Any birdwatchers?

[Indigo_lr]

Pileated woodpecker flew across the path right in front of me today. Never tire of seeing them

 

[liqueur]

Pileated woodpecker flew across the path right in front of me today. Never tire of seeing them

I've got one (probably a pair) that hang around my property every year. I hear them all the time. But this time of year is special, because there are no leaves on the trees, so they're easier to spot. They've been especially close and present this year.

 

[SimonDoom]

I just spotted a Western Tanager in my backyard. Gorgeous bird. It wasn't there long. I haven't seen one in the backyard before, although Merlin has IDed their calls before. Here's a generic pic of it from the Web:

 

[liqueur]

View attachment 2614510

Lovely!

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

First hummer at the feeder!!!




I'd been working around it all afternoon. Sat down to take a break before I fell down. Little guy buzzed right to it, about 2' above my head.

Stayed still and let it fill up. Not that I could move anyways.


Sore. Big sore. Bones, joints, muscles, ear lobes, blood cells.

All sore.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

 

[CuriousJInLA]

Saw a white pelican today. Not rare but not frequent either and always awesome

 

[SoniaBraga]

Any birdwatchers out there in the forum?

It might seem like an odd thing to ask in an erotic author forum, but, after all, they're frisky critters, constantly strutting and making a lot of noise looking for mates.

They're a constant reminder of the beauty and wonder of life around us. Almost everywhere you go, there are birds. There's no better or easier way to appreciate nature around us than by watching birds and their habits.

They sing all the time, adding music to our surroundings.

If you are a birdwatcher, you travel in a different way. You go to new places looking for birds you haven't seen before.

One of the best ways to tell everybody that you're a nerd is when you're with a group of people and suddenly call out, "My goodness, there's a yellow-bellied sapsucker!" I've done stuff like that and enjoyed the way people react, like they're partly impressed and partly sorry for me.

And the coolest thing? They're dinosaurs. I love that. A reminder of the wonder and beauty of evolution.

I have been a casual birdwatcher since I was about 12, which was a long time ago. I have the Merlin app on my phone so I can ID birds by their calls nearby. If you don't have it, I recommend it.

Hello, how does someone start watching birds? I think about it since I saw a movie about it many years ago...

 

[CuriousJInLA]

Hello, how does someone start watching birds? I think about it since I saw a movie about it many years ago...

Was it The Big Year by chance?

 

[SoniaBraga]

Yes, loved that movie

 

[CuriousJInLA]

Yes, loved that movie

Great movie!

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Was it The Big Year by chance?

Never respond to Bots.

 

[CuriousJInLA]

Never respond to Bots.

I was too enthused about the movie. I’m generally better than that. Thx

 

[SoniaBraga]

Never respond to Bots.

How do I know it's a Bot?

 

[CuriousJInLA]

Never respond to Bots.

Good call out. I should probably look at everyone’s profile before commenting

 

[Rollinbones]

Bird watching is something that sneaks up on you. Most of my life I was oblivious to them or annoyed enough at Kookaburras laughing at five in the morning to salute them with a .410. Next minute, you own binoculars, a half dozen books and have journal of sightings. Getting old beats the alternative.

 

[CuriousJInLA]

Bird watching is something that sneaks up on you. Most of my life I was oblivious to them or annoyed enough at Kookaburras laughing at five in the morning to salute them with a .410. Next minute, you own binoculars, a half dozen books and have journal of sightings. Getting old beats the alternative.

That’s pretty much exactly how it happened to me

 

[SimonDoom]

Hello, how does someone start watching birds? I think about it since I saw a movie about it many years ago...

Just watch them! There's no trick to it. I recommend buying a bird guide and downloading the merlin app to your phone. Binoculars are helpful.

 

[CuriousJInLA]

Just watch them! There's no trick to it. I recommend buying a bird guide and downloading the merlin app to your phone. Binoculars are helpful.

Agreed about binoculars

 

[SimonDoom]

Hello, how does someone start watching birds? I think about it since I saw a movie about it many years ago...

I started watching birds when I was around 11, which was 50 years ago, so I've been doing it so long that I don't even think about "how" one does it anymore. I've always enjoyed nature and wildlife and gardens, so this sort of thing has become second nature. I'll offer some random thoughts on the subject.

First, there's no one "way" to do it. If you enjoy watching birds, watch birds. If you don't, do something else. If you enjoy it, there doesn't have to be a "why" to explain why you do. There's no one method for "how" to bird watch.

That said, there are things you can do to make the activity more worthwhile and interesting.

For starters, get acquainted with the types of birds that live in your area. Get a bird guide. Download the Merlin app on your phone. It's not just taxonomic interest (although I enjoy the taxonomy aspect of it). When you start birdwatching you quickly become aware of different birds' personalities and habits. That's part of the fun.

If you have the opportunity, create a bird-friendly habitat in your yard. Install a feeder and a birdbath. You'll attract a lot more birds. I can have fun birdwatching merely sitting in my backyard. I have a seed feeder, a hummingbird feeder, and a bird bath in my yard. It's birdapalooza back there.

If you are so inclined, focus on becoming a better bird identifier. A good birder can recognize the species of a bird by its silhouette as it flies through the air. Every bird has certain key marks that identify it. Its call, its size, its shape, its habits, its color markings, its flocking habits, the type of habitat it's in.

When you go places, focus on the different types of birds that you see in them.

Have fun.

 

[SoniaBraga]

Thank you very much...

 

[liqueur]

I started watching birds when I was around 11, which was 50 years ago, so I've been doing it so long...

I was younger than that, and over 65 years ago.

I think my interest took a great leap forward when my sister and I raised a baby robin that had blown out of its nest. we released it when it was able to fly, but it hung around close to the house the rest of the summer, and would come down to the lowest limbs of a big tree in the yard whenever we were outside, and talk to us. It came back for several years. Gradually less tame as time went by, but we could always recognize it because it had several white feathers on one wing.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I'm gonna get shiskabobbed by one of these Hummer idiots scooting around at Mach 18

 

[liqueur]

I'm gonna get shiskabobbed by one of these Hummer idiots scooting around at Mach 18

I think the speed at which they move— and then stop, dead-still, defies all the laws of known physics. Sort of like UFOs.

 

[liqueur]

I had yellow-rumped warblers at my feeder this morning. I'd never seen that before.