The Backyard Birdman

“Listen To My Song” photo by Walter Ammann

One of the best ways to identify birds in the wild is by their calls or songs.  Here is the call of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet:

Have you noticed when you are out walking, it doesn’t even matter where you are, you will hear birds calling.  You may not see the birds but if you listen closely you will begin to hear many different calls from the birds around you.      (more…)

House Finch Chicks at about 13 days photo by Larry Jordan

As you can see these chicks are fully feathered and nearly ready to fledge.  House Finches usually fledge at day 16.  In most songbird species, the parents carry the fecal sacs out of the nest and dispose of them but the House Finch doesn’t do this.  That is why you see the fecal material accumulated around the rim of the nest.

These chicks are literally overflowing the nest as you can tell by comparing the photo above with this one when they were only a couple of days old.

Enjoy all the nesting songbirds in your yard while you can.  Make sure you offer them plenty of food and water so their babies can grow up strong and healthy. 

Happy Birding!

My Mom, The Number One Mom In The World (all photos by me)

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!  We love you with all our heart.  I want to extend this greeting to Moms all over the world.  Thank you for everything you do, Mom.

This beautiful lady in her 90’s is the best mom in the world!  She not only brought me into the world, she has supported me my entire life with unconditional love and wisdom.  I feel like one of the luckiest people on the planet and I want her to know that I love her with all my heart.

A few months ago I put up a bluebird house in her backyard, along with a bird bath.  My mom has always loved birds and I thought it would be nice to try to attract some birds to her yard.  Even as I returned home from her house the following day, she had birds visiting her backyard.

Now, I want you to know that her backyard is in a senior community, near a golf course.  She has no lawn, only some small bushes and immature trees in her small backyard.  However, she now has a pair of Western Bluebirds building a nest in her birdhouse!

Female Bluebird with Nesting Material

I took a few photos of the Western Bluebirds while we were sitting on the back porch.  My mom told me that she was spending a lot of time watching the birds and felt like she wasn’t getting anything done (smile).  I know what that’s like!  She also told me that she had been watching the birds from inside the house because she was afraid she would scare them away.

This is a very important point: when you put up birdhouses in your yard, get out there and do all your normal yard work and activities.  This way your birds will get used to you being there and you can observe them from much closer without the birds being alarmed.  You can even teach them to eat out of your hand or come to a special treat when you give them a certain whistle or sound a bell!

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Bring In The Clowns photo by Mark Schmitt

The Acorn Woodpecker is easily identifiable by their clown-like faces.  They also show a conspicuous white rump and white wing patches when they are in flight.

Just Hanging Around photo by Mark Schmitt

Woodpeckers, like parrots, have two toes pointing forward and two hind toes giving them a very strong and stable grip to climb bark and hang from suet feeders!  (more…)

House (English) Sparrows photo by Deanne Fortnam

I am a long time bird advocate. I have been building birdhouses or nest boxes, as we call them, for over 25 years now. There have been many different styles, sizes and materials used for building nest boxes over the years but it all comes down to what is best for the bird using that particular nest box. This of course depends on the species of bird and that species’ behavior. The materials you use for building the nest box may also depend on what you can afford or what you have available. The main thing you must always keep in mind is what is best for the bird.

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Brigitte took these photos of me making suet last night

Here in northern California it can get really hot in July and August.  We’re talking sometimes over 115 degrees!  So I began making my own “no melt suet” and the birds absolutely LOVE it!

Sure I have put out the store bought stuff and they will eat it.  But I have to tell you, if I put out a store bought suet cake and one of mine at the same time, the birds will go through 3 or 4 of my suet cakes before the store bought one is anywhere near gone.

So, I thought all of you might want my recipe along with a couple of tips on how I make my suet so you can have birds pecking your door down and screaming at you to fill up the suet feeder when it’s empty. (more…)

Dark-eyed Junco photo by Mark Schmitt

I have hundreds of these little birds in my yard during the winter and I love to watch them jostle for position in my tray feeder and go crazy in my covered bird feeder.  The reason I have this bird as my photo for this post is that it is almost time for the Great Backyard Bird Count and I have lots of them to count!  I made a short video of Dark-eyed Juncos, Lesser Goldfinches, American Goldfinches, Purple Finches and House Finches out in my yard in the middle of January right after a snow storm here:

The Great Backyard Bird Count has several sponsors and they are giving away gifts to participants!  This is one event that everyone can enjoy, from kids to grandparents.  Not only is it fun and free (and did I mention that they are giving away gifts?) but it takes a minimum of 15 minutes and you can do it wherever you want!  Here is the link to find out all about it:

The Great Backyard Bird Count 

Mark you calendars for February 15th thru the 18th for the Great Backyard Bird Count and have fun while you are helpng out our feathered friends.

Happy Birding!

Anna’s Hummingbird (male) photo by Mark Schmitt

This incredible shot of the male Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte annas) was taken by Mark and later enjoyed while listening to a beautiful piece of Baroque music entitled “Spem in Alium” by Tallis.  These beautiful combinations of nature and man make the human spirit soar.

These incredible little birds have an amazing way to protect themselves during very cold weather.  They lower their internal thermostat at night, becoming hypothermic, by going into a state of torpor. (more…)

Lazuli Bunting photo By Walter Ammann

The longest running citizen science project in the world, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, starts Friday, and it’s looking for a few thousand volunteers like you.

Excursions are organized around the country by local bird clubs, and anyone can join in to help simply by identifying the birds you spot. (more…)

Wild Turkeys photo by Cathy Lozo

I just wanted to pass on a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone along with some information on the bird that was almost our national bird, the Wild Turkey.  This is the bird that Benjamin Franklin wanted as our national bird.  It is indeed a beautiful bird, especially if you see it in flight.  In flight they can reach a speed of 50 miles per hour! (more…)