Backyard Birding

May 20, 2008 | Birding, Landscape

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Our back yard birding had another surprise yesterday. A pair (or adult and kid) of Scarlet Tanagers paid us a visit for several hours while they rested and fed on the suet, oranges, seed and worms. They really are one of the most beautiful birds in North America and this was only the 2nd or 3rd time I’ve seen one. I have never had 2 sit for hours to have their picture taken and it was hard throwing out dozens of duplicate images this morning.

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Tina and I have picked Tuesday, May 13th as the peak of this years migration. Not only did we see the most birds of any one day, but we saw many first of the year species and one FIRST ever. Dozens of Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosebeaks and our 1st Indigo Bunding were some of the highlights; the green heron returned to Crepeau ponds; a Ruby-throated Hummingbird returned and just about every tree on the Country Insurance land had birds in it, including multiple species of warblers.

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Here is a Black-throated Blue Warbler waiting in line for grape jelly.

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One of the downsides to attracting so many birds, is that you also attract Raptors that feed on small birds and other animals. A Cooper’s Hawk has been prowling the back yard, looking in and under bushes for his next meal.

The migration cycle is definitely subsiding, with fewer birds visiting the yard each day. We will still put out the daily buffet of seeds, jelly, fruit and worms and hopefully, some of the migrants pick Crepeau has their summer home. We’ll have to wait and see.

I am still posting new pictures to our Picasa Gallery, but I am also experimenting with a Bird Gallery to display some of the better shots of this spring. Visit bnwilson.com/birding/gallery and let me know what you think.

 

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Ben & Tina's World
Vadnais Heights, MN 55127