WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => San Gabriel Mtns Flora - Fauna => Topic started by: TooSlim on Mar 01, 08, 10:24:09 PM
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Can anyone tell me what kind of birdseed to buy for attracting birds up here? I bought some at the hardware store and I'm not attracting any, except for an occasional group of juncos. Also, do we get orioles here and when do they arrive?
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I have had great success with a number of bird seed products in Wrightwood and I buy them all at Mt Hardware. I feed one feeder with Sunflower seeds. Chickadees, Jays, Nuthatches, and House Finches all love sunflower seeds. I keep a suet feeder up year round...not just in winter. It attracts Woodpeckers, Jays, Flickers and House Finches. I also put up the Niger seed feeder (with the upside down perches) for the little Goldfinches. They also like the socks to cling to and eat. Finally, I have a feeder with the bird seed that Mike sells in the red bags that attracts everything. Everyone seems to like that...you might even attract some of the wild Band Tailed Pigeons. The Jays love whole peanuts in the shell. Have a bird bath or source of ready water for the birds. If you provide food and water, they will come.
I keep Hummingbird feeders up year round (I live at 4,500 feet) and get hummers year round. When they migrate in , I will refill 10 feeders a week. Right now, we have four or five that are feeding off the nectar from the Manzanita blossoms.
Good luck and have patience. We are fortunate to have lots of incredible wildlife in our backyard.
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Yes. We do get Orioles and Tanagers migrating through. They are here early spring and don't stay long. Thought I heard one yesterday. The Pine Siskins love thistle. I prefer suet over bird feed and make my own nectar for the hummingbirds and Orioles. And don't forget about the coveys of Quail with babies soon. Maybe Wildman can get a good pic of them. Lots of birds to be seen right from your yard.
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Is there any way that we could have some pictures posted of just the birds that are here in wrightwood and what times of year they are around?
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See this topic :
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php/topic,391.0.html
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That thread is cool but what would be really cool is something like:
Scrub Jay - picture
Time of year
what they eat
Hummingbird - picture
time of year
what kind of feeder
Oriole - picture
time of year
what kind of feed
And so on instead of having to read through several pages to find the bird you are looking for.
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Yes. We do get Orioles and Tanagers migrating through. They are here early spring and don't stay long. Thought I heard one yesterday. The Pine Siskins love thistle. I prefer suet over bird feed and make my own nectar for the hummingbirds and Orioles. And don't forget about the coveys of Quail with babies soon. Maybe Wildman can get a good pic of them. Lots of birds to be seen right from your yard.
What is your hummingbird nectar recipe, if you don't mind sharing? I am using the store bought, which sometimes leaks and leave red sugar on the patio.
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Spring: (by volume)
1/3 sugar
2/3 hot water
Summer: (by volume)
1/4 sugar
3/4 hot water
Large quantity:
5 gallon pail
10 lbs sugar
4 1/2 - 5 gallons hot water
Absolutely no nectar coloring should be used
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Here you go, Cinchy. :)
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/ident.html
I look forward to your online Wrihgtwood bird identification guide on this forum.
Thanks for thinking of it! :2thumbsup:
Everybody thank Cinchy in advance!!!! :elefant:
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I feed a nut and berry variety of seed that I get at Target. It is more expensive, but the birds love it. Unfortunately the seed at the hardware store has never attracted the birds for me. Also rite aid has a pretty good variety, one is a woodpeckers blend. The only thing abour that one is it has to many corn kernels and no one seems to eat it. Also the niger or thistle seed will attract the beautiful goldfinches. I counted through the years the different species of birds that come to my feeders and it has been over 30 species. Each season brings new birds. Also saw my first robin last week and I put out grape jelly in a little dish for them and they love it. The orioles and tanagers love when I cut an orange in half and put it on a branch!
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The Flickers, Jays and Humming Birds are now back.
Thanks Cinchy, that will be great when you get that done. :blackbat: :ballons:
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The Flickers, Jays and Humming Birds are now back.
They never left in this neighborhood. We continued to have 1 or 2 hummers all winter long. The flickers continued through winter as long as the suet holders were kept filled. Jays are always dropping by :D
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I have 1 or 2 hummers that never leave as well over in the East Cyn. Juncos all year long, quails all year long, jays all year long (scrub and stellar) and they know when you throw a peanut! Finch left at winter, hopefully they will be back soon. The red/brown birds, that look like big finches (name?) stay all year long.
