Little finches.

[Shiban]

I love finches and small songbirds.
Unfortunately today I saw a rather unhealthy House finch on my feeder.
I did some google-fu and found out he has avian conjunctivitis. The disease itself isn't fatal, but since their vision is so impaired, they are more prone to predation and starvation since they have a hard time seeing food. I really hope he comes back. I was half an inch from him when he finally flew away, that's how bad his vision is.

For the past couple of years I've been watching a red-bellied woodpecker in my yard. A few weeks ago there was a pretty good storm at night and I went out the next morning and saw him under a tree on the ground dead. I don't know if the wind knocked him out or he got hit by hail that was falling. It was a shame, I really liked watching him.

Pics are VERY large...

And some other small birds. A goldfinch and an Indigo Bunting. I love that little blue guy.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I don't have the talent for taking pictures, but we've got a nice assortment of birds around our house too. There's a big 'ol Pileated woodpecker that hangs around and makes a tremendous racket. Pretty to watch, though.

 

[Mackey]

Thanks for the pics. But you are now obligated to keep that bird feeder full until that House Finch gets his vision back.

Maybe it was just the Woodpecker's time to go. Could have been lightening related. You did try CPR right? Mouth to beak?

 

[Shiban]

Thanks for the pics. But you are now obligated to keep that bird feeder full until that House Finch gets his vision back.

Maybe it was just the Woodpecker's time to go. Could have been lightening related. You did try CPR right? Mouth to beak?

Oh how bad I wanted to try...

Here's a couple of pics of our favorite birds, hummers. These were from last year. I don't know what I like more, the birds or taking pics of them.

This one was taken through our front window. The feeder sits on our patio table about 2 ft from the window. I think it's eyeballing me...

 

[Wazimu]

Thank you for posting the photos. Nice Bunting there. I love birds; have Bared Owls who keep me company these days.

 

[cobber]

Nice pics!

 

[rgrimm01]

I used to plant morning glories (with the big blue flowers) around the porch. They would make a virtual plant wall that attracted humming birds and huge praying mantis. I would sit on the porch and have up to three humming birds inches from my face. Way too cool...

 

[mdmayo]

My grandmother planted every flower under the sun to attract hummingbirds for 40 years at the old farmstead, with no success. On the day we buried her we had a wake at the farm, good 'ol hillbilly style. Miraculously, on that one day, and never since, there were literally dozens (if not hundreds) of hummingbirds all over her flowers.

Your pics brought a tear to my eye, thank you for the happy memory!
-Matt

 

[Redskinsfan]

Great hummingbird pictures! I love them.

 

[MrsGungho]

My grandmother planted every flower under the sun to attract hummingbirds for 40 years at the old farmstead, with no success. On the day we buried her we had a wake at the farm, good 'ol hillbilly style. Miraculously, on that one day, and never since, there were literally dozens (if not hundreds) of hummingbirds all over her flowers.

Your pics brought a tear to my eye, thank you for the happy memory!
-Matt

for me it is my Mom and hummingbirds, she had plenty, I had none. In the 2 years she has been gone, I have had plenty of Hummingbirds around my house. Always reminds me of her when I see them buzzing around.

 

[dans4420]

Im not a big bird person but those pictures are awesome.

 

[LEaSH]

I love getting new birds to stop by our feeders. Never had an Indigo Bunting here. It would be great to have one around.

Yesterday there was a Rose Breasted Grosbeak here. I didn't get a picture of him yet. He's the first one I've seen in my area and didn't know if he'll stay around or making his way further north.

 

[Knife Lady]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. This morning I saw my first hummingbird so I made up the sugar water and put the feeders out. Brad teases me and calls me bird lady since I love to wathc the birds and make him hang any new bird houses I get. We also have a woodpecker next door. I can hear him but I cannot find him. I did see a woodpecker that looked just like ole woody woodpecker flying from tree to tree about a month ago and he was big. He was cool looking too. I am so glad to see the hummers back.

 

[Shiban]

Definitely a sure sign of spring when the hummingbirds come back. I love this time of year. I've had a few males come up to the window today, but left my camera elsewhere...

 

[Shiban]

Yay. A new friend appeared. I'm pretty sure this is a downy woodpecker. I've never seen one here before. The lighting was bad. It was really overcast today and this was taken through the window. I didn't want to take the chance of opening the door and frightening it away.

It's good to see another since the the other woodpecker is gone.

 

[Hkindiana]

Here is one of my three hummingbird feeders, and all three get just as crowded. I go through about five pounds of sugar a week mixing food for them.

 

[Hkindiana]

I used to plant morning glories (with the big blue flowers) around the porch. They would make a virtual plant wall that attracted humming birds and huge praying mantis. I would sit on the porch and have up to three humming birds inches from my face. Way too cool...

I saw a photo last year of a praying mantis eating a hummingbird!

 

[shooter521]

Nice to see a few other bird people around here.

 

[Knife Lady]

I wish I could get that many hummingbirds around my feeders. I only see about 4 different hummers at one time and even that is rare.

 

[Shiban]

Here is one of my three hummingbird feeders, and all three get just as crowded. I go through about five pounds of sugar a week mixing food for them.

WOW!!! Is that filled with crack? I have never seen anything like that.