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naborly
Citizen
Username: Naborly
Post Number: 245
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 6:44 pm: |     |
I am an amateur birdwatcher -- ie, I see a bird and I watch it. I have slowly become more aware of varieties around here different from the chickadees, sparrows, crows and robins that are the most familiar.
This spring I looked up to follow a new peeping sound and saw my first flock of cedar waxwings. Last week saw a hawk sitting on the roof of my car.
Anyone else out there intrigued with watching for new birds from their back deck or front door? What have you seen? Have you been able to attract hummingbirds to a feeder? What types of feeders are best to attract the widest variety of birds and keep away squirrels? Does it matter what kind of seed you buy? |
Cedar
Citizen
Username: Cedar
Post Number: 94
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 7:14 pm: | |
Love this thread.....my echinacea, and probably the daisy family types, attract a good number of goldfinches, particularly at this time of year. (Maybe subtract 2-3 weeks - things are looking pretty bleak out there right now.) If anyone knows of a seed/mix that will attract these beauties, I'd love to hear about it, in addition to naborly's question.
I am one who, when given the opportunity, loves to sit in the yard, quietly observe and consult my field guide to attempt to ID the birds I see. This is an interest since childhood that I try desperately to instill in my child. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 740
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 8:18 pm: | |
We have a feeder filled with thistle (niger) seed that the goldfinches like when they are here. Some years we see lots of them and other years we don't see them at all. We use black oil sunflower seed in our other feeders most of the time or sometimes we put out sunflower or corn kernels in one of our feeders. (We have several.) In the winter we also put out suet in a suet cage feeder. We also see multiple varieties of sparrows (not just house sparrows), nuthatches, cardinals, jays, mourning doves, juncoes, titmice and probably some others I'm not thinking of at the moment.
My spouse is the expert but, after 19+ years, I've gotten fairly good at identifying the usual cast of characters.
We have never been successful at attracting hummingbirds but have heard of others in the area who have, so we are thinking of trying again. Not sure if it may be too late for this year, however (?)
By having the feeders right outside our dining room window, it has become a mealtime pasttime and our kids have also developed a reasonable level of interest and knowledge as a result (although they aren't quite as anxious to spend great amounts of our vacations chasing birds as the adults in the family ... particularly their father and grandparents.) |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 40
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 8:54 pm: | |
I regularly see goldfinches and house finches on our thistle feeder. But I also see the goldfinches on the echinacea (cone flower) and on the cosmos and the sunflowers after they've gone to seed.
I have heard some bird enthusiasts rail against hummingbird feeders. I don't know if there are scientific studies to support this or not, but the argument is that the standard sugar-water-red-food-coloring mixture goes bad very quickily, especially in heat and sun. When it does, it quickly becomes toxic to hummingbirds. It has been recommended to me that, instead of using feeders, one should attempt to attract hummingbirds by planting flowers they like. Trumpet vine is good, as are fuschia hanging baskets and butterfly bush.
I've seen two hawks, probably red tails, in my backyard (I'm near the village.) Once I looked out to see a red tail hawk sitting in my yard, atop a bloody mass of feathers. My first thought was, "I sure hope I don't have to clean that up!" And at that moment, the hawk grabbed the dead pigeon in it's talons, and flew away with it (to my vast relief.) |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 57
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2003 - 9:51 pm: | |
I stopped feeding the birds years ago when I got a cat because I didn't want them to become her lunch. Now that the cat is dead, I may start feeding them again. Last spring and summer I had two red-tailed hawks raise a family in a tree behind my house. I have seen cardinals, purple and gold finches, nuthatches, towhees, rose-breasted grosbeaks, indigo buntings, hummingbirds, pileated woodpeckers, flickers amd downey woodeckers on my property and in the reservation. Great blue herons can be seen early in the morning on the pond on South Orange Avenue, just before JFK parkway. I am always amazed at the many different animals and birds who share our small suburban spaces with us, and gratified that they are here. |
bets
Citizen
Username: Bets
Post Number: 390
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 5, 2003 - 12:46 am: | |
I'll never forget seeing the mating dance of two egrets on the hillock that connects Third St. Playground to (of all places) the South Orange dump. It was mid-morning about 5 years ago as I was walking my dog, and was one of the most beautiful and silly sights I've ever seen. The waterbirds (egrets and blue herons) are around constantly; if you don't see them on the ground they're a great sight in the air. |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5326
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 5, 2003 - 12:56 am: | |
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naborly
Citizen
Username: Naborly
Post Number: 246
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 5, 2003 - 7:56 pm: | |
Ah, yes ... I see those at our suet cakes. What a good picture you took. Looks just like the red-bellied woodpecker in my National Audubon Society Field Guide.
