Any birdwatchers?

[liqueur]

I used to see the very-common Rock Pigeons in the park I walk at least 2x/weekly last year, but I've seen ONE only ONCE this entire year. Have no clue if there's a reason for that.

Tom Lehrer has been there.

(It should be noted that i have absolutely no animosity toward
pigeons. Just an occasionally twisted sense of humor.)

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Lady Cardinal Bird was out there putting on a Splash Dancing show for about 4 or 5 other birds including Mr. C.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

 

[SimonDoom]

They jays that frequent my backyard are getting smarter and pushier. I've been throwing peanuts out into the yard for them for a while, and now when they arrive they perch near me and squawk at me to give them food. I'd swear that's what they're doing. I didn't know wild birds would do that.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

They fly weird too. Sort of darting here and there like VTOL jets.

 

[iwatchus]

They jays that frequent my backyard are getting smarter and pushier. I've been throwing peanuts out into the yard for them for a while, and now when they arrive they perch near me and squawk at me to give them food. I'd swear that's what they're doing. I didn't know wild birds would do that.

Covid’s are very smart. They learn our habits very well

 

[liqueur]

They jays that frequent my backyard are getting smarter and pushier. I've been throwing peanuts out into the yard for them for a while, and now when they arrive they perch near me and squawk at me to give them food. I'd swear that's what they're doing. I didn't know wild birds would do that.

Oh yes, they will do that, and not just corvids, either. Many birds will come tap on your window pane to attract your attention when the feeder gets low. I've had chickadees flock around me in excitement when I come out to fill the feeder, and a couple even light on my head and take a ride with me to the feeder.

I moved to Maine a few years ago, and haven't fed the birds since I've been here (been attending to family tragedies that took all my wherewithal). So this will be my first year here, feeding. I just built a feeding station where I can watch it from my kitchen table. It's a square platform on top of a post. 6½ feet in the air, so they ought to feel safe. I made it big enough for crows to land on easily. If the crows and jays get too aggressive, I'll hang a small traditional feeder off the side of it for the small birds. I'm eager to see who comes — while reminding myself that sometimes not many come in the first winter.

 

[SimonDoom]

If you are not convinced that birds are cool, then just remember that they ARE dinosaurs.

 

[MelissaBaby]

If you are not convinced that birds are cool, then just remember that they ARE dinosaurs.

Not being a wiseass, but I recently read an article explaining that it was more appropriate to say that dinosaurs were birds.

 

[SimonDoom]

Not being a wiseass, but I recently read an article explaining that it was more appropriate to say that dinosaurs were birds.

I hate thinking of T-Rex covered with feathers.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Pterodactyl.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I hate thinking of T-Rex covered with feathers.

I believe the prevailing opinion currently is that baby T-Rex's had feather, but that as they grow, they shed them.

 

[SimonDoom]

Pterodactyl.

Interestingly, pterodactyls were not dinosaurs, nor were they the ancestors of birds. Pterosaurs were a completely different line of reptiles from dinosaurs, and they died out at the end of the Cretaceous. Birds are the descendants of theropods, the clade of dinosaurs that included T-Rexes.

I believe the prevailing opinion currently is that baby T-Rex's had feather, but that as they grow, they shed them.

I think that's right.

 

[OralAllOver]

Seeking out woodcocks mostly

 

[MelissaBaby]

I think that's right.

It's about regulating body temperature. The theory is that the juveniles needed some sort of covering, but as they grew they were able to maintain a regular temperature without it.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

They jays that frequent my backyard are getting smarter and pushier. I've been throwing peanuts out into the yard for them for a while, and now when they arrive they perch near me and squawk at me to give them food. I'd swear that's what they're doing. I didn't know wild birds would do that.

My BIL feeds all the animals around his summer cottage. The Jays are the loudest. They always let him know when they're out of peanuts, and they won't stop squawking till he comes out and feeds them . So, I imagine that they're pretty smart birds.

 

[Britva415]

If you are not convinced that birds are cool, then just remember that they ARE

... "wildlife."

It amazes me how many hikers and outdoorsy people just disregard birds when they are hoping to see "animals" outside.

 

[Bamagan]

If you are not convinced that birds are cool, then just remember that they ARE dinosaurs.

Well, they're definitely terrible at being lizards...

 

[DeMont]

Any birdwatchers out there in the forum?

It might seem like an odd thing to ask in an erotic author forum, but, after all, they're frisky critters, constantly strutting and making a lot of noise looking for mates.

They're a constant reminder of the beauty and wonder of life around us. Almost everywhere you go, there are birds. There's no better or easier way to appreciate nature around us than by watching birds and their habits.

They sing all the time, adding music to our surroundings.

If you are a birdwatcher, you travel in a different way. You go to new places looking for birds you haven't seen before.

One of the best ways to tell everybody that you're a nerd is when you're with a group of people and suddenly call out, "My goodness, there's a yellow-bellied sapsucker!" I've done stuff like that and enjoyed the way people react, like they're partly impressed and partly sorry for me.

And the coolest thing? They're dinosaurs. I love that. A reminder of the wonder and beauty of evolution.

I have been a casual birdwatcher since I was about 12, which was a long time ago. I have the Merlin app on my phone so I can ID birds by their calls nearby. If you don't have it, I recommend it.

@SimonDoom,
I was a fair keen birdwatcher growing up in the U.K.
In fact, I could say that ornithology was one of my earliest hobbies, along with chess and astronomy.

Then I reached that age, 13 to 15 and I gave those interests up except for bird watching, yep... Blonds, Brunettes, Redheads... luv 'em all!!!
Sorry if I digress Sir.
Respectfully,
D.

 

[ishtat]

If you are not convinced that birds are cool, then just remember that they ARE dinosaurs.

A number of Australian birds are very 'dinosaurish' They are primitive mound builders (like crocodiles) using rotting vegetation to hatch their eggs. They are born mature and can fly from day 1. There is zero parental care. Technically they belong to the family of megapodes Common examples include the Brush Turkey (not a Turkey) and Mallee fowl (unlike any other fowl).

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

Well, they're definitely terrible at being lizards...

How far they have fallen…

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

 

[nice90sguy]

I was a Teenage Twitcher...

until I discovered women.

I still love to identify unusual birds when I'm vacationing abroad. In London , the prettiest common bird I see regualrly are goldfinches. Parakeets are common here -- I first saw one on Hampstead Heath, shortly after dawn one summer back in the 70's, which dates both me and the invasion. I excitedly asked a twitcher who was also out what I'd seen , and he snarled "fucking parakeet. Fucking hate em."

 

[ishtat]

I still love to identify unusual birds when I'm vacationing abroad. In London , the prettiest common bird I see regualrly are goldfinches. Parakeets are common here -- I first saw one on Hampstead Heath, shortly after dawn one summer back in the 70's, which dates both me and the invasion. I excitedly asked a twitcher who was also out what I'd seen , and he snarled "fucking parakeet. Fucking hate em."

Today I saw a Channel billed Cuckoo a large normally tropical bird which comes south to Sydney in Spring (October) the other birds mob them in protest and the din makes them easy to spot. In the evening the calls of the Southern Boobook and the rare Powerful Owl are heard. Both are very difficult to see despite the large size of the latter. Our F*** bird is the imported Indian Myna which has very similar habits to the European Starling.

 

[droberts44]

Just moved into my own house; gonna put up a feeder.