eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

Where oh where to begin?

Let's see... According to the "Ubiquitous Weather Guy", New England is about 5 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year. (We've got another storm bearing down on us as I type.) Anyway, it looks like "Old Mr. Squirrel" was right that Winter ain't quite over yet.

But there is another issue beside the weather that deserves a bit of observation, and I'm not sure how to approach it tactfully. Let's just use the image above and see if we can't ease into this as gentlefolk...

No doubt you know of the rabbit's reputation for... ummm... reproductive expediency. (Oh if I could only write this in the voice of Andrew Dice Clay, this would be the shortest and funniest post ever.)

Anyway, I glanced out the kitchen window the other day, and there were two squirrels fussing and fretting on the deck railing. Though upon quicker observation, it became apparent that they weren't exactly fussing and fretting. (I say "quicker" because the entire honeymoon seemed to last all of about 5 seconds.)

Sure enough, the next day, two more squirrels were having a "Barry White" moment... But just for a moment....

Observations and studies:

• Gray squirrels mate twice a year (Spring and end of Summer) and have a total of 4 to 10 kittens per year
• Squirrels begin mating around one year of age, and can live as long as ten years
• Squirrels certainly don't need Viagra, but they could use a workshop on slowly developing that "magic moment"

See you by the feeders, and I'll be blushing...

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Dag nab it! Dag nab it! Dag nab it! Yesterday, I gave pause to the thought of setting up the motion-activated camera focused on the suet feeder in hopes of capturing a woodpecker, or even a flicker like the one above. But no... What chance would I have of catching a season-first flicker? Naturally a flicker showed up and practically danced a jig. "OK," thought I... I'll photograph him the next time.

Today, in the rush of all things mortal, I dismissed the slight chance of a repeat appearance, dismissed the camera, and of course the bird returned and spouted the entire first act of Romeo and Juliet. (Hence the old ebirdseed.com library photo above.)

Suffice it to say that I will get new pics of the little rascal. And let this be a lesson to all casual backyard birders out there... The one time you don't at least glance at the feeder is the one time that a bigfoot will bareback ride a chupacabra right up to your feeder and steal the birds' suet.

And then you too can mutter, "Dag nab it! Dag nab it! Dag nab it!"

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 7:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi all,

Thought I'd start this one with a typical kitchen camera setup shot showing the Canon poised for action. Pretty thrilling aye? Kidding aside, there ain't much to it. Stick in a fresh battery and an empty memory card, set it up, cross your fingers, and walk away... Given a decent happenstance, and you got yourself a memory in all it's feathered and binary glory. If you don't have time at home, the same scheme is even more straight forward from the workplace. Find a window that looks out on birds of any flavor, and use your coffee break and cell phone to snap a few shots. (BTW... though virtually impossible to see, there is remote camera trigger in the photograph above, and that's one accessory you should consider for any kind of serious shutterbug hijinks. It eliminates the slight tremor that you dispatch when you directly touch the shutter button thingy on the camera body itself.)

Onward... The photo below was taken by the rig above...

It doesn't exactly rock your world does it? After all, it's just a plain old Mourning dove in all its blurry glory.

But that's the whole point behind "amateur birding" (aka "backyard birding"; "just in time birding"; or "'Do I really have to feed the birds this morning' birding"). The absolute and unfortunate truth is that if you're reading this, things aren't perfect. I can't speak for you, but I can speak for myself and umpteen others. The 401K has been cut by at least 40%; the typical home value is 30% less than what it used to be; and McDonalds french fries ain't a patch to those of days of old.

I apologize... I don't mean to be flippant, but these are hard times. All I know is that an occasional glimpse of a bird gives me just a bit of respite - almost a moment of meditation. And sadly, that may be all we get in our culture for a while...

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi all,

It's a pleasant old picture isn't it? There's a crow and a squirrel out there. (You may have to squint to see them, but they are there.)

All told, there ain't a lot of hot birding action right now though - raining out. (Superb quahogging weather!) But not to worry, there's always something to write about.

Let's see... There's the economy... Uhhh... Nope. (If you want to get severely depressed, check out a piece I wrote here. Be sure to take a gander at the embedded link for the Beck/Walker interview only after you take your Prozac...)

Onward.

Aside from clamming, there's nothing that lends depth and meaning to a wet weekend wrap-up quite like Chinese food leftovers and a good cheesy sci-fi movie. Yeah, now we're talking! So nuke the lo mien and lobster sauce, and break out the high blood pressure medicine 'cause there's campy celluloid afoot.

By definition, the show for the day has nothing to do with quality science fiction like 1954's "Them!" or "Creature From the Black Lagoon", or even Howard Hawks' 1951 masterpiece, "The Thing". Naw, we want silly, illogical, goofy stuff fit for a six-year old. Enter "Reptilicus" from 1962. I won't give away the storyline because only a schizophrenic could follow the storyline, but suffice it to say that this abomination has plenty of roaring, horrible models, and used the entire population of Copenhagen as extras. (Oh I can't resist... here are some highlights...)

