TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . DONATE . CONTACT . CHAT  
 Wikia  Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Archive through June 11, 2006

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2007 ~ Mar. 2007: Hairball Haven: Birds (ARCHIVES): Archive through June 11, 2006 users admin

Author Message
Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 8:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Of course I did Gal, what do you think Darren and the kidlets are?

Our local paper today has a story about a woman who was in the middle of a nap and woken up by a police officer banging on her door. Seems someone from the house made a call to 911, but at the time she was home alone. Polly wanna dial 911. The part that totally cracked me up was where she said she's waiting for Bongo to confess but like any child she knows he won't, lol.

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 8:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Goddessatlaw a private message Print Post    
Wargod, that story is a riot. Colossus has been trying to explain to me how intelligent, mischievous and personality-filled parrots are, but that story pretty much sums it up.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
For the past few weeks, we've had ducklings in our lagoon (cheepies, as I'm wont to call them).

I haven't said much this time because as some of you may remember, early last spring we lost all of the first group (is it a gaggle when it's ducks? dunno. I digress) and quite a few of the following cheepie groups.

And, these latest ones were born right in the middle of the violent goose turf wars (which seem to have subsided). So I was understandably cautious about heralding their arrival!

Anyways, this Mom started with 11, and now she has 5. Which isn't too bad compared with last year. She does have a big spot on the back of her head where her feathers have been torn out, so I do think she's had to fight to defend them. One night we saw three males circling her and basically tormenting her.

I am trying very hard this time not to keep too close an eye on them, as it does become a little depressing, as GAL said too. But the babies are just so DARN CUTE!!!

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 7:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Goddessatlaw a private message Print Post    
Woo hoo, Yankee has cheepies!! Yanks, I hope your group fares much better this year. Sounds like the mom is doing everything she can. I'm sort of nostalgic for the goose turf wars you're having, though. We really haven't had any this year since they used dogs to run off most of the geese. I used to orchestrate in my head their morning freakouts, usually to Leonard Bernstein (insert the opening whistles to "West Side Story").

Wargod and the three stooges are doing great! Mojo is still just a little bit ahead of the other two, he has white tail feathers now. They have been getting flying lessons on the shoreline, which is only too fun to watch. Colossus and I have a bet - I think they'll be flying by June 15. He thinks it will take a little longer.

Last night we had two new families of ducklings show up. One mom had only one duckling, and he looks to be about 6 weeks old so she's been around a bit and maybe lost a few, but she's a very attentive mother.

GRANNY finally made herself known last night - she has five brand new ducklings, maybe a few weeks old. Came right up to my shoreline to prance and preen with her fine-looking brood. They formed a parade line for me and showed me all their little tricks like running on water and swimming in circles. Gonna have to go get a new supply of cracked corn.

Many beautiful birds on the lake this year. Two great blue herons, some smaller black and red herons, a black loon, several cardinal families, a blue-jay family, a few small woodpeckers, and too many varieties of finches to count. Colossus is teaching me to recognize all the bird calls. The blue-jays are noisy little suckers, but too beautiful to describe. Colossus doesn't care for them because they are "thiefs", but with baby blue jays and baby cardinals flying around us all the time I think we're very lucky to have them here. It is paradise. Thankfully we have not seen the red-tail hawks in a couple of weeks. They are magnificent birds and I figure they probably had a nest full of little ones they were feeding, but I hope they are hunting in greener pastures. Elsewhere.

Colossus has thrown down the gauntlet with that friggin' prehistoric muskrat that is now living under the dock where the beavers used to be (I have no idea where they went, I'm just glad they're not here to destroy more trees). It's Colossus against the water rat now, and they each intend to win. Colossus has tried to run him off with his sling-shot, but the rat just laughs at him and taunts him even more. I strongly suspect we'll wind up at the marine supply store looking for live traps today. The Captain and Tenille can kiss my . . . there's nothing cute about muskrats except those tiny little squirrel-looking ears. Otherwise, this one scares the shit out of me every time it climbs up on shore. It's not so bad in the water, easily mistaken for a beaver, but when it climbs up on shore that rat tail just keeps going and going (shudder). Good riddance. But I have no intention of helping trap and relocate it, I intend to stay as far away from it as possible.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 9:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
No "muskrat love" there in Indiana? (LOL, I crack myself up)

If you watch the new "reality show" Meerkat Manor that starts Friday on Animal Planet you may wonder about the rat family (probably not, but this show sounds like a hoot!)

