With the little bit of snow we had today I had a bunch of activity in

[Minimus]

the backyard. When I got the mealworms out the bluebirds came a flying. I went to clean out there roosting box and 2 were already snuggled in for the night.

I hope we get a little more snow tomorrow, because that really brings them to my feeders and I can watch all day.

[Fleurs du Mal]

1. On the flipside

With the unseasonal 70 degree weather we've been having along the Front Range in CO the birds have been rather restless. I've seen some unusual birds while lunching in the parking lot at work.

[Stepup2]

2. I filled my feeders early

and shoveled snow away from a couple of dogwoods near a bench in my yard. It has been very busy with the usual suspects for Michigan.

I have a 3 crows, two adults and a 7mo old cleaning out the suet feeder every other day.

I saw 3 bald eagles, 6 goldeneyes, a flock of Tundra swans in flight, and a few RB merg's and greater Scaup's yesterday while birding from the car.

[Blue Gardener]

3. I put extra seed under the deck for the critters

The snow doesn't pile up so much under there, plus there is some protection from the north wind. The birds, squirrels and bunnies seem to appreciate it. We've had so much ice this winter it's been tough for them.

[Minimus]

4. We are having freezing rain today, but all the birds (and squirrels)

are feasting away. I filled every feeder yesterday since they were predicting snow and I put some mealworms out for bluebirds. They must sit and watch me put them out because as soon as my back is turned they are at the dish.

It was so beautiful when I looked out a little while ago. Still some leftover snow on the ground and birds everywhere. I had a male cardinal at one feeder, 2 blue jays at another, a male blue bird sitting on a fence post, 2 downy woodpeckers chasing each other away from one suet, and a yellow bellied sapsucker at the other suet. So the display of color was great on a dreary day.

The house finches, gold finches, juncos, sparrows were flying here and there, trying to find room at the feeders, or settling for eating off the ground.

I'm lovin' it!

[Stepup2]

5. Thanks for the idea to put seed under a deck.

I'm going to try it. Not that I'll be able to see what's going on, but at least they will have open access in this weather


I have a short bird bath that I keep heated in the winter. The bunnies and squirrels like it as much as the birds.

[LuLu550]

6. Birds? You guys got birds?

Holy smoke, it is so cold here (upstate New York) our birds have frozen mid-flight! Actually, there is nothing much around here this time of year except starlings, juncos, a few wintering robins and blue birds geese and hawks.

[semillama]

7. it was very cold here in Ohio on saturday

but the birds were very active. especially the canada geese, which were flying around everywhere. I saw 23 species in three hours in three locations.

[Freebird12004]

8. it was -11 here, yesterday morning

in the sunny Hudson Valley.

Some of my North American Goldfinches are starting to moult. There were 4 stray Starlings in my heated birdbath.

No Robins here.

[blindpig]

9. no snow but bitter

this past weekend. Besides the usual suspects had hermit thrush hanging around below a feeder and pine warbler at a feeder. First time I've seen a warbler at a feeder though I might have missed them among the hordes of goldfinches.

[July]

10. Could you tell me more about bluebirds?

I have a box and see them regularly, but I'd like to know more about their behavior, feeding habits, etc. Right now I'm just enjoying watching them, but they've got me curious.

[amazona]

11. all the bluebird facts you can stand and then some

Try this site. Scroll down and check the left for the bluebird links:

http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[July]

12. Thanks so much, amazona! nt