The BirdCam, a must for bird watchers
I love my backyard birds and we have been feeding them diligently throughout the cold season. Some time ago, I became aware of a wonderful gadget called a BirdCam made by Wingscapes. It is a motion-activated, digital wildlife camera that you set up and leave outdoors. It takes stunning, high-resolution photos and video clips for you to enjoy and share. I wanted to show you some amazing photographs of birds we captured this past winter. I think you'll agree how well this BirdCam works. The camera is still outdoors, clicking away, so I hope to have new pictures to show you soon.
...Martha's becoming a birder...Martha's becoming a birder... (how wonderful, I say!)
These are fantastic up-close pictures of our common backyard feeders. The BirdCam is very capable of taking quality photos, isn't it?! If you by chance rotated your types of feeders there at the BirdCam or moved it around, I'd bet you'd get quite an array of species in some of those photos. Niger (thistle) seed feeders will draw goldfinches, redpolls, purple finches, and sometimes the more ordinary house finch. Safflower seeds are ones that cardinals just l-o-v-e (and the squirrel hates - take note!) Black oil sunflower seeds (these are NOT the striped variety) provide a higher content of protein for the birds which helps to give them energy and keep them warm in the cold. Most birds like this variety - chicadees, tufted titmouse(s), cardinals, evening grosbeaks, and manymany others, including the ones at your feeders. (Bluejays are in the crow family and will eat anything, including live young (birds) from other nests!) One has to be careful with mixed seeds, as sometimes some of the milo and millet just go to waste. Ground feeders like the juncos and mourning doves help to keep it cleaned up, not to mention bunnierabbits and squirrels, etc...
Birdfeeding can be expensive, and it's always hard for me to decide as to whether or not I will continue feeding during the summer months. That depends on the individual, I guess... That's where the birdbaths kind of take over, ensuring plenty of water is provided for bathing and drinking on hot summer days. Those in themselves can be a tantalizing lure to get backyard birds to visit as much as providing food in feeders! It's alot of fun and soooo rewarding!
Does anyone else experience sheer utter joy when you see a robin taking a bath in your birdbath?!!
Martha, please don't forget to show us again your large birdbath in your garden, and how you've incorporated it in your garden bed. I would LOVE to own that thing! I think you showed it to us back in the fall, as you were getting things buttoned up for wintertime.
...Martha's a birder...Martha's a birder...
Yaaay!!
=^..^=
"A friend forgives your defects, and if he is very fond of you, he doesn't see any."--Unknown
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | April 28th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
the pictures of the birds are absolutely amazing
Posted by: alicia pozzo | April 28th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Hi Martha, These are the most beautiful photos of your local birds, at the bird feeders, that I have ever seen! We have pretty much the same varieties of birds here in the Seattle area. Our blue jays are more of a solid dark turquoise color and the starlings are much darker. Our blue jays are loud squawkers who sometimes mimic other birds. I no longer have bird feeders, because the squirrels and my part time cat eat all the seeds or the birds. It was interesting to learn about the feeding habits of the flickers. The ones that come to my yard are always digging for something in the lawn. Thanks for sharing this beautiful blog. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 28th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I love your bird cam. Being an avid orinthologist I adored the pictures of the beautiful winged guests at your bird feeder. Right now I have seen red-winged blackbirds, grackles, starlings, black birds, sparrows, and robins, and (of course pidgeons). The pictures are spectacular. Thanks for sharing them.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | April 28th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
neat, really neat, m off 2 get a bird cam, especially cool this time of year because of migration, saw an indigo bunting at my thistle feeder, pls encourage everyone to continue to feed especially now as birds r nesting and seem to feed more vigorously now than in the winter, tk u M.
Posted by: Charmayne | April 28th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Yes Martha, a birdcam would be fun and informative. I keep putting the feed out and it keeps disappearing. Now I see you have the same birds I do. I had great hopes something else was enjoying a meal or two. Darn starlings, they are real chow hounds. They as well as the black birds make beautiful flight patterns so I will not grumble too much......other than they could find a grain field to eat in.
Posted by: Margie | April 28th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Oh Martha that is sooo cool! Today I noticed many loud BlueJays in our woods...I love all the chirping and bird noises...Spring is here! thanks for sharing!!!
Posted by: delia | April 28th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
This has got to be one of my most favorite blogs of yours. The shots of the birds showing all their beauty and being so close made for such wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Mona C. | April 29th, 2009 at 12:17 am
WOW!!! beautiful photos!
Bless you Martha!
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | April 29th, 2009 at 1:22 am
Martha, have you seen one of these? http://www.weibulls.com/ (top left square) It's a webcam inside of a nesting box. You can see the birds being hatched etc from inside your home. It was voted Garden Product of the Year 2009 over here in Sweden. Really neat!
Posted by: Benita | April 29th, 2009 at 1:39 am
MARTHA---You have done it again! Your photographs at your bird feeders are sensational! We are awaiting the birth of 3 cardinals nesting in our pygmy palm just outside the poolhouse. From our calculations, it ought to be by this weekend.
Thanks for keeping life INTRIGUING, Martha!
All The Best, Jonathan Brown
Posted by: Jonathan Brown | April 29th, 2009 at 7:56 am
That was just purely amazing!
Thank you for posting.
Posted by: Norbie Kamantigue | April 29th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I LOVE THIS, I CAN NOT WAIT TO PURCHASE ONE OF THESE. I PLAN TO WATCH MY CHICKENS.
THANKS MARTHA
Posted by: lisa knight | April 29th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Are you kidding? How fun is this!
Birds are so precious. Thank you for feeding them, Martha,
Posted by: Marie | May 1st, 2009 at 2:40 am
Amazing. I would love to have a bird cam (and a cat cam).
Posted by: Patia | May 3rd, 2009 at 5:25 pm