Feeding Wild Birds

[sourland]

Just took Maggie out to pee and saw a Cooper's hawk chasing small birds in the hedgerow. It's amazing how they can dart through the brush and branches. I believe that all the birds escaped this time.

 

[Sequel]

Do you have hummingbirds up there this time of year?
We only have one species and then only from April to September.

Yes we have some year round.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes we have some year round.

Cool, what species?
What do they eat this time of year?
We only have the ruby throated.
But I've spent a good bit of time in Costa Rica where they have 52 species of hummingbirds. I find that amazing.

 

[Sequel]

Cool, what species?
What do they eat this time of year?
We only have the ruby throated.
But I've spent a good bit of time in Costa Rica where they have 52 species of hummingbirds. I find that amazing.

Anna’s are the year rounders. I almost said rufous but decided to look it up first. Seasonally we have Calliope, black chinned and rufous. They are amazing!

 

[sourland]

This morning the mourning doves were proclaiming spring. I sure hope they know what they are talking about.

 

[Sequel]

We are still being asked to not feed wild birds because of salmonellosis killing large numbers of them. I heard that some species that normally disburse into Canada didn’t for whatever reason so the large congregations here in Washington State are problematic.
I have to admit after I got chickens I quit feeding wild birds for that very reason.

 

[sourland]

There was a male redwing blackbird at my home feeder this morning. He is a true early bird. Perhaps these birds know something, and spring is coming ?

 

[sourland]

Just noticed a stub tailed squirrel at my feeder. Figure he is a survivor of a predator attack, but brought this question to mind. Over the years I have trapped a fair number of stub tailed male coons. Does anyone have an idea as to what has caused this ? Think that it is the result of fighting or is it genetic in nature ?

 

[R2elk]

Just noticed a stub tailed squirrel at my feeder. Figure he is a survivor of a predator attack, but brought this question to mind. Over the years I have trapped a fair number of stub tailed male coons. Does anyone have an idea as to what has caused this ? Think that it is the result of fighting or is it genetic in nature ?

I have only ever seen, caught one bob-tailed coon. I suspected that someone harvested his tail and turned him loose. He was definitely live trap shy. He was a big fat boar. On the trail cam it looked more like a bobcat than a coon.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Just noticed a stub tailed squirrel at my feeder. Figure he is a survivor of a predator attack, but brought this question to mind. Over the years I have trapped a fair number of stub tailed male coons. Does anyone have an idea as to what has caused this ? Think that it is the result of fighting or is it genetic in nature ?

May be fighting or the work of predators grabbing them by the tail?