Invite birds into your backyard

If you're new to birding, the best place to begin is in your backyard. Of course, birds are choosey about where they visit or live. They need adequate shelter, food, and water. (Photo of Blue Jay provided by Dave Menke, USFWS) Do evergreen trees and shrubs grow in your backyard? These can provide birds with year-round protection from weather, while deciduous trees (those with leaves that fall in autumn and return in the spring) can provide roosting and nesting locations. For example, the white birch tree beside my house is a favorite roosting spot for the many birds visiting my feeder. In every season the branches of this tree are daily filled with a host birds awaiting a turn at the feeder. Trees and shrubs also provide birds with seeds, fruits, and nuts. A yard providing shelter, food, and water will attract many birds. If you've no natural water source (pond or stream), you can always include a pedestal bird bath to your landscape. But be sure to keep the water fresh and clean. Start now. Take a survey of the trees and bushes in your yard and be sure to see who's visiting within their branches today. Georgia Anne

Finches at My Feeder

It's snowing this morning in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, but that doesn't stop the traffic of birds at my feeder filled with black-oil sunflower seeds. Last time I mentioned House Finches, so let's look at them briefly. 

NOTE: Today is March 19, 2021, and NOT November 21, 2008. I was doing some online "house cleaning" and discovered that the original photo was lost to time. It has disappeared. So I'm uploading another that showcases a male House Finch as the central figure amongst so many male Goldfinches. 

The image here is that of a the male House Finch, which is different in coloring than that of the female. In an earlier post, I noted that male and female birds are often (but not always) different in coloring. In this photo you see the rosy blush of color on the male's head and chest. (Search the term "House Finch" in your favorite search engine to see just how many different Web sites will provide you with photos and even audio clips!) 

The female House Finch, however, has no such rosy blush of color. So when learning to identify birds, you must keep in mind that recognizing the male of the species is only a start--a very GOOD start--but nonetheless a start. You'll also need to recognize the female . . . but even more: many birds change plumage through the seasons. A great example is the Goldfinch. The male Goldfinch is a striking little bird of bright yellow with a black cap on his head, dipping into his forehead. The female, however, is a less showy greenish-yellow color. But here's where things get more interesting. In the winter, the male Goldfinch looses his bright yellow plumage. Through the winter he looks very much like his female counterpart. So you can see, learning bird identification, including a birds songs and calls, is no simple matter. But it's certainly fun! Till next time . . . Happy birding! Georgia Anne

What's a Bird Blog?

Good morning birders! Before I share with you the birds at my feeder this morning, let me explain the Bird Blog. Here I'll post birding observations, facts, and tips to help you become a birder. We'll also be discussing topics related to my book, The Legend Awakes, as well, but more on that later. I also encourage you to comment to any posts any time! Look for the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Now on to this morning's visitors. It's raining steadily here in Clearfield County, where I live just atop the Allegheny Plateau. If you don't recognize the birds I list here, then go to my favorite online birding site: All About Birds (sponsored by Cornell Lab or Ornithology). http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/ At All About Birds, select the Bird Guide and enter the bird's name to obtain lots of information, a photograph, and a sound clip of its call or song. This a wonderful source to learn about birds!

 So what am I seeing and hearing this morning outside my kitchen window? Well, the regular group is here (those discussed briefly above): Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Juncos (though I haven't seen the Northern Cardinals this morning). Otherwise, the neighborhood Blue Jays are making quite a racket (but then they usually do). Blue Jays are quite a boisterous species. Right now one sits atop the wooden support beam from which my feeders hang. It's calling aloud to its friends as if to say, "Chow's on!" A moment ago, the pretty black and white Downy Woodpecker made an appearance. He never stays long; just grabs a seed and hurries off somewhere to pry open the seed shell. The male has a red patch of color on the back side of his head, while the female does not. Above you see the female Downy Woodpecker (image provided by Fish & Wildlife Service Digital Library). This message is getting too long but I must mentione the finches that are here: American Goldfinch and the House Finch. More on these later. If you don't know these birds, look them up now at All About Birds! Till next time . . . Happy birding! Georgia Anne

Hello readers!

On this overcast November day, I'm happy to begin what I hope will be a lively posting site for birdwatchers everywhere. As I write this greeting, I watch through my kitchen window the many birds visiting my feeder filled with black-oil sunflower seeds.

Do you know what birds I see? I'll tell you.

Let's begin with the jaunty Black-capped Chickadee. This little bird is one of my favorite year-round visitors to the feeder. Each morning these chatty birds await the refilling of the feeder with a loud chorus of "chick-a-dee-dee-dee."

Also here today, I see many Tufted Titmice. These small, soft gray birds have a tufted crest and round black eyes, which are so big they remind me of buttons. And while the chickadees are calling "chick-a-dee-dee-dee," I'll hear a chorus of "peter, peter, peter," from the titmice. (Look for a reference to the Tufted Titmouse in chapter 1 of The Legend Awakes.)

Another daily visitor is the White-breasted Nuthatch. This little bird is distinctly different from the other two in its behavior at the feeder. For instance, while the other two fly directly to the feeder's edge to snatch their seeds and fly away again, the nuthatch usually climbs about the post, circling it up and down before hopping to takes his seed and fly away.

Finally, I'll end today's list of visitors with the Dark-eyed Junco. This bird is a bit larger than the others and the male and female are slightly different in their coloring. In fact, male and female birds do typically vary in the color of their plumage, though not so for the chickadee and titmouse. However, the male junco is darker gray than the female, who seems more brownish-gray to me. But both have full white bellies, with white outer tail feathers that give them a very distinguished look. Juncos prefer to take their seeds directly from the ground.

Well, let's add a dash a color before I close since the bright red male Northern Cardinal just made an appearance. (Read about a special Cardinal in chapter 2 of The Legend Awakes.)

Can anyone reading this blog describe for us the appearance of the female Cardinal?

I'll end with that question and here's hoping you have a good birding day!

Georgia Anne