Backyard Birds

This summer I started setting up Bird Feeders...my intent to keep the Blue Jays happy...this past week I have notice lots of activity at both my feeders. 

I was so excited this morning to find todays visitors included Juncos,

lots of Evening Grosbeaks,

three pairs of Mourning Doves,

lots of European Starlings,

my flock of Blue Jays

and of course a couple of crows! 

My trees were full and lots of bird song and chatter.

The feeder as been a learning experience for me.  Every sighting sends me to Google.  For example Mourning Doves mate for life, like bird baths and are ground feeders.  They are farily large birds and it the first time I ever saw one was this past Sunday morning. Apparently the Blue Jays must of attracted them cause they keep pushing lots of seeds to the ground.

The Grosbeaks can shuck the sunflower seeds faster than I can put them out and compete with the Blue Jays.  The Grosbeaks are beautiful in color and have brilliant yellow, white and black coloring. (A hooking project I am thinking :-) ) First time I ever saw one of those was last week.  I wondering have I been blind to birds until now? 

The Junos also spend there time close to the ground when feeding and the Starlings have such beautiful colors in their feathers when the sun is shining on them.  The Juncos seem like such a fragile bird...just little puffs.

Now to share some research on Birdfeeding Myths:
Birds won't migrate when you are supplying food--not so apparently migration is not tied to food supplies and a few pounds of sun flower seed is not going to derail thousands of years of the birds evolution. :-)

Once you start feeding you cannot stop-- Although bird feeders are helpful to the birds in times of stress, breeding and hard winters they are not going to starve if you have to stop for some reason.  They only get a small part of their caloric and nutritional intake from birdseed.  They may move on but they won't starve.  Birds are not overly dependant on humans. 

So added to my list of things to do is jump out of bed and get the seed and peanuts out......one particular large Blue Jay sits on the veranda rail and stares in the window at me and lets me know if I am behind schedule.

For those interested here is the Newfoundland Winter Bird List

http://birdingnewfoundland.20m.com/winter.htm

Note I robbed all my pictures off the internet :-)