Thought it would be good to have a thread of the birds you are seeing at your feeder or birdwatching, as this is spring peak migration.
Bird Migration and Misc Birding Thread
- Thread starter Kinch
- Start date
According to BirdCast.com, last night more than 30 million migratory birds crossed Iowa.
I've been seeing way too much of Larry in those stupid All State commercials.
I'm not a big bird person, but my family got some humming bird feeders for Christmas and I was wondering if now is the time to hang them. We live in an open area on the edge of town with a grass field behind us. Not really much in the way of flowers around us. Will the little guys find it if I hang them on the porch, or is it better to hang away from the house?
Have spotted rose-breasted grosbeak and orioles on the feeder this week.
I put mine just off the back deck & it works well. Haven't gotten them out yet, but it's getting to be about time. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.
Those darn humming birds sure like to fight amongst themselves near the feeders, the last few yrs my folks usually end with a dozen or so of them zooming around for most the summer.
Hung mine out today. More shade than sun is better. Mine is near flowers but 25 yards away from the nesrest bush or tree.
My mom saw her first oriole and grosbeak today in NE Iowa. Over a week earlier than normal.
Now is a good time (read they’re in Des Moines but I haven’t seen one yet) and I’m not sure the actual location matters as much as keeping solution fresh and ant-free.
Mine is in full sun, near a birdbath and a different feeder on the same pole. Shade would mean too far away to see from the house.
I have seen hummers come close to the house.
Bolded part until fall migration, then 3:1 ratio for more energy.
Saw our first hummingbird this this weekend but the feeders were not out. My wife made up a batch of food and have the feeders up now. What was interesting was it came to the exact spot that we put the feeders each year....i.e...15' off the ground. This bird was familiar with this location.
I'm in NE IA and got my first grosbeaks and orioles yesterday. I don't think I've seen any female redwings yet. Saw purple martins on the Mississippi early last week. I've heard of swallows around but haven't seen them myself. I usually have barn swallows nest on my property but haven't seen them yet.
I think some birds come back to the same place. Or maybe the babies do? I feel like my mom has said indigo buntings do that. Or I could be making that up. Last year she just had a couple of sightings of one single indigo after years with 5-6. She’s curious if she’ll get any this year.
