Today is Spring Equinox for those of us in the northern hemisphere, the day from when the sun will continue to follow higher and higher path through the sky until it reaches the highest point in the sky on the summer solstice; the days will get longer, heralding the arrival of new growth, warmer days, frenzy activities in gardens and farms, and birth of newer generations in animal worlds.
Okay, that's supposedly should be happening theoretically, but not yet happening, in reality, here in the North-East USA. It's frigid cold with frozen solid grounds and forecast of more snow coming in. The only sign of spring is the loud cacophony created by birds, and the presence of American Robin and mourning dove hopping along the lawns and backyards. There are also more eating-activities in the bird-feeders. So, I take this opportunity to present some birds in our backyard. More will be presented later on.
I am not very good in recognizing birds. So, others please help. I think these are downy woodpecker, mourning dove and sparrow. There are so many sparrows. Which one is this?
A nuthatch; a chickadee; a junco. Juncos are still here; thus, winter is not yet away. These birds migrate here in NJ during winter and leave with the arrival of Spring. Sorry about the poor image quality. I have to take them with the windows down, otherwise the birds were going to fly away. These bird feeders are very close to the window. Any slight noise or movement near the window, and away they will go.
A red-headed woodpecker. Who Is This? I don't know the second bird. Is this a sterling? The third bird, one of my favorite, is the red-bellied woodpecker
Now, I have a question. Perhaps Jason of
Gardencity can answer as he reads many books on birds. I feed all these birds the typical bird mix (peanuts, sunflower, corn and berries) and suet.
Are these foods with lots of corn good for birds? Most of the corn in the world are not GMO-types. We are constantly reading about how GMO-types affect mammals, especially in reproduction. Do any of you know about any studies that are being done to see the effect of all these food on bird-population? If they are bad, what do I feed the birds?
Are these foods with lots of corn good for birds? Most of the corn in the world are not GMO-types. We are constantly reading about how GMO-types affect mammals, especially in reproduction. Do any of you know about any studies that are being done to see the effect of all these food on bird-population? If they are bad, what do I feed the birds?
The only thing that will eat corn in my yard are ducks. The doves, robins and finches pick out everything else and leave the corn.
ReplyDeleteErin, the birds here will eat corn if given.
DeleteI would not feed them corn....the first and third picture at the suet feeder are a female and male downy woodpeckers. And yes a starling...juncos just arrived here and were eating the seeds from the native plants I left up...buried again with snow. Poor birds.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna, I have to look for food without corn. It's so difficult to find them. If I buy sunflower seed only, the squirrels will eat. So, I have to look for food without corn but has peanuts. I hope no problem with peanuts.
DeleteJuncos going there in upstate NY now?? Where do they come from in NJ? I thought if they come here in the winter, then their original home must be really wintry, something like really north of canada close to arctic.
The woodpeckers and nuthatches will be happy with plain suet, you don't need the corn mixed in.
ReplyDeleteJason, where do I get the suet mix without corn? It seems all the stores here have some kind of corn mixed in the suet :-(.
DeleteYou are clearly getting a lot of interest at your feeding stations, which is wonderful. Kibbled maize is in the seed mix here in the UK. Our chickens hoover up after the wild birds - of course, they love corn, so no wonder they are so happy to oblige in helping clean up.
ReplyDeleteAwww..the chickens will love corn :-). That's what I heard. Do you get GMO corn in the UK? I think the UK and the EU are much more stricter about such things. Recently, Hungary burnt down whole fields of Monsanto corn. Great :-).
DeleteOver here in the UK - the corn in a mixed seed bag gets left!! Have you considered making your own suet feed. Lots of information on recipes out there on the www. You can add what you know each critter likes.
ReplyDeleteIn my garden I find a few of the birds are especially fond of cooked rice and pasta.
Lovely bird pictures - some resemble ours over here. The Chickadee looks very similar to our Coaltit and your red headed woodpecker is like our Spotted Woodpecker. Starlings, of course, look the same where every live :)
It's been a long winter hasn't it?
Angie, yes, it has been a very long winter but usually that's the case here in NJ; last freeze day is not until May. Grrrr...I know about those recipes. I should try to make some; time is the main constraint :-(. I am also finding that the corns are left behind.
DeleteHi KL, I really like that you not only feed the birds, but question yourself how to feed them well, in a healthy way, I mean. Good point that you are making about the GMO corn. I am feeding birds in my garden, too, and buy "Wagner's, Finches Deluxe" bird food from Home Depot. I don't know if that is a "good" bird food, but it contains only White Millet, Niger Seed, Finch Millet, Canary Seed, Red Millet and Sunflower Chips, no corn. Our finches love it here, but the mourning doves, which we have plenty of as well.
ReplyDeleteChristina
Christina,thank you :-). That sounds like a really good food. I should look for it. The problem is if they are small pieces, they will be eaten by the squirrels from the bird feeder. Squekies can't get the bigger pieces.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. I have lots of woodpeckers, doves, humming birds and I don't know what else in my yard. I'll have to research to see what I should feed them. Enjoying your blog.
ReplyDelete