Birds
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| I we get quite a few Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds in our yard even though we are in Central New York. I think it's because I grow so many flowers they like to get nectar from. Plus I don't use any harsh chemicals in the yard so they have lots of bugs to eat also. You can read how to attract your own hummingbirds here. | |
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| One spring we had some Canada Geese stop by for a short time. Glad they didn't stay long, they are messy creatures. | |
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| I know that Spring is truly here when the Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks arrive for their Spring visit. They will only be here a few weeks, so I enjoy them as much as I can while they are here. They really seem to like the covered platform feeder we have. If it wasn't for the fact that the male was feeding the female, I would have never realized that this was the female Grosbeak (photo above right)...she is so plain, like a sparrow. This allows her to blend in well when she is sitting on her nest. More info can be found here. |
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| The most awesome experience I've had so far with a bird was when I was face to face with this juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk. It could also be a Cooper's Hawk since they look so similar, but because of the tail feathers, I believe it is a SSH. One late December day in 2004, I went outside to photograph some birds, but suddenly they were all gone. When I looked more closely, I saw this little guy sitting in the maple tree near the feeders. I walked up to him and snapped several photographs. He did not fly off until I was about 6-7 feet from him. | |