Morning, Cliff. When we first moved here, anticipated that I would see both Copper’s & Sharp-shinneds with equal regularity. But, just hasn’t been the case. I see, at most, 2-3 Cooper’s in a year’s time, where can sometimes see that many Sharp-shinneds in a day.
An interesting aside, crow & raven numbers. In the past 5 years, Common Ravens have become quite regular. And, American Crow sightings are rare, now, at our place. Crows are common in town, but Ravens are more common outside of town, itself. For our first 30 yrs here, a Raven was a real treat to observe, and usually a fly-over. Now, are quite regular, even landing on our place. I’m always intrigued by these changes.
Interesting you don’t see Cooper’s at your place. I see them all
summer along the South Fork of the Snake so I would have thought
they nest in riparian habitat at Blackfoot. Live and learn…
Cliff
On 6/22/23 11:51AM, lcarrigan_55 wrote:
Hi Diann! I rarely see a Cooper’s over this way, but do get
Sharp-shinneds. For the most part, aside from the occasional pile
of junco feathers during winter, the sharpies seem to mainly
concentrate on the introduced Collared Doves, which doesn’t hurt
my feelings. Keeps their numbers in check. W Tanagers just pass
through our elevation along the river & are more common in
conifer forests up higher, over on our side of the state. Am
pleased with the BH Grosbeak & Bullock’s Oriole numbers this
year, though.
Just got back from a 2-mile walk through the riparian area &
to the river, then returned home. Found a very active Red-naped
Sapsucker, young Robins out of the nest searching for earthworms,
House Wrens & Yellow Warblers taking food back to nests &
a W Wood-Pewee that must be nesting close by. I heard a RB
Nuthatch, too, this AM…but never saw it, either.
Hi Diann! I rarely see a Cooper’s over this way, but do get Sharp-shinneds. For the most part, aside from the occasional pile of junco feathers during winter, the sharpies seem to mainly concentrate on the introduced Collared Doves, which doesn’t hurt my feelings. Keeps their numbers in check. W Tanagers just pass through our elevation along the river & are more common in conifer forests up higher, over on our side of the state. Am pleased with the BH Grosbeak & Bullock’s Oriole numbers this year, though.
Just got back from a 2-mile walk through the riparian area & to the river, then returned home. Found a very active Red-naped Sapsucker, young Robins out of the nest searching for earthworms, House Wrens & Yellow Warblers taking food back to nests & a W Wood-Pewee that must be nesting close by. I heard a RB Nuthatch, too, this AM…but never saw it, either.
Reading about the imaginative Lazuli Buntings brought me a smile, so thanks for that.
I hear Red-breasted Nuthatches but don’t see them. Female Black-chinned hummers are using all four of my hummingbird feeders. I’ve been pleased to also see them feeding at the Heuchera blossoms which are now in full flower.
Nothing has used my suet feeder. According to the Merlin sound app a Western Tanager was singing 6/16, but I couldn’t see it. Too many oak leaves or the huge blue spruce is too tall and too dense to see through.
The neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk nested in the neighbor’s tree which I assume is part of the reason for fewer birds in my yard. I have refrained from putting water in my bird bath to not provide an easy meal for the Cooper’s. One young is definitely out of the nest. Based on adult behavior I think at least one is in the nest as it looked like an adult flew to the nest to tear food to feed an nest occupant.
Am glad to see more House Wrens this yr, than last. Sev are nesting, and, like you noted, numerous BH Grosbeaks this year. Have never had a Sandhill nest on the place, but enjoy their flights overhead. Interesting, about the millet seed, Bill. Must be a geographic reason for where certain seeds work best.
When I was experimenting with difft seeds, the last eaten would be the millet, plus it started attracting House Sparrows. So, the only seed I put out now is black-oil sunflower. I rarely get a House Sparrow showing for those. I also tried jams for the Orioles, and they would hit it, but so would the House Finches. And, the finches would make a mess of it, defecating in the jam, etc. I seem to have hit a good balance with a platform feeder of the sunflower seeds & the nectar feeder. Along with a single suet feeder for woodpeckers , those are the only feeders & foods I put out now.
We’ve got loads of BH Grosbeaks. Either the male female ratio is way skewed to females or the first brood of juvies is now hitting the feeders. House wrens are again nesting here, now in mast for satellite dish. Sandhills have gone quiet while they raise two colts.
Wow, very cool! We have both Lazuli Buntings & Bullock’s Orioles nesting on place, along the Snake River. A Lazuli pair comes in every AM, early, to hit sunflower seeds, but have never seen them at the nectar feeder. Rarely see them much past daybreak. The male Oriole must sleep in, because he shows about an hour or so after sunrise. Interestingly, have only seen male, no female, Bullock’s at the nectar. Also, have Gray Catbirds nesting again this year, that started about 4 yrs ago.
I’ve also got imaginative lazulis who have moved on from millet feeders to sunflower seeds and hummer feeder. First time for that here. Anyone else see lazulis hitting nectar feeder?
Have been keeping up with my nectar feeder amount to estimate number of Black-chinneds coming in, but the math just didn’t seem to add up. Kept thinking the amt of nectar dropping was simply more than the number of hummingbirds I was calculating. Think I found my culprit this AM, lol!
Beautiful male Bullock’s Oriole, tilts the feeder & then laps the nectar from the port.
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