eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

One of the anchors of our backyard garden is the butterfly bush (buddleia davidii). This amazing shrub is hardy, fast-growing, beautiful, and easy to care for. It is also one of the best attractants for both butterflies and birds. The birds find copious shelter in its branches and leaves, and the butterflies (and hummingbirds! And bees!) find sustenance in its overflow of blossoms starting in mid-summer.

Our butterfly bush is of the Black Knight variety, which produces deep purple blossoms with tiny orange centers. Each cluster contains hundreds if not thousands of blossoms. And the blossoms are amazingly fragrant, as of course, they would be, to attract the variety of butterflies and other winged creatures we see each summer, including monarchs, tiger swallowtails, cabbage butterflies, and the ubiquitous red admirals (vanessa atalanta), favorites of mine since childhood. I took this red admiral photo just last weekend, experimenting with the macro setting on my camera, and I'm pleased with the result.

I caught the tiger swallowtail a few weeks ago--he was looking a little ragged, but seemed grateful for the easy abundance of food.

Another regular visitor to the bush is the Hummingbird Moth (hemaris thysbe). This moth is nearly the size of the ruby throated hummers that also visit, but the moths pretty much ignore human presence, which allowed me to take several amazing photos like this:

I was even able to move a branch gently to get a better shot, the moth never even blinked, so to speak. The photo was actually taken last year, as I've been concentrating rather more on the hummingbirds this summer. And of course, the bush also attracts hummingbirds, who zip from blossom to blossom when they're bored with the nectar feeders. Sadly, it's difficult to get a good shot of a hummer at a butterfly bush, as they constantly zoom around, unable to perch, as at a feeder. So I waited until this male decided to go back to the feeder before I took my shot:



The butterfly bush: beautiful, fragrant, attractive to birds and other wildlife, and still blooming at the end of September! Who could ask for a better addition to a garden?

See you by the feeders (made by both man and Mother Nature),

Mrs. CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Hey gang,

I've been checking out the birding sites, and the birding blogs, and the birding optics sites, and the birding travel junket sites, and... And well, it finally dawned on me that I (we) may not be nearly "birdie" enough. Wow... Jeez... How did that happen? Time for a bit of the old subjective numerical comparison between the typical backyard birder and the heavyweight birders... In order to see if we meet the grade, let's take things one at a time...

• Personal birding web page: Others have them, and I don't. But I do have this blog. Let's call that a tie.
• Education: Unlike others, I don't have a Bachelor's degree in biology with an emphasis on ornithology. However, I do have a Bachelor's degree in engineering with an emphasis on beer. That puts me ahead by 5 points.
• Travel for "birding" purposes: Looks like the serious birders have me hands down on that one... I just took a quick look on the Web, and a one-week, educational jaunt to the Galapagos is going to set you back a stunning $2,000. Bird fanatics take those kinds of vacations. (If I had a spare two grand, I'd build another small boat and "vacation" on one of the local Cape Cod kettle ponds.) Regardless, I've got to award 5 birdie points to the other guys.
• Optical equipment: I don't own a $1,000 birding scope, a $2,000 camera, or a $3,000 lens. Looks like I'm going to take a hit on the "birdie-ometer". (However, I still own and use a $100 pair of binoculars that I once tried to use as a chock for my pickup truck on an icy hill, and then absentmindedly ran over them the next day... Jeez Louise, that certainly doesn't qualify me as an optics expert... But there's got to be some extra points in there somewhere!) I'd say that that's another tie.

Kidding aside, the comparisons between the hardcore birders and the backyard variety could go on forever, but I think you get the idea... Different strokes for different folks.

For the most part, people who read this blog are not hardcore birders. We enjoy our backyard friends, and then do other things... That doesn't reduce our value in the birding community, it just redefines it. (Though the photo below should be fun for all...)



See you by those feeders, psyche still intact,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 1:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi all,

I'm going to shift gears here quite a bit...

Right off the bat, this post is going to discuss death and be "adult" in nature. I know some people struggle with the subject... If you're one of those folks, you might want to come back in a few days and check out the next post. I promise that the next one won't be so somber. (Though I'll do my best to "lighten" this one up as well.)

Alrighty then... If you've made it this far, here's what prompted this article... A couple of weeks ago we had a bird hit the glass slider on our deck. My guess is that we had a hawk come through and he spooked the birds. (Sometimes, all the curtains and suncatchers in the world aren't going to stop a meeting situation between bird and glass.) Regardless, there lay a grackle with legs straight up, deader than Julius Caesar. It was that event, (and a few others of the personal type) that started this discussion. Put quite simply, it's reasonable that we have a bit of a chat on the subject of death, if you choose to read on... But before that...

