Re: [cayugabirds-l] Song Sparrow and Tree Sparrow

2022-03-13 Thread tess
We do the same thing, but only put out white millet there. The squirrels 
are more interested in scavenging under the sunflower seed feeders, and 
the doves also prefer the sunflower seed, so the juncos & other sparrows 
mostly get the area under the picnic table to themselves.

On 3/13/2022 8:16 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote:
>
> Several years ago I started putting seed under the picnic table on my 
> deck. I don’t have a covered platform feeder because my plague of 
> squirrels is too bad. The protected space was very appreciated by lots 
> of birds and squirrels. The wooden table disintegrated and I had to 
> let it go. But, I kept a couple of benches that I now link together 
> and use as cover for the “ground seed” I put out for the juncos and 
> doves. That was heavily used this weekend!
>
> Kevin
>
> *From:* bounce-126400750-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
>  *On Behalf Of *Dave Nutter
> *Sent:* Saturday, March 12, 2022 7:31 PM
> *To:* Poppy Singer 
> *Cc:* CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> *Subject:* Re: [cayugabirds-l] Song Sparrow and Tree Sparrow
>
> …Meanwhile I was having trouble keeping the seeds accessible. The snow 
> would cover it faster than the birds would venture forth after I put 
> it out…
>
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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Song Sparrow and Tree Sparrow

2022-03-13 Thread Kevin J. McGowan
Several years ago I started putting seed under the picnic table on my deck. I 
don’t have a covered platform feeder because my plague of squirrels is too bad. 
The protected space was very appreciated by lots of birds and squirrels. The 
wooden table disintegrated and I had to let it go. But, I kept a couple of 
benches that I now link together and use as cover for the “ground seed” I put 
out for the juncos and doves. That was heavily used this weekend!

Kevin

From: bounce-126400750-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Dave Nutter
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2022 7:31 PM
To: Poppy Singer 
Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Song Sparrow and Tree Sparrow

…Meanwhile I was having trouble keeping the seeds accessible. The snow would 
cover it faster than the birds would venture forth after I put it out…

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Song Sparrow and Tree Sparrow

2022-03-12 Thread Dave Nutter
Yes, you may well have different birds than usual at your feeders today. With 
the heavy snow covering many wild food sources and even covering some feeding 
stations on the ground, birds are making a special effort to find food by going 
to feeding stations they don’t normally visit. 

Meanwhile, in the past few days & weeks many birds have migrated into the area, 
such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles (who may flock together in 
winter and during migration) and Song Sparrows (more than just those returning 
to local territories, also lots who will head farther north). And lots of 
winter visitors are still in the area, such as Dark-eyed Juncos (who regularly 
visit feeders), and American Tree Sparrows (who rarely visit my feeder, but I’m 
sure go to other people’s feeders). The American Tree Sparrows may stay until 
early April, about the time that many Chipping Sparrows return (This makes the 
ID challenge between them more fun: can you see them together?)

The sparrows usually feed on the ground, but today a Song Sparrow learned to 
use my hanging tube of sunflower seeds and also started coming up to my deck 
which I strew with sunflower seeds, even though in the past the Song Sparrows 
have stayed on the ground below the deck eating fallen seeds there. 

I’ve been seeing flocks of blackbirds (Red-winged Blackbirds &/or Common 
Grackles) flying past for several days, but today a mixed flock stopped and 
visited the feeders at my next door neighbor’s and at my place. They were new 
feeder birds for the year. 

Meanwhile I was having trouble keeping the seeds accessible. The snow would 
cover it faster than the birds would venture forth after I put it out. Mourning 
Doves regularly visit and eat seeds on the railing of my deck, but today the 
first one alit on the railing and stood staring at the inch-deep snow, then 
walked forward along the railing not seeing any food. The second Mourning Dove 
alit behind the first but could see the seeds through the first dove’s 
footprints, so it walked behind, eating the entire time. A third Mourning Dove 
alit behind the second, and because there were so many footprints, it didn’t 
have to walk but just stayed there eating.  

After the Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles figured out this was a food 
source, they trampled the snow on the railing pretty well. 

- - Dave Nutter

> On Mar 12, 2022, at 9:24 AM, Poppy Singer  
> wrote:
> 
> Is it possible that both a Song Sparrow and a Tree Sparrow are at my feeder 
> now? I'm not an expert at sparrows, but I think so. 
> Also, a Grackle, like Donna mentioned. 
> Plus the regulars.
> 
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