My guess is that there's an art form to making a "good" bad movie, and we've lost that art. In its place has come the rough and dark handiwork of computers and all-too-real gore.

Deep sigh...

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 1:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sorry for the poor pic to the right... I was hustling to get a shot of "Don" the squirrel trying to bury seeds in preparation for more severe weather, and fumbled the image. (Great surprise right?)

Anyway... Long ago, I learned to watch the critters to get some sense of the oncoming weather. When squirrels like Don continue to bury food in February, expect a harsh, wet remainder for the rest of the month, and even a severe March. That prediction probably will not apply nation-wide, but my guess is that it's pretty accurate for Cape Cod. Time will tell.

Other stuff... The Great Backyard Bird Count ended on the 16th, though you can still enter your results right up until March 1. So far, it looks like there are 81,296 entries, 600 species, and 9,826,482 birds counted. Most cool. If you haven't checked out the Web site above, you really should... Remarkable stuff. (My favorite is the results page.)

Getting late... Gotta go...

See you by the feeders after we stock up for more rough weather,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I initially set up the camera to get a shot or two of crows feasting on old pizza and a sub... And then up pops a hairy woodpecker. Sure, I'll take it.... A little bit of luck goes a long way in backyard birding.

It's sort of like fishing... When I was a kid I was a fishing nut. It was great because I just never knew what I was going to catch. I've gone for scup and caught eels... Tried for bluefish, and reeled in shark... Fished for pickerel, and unfortunately landed turtles... And all too often, sat in the rain for hours, and caught absolutely nothing but the proverbial cold.

Yeah, the "you never know what you're going to get" nature of backyard birding is a lot like fishing, but at least we don't have to sit out in the rain.

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We just recorded our backyard feathered visitors for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)... But more of that (and the photo above) in a minute.

It dawned on me that some of you reading this are on a bus or a train reading a Kindle, or sitting in your cubicle at work. Wherever... But there are some who still miss out on the peaceful and enjoyable hobby of watching birds. With that in mind, here's a quick rundown (with low-ball costs) of the items I frequently use in my birding pursuits:

• A bird feeder and some birdseed (Thirty dollars, though a stroll in the park will do, too.)
• A bird book (You can pick up a decent used Peterson, Sibley, or Smithsonian book on-line for $10 to $20.)
• Just a simple pen and a pad of paper
• A decent pair of binoculars ($50)
• A small digital camera and tripod ($150)

• Mini computer
• External HD
• Wireless mouse
• A flip video camera
• A magnifying glass

• Goldfinch: 1
• Chickadee: 1
• Blue jay: 2
• Robin: 1
• Crow: 1
• Mourning dove: 2
• Starling: 10
• Red wing black bird: 9
• Grackle: 2
• Downy woodpecker
• House finch: 1
• Cardinal: 2

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lots of news today...

First, thoughts and prayers go out to the folks and family involved in the Oklahoma storms and the NY crash. You can help by contacting the Red Cross.

(Breaking: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is asking that anyone who actually saw or has first-hand information concerning the flight 3407 crash contact the FBI Witness Line at (716) 856-7800.)

Onward...

The video below is that of a turkey on the railing on the ramp to our front door. Mrs. CapeCodAlan narrates the visitation to Toby, our cat. (It's disconcerting that such large creatures have somehow become comfortable being so close to us humans.)

Lastly, don't forget the Great Backyard Bird Count. Tis that time again... Don't miss out on the fun!

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was going to write a post on the sparrows rediscovering the birdhouse, but given the twisters in Oklahoma, a quick reminder on emergency preparedness might be more appropriate.

It was around 50 degrees F today. A week ago, it was 10 degrees. Obviously, swings in temperature can cause severe weather. The northeast should see some pretty high winds over the next day or two. Given that, this preparedness booklet is valuable indeed.

What else? Well, back to birds of course!

Forget about the sparrows, after I started this, I got the photo above. (This is turning into a bit of a hodge podge isn't it? Onward!)

There's something about crows that just busts the wife and me up... They have that funny "Inspector-Clouseau-Lurking" walk... They're incredibly bright... And man oh man, do they look funny eating pizza and pretzels. I wonder why it is that we anthropomorphize? It's late, but I'll throw out my own theory...

We tend to grant human-like attributes to non-humans as a way of "cheering on" our highest ideals - Freud's "super ego" at work, if you will. Unfortunately, according to Mr. Freud, humanity also has a very dark side - the "id". The id is the part of the psyche that wants you to slow down as you pass a car crash just to take a quick look. And when it comes to animals, the id expresses itself as "anthropodenial" - the tendency to deprive animals of any human-like characteristics such as the ability to fear or feel true affection. Once those traits are out of the way, terrible animal cruelties occur. My guess is that the trick is to rationally balance anthropomorphism with the anthropodenial... That is, balance the super ego with the id.

Ah heck, I could rant about this stuff all night. (I'm going to make that psychology degree pay one way or another!) But I think we've had enough topics for one day.

Be safe, and we'll see you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi all,

This is a warning right up front that this is going to be trivial, pointless, whimsical, stupid bird post. There will be no great insight here. (Is there ever any real insight here? I doubt it in the extreme.)

