Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[Waukonda]

Just saw this fella at the neighbor's lake down the road from me. I see him most every day somewhere in the area, but usually up high and not a good photo op.

[doglegg]

Just saw this fella at the neighbor's lake down the road from me. I see him most every day somewhere in the area, but usually up high not and not a good photo op.

Cool and cool.

[treefarmer]

What Floyd said!
Treefarmer

[Dinadan]

Just saw this fella at the neighbor's lake down the road from me. I see him most every day somewhere in the area, but usually up high and not a good photo op.

Very nice photos. A sighting like that is always fun. I see eagles fairly regularly, but usually flying pretty fast over my neighborhood.

[Mumbleypeg]

Some great pictures from y’all. I haven’t “made peace” with House Sparrows, but I have pretty much eradicated them around here through use of a very effective sparrow trap. I have maintained a Bluebird trail here on the ranch for nearly 30 years. House Sparrows are not compatable. They’re an invasive species which kill Bluebirds as well as other native birds, and take over their nests if given the opportunity. So they had to go. I let Chickadees and other native cavity nesters use the Bluebird boxes when they choose to do so, but not House Sparrows.

Yesterday I took this picture of a nest of baby Bluebirds. Today I watched them fledge the nest and fly to nearby trees and fences. They were enjoying their newfound freedom. My reward! Also got a good picture today of an Eastern Phoebe that was perched on the hook on the back porch where one of the hummingbird feeders hangs. It’s nest is somewhere nearby - I hear them often.

Ken

[Waukonda]

I haven’t “made peace” with House Sparrows, but I have pretty much eradicated them around here through use of a very effective sparrow trap.

Please elaborate

[doglegg]

Some great pictures from y’all. I haven’t “made peace” with House Sparrows, but I have pretty much eradicated them around here through use of a very effective sparrow trap. I have maintained a Bluebird trail here on the ranch for nearly 30 years. House Sparrows are not compatable. They’re an invasive species which kill Bluebirds as well as other native birds, and take over their nests if given the opportunity. So they had to go. I let Chickadees and other native cavity nesters use the Bluebird boxes when they choose to do so, but not House Sparrows.

Yesterday I took this picture of a nest of baby Bluebirds. Today I watched them fledge the nest and fly to nearby trees and fences. They were enjoying their newfound freedom. My reward! Also got a good picture today of an Eastern Phoebe that was perched on the hook on the back porch where one of the hummingbird feeders hangs. It’s nest is somewhere nearby - I hear them often.

Ken

Great pics Ken.

[Quick Steel]

Excellent photos from everyone.

Ike, I continue to envy the abundant bird life that abounds in your area.

[Mumbleypeg]

I haven’t “made peace” with House Sparrows, but I have pretty much eradicated them around here through use of a very effective sparrow trap.

Please elaborate

It’s a version of what’s called a sparrow funnel trap. You can find versions on line but it wouldn’t be difficult to make one either. https://www.practicalgardening.blackdov ... nnels.html The trap is about 2 feet wide by 3 feet long by 1 foot deep, and has two funnels, one in each end. The one I have was given to me by our son. I’ll see if I can find it (somewhere in the shop) and post a picture.

The key is using bread as the bait. House sparrows love bread but most other birds (including other sparrow species) ignore it, so it’s unlikely you’ll trap anything else but the intended target. Put the bread pieces on the floor of the trap and some outside near the funnel entrances to entice the birds to enter. The funnel is large enough at the entrance that the birds aren’t shy about going in, but small (about 2 x 2-1/2 inches) at the exit near the bait. They go in but can’t get back out.

You can catch multiple birds at a time. In fact I think it works best when at least one or two are inside and making a racket which helps attract others. Once you’ve caught several you can dispose of them as you wish (hint - they are poor swimmers, especially inside the trap when it’s submerged). Then re-bait, reset and repeat, until there are no more House Sparrows. You may have to repeat the process annually or as needed especially if you live in town. Here once I eradicated them I haven’t seen any more in years, but they’re prolific in the small town a couple of miles away.

Ken

[Waukonda]

Ahh, much the same design as a hoop net, interesting. I was envisioning you on your porch with a pellet gun, or .22 if you don't have close neighbors. I may have to break my truce, and get one of those!

