No birds

I haven’t had any birds at the feeders today. Do they hunker down in front of a storm? I would have thought they would be eating prior to tomorrows weather.

I was just thinking along the same lines. I’ve had a few but not near the usual numbers. The finches come and go all day but the chickadees and downy woodpeckers are usually non-stop thru the day and both have been pretty sparse in numbers today.

They’re probably all laying dead by zigi’s stadium

Is it windy out?

Dutchboy wrote:

I haven’t had any birds at the feeders today

Same here.

I have had an increase in northern flickers and even pileated woodpeckers lately. an occasional downy…

Lots of titz around my yard this time of year.

Oh grow up.

Yea, they’re afraid of the pending “heavy dusting”.

Birds weren’t worried cuz weatherman is probably wrong?

The last two mornings right before first light, Ive witnessed a sunstantial murder of crows on the Childrens hospital campus. I would guess somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 birds. Pretty cool.

When I use to feed the birds, before a snow storm moved in the doves would flock to the feeder.

mplspug wrote:

Lots of titz around my yard this time of year.

Oh grow up.

How is your brother Baul Zitch doing?

Slowish day for birds here too.

Warm day with melting snow = not as hungry and other food sources available. When the snow kicks up tomorrow they’ll remember who their friends are!

Pine siskins have been steady customers this year. Not many cardinals compared to usual.

I was serious about the wind. If it’s windy, small birds are not as active.

Canvasbacks and Buffleheads were thick in the main river channel last weekend. then generally move to the back waters if they open.

I’ve been practicing with my camera and lucked out getting this close to a pileated woodpecker!!

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Brian Klawitter wrote:

Canvasbacks and Buffleheads were thick in the main river channel last weekend. then generally move to the back waters if they open.

I’ve been practicing with my camera and lucked out getting this close to a pileated woodpecker!!

With all due respect BK
Please show me legit pics of Cans still hanging out up here on the Mississippi in January.

The Cardinals are singing their courtship songs down here. Makes the sunrise more enjoyable.

I saw quite a few swans on White Bear on Sunday and then some more on the St. Croix on Monday. A really nice sighting was a juvenile Northern Shrike on New Years Eve in Woodbury! Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union had a report of a Tufted Duck in Colville Park, a first for Goodhue Co. It was with a Canvasback and a Redhead.
Anyone seen any over-wintering Robins?
Check out moumn.org.

I had a few doves and Robins until that cold streak hit. Haven’t seen either since it warmed up. My usuals are right back at the feeders today along with a pair of sharp shinned hawks that keep the seed eaters pretty on edge.

Last year we had cardinals all over and this season we haven’t seen but a couple and real random at that.

This big winter storm has sort of flopped I think. We maybe have a half inch and the radar shows most of the storm’s mass falling apart as it moves up out of Iowa. This is a real heart breaker….NOT!.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Canvasbacks and Buffleheads were thick in the main river channel last weekend. then generally move to the back waters if they open.

I’ve been practicing with my camera and lucked out getting this close to a pileated woodpecker!!

Oh! You got a picture of the Devil Himself! You should see what they do to my wood siding.

Rod Bent wrote:

Anyone seen any over-wintering Robins?

We had 3 robins at the feeder on Christmas weekend. Have not seen since.

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Rod Bent wrote:</div>
Anyone seen any over-wintering Robins?

We had 3 robins at the feeder on Christmas weekend. Have not seen since.

-J.

Saw a robin New Year’s Day when it was below zero. A little optimistic with his spring prediction…

I can’t remember the last time I saw a Cardinal. Had a Red-bellied Woodpecker pecking at his reflection and the vinyl window. UV ribbon keeps it away.

I’ve been having a large group of yearling/female pine grosbeaks at the feeder off and on the last couple weeks. Funny thing is I have yet to see an adult male. And this morning I had a big Barred Owl sitting in the trees above the feeder looking for a meal. On 12/29 I was lucky enough to see a Great Grey hunting a road ditch near my house. Boy are they huge!

Downy, hairy and pileated woodpeckers at the suet daily. Amazing they can hammer on the blocks in these temps (-19 this am). Chickadee’s, purple finch’s and brown and white nuthatches are in the feeder constantly. And the blue jays seem to prefer the deer corn to seed.

Wish we would have cardinals. Loved seeing them all year around growing up in SW Wisconsin. Up here we might see one a couple times in summer, but being in the middle of the woods they dont stick around.

No shortage of Cardinals at the feeder here in St Paul.

-J.

I was just thinking that the birds did a vanishing act again a bit ago. I got a drink of water in the kitchen and what should I see in our big oak? None other than a pair of sharp shinned hawks watching the feeders in the pine…my bird watching tree. When those hawks appear nothing is around the feeders.

I spent several hours trying to se the “Tufted” that was in Colvill last week. I never saw it and never found anyone with an actual confirmed sighting or photograph. Common Goldeneyes and mergansers by the 100’s and 1000’s in the area. In several days of watching them I only saw a couple other species, Mallards (duh), a wood duck drake that takes up residence near the grainery, 2 Lesser Scaup near Baypoint and a couple of Tundra swans. Although there were reports of other waterfowl in the area I was not able to find anything odd or unique. I have chased the story of Tufteds a couple of times and have yet to have seen one. If someone sees this one again please let me know asap.

I have had two people with good waterfowl knowledge tell me of a small flock of Old Squaw (I know, Longtailed Ducks) in the main channel near the head of Lake Pepin this past week. I have seen them here before and have harvested a couple over the years but I was unable to locate this group. Anyone else see them? PM me a general area if you do not mind.

Got some Turkeys feeding at the trough this AM.

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I have a couple of Jays but thats about it this morning so far.

Do these taste good? I can hear/feel him at work this morning.

Anyone ever have success in deterring these monsters from doing damage?

I’ve tried the owl thing, the owl thing with the bobble head, mylar strips, aluminum foil, steel wool.

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