Birds of Wrightwood [Slow loading-lots of photos]

[naturalist]

[naturalist]

While speaking of birds and the coming of Autumn,
I would like to put in a plug for shade-grown coffee.
If you are a coffee drinker and a bird lover, you should only buy shade-grown beans as they are grown under the canopy which maintains habitat for neotropical migrant songbirds--ie, most of the fall and spring migrants we get coming through Wrightwood!

Ponder this while drinking your morning brew watching the birds at your feeder...

[Wrightwood]

These were originally posted in the main Forum.

Acorn Woodpecker.

One of the noisiest birds in Wrightwood    


Anna's Hummingbirds
One of the most common Hummingbirds found.
Hummingbirds by nature are difficult to
photograph due to their quick movement
and constant motion, needed to maintain flight.

Truly amazing to watch and even better to
capture on Hi Res Digital.

[Wrightwood]

Scrub Jay
These friendly birds are one of our favorites.

[WWMtnGal]

What beautiful photos those are!  It is so nice to see the pictures identifying the birds that I have seen but have not known what they are!

[johnNjeri]

Ahhh, nature at our doorsteps and window sills!  

Seriously, I tremendously enjoy all the lovely birds in WW.  Yesterday I spotted a rufous sided towhee; a bird I had only seen in birdwatcher's guides until I moved here.

I especially enjoy the robins (typically a harbinger of Spring on the east coast), scrub jays, stellers jays, black capped chickadee's, nuthatches, wrens, bluebirds, and hummingbirds that greet me each day. Bird song fills the autumn air, and reminds us our good fortune to live in such a lovely area.

Has anyone successfully tamed the jays to take peanuts out of your hands? When visiting Florida last summer I was delighted to see my parents do just that with their local scrub jays. I would like to replicate that same experience here at home.

We are blessed to have so many feathered friends! West Nile Virus: stay away from WW!

[Wrightwood]

Over the years the Scrub Jays have always been the friendliest birds in town.
I hesitated to post these from what the purists bird watchers might say but since it was brought up....

This Jay took about a 1 day to start taking peanuts from our hands.

 

And some people try to get them to do tricks.

 

[headchat]

This is a most amazing picture!

Thank you so much for posting this picture of 'Scrub Jays'.  I didn't know what I was seeing.

Actually, these photos are so excellent that they far exceed the commercial books that are available in stores.

We have so many wonderful birds in WW.  We surely are blessed with their visitation.  How can we best feed them?  

[Wrightwood]

We use unsalted peanuts. (Costco)

I'm sure someone out there will tell me if they will die of cancer from peanuts, but that's what they love.

If you really want to attract the birds put a small water fountain on your deck. The birds will use it all day long.

Remember that drought we have, the birds need water too. (the water fountain only holds about a quart of water and is a table top cheapy. Uses about a glass or two of water a day with 50-100 birds using it.)

I have yet to have a Steller's Jay or Acorn WoodPecker take a peanut from my hand. Close....

Numerous Scrub Jays over the years..

[naturalist]

In terms of feeding the birds, Mountain Hardware carries bird seed and feeders of various kinds.  Suet feeders are great for attracting all kinds of birds that don't come to regular seed feeders--I get Western Bluebirds, Northern Flickers, Nutall's Woodpeckers, Acorn Woodpeckers, and of course Pygmy and White Breasted Nuthatches at my suet feeder.  Once the Flickers start in, the suet cakes don't last long, but it's worth it to see these giant birds right outside my window hanging on the little suet feeder!  I'll have to try and get some photos--just got my digital camera and haven't tried taking too many wildlife photos yet!

[naturalist]

One issue of debate on feeding birds is squirrels!  I think feeding the squirrels is very entertaining.  I heard of someone who had a regular "squirrel circus" in their backyard with various devices that the squirrels had to learn to master in order to get the food--including a tight rope and ferris wheel and teeter-totter!  I just have one of those feeders that opens when they sit on the shelf, and it's hysterical to watch them figure it out in different ways.  Lots of bird feeders get all kinds of fancy devices to keep the squirrels from their bird feeders, but since they are both fun to watch, I let them share.

[Wrightwood]

Since the naturalist didn't tell me that I was
killing the birds with Costco peanuts I decided
to take a few shots while waiting for dinner.

Wrightwood Steller's Jay

[naturalist]

Yay for the punk rock bird!!  With his black mohawk, blue eyebrows, plaid wings and attitude--not to mention that lovely voice...  great head-banging action shot!  

[johnNjeri]

I've noticed hummingbirds are conspicuously absent these last few weeks, despite my array of nectar feeders.

Does anyone know if they have migrated to warmer climes?

[gus]

our humming birds are still around

[Mountain_Witch]

I've noticed hummingbirds are conspicuously absent these last few weeks, despite my array of nectar feeders.

Does anyone know if they have migrated to warmer climes?

I noticed a decline all year in hummers. As for the last couple years I would have well over a hundred of them at my feeders during the summer and fall months, whereas this year I was only filling one feeder per week instead of 5 feeders every other day. As for migrating, some hummers stay close all year long. Last winter I would have one or two fly by my window every now and looking for a quick snack. It was kinda neat to see them hovering at my window with snow falling all around. Unfortunately they found nothing and flew off, probably to warmer elevations. In general, some hummers will stick around till the last minute depending on the weather conditions and food supply. As they not only depend on necter, but also on knats and small spiders.

[Mountain_Witch]

By the way, great job on the photos. You should think about sending them into Birds & Blooms magazine or possibly displaying them at the gallery. Now there's an idea for up here. A photagraphy workshop. That's another subject. Anyway I just thought I would share a few of my favorite birding websites. There are a lot of good sites out there besides these that I'm sure you will find interesting, full of great topics and lots of usefull information.

Birds & Blooms October/November 2002
www.birdsandblooms.com

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
www.ornith.cornell.edu

National Audubon Society
www.audubon.org

American Bird Conservancy
www.abcbirds.org

Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History
www.rtpi.org

[Mountain_Witch]

 oops! I almost forgot one for the hummers.

www.hummingbirds.net

[Mountain_Witch]

Since my favorite holiday is right around the corner, I would like to remind everyone who will be butchering a pumpkin this year not to let the seeds go to waist.
Dry them out and use them as a critter treat. Chipmunks and squirrels like to munch on them and there are a few birds like the Jays (who will eat almost anything to begin with), woodpeckers and even chickadees and nuthatches will eat them too.

[naturalist]

Yum--pumpkin seeds!  Great idea!  I might share mine with the critters...

A note on hummers, leave those feeders up in case they come by!  I noticed the lack of hummingbirds when it got really cold, then a few have been coming around this week.  I've seen them around even with snow on the ground!  They are pretty tough little guys!