My birds don't like the feed from Mt Hardware, the seeds seem to be too big and they leave them. I get my food at Petco, I buy a mixed bag of seeds with blacksunflowers in them and then get an extra back of the black sunflower seeds, they seem to be the favorite of all. The quail seem to eat the lighter colored seed and they also love the thistle that falls from the finch feeders.....
In the warmer months I have 10 hummer feeders and usually go thru 25lbs of sugar a week. They have to be filled sometimes twice a day! Just call me the Hummer House.....
I have had problems with birds hitting the window and have buried many. They seem to all fly fast when a car passes and they hit the window. I tried to hang a ribbon, and have put tape on the window but it did not work. I finally came up with the idea of hanging beads, the mardi gra type. I have 4 strands of different colors hanging spaced about 2 feet apart and it seems to have really helped......
That's my bird update. :)
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I went outside this morning to put my daughter's instruments in the van. Right at the tree outside my door, a Blue Jay was screeching at me. I told him to wait and I'd be back. Went to get the bag of peanuts from the empty cooler outside and there were four or five Jays. All at once, every Jay in the neighborhood was at the party. I ended up feeding them two handfuls before I had to go inside to get the kids to school. The feeding of the birds is one of the few things I like about spring (planting flowers being the other one).
I also bought a big package of Nyjer Seeds to fill my two finch socks. I also saw a new thing on the shelf at Petco that had a platform like thing that held two socks and to refill the socks you just fill the dome. I spill every single time I refill these socks.
Also got to get back in the routine of filling the hummingbird feeder.
I'll try that cut up oranges trick. I'd love to see an Oriole.
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Acorn Woodpecker
Time of Year:Fall
Food - Wood :)
(http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i82/dannacruzan/woody-in-the-tree-web.jpg)
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House Sparrow
Spotted in the Summer
Birdseed from Petco - mixed seeds with black sunflower
(http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i82/dannacruzan/071506-bird-on-rock---web.jpg)
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California Quail - baby
Spotted Summer - Coveys frequent WW all year long
Mixed birdseed
(http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i82/dannacruzan/072306babyquail.jpg)
California Quail - Male Adult
Spotted Winter
Mixed Birdseed
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/quail-trudging-along-web.jpg)
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Nice pics AW and just FYI - Quail like cracked corn.
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Love the photos Angelwolf. Aren't the woodpeckers digging into the wood to get the bugs??
BB, any cracked corn will do or does Jimmy have to crack the corn? ;D
Anyone know how to attract the Northern Flickers?? What do they like?
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BB, any cracked corn will do or does Jimmy have to crack the corn?
Careful, you don't want to give the Quail the Jimmy leg. ;D
Anyone know how to attract the Northern Flickers?? What do they like?
Suet and insects, especially ants.
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They love suet and works year round!
An audible notification method that seems to work well with flickers is by placing a long metal fireplace duct from your bedroom and above the roof line. They will let you know at about 5:30 am that they are in the area :crazy:
Anyone know how to attract the Northern Flickers?? What do they like?
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Here you go, Cinchy. :)
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/ident.html
I look forward to your online Wrihgtwood bird identification guide on this forum.
Thanks for thinking of it! :2thumbsup:
Everybody thank Cinchy in advance!!!! :elefant:
Sorry Nolena but I am computer challenged. Thanks Angelwolf for starting it. That is so much easier than having to read through everyone's posts to try and find a bird.
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WOW! Those are great pictures Angelwolf. I have noticed that the bag of seed I bought from The Hardware Store is made up of large pieces and it stays on the ground uneaten for weeks. Maybe I just bought the wrong bag. The person working there didn't know anything about birds. Although I still like that store for other reasons.
I will go out and buy a new oriole feeder with bee guards this weekend. I use 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of boiling water. Then I add yellow and red food coloring to make it orange. The humming birds like it too and they can access the sugarwater through the bee guards. I only mention the bee guards because I noticed an old entry on this site about problems with bees.
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I love those photos- that is so helpful since I am used to only seeing the ravens where we used to live ::) - I don't know birds well, so I will definitely be checking this out- I'll be getting some seed too- thanks for the info!
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I put an orange in my yard today. I hope to attract an oriole. I will keep an update. Has anyone else seen an oriole yet this year? If so, which one?
