Winter Bird Feeder Report from Valley Forge

January 24, 2014 | Doc Savage

[Doc Savage]

We have about a foot of snow on the ground here at Valley Forge. Birds have been very active at our feeder. We're using Cherry-Scented Dark Oil Sunflower Seeds - no squirrels!! This morning, about 6*F, we had lots of Cardinals plus the usual assortment of Juncos, Sparrows, Black-Capped Chickadees, Purple Finches, and Blue Jays. I did a double take this afternoon as I saw a Carolina Wren - the eyebrow and beak were unmistakeable - for the first time ever. We had a Northern Flicker a few weeks back but he hasn't returned. Just wondering what you've had at your feeders. Anything unusual?

[ken5050]

Don't know if you saw this:

"Snowy owl on a perch in rush hour Washignton, DC"

If its diet is RINOs , happy hunting, I say!!

[shankbear]

I spotted a yellow bellied liberal at another bird’s feeder mooching as usual.

[cripplecreek]

I’m working on my second 40lb bag of feed for 3 feeders.

[Tennessee Nana]

yes

SE TN

I usually have up to 4 pairs of Cardinals every year..

yesterday and today there are 8 pairs ..

several Blue Jays plus other birds I don’t think Ive seen before..

and they managed to knock one of the feeders off the branch it was anchored on and onto the ground where it broke..

They disappeared to the front yard to the other bigger feeder..

They can just come back and eat all the seeds on the ground..

but this is a bad week for them to only have one..

it also means I have to go outside in the cold every day to fill the one..

Instead of every other day..

:(

[Hot Tabasco]

I've got 3 finch tube feeders and between 1 and 2 dozen gold finches feeding off it. I've also got a small sunflower feeder for my chickadees that once filled, brings all the unwanted sparrows to the area as well as the purple finches that I don't particularly like......I also have a pair of cardinals.

I also have two or three squirrels stopping by with Lucy being the tame one who will sit on my deck railing looking into my kitchen hoping I will bring some peanuts out to her........

Unfortunatly Bob, the squirrel with only half a tail, wasn't taught how to properly look both ways before crossing the street and he is no longer with me.

OK, thanks for the reminder, time to go out and fill the feeders...........the damn birds eat better than I do.

[mplsconservative]

Here in MN, we’ve been going through 10 lbs. of premium mix every day. We’ve also been putting out around 100 peanuts for the Blue Jays and Cardinals. We’ve had hundreds of birds visit, mainly in the types you mention.

Last week, Boom!, no more birds. It was then I noticed a new type of bird perched on the gazebo on our deck. We now have a red-tailed Hawk stalking the yard. That explains the absence of the other birds. I feel so sorry for them with the string of below zero weather we’re experiencing. -22 air temp is predicted Monday night. *sigh*

[House Atreides]

“...We now have a red-tailed Hawk stalking the yard. That explains the absence of the other birds....”
*******************************************************************

Too bad the red-tailed hawk couldn’t satisfy his hunger with squirrels.

[oh8eleven]

I’m working on my second 40lb bag of feed for 3 feeders.
Western NY ... I've almost finished my second 17lb bad for 1 feeder.
Have noticed the usual amount of small birds, but have at least 4/5 Blue Jays and a lone Cardinal on a regular schedule.
Had a Cooper's Hawk visit the feeding area yesterday, but I don't think he was looking for seed.

[SoKatt]

I’m in Fairfield, Ct. and my list is similar to yours; Bluejays, Cardinals, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Juncos, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Sparrows. Last weekend- before the snow hit- I saw 4 MONK PARAKEETS at the platform feeder! We have a large population of these non-native critters and I have seen them by the water but never at my backyard feeders. I am both excited and hoping that they don’t stick around...they would clean me out. :)

[BuffaloJack]

We received a citation for operating an illegal bird feeder in our back yard last year. And the fine was $200.
I didn’t even know that it was illegal to have a bird feeder until I got the citation.

[b4its2late]

It’s been so cold up north here that every morning I see Progressive’s walking around with their hands in their own pockets for once.

[b4its2late]

Would’ve been cool to see it poop on all of them.

[SoKatt]

“.the damn birds eat better than I do.”

Sounds like our “outdoor pets”. I’m burning thru seed and unshelled, unsalted peanuts. Small price to pay, though...I love to watch them.

[Wiser now]

Nothing unusual at all. I haven’t seen a Carolina Wren since we moved three years ago. We are in southwestern Ohio. Where are you finding that cherry sunflower seed?

[jespasinthru]

That is so cool. This time of year in Florida the only migrating birds we see are the grackles, the black-and white magpies, and the big black crows. And they’re just passing through, on their way to South America. The only local birds that hang around all year are the big skinny egrets, the blue herons, the osprey hawks, and those huge, ugly turkey vultures. And those nasty seagulls, of course. They’re very aggressive, and they’ve got an attitude.

[cripplecreek]

Its really pretty amazing that such little creatures can survive in this kind of weather.

[Kirkwood]

I give my squirrels names as well. During the last winter blast, Mama squirrel was eating sunflower seeds from the feeder, saw me at the window, and came running over. She looked up at me and put her paws on the window to say thanks, then ran back to the feeder to finish her breakfast. I never before saw a squirrel interrupt a meal to say thank you.

[Manic_Episode]

We have a window feeder and have been getting chickadees and squirrels every day. Wife used to chase off the squirrels but I think they are fun to watch from so close up so she got used to them and even named them. Wife saw a pair of Blue Jays the other day.

[4everontheRight]

Upstate SC - I saw a couple of cardinals this week for the first time in weeks. I have really had no birds for the most part for weeks. But this week a few have come back or come by. I saw a strange one yesterday burrowing into my now dead rosemary plant. He was almost olive shaded of a wren? He was s very small little fella. I have all my seed feeders in the back yard but went and got a small dish and put him some seed in the front. I was hoping to see him again to get a better look and get the old "Bird Book" out to try to ID him.

We have been very cold for this area as I guess most have. This morning it was 7° here, 4° below with the windchill. I guess birds have flown further south than South Carolina.