Birds MIA........ Absolutely no birds around the place today. Not even the little red headed finch. Not even a magpie, nor a robin. Weird. I put seed on the bird feeder. Not a single bird has touched it. Where are the birds?
I know this is a gardening forum, but the birds are generally part of the garden. They are just there. But today nothing. Seems odd.
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Has it been the whole day like this? Not just a passing raptor? (I always get a kick out of sudden silence from the surrounding birds, then a hawk scream or sudden racket by the Blue Jays and resumption of normal birdcalls)
Do you have raptor migration in your area? There's a place called the Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania where birders go to watch their migration....
Do you have raptor migration in your area? There's a place called the Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania where birders go to watch their migration....
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Its been all day. No birds. Not a passing raptor. No blue Jays here. We have Magpies. They usually come to the feeder for a treat. Not today. (Magpies don't eat seed much, but I put a handful of kitty treats, (dry cat food) on the feeder. They come for that. Not today.)
There is usually a bunch of Eu. Doves and some English Sparrows hitting the feeder year round, Not Today! Not a bird one to be seen. The seed I put on the feeder this morning has not been touched. I have never seen the like of this....... it is weird!
The Starlings, Magpies and English Sparrows are year round birds. They are always here......... but not today. Not a bird to be seen.
There is usually a bunch of Eu. Doves and some English Sparrows hitting the feeder year round, Not Today! Not a bird one to be seen. The seed I put on the feeder this morning has not been touched. I have never seen the like of this....... it is weird!
The Starlings, Magpies and English Sparrows are year round birds. They are always here......... but not today. Not a bird to be seen.
All the "normal" birds are beginning to visit the feeding station. It was pretty quiet for a long time this fall. Maybe there was too much feed around instead of coming to their winter source. Still there are fewer than other years. I count birds for the Cornell University bird census and can go back to check past history. It will be interesting to see what's up.
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- jal_ut
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Have a couple of apple trees that had apples I did not pick, most of which are on the ground now. The Starlings have found them and are coming in a huge flock to eat the apples.
Right now I have about a dozen Eu Doves, one House Finch and one Junco coming to the bird feeder. The House Sparrows have disappeared. Usually I would have 20 or more House Sparrows, 20 or more House Finches and 30 or more Juncos after snow. I wonder if someone put out poison grain?
Right now I have about a dozen Eu Doves, one House Finch and one Junco coming to the bird feeder. The House Sparrows have disappeared. Usually I would have 20 or more House Sparrows, 20 or more House Finches and 30 or more Juncos after snow. I wonder if someone put out poison grain?
- jal_ut
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Today, no Starlings in the orchard. Guess they cleaned up and now have gone elsewhere. Did see one on my bird feeder.
Today on the bird feeder, 2 juncos, 2 House Finches and about 50 Eu Doves. 35 House Sparrow. Find it interesting that the birds coming most are those that were originally imports from some other country?
Today on the bird feeder, 2 juncos, 2 House Finches and about 50 Eu Doves. 35 House Sparrow. Find it interesting that the birds coming most are those that were originally imports from some other country?
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Those Eu Doves seem to be taking over around here too. Used to be lots of mourning doves, but now there are very few; I think the newcomers are squeezing them out. So that's where they came from. I thought it might be a natural transition because of our hotter drought like conditions down this way of the last few years. Thought they were just more adapted to those conditions. Didn't realize they were an invasive species turned loose by humans.
I used to love to listen to the mourning doves; they were true musicians. So melodious. These new guys have a very hoarse unpleasant sound. Everybody around here says they need voice lessons. Wannabees!
I used to love to listen to the mourning doves; they were true musicians. So melodious. These new guys have a very hoarse unpleasant sound. Everybody around here says they need voice lessons. Wannabees!
The Eurasian doves are related to the turtledoves people can buy in pet shops.
They will cross with those and it may account for the white doves I have seen now and then.
It may also account for some very small doves that I have seen on city streets. Eurasian doves are also in local cities. Let me back up ... the smaller doves may just be the released domestic turtledove. Anyway, they may be crossing, also.
If they crowd pigeons, that probably wouldn't be a bad thing. There are still mourning doves here but I never see them in an urban setting. Fly-overs but never on houses or streets.
Steve
They will cross with those and it may account for the white doves I have seen now and then.
It may also account for some very small doves that I have seen on city streets. Eurasian doves are also in local cities. Let me back up ... the smaller doves may just be the released domestic turtledove. Anyway, they may be crossing, also.
If they crowd pigeons, that probably wouldn't be a bad thing. There are still mourning doves here but I never see them in an urban setting. Fly-overs but never on houses or streets.
Steve
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This morning 11 degrees F with a skiff of fresh snow. I took some seed out to the bird feeder. Got a couple of magpies, a few Eu Doves, one Junco, half a dozen E Sparrows. The House Finch is MIA. I don't know what happened to the House Finches. The whole bird population is way down here from what we usually have this time of year.