling tank for the ponds. Saw some ice this morning(9Λ) on the top of the water and it may be getting time to shut that down...
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Post by James on Dec 3, 2020 13:24:16 GMT -5
armjr: "We saw two Robins today. Does that mean it's Spring!"
Unfortunately, no. Robins have strange migratory habits. I have seen them all seasons of the year here in high dry Northern Utah.
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Post by gardendmpls on Dec 3, 2020 21:27:33 GMT -5
We saw two Robins today. Does that mean it's Spring! Growing up in South Texas, they were a sign it was fall. Couldn't understand why our elementary readers kept saying spring.
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Post by armjr on Dec 4, 2020 5:49:55 GMT -5
We lived in Benavides for 12 years. Never saw a Robin, ever. Moved to Houston for one year. Robins weren't on our list of things to look for. Back to Victoria then to Goliad for 30ish years and didn't see Robins in any numbers. Saw a lot of Grackles. When we moved here (between Goliad and Victoria) last year we saw tons of Robins this past Spring. Flocks of 30 or 40 would come hopping through the yard. gardendmpls, where did you live in South Texas? Alan
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Post by gardendmpls on Dec 5, 2020 18:22:11 GMT -5
where did you live in South Texas? Born and raised in Corpus Christi. San Antonio after high school. After my husband got out of the Air Force, lived in San Antonio, Austin (UT) and Houston. Many robins winter in the Southwest, Mexico and the Gulf Coast. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/maps-range#
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