Anyway, I shuffled out across the ice-glazed back twenty and set up the NovaBird and managed to capture the shot above. I was hoping for some great crow photographs, but had to settle on starlings. Still fun...

Other stuff...

It seems that once I set up the outdoor tripod, the crows make like "Snagglepuss" and exit stage left. That's a bummer in that I enjoy crow pics... Oh well... Better to watch from afar then photograph and pester from anear. (And yes, there is such a word as "anear". Coleridge used it... Look it up mariners.)

Finally, no one has solved the old encryption contest... It's not that bad really...

Enough already... See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A few thoughts...

First, the squirrel ("Don") is seriously "out gunned" - full-grown turkeys can stand nearly 4' tall and have a 5' plus wingspan. Also note the spurs on the back of the legs... Run Don run!

Secondly... Ummm... How to put this? When the photograph above was taken, it was 4 degrees F... Yet the two Toms were... Err... Strutting their stuff for the hens... I for one am impressed.

And finally, the following insight from Benjamin Franklin comes to mind...

For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country...

I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.

While the second observation is inspiring, my guess is that it's the third that really bears attention.

The simple fact is that turkeys are large wild animals. (See my 1/12/09 entry.) Truth be told, twice now I've watched gobblers stand in the road, stop traffic, and then attack the cars. Obviously, the birds don't hold claim to the upper third of the avian IQ bell curve, but they are fearless, and can be quite aggressive. (And no, you can't outrun one - they are capable of 50 MPH over a quarter-mile dash.)

So hat's off to the turkeys... But from a very healthy distance.

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi all,

Yeah, the tracks above are the stuff of conspiracy theories ain't they? (And no, I didn't PhotoShop them.) My guess is that what we're looking at is the trail of a "Cold-Weather, Cape Cod Chupacabra." Very dangerous! Note the staggering, widening and narrowing gait! Bet he's on cross-country skis and gassed to the gills. Oooh... Scary!

I apologize... Obviously, I'm poking fun at the "Area 51" crowd. Couldn't resist...

Fact is that we probably had a couple of "Tom Turkeys" wandering from our yard to the next. Still, the pic is kind of neat. Now, as to the next photograph...

Well, as the thermometer shows, it's cold out. Plenty cold.

But beyond the weather, note the little piece of flat aluminum that once was the top of a small tub of microwavable chili... After throwing away a gazillion of these tops, it suddenly dawned on me that perhaps I could cut them up and use them as shingles for the next bird house. Why not? We use aluminum siding on our own homes. And birds certainly don't seem to be put off by aluminum. There would still be ventilation in the summer to keep them cool... So why not? I've reached the point where replacing rotting bird houses is no longer fun. I don't want to use chemically treated wood, and people actually do make aluminum birdhouses. Why not build a conventional one out of wood and shingle the thing with diminutive aluminum shakes?

Stay tuned Airstream campers!

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 1:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi all,

Just rambling on a snowy Wednesday...

The photo above is of a Ruby-throat Hummingbird... What a gorgeous thing... A thing of Summer and grace. Ah, for warmer weather...

The news is on... Ugh.

And on a similarly depressing note, keep in mind that right now, a quarter of a million Kentuckians are out of power because of the early February ice storm. And it looks like another storm is headed their way. If you'd like to help out, here's the link to the Red Cross.

Other stuff... It seems that our bluebirds are gone - serious bummer. But the crows are still here and are as demanding as always. Contrast the crows and the cardinals in the backdrop of the snow, and the colors are quite spectacular

Before I sign off... I apologize for any misspellings in this and the next few blog posts. I just bought a new "mini" computer (sub-notebook size). Setting aside the issue of a smaller display and keyboard, the machine for some reason believes that it resides in Paris... That is, the spell checker references a French dictionary. So qui qui, these pieces are no doubt going to be laced with errant fingers and 7th-grade goofs.

See you by the feederz,

CapeCodAlan

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Great photograph ain't it? I downloaded it off our eBirdseed.com photo library. More about that in just a moment... But first, a tip of the hat concerning the Superbowl. That was an exciting game! The score went back and forth... There were great plays... Ate too much... Just a lot of fun... Congrats to the Steelers!

Now, back to the birds and the bird picture library... I've been writing this blog for over two years now, and I hope that it will go without saying that you readers know that our snapshot collection (see link above or below) contains over 2,000 images free for the taking. But then again, perhaps you're new here, so I'll reiterate - free stuff. Just choose the pixel dimensions that suit you, right click and save the shot appropriately. And no, venturing toward the collection won't make your "In Box" burst with spam. We don't work that way. (In fact, I like to use a snap here or there as my desktop's wallpaper and my "In Box" is just fine, thank you.) The only thing we ask is that you keep and use the photographs in a "rated-G" fashion.

Gotta run! No doubt that there will countless "experts" analyzing the NFL, and we all certainly have to keep up on the details...

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

P.S. IMHO I thought Springsteen looked too much like Neil Diamond, and Clarence looked too glittery...

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Posted by CapeCodAlan at 12:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)