Birds in the back yard

[Dotch]

1st robin spotted here during morning chores in the crabapple on the east side of the house. Didn't hang around where we can see them but there are dozens of crabapple & other berry trees on our place & elsewhere nearby. Ground is still frozen so no earthworms. They'll have to rely on other sources of food in the meantime.

[LPS]

Had to sit a goldfinch back in the feeder after hitting the window.  Looks like she made it and few away.  I usually shoot 2 or 3 pine squirrels every year out of the bird feeder.  This year none so far.  I just saw one running up a tree from my easy chair so have my gun ready.     Last year I got about 8 of them.  Bumper crop.  They could have raised heck in my crawl space. 

[glenn57]

Had to sit a goldfinch back in the feeder after hitting the window.  Looks like she made it and few away.  I usually shoot 2 or 3 pine squirrels every year out of the bird feeder.  This year none so far.  I just saw one running up a tree from my easy chair so have my gun ready.     Last year I got about 8 of them.  Bumper crop.  They could have raised heck in my crawl space.

no robins spotted here.

i had one of them damn red skurrels here at home.....havney seen it for a while now........cant shoot in town 

last time at the cabin i disposed of 4 of them dang things........i bet a shot adozen last year......dont know where they manage to come from!!!!!!

[mike89]

get a live trap

[glenn57]

get a live trap

i have one, next time i see him i will. 

[Bobberineyes]

get a live trap

i have one, next time i see him i will. 

Spose you'll catch the neighbors kitty cat..lol.  I hear ya, I still try in town here with my old wimpy bb guns, I see 3 of them bastages on occasion.

[Scenic]

Some of these new pellet rifles that are out now are pretty dang wild.  Sure a lot different than the old Daisy guns.  Like putting a silencer on a .22

[glenn57]

Some of these new pellet rifles that are out now are pretty dang wild.  Sure a lot different than the old Daisy guns.  Like putting a silencer on a .22

mt buddy has one he uses to pick off skurrels on his feeders.....yea pretty impressive!!!!!!

[Bobberineyes]

I gotta gets one..

[Scenic]

I don't mind the grey squirrels in the feeders.  I can see 4 in mine right now.   But the reds just tear stuff up.   They are just plain mean.   

[mike89]

Some of these new pellet rifles that are out now are pretty dang wild.  Sure a lot different than the old Daisy guns.  Like putting a silencer on a .22

do you have any thoughts on a good brand or a good pellet rifle maybe?? 

[Scenic]

I have the Gamo Raptor that works very well.

[LPS]

Those new guns look great.  When I lived in town I used CB shorts in an old bolt action gun right out of the window.  If the neighbors were outside grilling they may not have heard it.  Like a super pellet gun and quiet. 

[Bobberineyes]

My next run to fleet farm I'll look into em..

[glenn57]

I don't mind the grey squirrels in the feeders.  I can see 4 in mine right now.   But the reds just tear stuff up.   They are just plain mean.

yep same here.....dont mind the grays.....also something i've been thinking about keep bugs bunny's relatives out of the garden.

[mike89]

I have the Gamo Raptor that works very well.

thanks kind sir!!   

[LPS]

We like the gray squirrels too. 

[Dotch]

 Another robin this a.m....

[glenn57]

By golly, seen my first Robin. Wife said she seen one while I was at the cabin so put mealworm and birdbath out yesterday,  now it's froze.

[Dotch]

Lotsa red-winged blackbirds, a grackle and some killdeers yesterday. Numerous flocks of geese, mostly lessers and speckle bellies moving thru. Rooster pheasants are all over the place. Mating plumage is awesome especially when the sun hits them.

[Bobberineyes]

Is it illegal to shoot rowsters around feed....KERPOW...lol.

[glenn57]

Is it illegal to shoot rowsters around feed....KERPOW...lol.

only ififn Dotch's bride isnt watching!!!!!!

[Scenic]

Starting to see a few more birds up here.  Seen the first robin of the year yesterday and a pair of swans have been hanging around.  No idea why the swans are on the lake here.  There is no open water at all.   Looking for nesting area is my guess.

[LPS]

Saw a pair of Canadas fly by the other day.  Saw a pair of swans Monday by Bemidji.  No robins yet. 

[glenn57]

Starting to see a few more birds up here.  Seen the first robin of the year yesterday and a pair of swans have been hanging around.  No idea why the swans are on the lake here.  There is no open water at all.   Looking for nesting area is my guess.

yea i seen a pair of swans fly over sunday afternoon at the cabin wondering what the hell  but they were heading south!!!!!

[Dotch]

Saw some swans fly over back around March 2nd.   

[glenn57]

  doing up my fish for pickling i seen a cardinal on the bird bath.......it was froze over!!!!!

[Dotch]

Pretty slow at the birdfeeders lately as the snow retreats. The cardinals or at least the female has been showing up when the sun gets low but the rest of the day, it's occasional activity with most of the birds. A few red-bellies & blue jays on the ear corn. Chickadees, some house finches & nuthatches on the sunflower. Still some hairies & downies working at the suet periodically. See & hear the odd goldfinch but they're not as active as they were right after the blizzard. Was surprised after the rain & heavy snow that the feeders didn't have more caked, wet, nasty seed inside. They weren't bad to clean out for whatever reason. 

I finally purchased a feeder for the seed cylinder Auntie Mar Mar gave me for Christmas. Also purchased another squirrel baffle as I could envision it being a magnet for them. After checking to see what they cost, (~$12) I ain't feeding squirrels with it. Can buy a lot of suet cakes in comparison. Given the composition of the seed cylinder (has a bunch of millet, peanut, sunflower, berries, etc., embedded in suet, I envision it being attractive to house sparrows and starlings. That's why I went with a cage-type feeder rather than one that was essentially a top and a bottom. There are other mixes sans millet in other varieties of cylinders so there are other options. Got it put out last nite so will see what shows up. Suspect it'll be a winter only feeder.