First at the new Feeder

[Palo]

We recently put a feeder near the office window and these were the first to show up.  The shots were taken through the window and it was raining, so they aren't the best.  I know they a common in these parts, but still beautiful to look at.

Dark-eyed Juncos came by today, but too much snow on the window.  Enjoy.


Northern Cardinal Male 2013-01-28


Northern Cardinal Female 2013-01-28


Thx for looking.

[Rob'in'To]

Hey, that's awesome!

Nearly a decade ago I put up my very first bird feeder, one just like that, green gazebo from Walmart.  And the first birds to come were also a pair of Cardinals (my fave birds since I was a kid).  So I was over the top excited.  And I guess that was my "spark moment" to backyard bird feeding.

[Rotarran]

Pretty cool man.  Nice pics too.  I'm contemplating a feeder as well...but I think it would drive my cat crazy lol.

[Palo]

Hey, that's awesome!

Nearly a decade ago I put up my very first bird feeder, one just like that, green gazebo from Walmart.  And the first birds to come were also a pair of Cardinals (my fave birds since I was a kid).  So I was over the top excited.  And I guess that was my "spark moment" to backyard bird feeding.

I found the gazebo feeder at Canadian Tire for $5 and like you, was thrilled to see the Cardinals there!  Yes, it's my first feeder.

Pretty cool man.  Nice pics too.  I'm contemplating a feeder as well...but I think it would drive my cat crazy lol.

Thx Rotarren.  Go for it, get a feeder, your cat will have something else to look forward to.  We have quite a few of the neighborhood cats that meet up in the back half of the yard during the winter. But in the spring, summer and fall, they stay away because we hang out there.

[Rotarran]

Mine is an indoor cat...I don't let her out because I know she has the skills to take down a lot of prey...including many of the birdies we know and love.  In fact cats are one of the leading causes of song-bird deaths.  Cats are amazingly well-suited to bird-hunting...they are super-quiet and stealthy, have explosive acceleration with lightning-quick reflexes and their claws act like magnets on bird feathers.  And with birds being more and more trusting these days, they're not quite as careful as they used to be.

[Palo]

I agree, I try to discourage them from using the back yard, but of coarse you can't be there all the time. When the weather is warmer we are usually out there, so they stay away.  I certainly did not put up the bird feeder to feed the neighborhood cats, so I'll keep an extra eye out.

In the mean time, more Dark-eyed Juncos showed up, I'll post some shots here later.

[Palo]

Here's some Dark-eyed Juncos that had showed up at the feeder the very next day.  However they don't seem to feed at the feeder itself but shows up with the Cardinals and wait for the seeds to fall to the ground.  I have to say that it's been difficult photographing these dark, fast moving birds through a window... I can't open it, they would just take off.

Dark-eyed Junco 2013-02-02