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I think I saw one the other day, but I have to check the references to be sure. It was about the size of one of the scrub jays, but I don't think it was an oriole due to the colors. I will let you know.
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I found the one I saw yesterday at our feeder....
It was a Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
Picture from USGS site Nolena posted earlier in this thread.
(http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/htmsl/h7280pi.jpg)
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I will go out and buy a new oriole feeder with bee guards this weekend. I use 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of boiling water. Then I add yellow and red food coloring to make it orange. The humming birds like it too and they can access the sugarwater through the bee guards. I only mention the bee guards because I noticed an old entry on this site about problems with bees.
I use the 1:4 ratio when making hummingbird food, but have only used packaged oriole food. I thought the sugar/water ratio for orioles was more like 1:6. I've also heard that food coloring is not necessary- can be harmful even. Anyone know for sure? I know too much sugar is not good for any of the birds.
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I don't use the red color, it is not needed for nutrition, it is supposed to make the birds come to the feeder. With 10 feeders in the summer I don't need to attract them. :)
I put more sugar in the colder months and lighten up as it gets warmer.
We have 2 hummers but have not seem more. 1 of them spent the winter here so I left one feeder out.
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Name: Stellar Jay
Spotted: All Seasons
Food: PEANUTS is the favorite-sunflower seeds, birdseed
(http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1062/4389886/9280270/130302407.jpg)
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Bird: House Finch
Spotted: Year Round
Food: Loves Sunflower Seeds
(http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1062/4389886/9280270/130333231.jpg)
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Bird: Mockingbird
Spotted: Late February
Food: ????
(http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1062/4389886/9280270/130333835.jpg)
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Bird: Hummingbird (not sure of what kind)
Spotted: Different times, they leave for winter (a few stay)
Food: Sugar Water - feeders and natural nectar from flowers
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1186/4522416/9527382/135170197.jpg)
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Bird: Scrub Jay
Spotted: Year Round
Food: PEANUTS - and other bird seed
(http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1062/4389886/9571116/136951745.jpg)
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darn your good Angelwolf!
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Thanks.. :) Bored at work. LOL
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Bird: Lesser Finch
Spotted: June - these birds in my area (East Cyn) left
before the first snow, they have not returned yet.
Food: Thistle
(http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i82/dannacruzan/yellow-finch-web.jpg)
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Maybe Wildman can post some of his photos with names, he gets some other type of birds that I have not captured....
:)
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Nice work, Dana! :2thumbsup:
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What a great thread! Thanks a bunch. The hummingbird is an Anna's.
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Thanks.. do you know what the orange ones are ROUFOS?
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Sometimes.
They are two rufous-colored male hummingbirds, Allen's and Rufous.
Adult male Allen's has a green back and crown and a rufous face, flanks, rump, and tail.
Adult male Rufous has a rufous face and back, flanks, rump, and tail.
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Thank you!
Bird: Robin
Spotted: Summer
Food: ????
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/goldorangebirdforweb.jpg)
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Bird: Swallow
Spotted: Summer
Food: ???
Taken up off Hw2, there are many of these at Grassy Hollow. VERY HARD TO CAPTURE as these birds fly VERY fast and dive up and down....
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/tealswallow.jpg)
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Making Your Own Hummingbird and Oriole Nectar
You can make your own hummingbird nectar by following this recipe:
Boil 4 parts water.
Mix 1 part ordinary white granulated sugar.
Stir and allow the mixture to cool.
When the nectar is room temperature, fill your clean hummingbird feeder.
You can make your own oriole nectar by following this recipe:
Boil 6 parts water.
Mix 1 part ordinary white granulated sugar.
Stir and allow the mixture to cool.
When the nectar is room temperature, fill your clean oriole feeder.
Tips:
Never use red dyes or food coloring, as they are not healthy for hummingbirds or orioles.
Never use honey when making your nectar mix. Honey attracts bees and can grow black fungus that will cause a fatal liver and tongue disease in hummingbirds.
Replace the nectar once every three to four days and clean the feeder thoroughly.
Unused nectar can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.
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If you get ants or bees on the feeder or the string, take a q-tip and put olive oil on it, just don't put it on the place where the birds sit or the hole where they drink from. This works fabulously! We get serious bees and ants on our feeders.
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Making Your Own Hummingbird and Oriole Nectar
What does an Oriole feeder look like?
