bird-TV

Spock and Persephone have had a busy morning. I filled the birdfeeder
a couple of days ago, using wild bird seed mix. No-one found it until
a moderately large flock (15 to 20 birds) of red-browed finches
discovered it this morning. This is what red-browed finches look like

They are quite tiny birds, but *very* charismatic and bouncy. It
seems that one bird will dominate the centre of the feeder (just a
suspended dish), and the other birds will bounce around taking turns
at raiding the edges of the feeder. Every now and then the ownership
of the centre will change and the argument starts all over again.
They have a soft, high pitched "pfeeet" call.

Spock was having a lovely time singing at them in his suprisingly tiny
voice.

Persephone, the lion in the grass (or maybe the lazy lump in the
corner) figured that she doesn't have to actually stand up to watch
birds, and is remaining streadfastly curled up on her cushion in the
corner so that she can doze off in quiet moments (i.e. when the birds
are elsewhere). I wonder if she resents the noise of their "pfeet"
keeping her awake?

Spock nearly turned inside-out a little later when a pair of georgous
rainbow lorikeets arrived (temporarily chasing away the finches).
It's the first time we've seen these guys at our feeder. This is what

They didn't hang around for long - just long enough to help themselves
to the remaining pumpkin seeds in the mix, and then they returned to
the trees.

Me? I've thoroughly enjoyed watching these pretty, charismatic and
wild birds visit us, but I've also enjoyed the time when Spock was
sufficiently distracted to leave me, and my sewing project, alone!

sriddles...

Neat!! You guys have the most beautiful birds there. Lucky you!

Kreisleriana...

Australia is mind-blowing for an American bird lover. They get birds
you can only dream of in their back yards.

Theresa

jmcquown...

Actually there are a surprising number of parrot colonies in the US, usually
from escaped birds. Here's an example in San Francisco:

Tish Silberbauer...

PatM...

Delightful! The links were great. I love watching the little birds at
my feeder too, but most of them where I am are dull greys/ browns/
beiges, alas.

jmcquown...

I get some interesting birds around my patio. On the feeder they are
usually plain brown sparrows but I frequently see house finches and purple
finches. If I hang suet I get little downy woodpeckers which are so cute.
At certain times of the year I see Carolina Wrens and Pine Warblers

Carolina Chickadees also adore the suet but they go after the seed in the
feeders, too. They are tiny little birds and very fast!

Cardinals are common and the occasional bluejay. Mourning doves scavenge
for seed that falls from the hanging feeder.

I love watching the birds. So does Persia; she does that funny little
chattering noise when she sees them.

How lovely to have a flock of such pretty creatures in the middle of
the city! I hope San Franciscans appreciate them.

Kreisleriana...

Fancier than our local quaker parakeet colonies. We have one in
Brooklyn that covers a rather large neighborhood. The electric
company wanted to erm, exterminate them, but the neighborhood was up
in arms. They're noisy, cheeky and sloppy, but they bring something
unique to the neighborhood. ;)

They are very much loved, and studied by urban wildlife specialists
and ornithologists at nearby Brooklyn College. Here's a parrot blog:

Theresa

Make Levees, Not War

Make Levees, Not War