The Zen Birdfeeder

Jays! Jays! Jays!

Project FeederWatch continued Wednesday and Thursday for me.  Here's a recap.

Highlights: Patchy snow cover and a pretty snow on day 2. Better for photos but slower bird activity.  Jays dominated, chickadees and titmice very busy.  The heated birdbath was visited quite a bit - open water for drinking during the winter is important for the birds.

Goldfinches continue to be noticeably absent. Special visitor was an American Tree Sparrow on Wednesday.
   

Here's what I'll report to Project FeederWatch:
Blue Jay  18
Dark eyed Junco  9
Black capped Chickadee 7
Mourning Dove  7
Tufted Titmouse  4
Downy Woodpecker  2
Red breasted Nuthatch  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
White breasted Nuthatch  1
American Goldfinch  1
American Tree Sparrow  1

Totals:  11 species; 53 individuals

It's not too late to participate in PFW.  Sign up today!

Wordless Wednesday

Squirrel-Proof Eliminator Birdfeeder Really Works!

Here's some great pix of a feisty Red Squirrel trying to work his way - unsuccessfully - into a WBU Squirrel-Proof Eliminator Birdfeeder.

"This lid looks easy. I should be able to get some good food!"

"No luck.  Oh well, I'll check under the top then."

"Maybe I'll just chew the top off."  (Gnawing sounds)  "Darn, this top is metal!"

"Maybe I missed something under the lid."

"I'm getting mad! I should be able to chew this off!"

Growing increasingly frustrated, "I should be able to get down this tube."

"Drat! I'll try the other side!"

"Darn you, Zen Birdfeeder!  This Eliminator Birdfeeder will be the downfall of all squirrel-dom!"

A feeder for the birds - not the squirrels!  Buy the WBU Squirrel-Proof Eliminator Birdfeeder online.

This Downy's a Sweetie

Forgive me for anthropomorphizing, but I want to introduce you to "Sweetie."

Sweetie is a female Downy Woodpecker who uses the bluebird house in the yard to roost each night and to take shelter from bad weather.

In the late afternoon - earlier if the weather is bad - Sweetie will head into her roosting place.  There is always lots of activity still going on in the yard; she takes it all in from the warmth of her own little one-room apartment.  She's been using this box to roost for about the last 3 months.

I just love to observe her as she watches the other birds still at the feeders, as she gets ready to call it a night!

 

Pine Grosbeak Highlights Project FeederWatch Count Days

My Project FeederWatch count days were Wednesday and Thursday.  That turned out good since I was at home all day Thanksgiving and able to watch the feeders in between preparing dinner.
Hairy Woodpecker on WBU Ranchette Retreat Feeder

Highlights: Foggy and overcast over the entire two day count (made for lousy photography!)  The chickadees continue very strong as were the woodpeckers: 4 Hairy and 4 Downy Woodpeckers kept the suet feeders busy. Noticeably absent were goldfinches. 
Special guest was the Pine Grosbeak, who visited all day Wednesday.
Pine Grosbeak on WBU Catch-a-Seed Tray 

Here's what I'll report to Project FeederWatch:
Black capped Chickadee 13
Dark eyed Junco  9
Blue Jay  8
Mourning Dove  5
Tufted Titmouse  4
Downy Woodpecker  4
Hairy Woodpecker  4
Red breasted Nuthatch  2
White breasted Nuthatch  2
American Crow  2
Ruffed Grouse  1
Pine Grosbeak  1

Totals:  12 species; 53 individuals

It's not too late to participate in PFW.  Sign up today!

Happy Thanksgiving

Back when I was formulating the theme of this blog, I had a list of Zen principles in mind, though Attention, Acceptance, and Responsibility were the ones that made the cut.

The principle that just missed the cut was the Zen principle of GRATITUDE.

Thanksgiving is the day each year we stop to be grateful for all we have.  In addition to being thankful for the obvious (family, friends, pets, health, freedom, etc.), take a moment today to be grateful for the wonderful things that you enjoy in nature. When we feel gratitude for the natural world and recognize the joy we feel when surrounded by nature, the more inclined we are to preserve and protect the nature around us.

A safe and happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Wordless Wednesday

Sharpie

First Time Ever! A Pine Grosbeak!

On this foggy overcast day, the much-anticipated winter finch irruption brought a new yard and life bird: a Pine Grosbeak.  (My yard list is available to view in my Profile).

  An individual male bird, perhaps young (?), stayed for about 10 minutes, eating seed from our WBU Ranchette feeder.  The season continues to develop very well indeed!

UPDATE:  The Pine Grosbeak visited two more times this afternoon.  The pictures are still kinda poor but I'll still share them.

 

More Evening Grosbeaks!

While I'm still waiting for more Pine Siskins and other irrupting winter finches, a good size group of 10 Evening Grosbeaks visited the tray feeder today.  Sorry for the quality of this image of 7 of those 10 grosbeaks (taken through a window into the sun!)

Prior to today, the largest group of Evening Grosbeaks to ever visit my feeders was seven, and this just occurred earlier this fall.  Wouldn't it be great if every visit this season was from a growing number of grosbeaks?  I'll keep you posted!

Chickadees Dominate Project FeederWatch Day

My Project FeederWatch count days were yesterday and today.  Highlights: Today's rainy weather increased the activity amongst the chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. It's hard to count the always-moving chickadees, but I had a high count of 18 today.  I was also surprised by a visit by a Ruffed Grouse and an American Robin.

Here's what I'll report to Project FeederWatch:
Black capped Chickadee 18
Blue Jay  14
Dark eyed Junco  10
American Goldfinch  6
Tufted Titmouse  3
Mourning Dove  3
Downy Woodpecker  3
Red breasted Nuthatch  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
White breasted Nuthatch
Ruffed Grouse  1
American Robin  1

Totals:  12 species; 63 individuals

It's not too late to participate in PFW.  Sign up today!