A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....1-24-06....A Birders' Eye View

GodBlessUSA

[GodBlessUSA]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

One beautiful spring morning shortly after we moved in to our home, my 3-year-old daughter pointed at a bird and said, "Look Mommy." There on the tree was one of the most beautiful birds I'd ever seen--one I had never noticed before. I now know that it was a Redbelly Woodpecker. We were so thrilled to see such a beautiful bird in our yard, we jumped in the car to the store and we bought feeders and food for the birds.

Since that day, backyard birdwatching has been a passion of mine which I have a combined with my passion for gardening. Now my daugher and I garden for the birds, and my yard has become a place for everything from the common, but still beautiful, Robin to rare Warblers, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, and flocks of Chickadees.

I’m not an expert on birds or gardening. I’m always learning. I’d like to share the wonderful facts and stories I have learned in future threads. So many of us love spending time with nature, please share your stories of anything you do that gives you peace and enjoyment. Here are a few pictures from my backyard.

       Redbelly Woodpecker                 Blue Jay

Flicker Woodpecker     CatBird       GoldFinches

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck". Emma Goldman

Recently, my kids and I took a trip to a bird preserve. This is a tranquil place with easy-to-follow trails. Once out of the wooded paths, there's a trail to follow and you reach the beach and have magnificent views.

The truly unique part of this preserve is, the birds will land on the palm of your hand and take seed. You will know when the birds are there because the birds will call to you. Holding a few sunflower seeds and nuts, they love the peanuts in winter, out in your palm and wait for the chickadees to land on your hand and grab the seeds. It's incredible to experience a small delicate Chickadee, Nuthatch or Titmouse picking through seed in your hand. This is a very special place for my kids and me.

Woods Path to Beach                   A View From Beach

Chickadee                                     Downy Woodpecker

Chickadees on my daughter's and son's hand.

Mallard Ducks

A Rabbit and Robin, they think we can't see them. :)

Nuthatch                                     Tufted Titmouse

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn."    Henry David Thoreau

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

Click on the photo to view the album. To submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man at danbh59@yahoo.com and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Mama_Bear]

It's amazing that they still come around.

Yes, they know we always have peanuts for them. Now that they are adults I am not always sure that they are "our" babies. They look identical to me. I think some interlopers come by occasionally and try to pass themselves off as our birds. LOL. We feed them all.

[Mama_Bear]

Painted Buntings are beautiful! I live in the California Central Valley. We don't have many really colorful birds that come around. Lots of hummingbirds - several varieties, jays, goldfinches in the winter, and occasional woodpeckers. We have mockingbirds too...not colorful but they sing lovely songs to us.

When I was back in South Carolina a couple years ago I finally got to see a cardinal. They are not native to California and I had always wanted to see one.

As much as I love birds, we could sure do with fewer crows and grackles and ravens. They are a real problem in our area.

[Mama_Bear]

The Jays sure have personality.

They sure do, and they are very smart too. I am fascinated by bird/animal behavior.

[dutchess]

What a wonderful, beautiful, fabulous thread geebee!!!! It's absolutely PERFECT!

When we bought our "dream house" from an elderly couple 18 years ago, the one promise they made me make was to put up our hummingbird feeder on mothers day every year. She insisted the same hummers came back every year. Well, that has been a family tradition evety year. Will try to stop back after work and post some pictures. KUDOS sistah!

[AZamericonnie]

Gracie....I didn't know you were doing threads! WooHoo! Yippee! Such a beautiful job!!!!

Thanks for the ping Meg!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I did not take these photos and these birds do not live near me, but I posted them because I like them.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Frisbee for the Office

The "Stretch-ee Flyer" is a flying disc made of a soft and flexible material allowing it to be stretched up to four times its normal size.

What I found strange is that the package is stamped as "Home and Office Approved", suggesting that guys at the office can toss the Frisbee-knock-off from cubicle to cubicle. In fact in a press release, the manufacturer, HandStands, says its available at CompUSA and several office supply stores. The fact that they would market it such is perhaps a commentary on the state of American workplaces.

They also sell promotional versions of the Stretch-ee Flyer, offering to put your company's logo on the disc.

http://www.strangenewproducts.com/uploaded_images/stretch-ee-flyer-703601.jpg

http://www.strangenewproducts.com/

[GodBlessUSA]

Thanks for more photos! Koala looks adorable in your arms.:) I think I'd like the wallabies. They seem like they would be friendly because they have such sweet eyes. Is there fur soft?

I just showed my son and he said his teacher is from Australia and spoke of his uncle and wild Kangaroos to the class. Tells them about Australia. Now he's telling me of all the scary creatures that live there. LOL :)

[GodBlessUSA]

They are such beautiful pictures!

That website is funny with all the crazy inventions :) Maybe, I'll get hubby a frisbee for the office. LOL

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Connie!
Thank You very much! :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Did you get outside today? I'm only going out in a few minutes. :) We had dreary day yesterday. Sunday my son and I walked on the beach with our dog. We bundled up but you can't beat that for January. Last year, temperatures were in the teens during the day and single digits at night much of the time. And snow snow and more snow.:)

[GodBlessUSA]

Good afternoon Dutchess
Thanks! :) I wish there were a way the former owners could know that you kept up your promise for the Hummers. What month do your Hummers return?

[Kitty Mittens]

That Picture of you and Cecil is Sweet, dear (((((((Lori))))))), and I Loved the Pictures of your Jays!

Here at my Little Ranch there are many Beautiful Birds, Especially Since Different Flocks are Migrating through for the Winter. The Robins are Wonderful, because not Only Do they Look Beautiful, Some of them Sing their Cheery Songs as they Forage Around for Food. It is a Blessing to See All these Beautiful Creations of God on their Way to Warmer Locales. (If I wasn't on Dial-Up, I'd be Hunting Up a Pretty Bird Photo to Post. Thank you to Everyone for All the Lovely Pictures and Graphics of Birds!)

[GodBlessUSA]

It is a blessing to see them. I look forward in another month or a little more to them singing again. I miss hearing that in the winter. :)

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Here is a cat -er, uh, I mean a bird picture I found on Google...

[Mama_Bear]

Is there fur soft?

No, it's a bit on the coarse side, but not as coarse as a koala, which is not soft at all.

scary creatures that live there. LOL

Well, I didn't see any scary creatures there, but I did see this. This was one BIG bird. It's an Ibis. He decided to join us for lunch alfresco one afternoon. If he had demanded my sandwich, I would have given it to him. I don't think I would want to tangle with that beak. LOL.

[Aquamarine]

Yes I did, and am going back out in a minute. The weather hasn't been all that bad here this winter either, makes me worry about February. This is a picture from my GA Post of an egret that was snapped down on the GA coast and was my screen saver for a while.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

It looks like God had fun coloring those birds.

[Mama_Bear]

Hi (((((((((kitty mittens))))))))))! God has surely created some magnificent creatures. I can't imagine life without birds and butterflies and elephants and koalas. What a sad life it would be without them.

Have a wonderful day, friend. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

It looks like God had fun coloring those birds.

Yes, it sure does! He created some beauties, didn't He?

(((((((PAL))))))))