sammyqc
grub
Urban, small raised beds, Zone 5 (Canada)
Posts: 94
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Post by sammyqc on Feb 22, 2008 22:14:07 GMT -5
Does anyone else notices how few birds there seem to be lately? I have regular feeders and niger feeders, and I can't believe how the bird numbers have dwindled. I used to fill up my regular feeders every day, I had so many chickadees, and bluejays, and house sparrows, and nuthatches, and gold finches, and a few other types, now I don't even have to fill them every two weeks. Were have they gone??
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Post by winter unfazed on Feb 25, 2008 8:37:49 GMT -5
It seems to be a seasonal thing. Around here the blue jays come around in the spring, the chickadees and juncos and starlings in fall/winter.
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sammyqc
grub
Urban, small raised beds, Zone 5 (Canada)
Posts: 94
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Post by sammyqc on Feb 25, 2008 20:14:20 GMT -5
I'm not talking about the seasonal changes, I'm talking over the years, the numbers have dwindled significantly. Even taking into account the milder winter this year, allowing the birds to remain in the forested areas with good food supplies, this year has seen a remarkable decrease in all types of birds in my yard. I've lived in this spot for 6 years, and never seen so few birds, especially in the winter.
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Post by winter unfazed on Feb 26, 2008 9:47:18 GMT -5
Maybe global warming then.
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Post by MawkHawk on Feb 26, 2008 15:37:06 GMT -5
Or pollution maybe?
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Post by canadamike on Feb 26, 2008 20:28:27 GMT -5
Add loss of habitat in the winter grounds. Used to be that the massive spring migration would clutter the radars. They don't anymore. And the snow we had up here has covered many seeded small plants.
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sammyqc
grub
Urban, small raised beds, Zone 5 (Canada)
Posts: 94
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Post by sammyqc on Feb 26, 2008 20:44:47 GMT -5
I guess it's a combination of things. It's pretty sad, actually. I love watching them out my kitchen window, especially in the winter, when everything else is so dreary. I really was wondering if others had noticed it too, or they just didn't like me anymore!
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Post by downinmyback on Mar 11, 2008 22:59:09 GMT -5
I noticed that my Purple Martin have returned . I alway enjoy watching them soar while catching bugs.
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Post by hoosierheightsfarm on Mar 12, 2008 18:14:44 GMT -5
Maybe it's that big cat on the log. Is that in your yard? Might be a hint. ;o)
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sammyqc
grub
Urban, small raised beds, Zone 5 (Canada)
Posts: 94
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Post by sammyqc on Mar 12, 2008 23:16:26 GMT -5
Yah, must be those darn cats!! Actually, two of my cats are smaller than the darn squirrels, (the girls) and the two boys are too big and lazy (and to well fed to be bothered)! Naw, it's not the cats. I just read an article about the decline in bird populations, some species are almost 70%, not good news. The stats were provided by the Audubon society, so pretty trustworthy, I'd think.
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Post by plantsnobin on Mar 13, 2008 8:03:27 GMT -5
We should think about the canary in the mine, and think about what we are doing to ourselves as well as the other creatures we share the planet with.
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Post by plantsnobin on May 5, 2008 8:15:11 GMT -5
We are having lots of mockingbirds now, and yesterday as I was heading to the flower garden, I bird flew up from my tiny goldfish pond. I think it was a green heron. I couldn't believe such a big bird was at my small pond. It flew into a maple tree and stayed a little bit before flying off. I went back in later, came out again, and there it was again. There are lots of frogs, goldfish and minnows in there, but this is the first time I have had a bird of prey show up. Pretty cool, I thought. Might not feel that way if it eats all of my fish. I have also had an indigo bunting flitting around in the garden. They usually stay closer to the edge of the woods, and my gardne in pretty exposed. I think they are just about the prettiest bird around. Of course, there are the usual blue jays, bluebirds and goldfinches and titmice, and mouring doves. If you have the space for a small goldfish pond you will attract a lot of wildlife. I also like to watch the dragonflies. I think part of the problem with bird populations may be excessive 'tidiness'. Too many towns and cities have 'rank vegetation' laws that take away the birds food supply. They need that standing vegetation for seed and nesting material. Even our small town goes after people for plants they don't deem ornamental. There was a ridiculous case against a woman for allowing lambs quarter to grow. She lost, of course. Sad in a little podunk, redneck kind of town.