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 1:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
We've been enjoying all the birds that have adopted our yard and the surrounding area this year, too. The hummingbirds have mysteriously disappeared, though! I can't figure it out. We put up the feeder for them last year, cleaning and refilling it frequently, and they enjoyed it up until they had to migrate south for the cold. Early spring they were back and we hung up the feeder for them again. Bad weather drove them away again for a couple of weeks, and we saw them once more. I took down the feeder and cleaned it thoroughly to refill and hung it out, but we haven't seen one bird since.

The feeder is clear glass with red at the top and red flowers and perches. It is hung on the north/west side of the house near two flowering bushes and over a fern patch in front of my son's window. I even bought new nectar. Any suggestions on how to get the birds to come back?

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 4:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
hummer

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Monday, June 05, 2006 - 12:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Urgrace, if you keep the feeders available, I think there's a good chance they'll return. Crossing my fingers for you.

GAL, it sounds like almost heaven where you live. I would so love to live near a large lake. I'm always in awe of the large wading birds one can see there. Do you have any river otters about?

There's raccoons, squirrels, skunks, opossums, chipmunks, and groundhogs coming to my feeders. I see deer tracks too, in back, and of course there's mice about too. Oh and saw two snakes this weekend (my guest cat caught one in the garage yesterday - got him to drop it and I carried it out back where it promptly slithered away so I hope it'll be okay). Saw a butterfly on some flowers last week, plus some unusual moths. The bumblebees are all over. I hope some honey or Mason bees show up too.

There's bluebirds nesting in the house on the fencepost in back. Also have cardinals, blue jays, hummingbirds, crows, red winged black birds, starlings, various finches and sparrows and woodpeckers, cowbirds, and I saw one flycatcher.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Monday, June 05, 2006 - 12:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
We still have 5 cheepies as of today.

Supergranny
Member

02-03-2005

Monday, June 05, 2006 - 4:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Supergranny a private message Print Post    
I wanted to share this funny true life story...

We are experiencing a lot of building and construction here in our little resort town. The latest is that the builders are complaining about the crows. They are stealing their bits!
I don't know why they would want a drill bit but they do.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Monday, June 05, 2006 - 7:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Crows like shiny things!

Pack Rats also snag 'em.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Monday, June 05, 2006 - 7:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
Caught sight of a red male finch helping himself to the hummingbird nectar this morning. Well, at least someone is enjoying it!

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 7:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Well, that's something, Urgrace. And keep the faith, I'm sure the hummingbirds will return. I've also seen woodpeckers & orioles drinking from nectar feeders.

Funny story, Supergranny! They do like shiny things, or maybe it's their way of hinting that they think there's too much human development going on there, lol! Crows are quite intelligent, just the other day I posted a story in N&V on the subject.

Oh and how could I forget to include rabbits, robins, mourning doves, and chickadees on my list of who's coming to my yard! However I'm so disappointed that the rose-breasted grosbeaks haven't yet showed up this year. The past few springs a number of them would suddenly arrive at my feeders, stay for about a week, and then leave just as suddenly. I figure they must be migrating further north and stopped here for a rest.

Riviere
Member

09-09-2000

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 3:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Riviere a private message Print Post    
Hummingbirds ~ I fretted my friendly ruby throat Smarty would not return after the hurricanes last fall but she did, as of May 5 here in IL.. The females tend to arrive before males and scope the nesting area first, later males arrive. A few days ago I was tidying loose river rocks along the path where feeder is and 2 hummers buzzed me, both females! One was Smarty and I think her new smaller light colored companion is a daughter we nicknamed Newbie. If you hang feeders, they will come, Urgrace, and please do not bother buying pricey nectar mixes! The best healthiest way to feed hummers is a simple saucer shaped feeder and a 3 to 1 sugar water mix as zoos use. They've learned the vitamin additives and food coloring harm hummers. Plain old fine sugar in tap water mix is all they need. I'm now sure this hummer is Smarty albeit bigger and darker green since she comes right up to my face and hovers 'vvvvtt vvvttt' like she remembers me. Hummingbirds are such a joy as our wild pets!

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 7:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
I have at least two ruby-throats too but I thought they were males. They're always having territory skirmishes and buzzing everywhere. It's so funny when they hover right in front of your face.

Oh and of course I forgot a few more birds for my yard list. There's the nuthatches - how could I overlook them? They were the first birds to come to my feeders when I moved here. I love watching them walk up and down the trees. And some grackles have joined the starlings. I saw a titmouse too, hadn't seen one of them since earlier this spring and thought they may have migrated onward.

