Does anybody like to watch birds?

[Meadowlark]

Interesting article on declining bird populations.

It mentioned "Eastern meadowlark populations across the U.S. grasslands have dropped by about three-quarters since 1970."

I can anecdotally completely agree with this as we have seen a steady and now significant decline in the number of Meadowlark's that return here each year. Very sad.

Bird losses are accelerating across North America, particularly in farming regions where agriculture is most intensive

 

[dirty hands]

Did you Id that one @dirty hands?

No I didnt. Im not sure what bird that is.

I looked into my settings on my camera for identifying birds when i made aome repairs on it. I have to pay for the cloud service for that option.

I didnt look but im wondering now if I could get the bird call ID with that too. It might be worth it to do that.

 

[Meadowlark]

No I didnt. Im not sure what bird that is.

It has the markings of some of the sparrows I see here...maybe the Red Fox sparrow but can't see the head for any coloring. The tail is kind of long for one of the sparrows also.

 

[dirty hands]

I cant remember where the conversation is but I figured out why plants dont grow under bird feeders.

I have to watch where I step when filling them.

 

[Sheal]

It mentioned "Eastern meadowlark populations across the U.S. grasslands have dropped by about three-quarters since 1970."

That's a huge drop. Are the birds now protected?

 

[Meadowlark]

They are protected "physically" meaning it is illegal to harm them directly or their nests...but indirectly they are not protected from the widespread use of e.g. pesticides and herbicides and/or habitat destruction.

Back in the day, in fall/winter, my fields would have literally hundreds of them. Now, sadly. only a handful.

 

[Meadowlark]

New bird Id today...Brown Creeper (Certhia American). Has real thin high-pitched call. Never seen one before.

 

[Meadowlark]

Another sparrow variety captured today on video...the Field Sparrow. These are fairly common here but just haven't shown up at the camera feeder before now. However, they are very active on the suet feeder.

Their call is very distinctive sometimes described as a bouncing ball trill. Unfortunately, I can't post the video with the sound, but it is definitely distinctive.

One source declared that "The male Field Sparrow starts singing in spring vigorously until he finds a mate, but after that he sings only occasionally." Sounds like a married man... .

Come on now @Sheal you have to like this sparrow...just a little?

The field sparrow...

 

[dirty hands]

Its sure been windy here. I watched the camera for a little while when I saw some activity.

I take screenshot instead of using the camera to take pictures. My Sim card fills up fast and I cant always find the pictures from it lol.

 

[Sheal]

Here you go @Meadowlark ...

Sorry you won't convince me. House Sparrows are taboo here as far as I'm concerned. Mice with wings, scavengers and breed like mice. They will find any way into a house roof to nest and have up to three clutches of young during the breeding season - which is from spring through to the end of summer. Being woken early in the morning by their constant noise is so annoying. Believe me I've suffered in the past.

Can you imagine putting up with this constant chirping from a dozen or more under the house roof - they don't sing. What grieves me is they are legally protected.

 

[Meadowlark]

A highly undesirable bird visitor snuck into the camera bird feeder running off all others yesterday. This sorry bird is my biggest threat in my garden every year.

The American Crow...

 

[dirty hands]

My camera lenses is froze over again but im seeing the word ducks nesting in the trees again. I will have to get some new pictures of them.

There are 2 bald eagles i had been watching perch on a dead tree by the river but the tree fell last year so I dont see them as often now. I did see them take flight from ground level yesterday though.

 

[Meadowlark]

The Fish Crow paid a visit to the feeder today. The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) is a medium size bird slightly smaller than the American Crow and has a distinctive “uh-uh” call. They enjoy the ponds here on the Ranch.

 

[dirty hands]

A couple robins in the yard.

 

[DiggersJo]

A couple robins in the yard.

Very interesting, Starlings with red breast...