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Post by americangardener on May 5, 2008 10:44:48 GMT -5
Sam..
I found your bluejays. I had a flock of em show up here last week at the bird feeder. Must be over a hundred of em. And they've been coming back every day since.
Plantsnobin.. you gotta watch out for that heron. He's only there for one reason and that is to eat the fish and frogs. I've seen three of em flying around here lately. They like going over to the neighbors pond and eating his Koi. He'll end up shooting em all by the end of the summer just cause he's afraid they'll eat his precious fish. He kills anything that even comes close to his pond. Really pissed me off last year when he killed 4 baby fox cubs that were in his woodpile. Now those were'nt gonna hurt his fish one bit.
As for the rest of the birds around here.. i see the cardinals are still eating my seeds outta the ground as fast as they can sprout. They were doing that last year too.. they'd watch me plant the squash seeds or cucumbers and then go digg em out as soon as i moved. I sitll got plenty of robins following me around... seems like when i'm back in the garden none of the birds see me as a threat.. the robins will bounce around practically right under my feet as i'm digging just to catch any worms i might turn up. And the hummingbirds always come right up to my face to check me out. I got four of em back in the garden that come every day.
Fortunately for the birds around here.. i grow plenty of weeds. I noticed that the finches which i never ever see up by the house like to eat the seeds from the picker bushes. Those and the sparrows. I got more birds back in the garden than will ever go to a bird feeder for some reason. It's only about 300 yards difference, but some of those birds will never go up by the house. And the ones that do.. say like the robins, seem to act more afraid when they're up by the house. In the back i have to watch out i don't step on em.. in the front you'd be lucky to get within 20 ft of em without em flying away.
But, Sammy, i haven't noticed any decline in birds around here. At least not in my own little area. If anything i'm getting more birds right now.
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sammyqc
grub
Urban, small raised beds, Zone 5 (Canada)
Posts: 94
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Post by sammyqc on May 5, 2008 20:08:19 GMT -5
So you stole my bluejays, Dave!!! I'm sitting outside, now, enjoying the evening, and all I can hear are geese!! It's been a very unbirdy spring, only a few cardinals, and very little other bird activity in my yard. The odd chickadees, when I used to get dozens, if not more. I can't explain it. I used to have this little nuthatch that would climb up and down the old pine tree outside one of the windows, I haven't seen him in a long time either. I even have a big old bowl, filled up with water, set on some posts as a bird bath, and they used to love it. Haven't seen a bird use it yet!
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Post by americangardener on May 7, 2008 9:01:27 GMT -5
I didn't steal em Sammy.. they ran away from home. You can come and get em anytime you want. Jays aren't really the nicest birds to have around. They're pretty.. but they're also one of the meanest birds, especially if they're nesting. Hope you come get em before they start homesteading here. If i can catch one.. i'll tell him to go back home and take all his friends; i'll tie a little note to his leg with your address so anyone who finds him will know where he belongs.
I'll send ya some cardinals too... now those are eating all my seeds even more than last year. I think they've discovered that my garden is a great place to eat. They've been pulling up my pea sprouts and just eating the seed part off em. Now i'm gonna have to plan on planting extras of everything and leave the thinning out to the birds.
I'd say i'd trade ya some of mine for the geese.. but you can keep those! Not only mean birds but messy.. they're as bad as dogs for leaving landmines all over the place.
Oh well... seriously.. i hope you get some birds back by using your bird bath. Maybe when it gets warmer and dryer out they'll show up.
Dave
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