Birdfeeding

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today is cloudy, cool, and damp. It drizzled off and on yesterday.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house fiinches, a mourning dove, a dark-eyed junco, and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 4/5/24 -- I walked around the house yard checking flowers. A lot more of the purple-and-white tulips are ready to bloom but haven't opened in this weather.

I did a round of cleanup on the overhang porch. The corner is empty now. I think the next step will be sweeping up stuff from the ground.

EDIT 4/5/24 -- I started scraping stuff off the ground under the overhang.

EDIT 4/5/24 -- I scraped more stuff off the ground under the overhang.

EDIT 4/5/24 -- I scraped more stuff off the ground under the overhang.

EDIT 4/5/24 -- I've seen a pair of cardinals at the fly-through feeder.

Comments

[a_natural_beauty]

I'm glad you got more work done!

Out of curiosity, what is the most common bird in your yard that comes to visit?

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'm glad you got more work done! <<

Yeah, the weather sucked for the last several days, so I stayed inside to write. Today I got a lot done in terms of clearing the ground.

>> Out of curiosity, what is the most common bird in your yard that comes to visit? <<

It depends. The birds tend to redistribute somewhat randomly in spring and fall. I usually have sparrows and always have cardinals, so they're regulars at the feeders. The house finches weren't here all winter but there's a whole flock now, and they're avid feeder visitors. Dark-eyed juncos come and go. I usually have mourning doves but they were gone this winter, and recently came back.

Re: Thoughts

[a_natural_beauty]

That sounds like a nice collection. I have been seeing a ton of robins here in North East Ohio as of lately. I need to do more research on this, but I think it just is their time to come out... My studding up on birds needs to go a long way honestly. :-p

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I have been seeing a ton of robins here in North East Ohio as of lately. <<

They used to be strictly summer birds here in central Illinois, but in recent years they've stuck around more, and I've even seen occasional ones in winter. I suspect they're on their way to becoming a residential population. The blackbirds arrived way early this year, and then were confused because most of the weed stems have fallen down so they don't have their favorite perches. I'm not sure what they're eating this early, but I've seen them trawling the lawn, so maybe earthworms.

>> I need to do more research on this, but I think it just is their time to come out... My studding up on birds needs to go a long way honestly. :-p

Good options include:

* My go-to resource online is Cornell's site. They have bird ID materials, range maps, courses, an app, all kinds of stuff.

* For books, buy a good guidebook to your home area. Maybe add a pocket guide to common birds if you go birdwatching outdoors a lot.

* Look for birdwatching events or classes. These are often free or cheap, and spring is a peak time for birdwatching. You can meet other birdwatchers and make new friends.

* Start by learning the commonest birds first, because that's info you'll need the most often. You're in a Great Lake state so that will also mean excellent migration activity.

https://www.birdzilla.com/learn/birds-of-ohio/

https://camp-joy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Common-Birds-of-Ohio-Guide.pdf

https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/backyard-wildlife/Birds%20of%20Ohio%20Field%20Checklist%20pub363.pdf

https://www.cleveland.com/neobirding/2017/05/spring_songbird_migration_in_f.html

Re: Thoughts

[a_natural_beauty]

Yes, they must be finding something good to eat! They are such beautiful birds :-)

Thank you (as always!) for the links and the suggestions! I greatly appreciate it!

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm happy I could help.