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 11:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Yea! I saw one r.b. grosbeak on the seed tray of the sunflower tube feeder last night. Boy, that was a relief, I was getting worried. Now I just hope he comes back and brings some more with him. Also saw a female hummingbird on the nectar feeder. She's the first female I've seen this year. The bluebird was still on her nest in the birdhouse in back. I expect the eggs should hatch soon?

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 4:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
Just walked back home in the pouring rain. What kind of liquor store doesn't have amaretto? Anyways, about the birds LOL...

Walking to my front door I saw some cheepies and a mommy and realized they are NEW CHEEPIES. At least 8 of them, maybe 9. Never seen them before just now.

Still have 5 cheepies from the first bunch born a couple weeks ago.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Friday, June 09, 2006 - 11:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
OK, so I can't stand to look outside anymore.

I have been hearing ducklings cheeping all morning as I've tried to work. I just looked out the window and I saw:

* the mom and the older ducklings (5)
* another mom and 8 teeny ducklings
* ANOTHER mom and about 7 ducklings

There is also one teeny tiny duckling swimming around lost, and I just saw the mother of the older ducklings try to kill/peck/drown it. Not sure who this duckling belongs to.

There is not enough space in this lagoon for all these ducklings, especially if the mothers are going to try to kill the little ones that don't belong to them.

I'm just not going to look (or count) anymore. It's too sad.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 9:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
I know I'm just talking to myself here (ha!), but something weird today. Friday we had three families -- two brand new ones with 7-8 ducklings each, who were cheeping loudly all day.

Today, nothing. Only the original family with the 5 older ducklings (who no longer peep all day).

Perhaps they were on the other side of the lagoon, but I'm not sure. I wasn't home all day, but when I was I never saw the other families.

Weird.

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 10:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
HI YANKEE!,

i checked in about 25 minutes ago..yep, it's quiet here at tvch. i understand what you are saying, very sad.

i live in hollywood/burbank/toluca lake area. i live in a big apt. area. odd, but true, i have seen deer not only in the hill just about 200 feet from my balcony...but also in the parking lot!

also, i hear the coyotes in the hills about every 3 weeks.

sadly, i haven't seen a deer in about 7 months...but do hear the coyotes "eating".

well, it's all about survival...still sad.

your story is different, though. that would be so hard to watch. good idea...don't count anymore.

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 7:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Goddessatlaw a private message Print Post    
Well, I'm just learning all kinds of bird stuff in here today, such as: I dunno what are flycatchers, grosbeaks, nuthatches, grackles, titmmouse (mice?), or chickadees.

Yanks, any luck with spotting the new families today? With all the duck families we have here on the lake, I've never seen the behavior you've described of the females killing another's ducklings. But then, there's plenty of room here for all of them so their food supply and territories aren't threatened.

Wargod's three little stooges are on the verge of flying - they've got five days to get it on before I lose my bet with Colossus, so I've been out there encouraging them to get some loft under their asses. Colossus keeps feeding them corn so they're too heavy, tired and preoccupied to consider getting off the ground LOL. They are a happy and healthy family, no doubt.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 8:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Grackles are black birds, smaller than crows or ravens, some varieties sport a fan shaped tail. I've seen them in great quantity in the Dallas area and in Tucson and other areas of AZ. None here in SoCal.

GAL.. LOL.. I'd love to see a video clip of you out there "encouraging" the little ones to FLY! while Colossus tries to weigh them down.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
To add to Sea's story, Grackles are a pest bird related to crows and orioles. The ones around central Texas are the boat-tailed version (16 inches long) males with brown females. They love to follow the lawnmower or play in the sprinklers. When roosting they poop a lot and create huge decibals of noise with their 'grackle' caw, and neighborhoods and businesses have invented devises to scare them off such as loud pops or fake screeching owls.
grackleBoattail

Grackles have a definitive seasonal behavior. They nest and breed as one pair or in small groups in the spring time. In the fall, the birds will fall to form large colonies with the juveniles first forming the groups and later joined by the adults. These large colonies can number in the thousands. In colder, northern climates the flock will migrate south, while southern birds will stay put or move into a more urban location. These flocks will usually take over several trees or urban dwellings for their evening roosting. In the winter, their feeding site may be quite far from their roosting spot, making trapping or baiting difficult.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
As for the Titmouse, I watched one, last week at a girlfriend's house, flit around because we were sitting on the covered patio where the Titmouse had built her nest. She hung it on a nail driven into the eave. The plural is Titmice!
titmouse


Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Goddessatlaw a private message Print Post    
Well that's a cute little sweetie, Urgrace. Can't quite say that for the grackles, they remind me of the nasty starlings that pest around the Cancun resorts.