Bird Migration and Misc Birding Thread
- Thread starter Kinch
- Start date
I took an Oriole nest from my tree last year and have noticed several Orioles in yard this week.
I use an app called Merlin to identify birds. It is probably the coolest app I use.
5 years ago mother in law use to feed them grape jelly on the back deck. I put a sign telling them she doesn’t live here anymore.
Just an FYI on hummingbird feeders. Please keep them clean. The sugar water can mold/go bad rather quickly and be detrimental to the birds. I often change mine daily when it gets HOT outside. Many “experts” say to not put them out if you don’t have the patience or time to properly maintain them. Said “experts” also advise 4:1 water to sugar. If they need more energy, they’ll drink more.
Have had my hummingbird feeder out for over a week now and haven’t spotted one yet (Urbandale). My last sighting for 2023 was October 15.
Sandhills were back in the Madison area in early February. That was the earliest I've seen.
Quasi-related cotton was drifting around today off of the cottonwoods which is earlier than normal. That's usually a sign of fish activity and I wonder if bird migrations are also related (I haven't found anything in a short search).
Quasi-related cotton was drifting around today off of the cottonwoods which is earlier than normal. That's usually a sign of fish activity and I wonder if bird migrations are also related (I haven't found anything in a short search).
Very cool. A few years ago my mom had one indigo bunting that literally sang right to them. They were sitting on the porch, the bird perched on the fence closest to them, looked right at them, and proceeded to sing for quite a while. It definitely behaved a lot different than any others.
I've always wanted Orioles to come here but I never put oranges or grape jelly or in time.
I sat with my wife on the front porch in Ankeny during the afternoon rain and we had a hummingbird hit the feeder sitting between us. Love watching those little birds.
I sat with my wife on the front porch in Ankeny during the afternoon rain and we had a hummingbird hit the feeder sitting between us. Love watching those little birds.
Growing up my mom had an oriole feeder. They built a nest close by. A bad storm knocked the limb is was on off and looking at the nest they had woven strings from a tattered blue tarp on the old playset.
Last year I didn't have my Oriole station out yet. I swear an Oriole was yelling at me from a nearby tree. Very very loud. I got out the oranges and jelly immediately! They definitely know where the food was good on the last migration.
I built a couple of bluebird houses that I have out back. I've never gotten one but most years housewrens move in which have a great song...great little bird. I noticed the other day that one had moved in, however, I needed to latch the door from cleaning last fall. Inside was this perfect layered nest and about 4 little eggs about the size of a marble.
EDIT: Correction, this is my first ever Black-Capped Chickadee nest. Thanks @CyclonesRock
EDIT: Correction, this is my first ever Black-Capped Chickadee nest. Thanks @CyclonesRock
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It is an amazing nest. My grandkids always ask to see it every time they come to the farm.
Not related to current events but when I lived in Florida I happened across a bird I had never heard before. Being in the south I was pretty accustomed to that with all the different birds they had compared to up north. This bird had the most gorgeous song and it never seemed to repeat, just melody after melody of amazing sound. I used my phone to record and asked google what it was and it came back with a Nightingale. Apparently they are a European bird so it was strange to have come across it. Most amazing song I've heard.
We’ve had hummingbirds at our feeder in southern Iowa boondocks for nearly two weeks. Seems like their season is extending about an extra week on each end.
Very cool! I have about a dozen wood duck boxes I take care of. Every year house wrens inhabit about 1/2 of them. They just about fill the whole damn box with little twigs and then make an itty bitty nest in one corner. The amount of sticks those lil suckers carry is CRAZY!