I've got another issue with which to deal before that chat... Should you be sick, don't think that I'm a "crepe hanger"... Exactly the opposite... The fields of medicine, science, and technology are growing so fast that the odds for survival literally change for the better on a daily basis... In the real world, I'm an engineer and researcher... Please trust me... There is always significant, concrete hope.

So where does that lead to? It leads to a group of adults (us) discussing that day (far, far away) when Ol' Mr. Fate taps us on the shoulder, and says, "It's time to go."

In particular, I want to offer my thoughts concerning my (and possibly your) earthly remains. But I can only speak for myself here... Only for myself...

The simple fact is that right now, about 90,000 Americans are waiting for organ donations, and more than 3,000 Americans pass each year waiting for an organ transplant. Further, there's a significant number of biology, and medical students waiting to use human remains for study purposes...

My $.02? Sit down with family, close friends, clergy, and talk out how you want to handle that distant day. Make up your mind. Then go to your lawyer and your local funeral director and take care of business. I know it ain't gonna be fun... Think of it as an emotional equivalent of a root canal. Just get it done.

I told you at the beginning of this that I was going to keep this as light as possible. Well, let me tell you of my ultimate demise...

I'm going to shed these earthly bonds on my 125th birthday. I'll be surrounded by a bevy of the latest, hottest "Bunny Babes", and my poor old ticker will go on strike in protest. (I figure it will either be that or Mrs. CapeCodAlan will crush my skull with a frying pan when she catches me with said bevy of the latest, hottest "Bunny Babes".)

Seriously, I don't think anyone would blame anyone for making a careful decision involving things like a traditional burial, organ donation, cremation, donating one's own remains to science, etc. But I do think that we as a society are reaching the point where we deem it a bit cruel for an individual not to make thoughtful preparations for the "Swan Song".

See the conversation even a dead bird can spark?

So, I'll see you by the feeder, and I'll be waiting for those "Bunny Babes"!



Not those bunnies!!!

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 1:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So here's the deal... The typical American works 9 hours per day (including lunch). He commutes 1.5 hours per day, and sleeps 8 hours per day. Add to that, shopping, cooking, eating, chores, etc., and it all boils down to the typical "Joe Blow" getting roughly 2 to 4 hours to himself per day per work week. Some folks get more, some get less. Consider also the burden of weekend hassles, and the fact is that we only get just a few hours per day for ourselves. The numbers don't lie. And what do we ask for? Maybe you want some thoughtful journalism, or a good baseball game, or a decent TV program, or insightful political rhetoric. And what do we get? (Deep sighs...)

You know, there comes a time when the world just irritates a person. And that is especially true September 19th, 2007.

Let's see... We've got:

• Yet another OJ circus and the hawker "journalists" who sell the cotton candy.
• Juiced jocks.
• Vile TV/Internet/games/radio/magazines aimed directly at the youth of our country. (Just turn on "MTV" or "E!")
• Politicians who want to know what the definition of "is" is. And some other very significant "pols" who don't even believe in evolution.

Well, there you go... Today is just such an "aggravating" day. So "hurray" to the boredom and straightforwardness of birdseed and flowers! Here's to a redwing and a couple of doves, and to an iris...

'Taint much and kind of boring, but it's better than anything else that passes for spare-time entertainment/news/politics these days.

See you by the feeders...

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, some speculate that the folks behind this post don't always have both oars in the water. After all, we were the blokes who brought you the "Gordon Alan Pterodactyl Squirrel, ('Rocketus-J-Squirrelum Vespucciland')" post, the "March 23rd, 2057 Report from the Moon" post. And who can forget the insightful yet brooding "How to Eat Your Own Car's Transmission" post? (Whoa!!! Sorry! I haven't finished that last one yet...) Regardless, this entry should stop all the speculation!

Let's face it... This is a blog for a birdseed company, and birdseed simply lacks the "reach-out-and-grab-you" excitement of a NASA shuttle launch. Hey, we're close, but we're not quite there yet.

So, to address that boring image... Some time ago, my boss Gordon suggested that maybe we could invent a neat new game for seed yet to be used. (Yup, you can tell that it's going to be one of "those" articles!) But why not at least give this a try? Take a clear glass or plastic jar with a lid and throw in a couple of handfuls of seed and one or more harmless items. Next securely close the vessel and mix. Finally, make up some rules, and see who can discover the contraband first. Mystery booty can include simple stuff like coins, buttons, Monopoly pieces... You get the idea.

(This is where the perfunctory warnings come in... Both children and adults must be aware of the hazards associated with such materials as broken glass and small objects... As always, mature, sober parental supervision, and mature, sober "common-sense" behavior are required. And as an additional public-service gesture, we also strongly recommend that you do NOT stick your tongue into an electrical socket... What a world we live in...)

