Wild Wild Woods

We use a metal toy 'slinky' to keep squirrels away from the bird feeders.  The feeder was blown off the metal pole that held it. But...

  FeederWatch, a citizen-science program of Cornell University Lab of Ornithology , is once again an activity for me through the cold winter...

  Song Sparrows Melospiza melodia live year around in the area around this pond, hiding their nests in grasses, weeds, or small trees.  Son...

We do citizen science for Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  'FeederWatch' just started for this winter.  https://feederwatch.org/ The pon...

A chunky long tailed Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca   posed for the camera by the pond.  It is probably migrating to breeding grounds north o...

  Mallards arrived this week on the pond.  Last year, after nesting and before migrating, mallard ducks molted: each lost and replaced all o...

 

Open water around the edge of the pond.  Now we watch for the ducks and geese to arrive with Spring.

The seed feeders hang outside the deck railing. Sometimes the Mourning Doves line up on the rail, watching for their turn at the feeder. On ...

This American Crow  Corvus brachyrhynchos  is hunting near the frozen pond for something to eat.  It may be preparing to migrate . . .  or n...

Juncos arrived last week from nesting grounds north of here.  Several made their way to our feeders.  Usually, they stay in this area all wi...

Red-winged Blackbirds have terrorized the pond and wetland by defending their nest area from all other birds.  Now that the young blackbi...

Both adult Red-wing Blackbirds have been very aggressive in this wetland area. They regard the entire pond and shoreline as "their...

Red-bellied Woodpecker gathering suet from the hanging feeder cage. Red-bellied Woodpecker caching suet in a hiding place for later. ...

The veggie garden has been transitioned to a feeder garden for birds and pollinators.  This year --  among the tomatoes, beans, peas, and...

female Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis on birch The winter "guild" of feeder birds is forming.  The adult birds in t...

19th annual Great Backyard Bird Count -- in the wild wild woods today, Mourning Dove, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woo...

These two European Starlings have been coming to the suet feeders for a week or so.  Their Latin name Sturnus vulgaris is fitting, since...

Female: red crest on back half of head Male: red crest on entire head plus red "moustache" Every w...

Today the male yellow-shafted Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus visited the suet block for breakfast.  It was a wet foggy winter mornin...