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If you get ants or bees on the feeder or the string, take a q-tip and put olive oil on it, just don't put it on the place where the birds sit or the hole where they drink from. This works fabulously! We get serious bees and ants on our feeders.
I was told once to use vaseline at the string to prevent the ants from crawling and reaching the feeder. Funny thing is, they still got to it by bulding a bridge of bodies over the petroleum jelly. Granted, those that were on the jelly died, but there are so many of them. When I cleaned out the feeders, there were a great number of dead ants still.
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What does an Oriole feeder look like?
I have seen these at Mtn Hardware:
http://doitbest.com/Bird+Feeders-Woodstream-model-467-3-doitbest-sku-730169.dib
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love_walnuts, have you tried one of these??
(http://www.duncraft.com/images/ant-250.jpg)
For years I avoided putting up a hummingbird feeder because I hate the ants that come with the feeder. Then I started using these things and no longer have ant problems. I buy one every year and have not seen ants on my hummingbird feeders in years. I have problems with bees, even with the bee guard. Sometimes my poor hummers have to wait until a bee leaves before feeding.
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Olive oil is much cheaper...and the ants can't crawl over it. :) I usually have up 10 feeders...
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Olive oil is much cheaper...and the ants can't crawl over it. :) I usually have up 10 feeders...
Does it have to be extra virgin olive oil? :D
Why not vegetable oil?
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i used olive oil cuz that is what i use... no veg oil... :) i thought it would be better for the birds just in case they get some of it...
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love_walnuts, check out this link for more types of feeders, and orioles also love grape jelly or orange marmalade...
but then, so do I :2thumbsup:
http://www.birdsforever.com/oriolepdts.html
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Bird: Oriole
Spotted: Summer
Food: Feeds on my hummingbird feeders
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/orioleweb.jpg)
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I saved a Hummingbird yesterday!
I picked him up out of the snow, warmed him in the house in my hands and fed him and he is now happy and free again.....
He was very trusting, did not fight me at all.
Poor things, it warms up so they come back and then they are freezing..... :(
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/feeding-hummingbird.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/hummer-3.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/me-and-hummingbird.jpg)
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That is just awesome!!!! Man, you must feel great to be able to help that little bird. Thanks for caring.
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Cool.
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love all the pictures and info....
That photo of the Stellar Jay is amazing!
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Meant to post this earlier. Been busy attending Pac 10 and NCAA tournaments. I use the 4 to 1 ratio that MP posted and food coloring is not necessary and is harmful. Dirty feeders will kill. Hummingbird feeders should be taken down during the winter so the birds will migrate on. Nice pic's everyone...........
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I disagree about taking all the feeders down. We have many birds that pass through this are and they will perish if there is no food. I leave one feeder up all year. We do have a few birds that will not leave. One seems to stay each year....
I agree about cleaning and the color....
I have 2 feeders out now, we have about 4 that have returned.
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Leaving a sugar water feeder up in autumn will not keep Ruby-throated Hummingbirds from migrating. Hummer migration is stimulated by photoperiod, so as days become shorter in fall local hummingbirds begin to put on fat and soon depart for the tropics. Nearly all hummers that stay behind are those that are ill or "genetically inferior," and it's likely they would die in migration anyway.
At most locations in the eastern U.S. and southern Canada, 99.9% of the ruby-throats are gone by 15 October, and adult males don't begin to return until mid-March. Females follow soon thereafter.
We suggest you maintain one half-full hummingbird feeder through the winter for as long as you wish, changing the artificial nectar weekly. You may need to bring the feeder in at night to keep it from freezing and put it out the next morning when you fill your seed feeders....
http://www.rubythroat.org/FeedersMain.html
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During Easter Services at the top of Oak the Hummers were having a great time at the feeders the property owners had out. But they haven't come north and down hill to my feeders yet. Guess they will soon, as it is warming up a little more.
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Does anyone have orioles yet? I've had an orange out for about a week and it hasn't been touched.
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Saw a robin this morning, but still no oriole :(
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Bullock's Oriole was just on my Oriole feeder. They should be in WW soon.
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Today I watched a big infusion of Pine Siskens at my feeder here on Cardinal Street. Approx. 50-60 Siskins came in around noon time, they were flying every where and one of the birds slammed into the window but was able to fly away. Next came the Juncos and within the flock was two Lark Sparrows. The Lark Sparrows came back all day to feed on the seeds that I put on the ground. The Band Tailed Pigeons came next with a count of 25-30 they ate some bird seed got a drink of water and then flew off because they got startled by a passing car. It is important to watch the birds because they can indicate the change of seasons as well of the status of migration routes.