Onward!

Ok, with all the "lawyer stuff" out of the way, it's important to note that the actual execution of the "eBirdseed.com Game" is surprisingly difficult. Take a look at the photo below... It took me 30 minutes to get that shot - I just couldn't find that stupid nickel. No doubt that less seed would have reduced the time.



And unlike the vast wasteland of incredibly violent video games out there (like such gory classics as "Doom", "Halo", "Grand Theft Auto", "Carmageddon", and "Hitman" to name just a few), the "eBirdseed.com Game" doesn't cause desensitization to suffering. In fact, it's much more of a puzzle than it is a game. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. Players quickly learn that there's more than one way to shake a container in the process of examining all of its contents.

As for those rules? Contestants can compete against a clock, separate jars could be used for team competitions, or a jar could even be used as an adjunct to any regular game.

No joke... Give this a try. It's as addictive as Microsoft Solitaire.

See you by those amusing feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 8:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, summer is pretty much shot... We might as well create another "Bird of the Week" post. In light of his (and her) imminent departure, this time let's dedicate it to the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.



About the Ruby-throat...

• The female Ruby-throat actually has a white throat as in the photo above.
• Hummingbirds are remarkably inquisitive birds. Time and time again, the wife and I have been "buzzed" by them, and on more than one occasion have met them face to face at a foot or less.
• Hummers flap their wings at a rate approaching 75 beats/second. That's thirteen one-thousands of a second per flap.
• They weigh 1/10th of one ounce.
• The hummingbird egg is about the size of a jellybean.

All facts aside... Looks like they're gone for the winter... Bummer...

142 years ago, Emily Dickinson wrote...

As imperceptibly as grief
The summer lapsed away, --
Too imperceptible, at last,
To seem like perfidy.

A quietness distilled,
As twilight long begun,
Or Nature, spending with herself
Sequestered afternoon.

The dusk drew earlier in,
The morning foreign shone, --
A courteous, yet harrowing grace,
As guest who would be gone.

And thus, without a wing,
Or service of a keel,
Our summer made her light escape
Into the beautiful.

See you by those melancholy feeders without the hummingbirds,

CapeCodAlan

As always, thanks to the following:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Wikipedia
• Audubon Society
• U.S. Geological Survey
• MSN Encarta
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds”
• ”Birds Of North America” published by Golden
• ”Birds of New England” from Smithsonian Handbooks
• Chapman's "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America"
• Peterson's "A Field Guide to the Birds"
• "Birdwatching" from publisher "Discovery Travel Adventures"
• Project Gutenberg

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 1:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Let's start this entry with a photo from March of this year...



And speaking of days gone by... In our July 27th, 2007 post, we looked at the basics for becoming a backyard birder, and cited some sources for your reference. Today, let's take a quick look back at those resources:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology -- This is the "Big Daddy" of the birding sites. And its complexity reflects that of its subject matter. It's well worth spending a few hours roaming around this project.
• Wikipedia -- From "hum" to "hummingbird", Wikipedia has got you covered...
• Audubon Society -- For me, this site is good, but could be better. Its "About Birds" takes the reader from plates depicting the digestive tracts of birds, to the birds themselves... My bottom line is that I just don't find the interface that intuitive.
• U.S. Geological Survey -- The USGS entry is good, but suffers from the same sort of convoluted interface as the Audubon site... There's a wealth of information in there, but you'll need to dig for it.
• USGS maps -- Simply amazing detail here, but slow.
• MSN Encarta -- Good old Microsoft Encarta... This is a nice "general use" resource.
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds” -- When it comes to bird books, this is (in my opinion) the Holy Grail. The binding, color drawings, scope, detail... It's all great. This book sells for around $35, and belongs in every person's library whether or not she or he is a birder. Hats off to David Allen Sibley.
• Peterson's "A Field Guide to the Birds" -- Before Sibley, there was Roger Tory Peterson... And, his work too is a masterstroke. I've got the 1947 edition of his book... It's old and it's tired, but still a "must own" regardless of the year.
• ”Birds of New England” from Smithsonian Handbooks -- Fred J. Alsop III and the Smithsonian have really done a superb job of documenting and illustrating the birds of the northeast.
• Chapman's "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America" -- This is a more scholarly text complete with black and white illustrations.
• ”Birds Of North America” published by Golden -- A smaller book, this works well as a good field guide.

Also, the following two, "more coffee-table" books deserve mention...

• "Birdwatching" from publisher "Discovery Travel Adventures".
• Ortho Books' "How to Attract Birds".

