We did see this little white crowned sparrow at the visitor center. We don't normally see them where I live. He was banded.
Posted on 03/05/2005 8:07:37 AM PST by sweetliberty
Sounds like a great bird sanctuary.
That's amazing. Birds are such fragile creatures... it's wonderful that the little guy recovered from his experience. :)
We did see this little white crowned sparrow at the visitor center. We don't normally see them where I live. He was banded.
I'm jealous. We have our regulars...a few cardinals, mockingbirds, titmice and a ruby throated hummer, but that's it.
The DEER that roam the creek-bottoms around where we live are another story.
I have to keep a sharp eye out on the way to work in the morning. There was a 6 point buck today that came across the road and did a beautiful leap over the fence, and there was a herd of about 8 does yesterday standing by the road.
New Mexico has some great wildlife.
When I lived there, I couldn't believe the pronghorn antelope grazing by the road.
Great photo of the hummingbird! Re: stopping the wing action -- sometimes a flash helps to get the detail of the wings if you want to do that -- although I think the fact that the body of the bird is captured so perfectly while the wings are not illustrates how fast those little wings are moving!
We had such a dry spell recently -- it hadn't rained since August and Katrina, until, oh, I guess around the first of November. And then one day a really strong shower popped up -- and out in the wisteria arbor that is right outside my dining room window the birds were weaving in and out of the leaves, getting their feathers wet and just enjoying themselves. Made me feel so guilty for not keeping the bird bath full. I take care of my granddaughter most days, though, and haven't done much of anything outside this year.
When my grandson was little and was with me most of the time, I took advantage of that opportunity to give him an appreciation of the outdoors. We spent a lot of time in the yard. I put in a flower garden and some strawberries, which he really enjoyed. I didn't really do anything with the birds at that time. In Colorado there wasn't nearly the variety we have here. When he was here last Christmas and this past summer, he really enjoyed all the birds.
I hope that I can do that next summer with my granddaughter -- she will be almost 2 next year. I did that with my grandsons -- the oldest one who is five is very inquisitive, and wants to know all about spiders, fish, birds, dinosaurs and volcanoes. The other one is into trucks and tractors. :-)
My 8 year old grandson this past summer enjoyed learning the names of the flowers in my garden and the few wildflowers that I knew the name of, and enjoyed watching the hummers.
He was here the other day, and I was nameing some of the birds that were at the feeders. My daughter told me the other day that when they see birds now he tells her the name and that he learned about them at my house:)
I'm thinking of getting him a shepherds pole and feeder for Christmas to put out side his bedroom window, and then I could get him a hummer feeder next summer.
Becky
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I suppose it is. We also have herds of deer that come through, coyotes and at least one fisher cat. It's now the time of year when we start putting out suet for the woodpeckers.
I just saw another kind of bird that I've never noticed before. a purple finch:)
Becky
WalMart may have had them all the time, and I just noticed them this year, but I got this oblong green cage thing that comes with a seed brick that fits inside. I have had lots of woodpeckers coming to it.
Becky
Yes, we have a couple of those. They work great.
They are handsome birds. I only saw one once. I knew it wasn't a house sparrow, no mistaking him, his coloring is so brilliant. :)
Sounds like a good idea, although you'd better make sure that someone will see to it that the feeder is cleaned and changed regularly. Lots of work for a little boy.
My grandson is also 8.
He is an immature one, and was 13 inches long.
Becky
Awww....that is so sad. I've been pretty fortunate so far, although I did have a Bluejay hit my bedroom window last spring. He was okay after a bit though. The stained glass things are a good idea.
I also sent my dad and stepmom a Yankee Flipper for Christmas. They're avid backyard birdwatchers, too.
What's a flipper?
Becky
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