Once you’ve caught several you can dispose of them as you wish (hint - they are poor swimmers, especially inside the trap when it’s submerged).

[Waukonda]

Excellent photos from everyone.

Ike, I continue to envy the abundant bird life that abounds in your area.

I wish that I could see and photograph all that I hear, but yes, there is a variety.

[Mumbleypeg]

Excellent photos from everyone.

Ike, I continue to envy the abundant bird life that abounds in your area.

I wish that I could see and photograph all that I hear, but yes, there is a variety.

I too wish I could just see all the birds I can hear. I love the Merlin app on my phone but it’s frustrating that it hears and identifies so many birds that I can’t see. In the few weeks I’ve had it, Merlin has heard and identified 45 different bird species without my ever leaving our property. But it keeps hearing birds like the Great Crested Flycatcher and Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher every day, but I can’t see them!

BTW here’s a very good explanation why we should not want House sparrows anywhere. It’s twenty minutes long but worth watching IMHO, especially if you enjoy native bird species.

Ken

[Waukonda]

Thanks for the info, Ken.

Here is an Eastern Wood Peewee that stuck close to me as I was mowing. He would perch near the area I was in, and then go grab the insects that I stirred up with each pass. They are distinguished from Phoebes and other Flycatchers by the prominent wingbars and yellowish lower mandible.

[doglegg]

Thanks for the info, Ken.

Here is an Eastern Wood Peewee that stuck close to me as I was mowing. He would perch near the area I was in, and then go grab the insects that I stirred up with each pass. They are distinguished from Phoebes and other Flycatchers by the prominent wingbars and yellowish lower mandible.

Good pics and info.

[Mumbleypeg]

More great pictures Ike. According to the Eastern Wood PeeWee range map I’m in the western part of it, but can’t recall ever seeing one here. I’ll try to watch for them - or more likely Merlin will hear it if there are any around.

Ken

[Waukonda]

More great pictures Ike. According to the Eastern Wood PeeWee range map I’m in the western part of it, but can’t recall ever seeing one here. I’ll try to watch for them - or more likely Merlin will hear it if there are any around.

Ken

If they are around, you will know their call, very distinctive.

[GSPTOPDOG]

On the edge of a local park today I saw a juvenal hawk that appeared to be knocked out of its nest. It was on the ground when I first saw it, then made its way up to this tree as I approached. A few yards away I discovered what appeared to be an adult Hawk dead on the ground. I hope this little guy makes it.

[Mumbleypeg]

Cut hay today with the usual accompaniment of cattle egrets, barn swallows, and hawks. Also saw these interesting subjects and was able to get close enough with the tractor to get a couple of good pictures. The vultures are apparently roosting in the loft of an old barn - there were two of them, so I’m guessing a mated pair. There are several Roadrunner pairs in different places here. Sometimes I see just one, other times a pair. Hard to get close enough for a good picture though.

Ken

[knifeaddict1965]

A few shots from my wife's bird feeder camera.

[knifeaddict1965]

And 3 more with the levitating Cardinal preparing for landing, a pesky squirrel, and finally this little fella who wasn't too fond of the camera.

[Dinadan]

Ken - nice Vulture and Roadrunner photos. I have to say that I prefer the Roadrunner!

Kevin - your wife has a good variety of birds coming to her feeder.

[doglegg]

Ken - nice Vulture and Roadrunner photos. I have to say that I prefer the Roadrunner!

Kevin - your wife has a good variety of birds coming to her feeder.

Agree.

[Mumbleypeg]

Some hummers.

Ken

[bestgear]

I’ve been using a free app for my iPhone called Merlin which is designed for anyone interested in identifying birds. Merlin is a machine learning-powered bird ID tool created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. As a global bird guide, it can help identify birds anywhere in the world.

You give it access to your microphone and as birds call out it identifies them in a way that quickly teaches your eyes and ears to recognize calls and songs that you’ve heard but didn’t know the species. The image below is a screenshot I just took while listening and observing 5 different species in unison.

Anybody else using Merlin or another machine learning-powered app?

[doglegg]

Tom, I'm a Merlin user. Every once in a while it will give a false ID but 99% of the time its right. And it hears better than me. And helps with figuring out what I'm looking at as well.