"Winter Finch"

During the winter months there will be a bird that looks like a mixture of a female house finch and american goldfinch... The winter finch is often referred to as the Pine Siskin! This bird is commonly found in conifers, hence the name! The pine siskin will come to feeders in the winter to feed on thistle and sunflower seeds! A very delightful bird to see and hear! If your taking a walk during these winter months keep your ears open for a bird making a cheerful call that ends with a Zeee Zeee note! Enjoy the inclement weather today! Be safe!

Merry Christmas!

Anyone seeing any cool birds on our white Christmas? Juncos? White throated sparrows? Cardinals? Have a blessed day!

Final Bluebird Count In 3 years at VA Tech!

I have stepped down from Va Tech but my birdhouses will still remain at the AREC center in Winchester! In the 3 years I was there, the bluebirds successfully raised and fledged 42 young, out of 49 young! 85% success rate! I'll take that ;)

Third Brood of Bluebirds!

This has been a successful year so far in Bluebird production in the vineyard! I'm assuming to the early rise in temperature and variety of food they got an early start! The bluebirds started in the second week in April preparing their first brood, in both boxes, different pairs! The first box had 4 successful fledglings and the second had 5! In the first week of June I cleaned the boxes out promptly and then a day or so later the second brood was being prepared by both pairs! The first box laid 5 eggs and the second had 5! Both pairs eggs hatched within three days of another, the first box being the older pair, their eggs hatched first! In both boxes all babies were successful in their hatching process! I checked the babies daily, and found that one of the babies in the first box was missing! This was uncommon, and I'm assuming the nestling was weak or ill and the parents got rid of the nestling! Both boxes fledged babies! The first box 4 fledged and the second 4 as well! Pretty successful year! I cleaned the boxes out expecting the bluebird pairs to be finished for the year! I was totally surprised when I checked the first box and there was a nest fully made! Uhmm! I monitored it early this week and she laid on Tuesday, she laid not one but, two eggs in a day! I found this quite odd, along with the third brood which only happens like 3% in the East due to weather conditions and adequate food supply! Yesterday while working in the vineyard I noticed the Bluebird pair in the 2nd box making their third brood also! Crazy!! I'm monitoring these nest for a white egg which is rare but wouldn't be surprised if it happened! This is my story for the day I will blog the outcome of the third brood later in the next month!

Since 2009-2012 I have successfully raised 34 bluebirds in two bird houses! Quite impressive!

Cowbird

   House Finch-1 Cowbird-0

Interesting Fact of The Day: Brown Thrasher

In our vineyard at the Alson Smith Agricultural Research and Extension Center I found a Brown Thrasher nest week! I know a little bit about this bird, just the basics, like its size and feeding habits! Last year at my girlfriends house I found a nest of baby Thrashers! The nest was tipping over and the babies were hanging on by a thread! My girlfriend and I found out the hard way how aggressive the parents could be! It took about an a hour to deal with the parents and to fix the nest! The nest lasted until they fledged! Thanks goodness! The interesting fact for the day will make this experience with the Brown Thrasher a reality for you readers!

FACT: The parents are aggressive defenders of their nesting site and have been known to strike humans, cats, and dogs with no fear! Been known to draw blood with their powerful jab! YIKES!

Enjoy The Rainy Day!

Interesting Fact of The Day: Barn Swallow

I was mowing today and I always find it fascinating when your mowing and a barn swallow trails the mower as you cut the grass! They are very aerodynamic and shifty while catching their prey! I dont have a cool story to share today but I feel when I dont have anything to share I will share a interesting fact of a certain bird species! Today it's the barn swallow!

-FACT: When building their mud nest, both the male and female make up to 1000 trips back and forth while preparing their nest!

Enjoy This Beautiful Day!

Bluebirds Vs Tree Swallows!

In my whole life of studying birds and bluebirds I have never seen something as ironic as this story! I went to work on Monday morning after my first brood of Bluebirds had fledged their nestbox and was checking both boxes to see if there were any signs of new nesting materials in the box! I checked the first one and there was some nesting material, I checked the second one and I found a tree swallow in the box! I decided to grab its tail thinking it would react in some manner, but I found it to be limp and dead, strange! After realizing the bird was dead I observed it's body and I found lacerations all over its head! I'm assuming that the Tree Swallow was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the male Eastern Bluebird didnt want the male Tree Swallow in his territory! I just have never seen such a behavior! So as I blog this if anyone cares to comment on this issue, I'll be interested to hear some input!

Welcome Birders!

Welcome to my blog, birders if you have any questions, more than likely I have an answer!