A new visitor to our bird feeder

**Pax** · 03-30-2008, 03:54 PM

How nice! I can't wait to have a feeder again.

**makbike** · 03-30-2008, 04:19 PM

Very Cool!

**F8th637** · 03-30-2008, 05:40 PM

Wow, lucky you, 7! What a beauty he is and I've never seen one here in Va and lots of people in our neighborhood have bird feeders. The birds share with the squirrels. Good to see and hear that they seem to be thriving and aren't being a nuisance.

**Wahine** · 03-30-2008, 07:35 PM

Wow that is really cool!! I love birds, all of them.

I found a flying squirrel in my bird feeder one time in the middle of the night. I thought it was a big deal and called up fish and wildlife the next day. It turned out that they were all over... just rarely seen due to the nocturnal thing.

**yellow** · 03-30-2008, 07:45 PM

We used to have one named Jethro. Except one day Jethro laid an egg and became Jethra.

Quakers (another name for them) are incredibly hardy, hence the reason they are illegal in many states with agricultural-based economies (I know in CA and FL for sure).

They usually flock, so seeing this one solo probably isn't "normal". They are really, really sweet birds and can imitate talk quite well.

y
(former owner of several parrots and parakeets, currently fostering a cute li'l budgie named Lucky)

**Zen** · 03-30-2008, 08:23 PM

Are you gonna keep feeding, then?

**bmccasland** · 03-31-2008, 04:21 AM

We have a small flock that nest near our office. Normally they nest in the palm trees, but this year they're around the high voltage power lines. Noisy little buggers.

**7rider** · 03-31-2008, 05:17 AM

Originally Posted by zencentury

Are you gonna keep feeding, then?

I'm not sure.
We've never fed the birds in the warmer months. But we certainly have a lot of seed left yet.

Interesting to know about the flocking, yellow. It could be that we saw only one of several birds. Or, this is the "vanguard" of a coming flock. Still, the bluejay wasn't terribly happy about it...but then, they're never happy about much judging by the racket they make.

I've heard in CT, they nest in transformer boxes on utility poles and the power companies HATE them....(no palm trees there!

)

**Trek420** · 03-31-2008, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Queen

How nice! I can't wait to have a feeder again.

Queen, can't you have a feeder where you are?

**Pax** · 03-31-2008, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Trek420

Queen, can't you have a feeder where you are?

It's against the rules in this apartment complex.

We're slooooowly house hunting so once we're in our own place again I'll have a nice big feeder!

**tulip** · 03-31-2008, 10:25 AM

Monk parakeets are very hardy. They build big communal nests with each pair having their own "condo". They are considered a nuisance in many areas since they are loud and noisy. I find them alot of fun, however.

Most monk parakeets in the wild are not escapees anymore, but wild birds descended from escapees. So catching them and putting them in a cage would really not be fair.

I had a parrot (Senegal) for 10 years, but the ex got the little guy in the divorce. Parrots have so much personality. My ex-parrot was hatched domestically and hand-raised by the breeder with frequent visits by us. He's very affectionate. I wonder if he misses me. My ex is a very good bird person, though, so I'm sure he's in good hands.

This past weekend was great for birding. I saw a common loon (should be heading north by now), several great blue herons, a couple of red-bellied woodpeckers, and a few osprey. Oh, and a Northern Rough-Winged Swallow--first time I'd seen one of those. It was trying to build a nest where the fire dept connection goes into the side of my building, just a foot or two above the sidewalk.

If you want to keep track of your sightings, you can do so at ebird.com.

**short cut sally** · 03-31-2008, 10:55 AM

How cool is that? I've never seen a bird like that except for maybe the pet stores. Thanks for sharing that, and did you notice the male cardinal in the background?

**sbctwin** · 03-31-2008, 11:45 AM

Thank you CCNYC for those links. I never would have thought they could survive in a colder climate. I do wish some would visit my 'backyard feeders'.

**bmccasland** · 03-31-2008, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by shellyj

... and did you notice the male cardinal in the background?

I was a bad birder and didn't see the Red Cardinal trying to get his portrait taken in the background. My eyes noticed the red thing, but the brain did not examine further to see it was a cardinal. Bad birder, bad bad birder.

I hang my head in shame

**mimitabby** · 03-31-2008, 11:56 AM

these parrots have moved into a park near my house too, way up here in Seattle. At first there were a couple that flew with the crows, but then they started their own tribe. Their voices are very distinctive as well as their coloration.

I love the way the cardinal showed up in the photo!!!

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