Birds in the back yard

[roony]

Nope, Downy Woodpeckers, so named because of the trees they take down.

[Scenic]

Well it is a rare occasion for me to see one. Maybe once or twice a year. I think they are a beautiful bird and have their place in nature like most other non invasive animals. To each their own though.

Beautiful birds without question.  If they were not so destructive I would love to have them.  We have cedar siding and they love the stuff.  Once they start a hole you can't get them to stop.  They try boring a hole right below the eves for nesting.   We also have trees that they have destroyed.   Everyone says "they won't peck on anything that don't have bugs in it".  That is complete BS...My son has one that pecks on a stainless stove pipe.   He loves that thing.  We have one the pecks on our deck light.  How do they explain that?   Yep each to our own.

[Scenic]

I saw several trees like this during deer season tbat were absolutely torn appart.  I assumed it was piliated peckers.

That is exactly what that is from!

[roony]

Probably a matter of how big the population is where you live. I'm fond of shooting Cottondale rabbits and woodchuck on sight. Like I said, it's very rare for me to see a Pileated.

[fishwidow]

I’ve got holes in my little barn, my shed, and my house.  I see occasional pileateds, but I’ve never seen one damaging the buildings. It’s downys, hairys, redbellies, and even nuthatches. I’ve had a redbelly the last few years that goes after drainpipes and even windows. Nothing discourages them. I’m considering cement or steel siding.

We’ve got ash trees that with emerald ash borers that attracts the peckers, too. They’ve killed some that had to be taken down. I’ve got three left with some damage and I’m treating them in early spring to kill the borer larvae. That seems to help.

[Scenic]

Probably a matter of how big the population is where you live. I'm fond of shooting Cottondale rabbits and woodchuck on sight. Like I said, it's very rare for me to see a Pileated.

Pileateds in my yard within 15 minutes it's no surprise to see 3 or 4 of them pretty much at any given time.   The ones pecking on the house I know for a fact were and ummm they are no longer pecking on the house.   You can always tell when they are Tearing stuff up.  There are CHUNKS everywhere.

[glenn57]

I have a personal hatred towards blue jays!

[tangle tooth]

      Them blue jays aren't my favorite either
 But I'd rather have them than starlings or grackles.

[HD]

Seeing Robins here... seems early...

[Gunner55]

We get 1 or 2 of the pileated woodpeckers here every year too. Lots of ants in most all the trees they like when they fall here.

[Steve-o]

Seeing Robins here... seems early...

That one might not have migrated.

[Dotch]

Climate change...

[glenn57]

havent seen any robin yet....... but if i do i reckon i'll set out the mealworm feeders for them. 

[markn]

I did see a robin this morning in Sebeka on my way home.

[Dotch]

Started seeing horned larks along the roadsides in late January. While they're technically not considered migrators by a lot of people, they move to get out of real cruddy conditions. Normally don't start noticing them here until mid-February. Haven't seen any robins but a few weeks ago when it was warm, there were some red-winged blackbirds in the yard. They left when it dropped the hammer.

[Scenic]

Wow it's early for robins.  I have not seen any here yet. 

[LPS]

Me neither.

[Scenic]

I give this suet about 3 hours at tops. 

[Dotch]

Man they are large! We don't see them that often but still remember that 1st one. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was a crow! All our suet feeders now are horizontal after problems with starlings and sparrows. A pileated would have a hard time getting on the two smaller metal feeders. The larger wooden one they'd have a better chance.

[Gunner55]

  We usually only see those in the fall here but it's rare to go out & not here 1 of the smaller ones working on a nearby tree.

[Bobberineyes]

Nice pic scenic! We usually see several at cabin, lots of tainted ash trees that away. They fly funny, kinda flutter in a way.

[Steve-o]

Started seeing horned larks along the roadsides in late January. While they're technically not considered migrators by a lot of people, they move to get out of real cruddy conditions. Normally don't start noticing them here until mid-February.

I saw a flock of them flitting thru the trees in my yard.  I didn't know what they were, til I saw yer post.  I looked em up, and yep, thats what they were.

[Dotch]

Started hearing them tonite during chores. They frequent our pasture this time of year. Their tinkling call tells me that Barry is right, spring is just around the corner!

[Steve-o]

I heard some bluebirds down in Iowa 2day, but I didn't see them.

[Scenic]

Man they are large! We don't see them that often but still remember that 1st one. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was a crow! All our suet feeders now are horizontal after problems with starlings and sparrows. A pileated would have a hard time getting on the two smaller metal feeders. The larger wooden one they'd have a better chance.

About like a small chicken.  Neat bird to watch if they were not so destructive.  That suet lasted less than an hour.   I won't put up another one for a few days now.  I wouldn't care if they actually ate them but they just destroy them. 

[LPS]

Here is a typical dead elm that the pileated love to peck at the bottom of them and knock them over.  You can see the previous tree that was there also had the same outcome. 

[LPS]

Had a few magpies running around in the pasture today. 

[roony]

Here is a typical dead elm that the pileated love to peck at the bottom of them and knock them over.  You can see the previous tree that was there also had the same outcome.

Doing some of your work for you!

[mike89]

Had a few magpies running around in the pasture today.

interesting bird

[glenn57]

Had a few magpies running around in the pasture today.

its weird......we only see them come fall around deer huntin!!!!!!