The birding begins...(again)

One thing I miss about moving out (from the in-laws), other than using the very convenient washer and dryer, is watching the birds outside the window.

I was all enthusiastic about building my own bird feeder, checking out ideas on Pinterest and going to the stores. But finally I caved, I went and bought a feeder from the garden store 2 houses down the street.




I bought some black oil sunflower seeds from the store and set the feeder up this past weekend. Just in time for the Great Backyard Bird Count 2012! If you're interested in joining in, here is the Facebook page for more details!




I spent a very lovely weekend watching birds from my window. The above is a tufted titmouse (left) and a male house finch (right), very common birds found at the feeders. Sorry, not very fantastic pictures. I didn't want to get too close to the birds, and my camera sucks. I also went to the local library and got myself 2 birding guidebooks to help me out. The most exciting thing this week was spotting a new bird (for me at least) - a House Sparrow. My list grows to 26 now, that is, I am able to identify 26 different types of birds!! At least, for Eastern America.

And I think my feeder is positioned just right. I have yet to see the squirrel attempting to eat the seeds. Instead, I watched it go crazy jumping up and down the next tree, as if racking its brains to find a way to get at them seeds.

Chewy - 1 Squirrel - 0





I also watched a movie about birding, starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson, titled "The Big Year", that came out last year. In the movie, the three men set off to set a new record of spotting the highest number of birds in a year. Wilson's character is the defending champion of 'The Big Year' event and is partaking in it again to make sure nobody beats his record. Black and Martin are two avid birders who decided that this is the year they are going to win it.

All in all, if you're watching it for laughs, it's not a spectacular comedy. And I know these three names certainly leave people expecting more. It is first and foremost, a movie for birders. If you're a bird lover, this movie is a MUST watch. I certainly found myself wishing I could take a year off just to travel and bird watch.




Finally, what good is a birder without his/her most valuable tool - a pair of binoculars! My set came in the mail about a week ago. Whee!!! Can't wait till i stop working weekends, then J and I can go on hikes in the state parks!!

It's Happening!

the Great Backyard Bird Count begins. Actually it has already begun. I'm in my 2nd day of counting and i just spotted a new bird this morning!

all because I got up earlier than ever *pats on back*




the Brown headed Cowbird via Whidbey Audubon Society

I was a little upset to find out that these birds are what they call "brood parasites" -- their young are raised by "foster parents" because the females lay their eggs in nests of other species. However, studies have shown that the long term and large scale impacts of brood parasitism are relatively minor. So no love lost!

I have spotted a total of 14 species in my backyard to date. And guess what? I think i can now tell the house finches and the purple finches, both the males and the females, apart!!!

Yay!

Oh and when the squirrels come out, I set Daisy on them, so they leave the feeders to the birdies. A little unfair i know, but the squirrels have fattened themselves quite a bit for so long now. Leave this weekend to the birds!!! *shakes fists*

I found another website where you can submit your observation lists any day of the year, so i can continue my birdwatching even after the weekend. Check out eBird.

Of Wildflowers and Road Kills...

I went for an interview today at Walmart's. Got called up for a cashier position (yipee!) even though it's a part time thing. It beats sitting around at home doing nothing. I suppose I landed the job because I went for the drug test and all. I mean I just went through one round of background checks and tests and they all came out good, I don't suppose it'll be any different this time around. I hope i get sane hours.

And then, because I got my learner's permit ID card thingy, i can now apply for a library card!!! So we drove over to the public library and this excited little bunny here pored through shelves and shelves of crafting books and fairy tales. Picked up a patchwork book because that's one project I can start on without a sewing machine, and I only need the most basic sewing equipment (scraps of fabric, needles and thread) to begin!

Also wanted to take a break from all that job hunting so picked out a book of Grimms' fairy tales to daydream a little and some Greek mythology to reminisce about TSD times. So excited about my library card!!!

As we were approaching our driveway, our car ran over something brown and furry lying in the middle of the road. The J-man thought it was a baby coyote so after we parked our car in the garage, we raced back up the hill to see what it was. But not before I picked a few wildflowers along the way!

It wasn't a baby coyote, it was a poor bunny rabbit!! *sob* The blood on the ground was still red, but rigor mortis had set in so the rabbit was stiff, its head smashed out of shape and its hind legs broken. I know that only because J picked it up and laid it by the side of the road, on the grass. I laid a few of my flowers on the poor rabbit and quietly apologized on behalf of the ass who knocked it over.

That made the total count of road kill up to THREE today. And we were only out for a couple of hours! We also saw a dead fox and deer on the interstate. Ay...poor sods.

In an effort to turn this into a cheery post once more, here is a picture of one furry (and ALIVE!) creature in our backyard...

Presenting the sneaky Squirrely!