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Any advice for keeping the woodpeckers from drilling holes in our house? Or how to plug up the holes that have already been pecked? Our house was vacant for some years and they really went to town!
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The Orioles have been around for a week or so and should be filtering into the higher country. We get both types of Oriole which is fun to watch as they are territorial. We have them in Spring and Fall but not during Summer.
We are losing all our Pine Siskins and Lesser Goldfinches as they move to higher ground also.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66/fdwildman/more%20stuff%20for%20wrightwood/oriole.jpg)
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Saw my first orioles yesterday!! ;D I put up an orange cut in half on the branches of my tree and it only took about 1/2 an hour for them to start eating it. I just love watching them, so bright in color flying around. I am lucky because they come back every year and build their nests at the top of my neighbors spruce trees. I was lucky last year cause they built one in my backyard tree. Hopefully they will do the same this year. I was watching them this morning in my neighbors tree so I'm sure they will build there again this year!
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Thought I'd share this: Those orioles are quite a joy to watch! I was watching all the birds coming to eat at the feeders when I heard this tap tap tap noise. I looked over at my driveway and there was the male oriole, sitting on the the side of my car and pecking at himself in the side view mirror. I forgot that they seem to do this each and every year when I first notice them back in town. I was amused by him each time I would sit out on the porch. He did it all day long and will probably continue it for the next few weeks. I guess he's afraid that oriole in the mirror will try and take away his mate!
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I'm going to ask again, hoping my post doesn't get lost in the thread again:
I use a 6:1 ratio for the oriole food (6 c water, 1c sugar) Is this what others do?
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That's what the recipe in here recommends.
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/nature/oriole-food.shtml
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Hummingbird food is 4 to 1 (water to sugar), right?
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Yes.
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Hummers are back!!! Had about 20 at my feeders this evening...
Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
Often described as "feisty," the Rufous may have the ideal size-to-weight ratio among North American hummingbirds. This bird outflies all other species, and usually gets its way at feeders at the expense of slower, less-maneuverable hummers. The Rufous has the longest migration route of all US hummingbirds.
Spotted - April 4, 2008
Food - Sugar Water
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/Digitalsbydanna/rufoushummingbirdjg040308signed.jpg)
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This is definately birds but, they definately ain't in Wrightwood.
Live streaming video of an eagle nest in the Channel Islands. :o :2thumbsup:
http://chil.vcoe.org/eagle_cam.htm
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Today my wife and I saw a pair of bald eagles in the lower part of Lone Pine Canyon. I wonder if it is the same pair I saw a couple of years ago at Silverwood Lake?
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Bird: Pine Siskin - Female (I think)
Spotted: 04/18/08 East Canyon
Food: Nyjer Seed in a Sock Feeder
(http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2108/9096128/16723879/313833368.jpg)
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Bird: Unknown (perhaps someone can fill this in?)
Spotted: 04/18/08 - Swarthout Road at LPC
Food: ???
I was out taking pics of flowers and this bird was singing up a storm, took me awhile to find it but I finally did, and it was very pretty!
(http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2108/9096128/16723879/313833373.jpg)
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California Towhee
"...feeds on the ground or in low scrub where it prefers a variety of seeds and some insects."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Towhee
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Have the orioles left? Haven't seen any at my feeder in a couple of days. Anyone else noticed their absence?
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Have the orioles left? Haven't seen any at my feeder in a couple of days. Anyone else noticed their absence?
Yes, the hooded orioles that nest in my backyard have left. A bit early???
I read this:
Migration/Dispersal: No data exist for juvenile dispersal of Hooded Orioles, but migration patterns are better understood. A few individuals overwinter in southern California and southern Arizona, but most winter in coastal regions of Mexico. The winter range in Mexico includes the breeding range as in addition to western coastal Mexico south to Oaxaca. Spring migrants abound in Sonora, Mexico from March to May, and arrive in southern California in early March and arrive in northern California in late March. Most birds depart northern California by early September.
here: http://birding.about.com/od/birdspecies/p/hooded_oriole.htm
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I saw two Harris Hawks yesterday above the ridge on Jackson Flat campground road. They were cruising around riding the currents and one was screeching loudly. Very cool.