Tag Archives: Sparrows

Saturday – 12.2.2017

2:46 AM – This is a long clip – about three minutes – of the action on one of our ‘satellite’ feeders. It’s a Squirrel Buster stationed away from the deck out in the yard. The video was taken with our new camera, so the quality of the video is a little better than that of the security cams.

There are several parts. In approximate order of appearance are Sparrows, White Breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finches. The last clip is a dance between a House Finch and Sparrow, around the feeder.

To balance the previous lengthy video, we present a short clip of our new resident, the Eastern Phoebe. We hadn’t seen one for a couple of weeks, but it looks like they’re here to stay, for a while. This one (or more) are carrying off mealworms, I assume to nesting mates or chicks.

Thursday – 11.23.2017

4:37 AM – We’re seeing more Mockingbirds this Fall – or maybe the same few Mockingbirds a lot more frequently. As seen here, he’s a fan of the platform feeder and the birdbath. He also likes mealworms, puppies and long walks in the rain. Maybe not those last two.

Archive footage (November 2016) of birds peacefully at the birdbath.  There are Bluebirds, Purple Finches, Cardinal and Sparrows.

Monday – 11.20.2017

3:48 AM – The Sparrows we’ve been seeing have turned into a small flock. Here are at least five of them on the platform feeder. Near the end of the video is some slow-motion beak fencing.

The Yellow-rumped Warblers are back from a summer in the north. According to the Cornell Labs website, they are down from Canada. Last year we had quite a few.

Extra video from the Archives. This is from November, 2016.

Saturday – 11.18.2017

3:24 AM – Thirsty squirrels, a cat and the very popular raccoon take their turn.

I still have a hard time telling the difference between the varieties of Sparrows. I think these might be Song Sparrows, but those are supposed to have stripes on the chest. They also look like White Throated Sparrows but they don’t really have white throats. Whatever brand of Sparrow these are, there are several of them, which is nice, as they haven’t been around much lately.  A femaile Purple Finch is also there, until finally a Cardinal runs the whole lot of them off.

Sunday – 10.1.2017

1:35 AM – Retro Sunday, once again. But first, something a little different. Here’s a video of a Carolina Wren at the mealworm feeder, published several days ago. Here it is again, but now with a soundtrack, another original composition.

This one is from January, 2017. Its a very interesting video that demonstrates how alert (and quick) the sparrows are. Four of them are sitting in the feeder. Suddenly they all fly away. Within a second a hickory nut falls from the branches above and lands in the feeder. It seems no matter how intently the birds are hogging down, they’re still paying attention to their surroundings. If you’re potential hawk-food, I guess that’s a good idea.

Sunday – 7.9.2017

1:04 AM – This is the first video we posted, back in early November, 2016.  All of the early posts, from the first month, were consolidated into one called Bird Videos – Lots of Them, then deleted. The Bird Videos etc post is the now the earliest one, dated 11/15/2016. This video was labelled Song Sparrow Bathing.

Another early video, from the first month, is this one of a Dark Eyed Junco. We haven’t seen one of these for a while.

And this early one, a Cardinal skating on ice to get a drink. Last winter we came out frequently and broke up the ice on freezing days.

 

Sunday – 6.11.2017

4:28 AM – It’s Sunday, and that means a retrospective of selected Backyard Foodcourt videos. The theme this week is “Birds That Squabble and Fight”. The first one, from 2/13/17, shows some spirited sparrows squaring off in the platform feeder:

From 3/15/17, this Purple Finch isn’t really fighting, so much as establishing the pecking order.

From 5/20/17, a female House Finch goes for a sparrow. With instant replay:

Another disagreeable female House Finch, at the mealworm feeder. What’s with all the female House Finches? From 5/24/17.

 

Wednesday – 6.7.2017

7:40 AM – There’s not much going on today, just the regulars.For a change of pace, here’s a video experiment. In order, the birds are sparrows, finches and sparrows, Brown Headed Cowbirds and Cedar Waxwings.

Back to normal – just a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a bluebird grazing the mealworm feeder. Notice the woodpecker flying off with a big mouthful of worms.