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Post by JeffOver on Jun 15, 2006 17:58:10 GMT -8
Finally! I had a red-breasted nuthatch at my feeder for the first time today! Mind you, it didn't even have a trace of orange anywhere, so it must be an immature. The closest to my house I've ever seen them is on Little Mountain, so this is pretty cool. Looks like I should get some suet and/or peanuts, as now he's feeding off of sunflower seeds.
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Post by fouram on Jun 16, 2006 8:49:51 GMT -8
Awesome, Jeff! I wish that I had access to a back yard (sigh) and was able to get the diversity of birds that I read here! I will be trying to get an apartment on the ground floor, perhaps that will help.
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Post by JeffOver on Jun 17, 2006 20:57:27 GMT -8
What a thrill! For any of you who have had birds land on your hand and/or feed while on your hand, you will know what I'm talking about. Tonight I was doing my regular duty of refilling the feeders when I noticed some chickadees wondering where the seeds had all gone. Having heard that chickadees are sometimes quite tame and may feed from your hand, I held out my hand with some sunflower seeds in it. I had hardly held it out when my new visitor, the red-breasted nuthatch, hovered in front of my head and then landed on my hand! ;D It picked through the seed, throwing out what it didn't like, and then looked at me with its small black eyes when I tried calling my Mom to come and look. Unfortunately, it flew away when I called too loud, but it stayed for at least 20 seconds! Amazing!!--the first bird to land on my hand is a red-breasted nuthatch! Talk about an awesome view! ;D Since I'm on the topic, I've noticed alot of cedar waxwings around our house lately. A couple of years ago when I was at school or work, my Dad had someone over and a cedar waxwing landed on the man's head while they were sitting outside! Pretty cool, I'd say! So... the question for the day is.....Anybody else have cool close encounters with birds--birds of prey, warblers, swallows, etc., anything??
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Post by Gord on Jun 20, 2006 21:21:44 GMT -8
Congrats on the nuthatch, and pretty cool that it came to your hand the first time you tried!! Im thinking of a good close encounter. A barred owl at Cheam Lake comes to mind. It was on the railing of the bridge over the creek eating a rabbit. I spooked it and it flew off and landed about 20 feet away. The rabbit fell in at the edge of the creek. I fished it out and put it back on the railing and continued on my way. When I came back, sure enough, the owl was back on the rabbit. This time I was paying more attention and didnt go blundering along. I stopped and hoped the owl would take the rabbit someplace else instead of panicking and dropping it again. After a few minutes (I was late for an appointment) it looked like he wasnt going to move. I walked over the bridge (about 8 feet wide) at the other side of the bridge to be as far as possible. Several times the owl raised his wings like it was about to go, but didnt. I noticed that when we made eye contact, that was when the owl got most worried. I got to the other side and he was still there. It was unreal! No, I didnt have my camera No, I'm not sure why it was out during the day. Yes, Im still depressed to this day I didnt have my camera. Yes, I do carry a camera with me all the time now.
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