I am disappointed I have never seen a Goldfinch. Considering that it's the state bird of NJ, I would hope to have an easier time spotting one. Guess I should buy a thistle feeder.
Last winter, there was a hawk in a backyard tree. Too far away, even with binoculars for me to say whether it was a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Exciting nonetheless.
I have never seen an indigo bunting or towhee or rose-breasted grosbeak or purple finch. Did you see them all around MW or far away? I have hopes I will see one soon and will keep my eyes peeled.
But I have seen an American Kestral (I think) attacking a small songbird outside MMS. And a house finch and a Hairy Woodpecker and a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Keep me posted. Looking forward to hearing about other birds in MW.
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joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 113
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 6, 2003 - 12:14 pm: | |
Hi -
I have seen all the usual suspects as well as pine, blue and rose breasted grosbeaks in the backyard. Downy, redbellied wood peckers, Northern flickers. I saw a hummer a about a month ago.
I've seen towhees and all sorts of warblers in South Mountain. I've see osperys and all sorts of hawks over head in Memorial Park. I have seen a belted kingfisher there as well.
If Joe Zeller offers it - join the Breakfast Birding adult class this spring.
Also, join NJ Auduban (can't spell) and visit the Great Swamp for red headed wood peckers, blue birds, king birds, herons, etc....and the Hoffman-Sherman Sanctuary.
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 58
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 6, 2003 - 1:59 pm: | |
The indigo buntings, towhees and rose breasted grosbeaks are up in the reservation. Take the road to Washington Rock, left off South Orange Avenue, past the apartment house. Dive to the parking area, and then walk (or bike) about a mile down to the overlook at end of the road. That's where you'll see the indigo buntings. They like tall trees with sace between them. You will probably hear their distinctive song before you see them. They may not be there so late in the season--the best time tio see them is in the spring and summer. I have seen the towhees as I walked along the road to the overlook. YOu can hear their distinctive "drink your tea" call, and I've spotted the rose breasted grosbeaks in the trees on the same road. I also saw a flock of wild turkeys there--it's amazing how much they resemble dinosaurs. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2024
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 6, 2003 - 2:03 pm: | |
Their little drumsticks are so cute....Yum!
There's nothing like being in a BAR! |
naborly
Citizen
Username: Naborly
Post Number: 247
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 6, 2003 - 10:55 pm: | |
Drumsticks? ... Only if you can catch 'em and fight 'em first.
Thanks for all the good info. I'm excited to know that there is such a variety to see. Guess my mistake was to limit my looking to the winter backyard bird feeder. Now the trouble is, gotta stay hyped until next Spring to see a lot of those birds you mentioned.
I'll mark my calendar to look for that birding class in the Spring, check out the Great Swamp once again and the reservation. Is the Hoffman-Sherman Sanctuary part of the Great Swamp?
Keep posting your seasonal sightings. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 114
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 8:43 am: | |
Hoffman-Sherman is part of NJ Audubon. It's near the Great Swamp - just a bit further out. It's a nice ride. They have really nice trails and have classes and walks. There's a shop that sells binocs and has a huge picture window that overlooks about a dozen different feeders that are always hopping. You should consider joining NJ Audubom. http://www.njaudubon.org/ |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 743
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 - 5:04 pm: | |
Actually, in case you are searching the phone book or other such linear directory, it is Scherman-Hoffman. Although it is near the Great Swamp - just farther out - as Joy says, it is about as quick to get there because you can go almost entirely on the highway. Route 24 to I-287 South and then take exit 30B. I think that you can follow the signs from there, but just in case - check the NJ Audubon website for detailed directions. It is not far at that point.
Our family always enjoys our visits there, both for the nice walks and birding and for the shop! |
naborly
Citizen
Username: Naborly
Post Number: 249
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 9, 2003 - 9:07 am: | |
Thanks for all the info. I'd like to visit S-H soon. I had never heard of it. Using the Audubon site too. |
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