Well, those are the main resources I used, (and use). Hope that offers some insight into how you can better come to know your backyard beasts!

See you between the stacks out by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi,

For those of you new to this blog, here's a bit of info... To borrow from a common phrase, I am to a camera what a fish is to a bicycle. Still, the "School of Statistical Improbability" clearly teaches that if you give an idiot a camera and enough time, he'll eventually take a decent photograph. Well, it took me over 2,000 tries, but here is what I'd call a respectable picture.

(For the following, feel free to envision a "bragging Barney Fife" using both hands to grab his gun belt whilst looking askance skyward...)

"Yup, yup, yup... I took that beauty myself using just the NovaBird... Why Andy, you should have seen..."

All right... Enough already of Deputy Fife. But the very simple fact is that so much of back yard birding is luck, and yesterday was my day. As time goes by, I'm sure that we'll discuss cameras, birds, lenses, light, feeders, feed, and everything else under the sun.

Regardless, (for this moment anyway) let me revel in the shimmer of luck, and there is the picture to prove it. So enjoy the shot above...

And who knows... I'm finally starting to figure out these cameras... You just never can tell when another nice photo might float your way!

See you by those most rewarding feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 9:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Hi,

In the past we took a sweeping look at digital cameras... (Gerry's Questions About Bird Photography, Digital Cameras, and the NovaBird, etc. (Part 1 of 2), Gerry's Questions About Bird Photography, Digital Cameras, and the NovaBird, etc. (Part 2 of 2))

Now, let's look at one in particular.

A couple of months ago, the wife and I picked up a Vivitar 8600s. It's a small camera, as the photo below clearly shows...



Understand, we did our research on Amazon.com. (Hint... Reread How Do I Become a Backyard Birder?) and found that it was a decent little package... 8.1 megapixels, 6X optical zoom...

Obviously, available space on this post prohibits me from exploring all the intricate features of this camera. (Though should you want all the details, I will happily "knuckle-drag" my way through them, just as I did for Gerry above.) Anyway, I'll just describe the camera in the "Auto", "Macro and Super Macro" and "Scn" modes. Let's take a look...

The following photo was taken at around 40 yds using the patio deck rail as a pseudo rest for the Vivitar set in the "Auto" mode.



That shot certainly is nothing to write home about, but it is good enough to serve as a pleasant reminder of a pleasant afternoon spent in the back yard.

Now let's take a quick look at the "Macro" and "Super Macro" modes. This is a photo of the top of a dime. Not bad at all...



To be honest, I can't remember which mode I used to get this next photograph, but no doubt that the quality of the camera (especially used at short distances) is quite apparent... Here are more details of that same dime...



Now we're getting somewhere... But what of the "Scn" mode? Well, the "Scene" mode offers presets (shutter speed, aperture, etc.) for 16 unique conditions such as sunrise, movement, night, etc. The following is an example of a photo using the "Black and White Scene" mode...



And here's a zoom shot of the computer screen in the photo above...



There are probably a few "bottom lines" that would concern the back yard birder interested in exploring photography with a small, relatively inexpensive digital camera...

• Today's small digital cameras are loaded with features. (I never even mentioned audio or video.)
• For close-up work, they can produce some very impressive results.
• Taking into account the small size of the lens, distance shots are always going to be a challenge.
• No doubt that given the same subject and the same camera, a professional photographer like California Kathryn would have made adjustments to the "f stop" the shutter speed, the focus, (and who knows what else!) And a far better series of photos would have emerged. Still, compact cameras are probably never going to be able to challenge Ansel Adams (regardless of how many megapixels they have), but they can at least hold their own.

Hope this helps,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 12:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi,

There are some interesting posts in the works, but for now I didn't want to leave you hanging. So I thought it might be neat to revisit the old backyard rapscallion - the squirrel!



We've noticed something interesting here concerning these rodents... We offer them ample seed, water, and "rural backwoods" habitat, but their population remains at a dozen or two. As best as the wife and I can tell, the squirrels act as a sort of "buffer zone" for the birds. That is to say that red-tailed hawks, cats, dogs, fox, and coyotes will all attack the easiest prey first. Fortunately, that means that our birds usually go unmolested. But unfortunately for the squirrels, that equates to a rather brutal form of population control.

But we still enjoy the little rascals. Note in the photo above how the squirrel has wedged himself between the feeder and the bungee cord that holds the top on. Clever little buggers.

I can't leave this post without noting the obvious. This is fall, and the furry mischief makers are going to try to bust into your house. An earlier post, Keeping Out the Squirrel Menace might help. (By the looks of the photo in that post, I'd better go check the security of that screen!)

See you by the gnawed feeders,

CapeCodAlan

Posted by CapeCodAlan at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)