Not gonna lie, still shaken up about The Cove... having some flashbacks to some scenes that I don't even want to describe. And, coincidentally, the dolphin migration/hunting season apparently begins in just a few days, beginning in September and lasting until March... That's not something I like to think about, although it has been happening for a long, long time apparently, but that doesn't make it any better; actually, worse.
Anti-violence is so important in life. I've been a man of anti-violence for many years and have seen some graphic stuff, but it still shocks you to see it. Being aware of what's out there will make you stronger and smarter to hopefully make better decisions.
I still find it odd how some people can treat animals like they don't have a heart, brain and other sophisticated, intelligent attributes, and just kill them like it's nothing and not a life.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Cove
I watched this movie last night on Animal Planet, three times I might add... Pretty intense, violent stuff. I don't even want to say how many times I cried, but it really made me think just how much suffering animals endure while being hunted and killed. It makes me appreciate even more feeding the birds and taking care of my animals and making them happy, considering that so many animals weren't, aren't and will not be so lucky to live a long, happy life. I think we must all do something to stop the needless suffering on Earth. Will we ever stop destroying the Earth? It's the seemingly infinitely powerful corporations and government versus the passion of all of the people who really care about this place, who are not just in it for the money.
Rest in peace to all of the dolphins and whales who have died and will continue to die horrific and brutal deaths, unless you, I and the rest of the world does something about it. They're depending on us to do the right thing, since they can't.
Rest in peace to all of the dolphins and whales who have died and will continue to die horrific and brutal deaths, unless you, I and the rest of the world does something about it. They're depending on us to do the right thing, since they can't.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Little Penguins
I think birds look like little penguins. So cute. They have similar-looking parts in all of the same areas. :D)
R.I.P. Mourning Dove
A few days ago I noticed a bunch of feathers (I mean a bunch!) by the feeders. My first reaction was, Oh, no, there was a bird fight... But then after coming to my senses, I realized that it had to have been killed by my sweet, but tough, dominate kitty I call Mister Kitty. Mourning Doves are known as ground feeders but I see it on my feeders usually. It must have been on the ground at the time and my cat must have gotten it. So sad. R.I.P.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Common Grackles Fluff at Each Other While Eating
While Common Grackles eat, when a new bird lands on the platform feeder, another Grackle will fluff all of their feathers up real big and raise head in the air. It's quite a funny and cute thing to see close-up through binoculars.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Saw Yet Another New Bird...
I was kind of in a rush to work, refilling the bird food before I left, and I hear this unique call I've never heard before, so eventually I find him and he's this brilliant all-black back and big red head/crest. It was a good size, too. It was definitely a woodpecker, but not sure of the kind yet. Very cool. I heard it making more calls and heading back into the woods. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera and was in a hurry to leave.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A Couple Pics of a Titmouse Enjoying New Kind of Bird Food
A Titmouse enjoys some new kind of bird food, a mix of nuts, almonds, pecans, etc. And a pic of a lot of Brewer's Blackbirds taking over the feeders. :D)
Just Saw Another New Bird
My first nuthatch! A White-breasted Nuthatch! I had only heard and read about and them seen pictures. I thought it looked like a nuthatch from the body and bill, so I looked it up and what-do-ya-know, it was one of the first ones I saw while googling nuthatch.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
New Bird...Carolina Wren or Bewick's Wren
I've identified a new bird visitor to my yard. It's either a Carolina Wren or Bewick's Wren, I believe, and just started seeing it the past few days. Today, I video-recorded it briefly with my Bushnell binoculars/camera and scrambled to get my better Canon camera, but it flew off to another part of the garden before I could get a decent-quality shot of it. It was sitting near the top of a flower stem. Haven't seen it near the feeders yet. I have discovered why now. It apparently only eats insects. It's hard to tell which of the two Wren species it is.
It's pretty cool discovering a new bird species and looking up all about them on the 'net.
It's pretty cool discovering a new bird species and looking up all about them on the 'net.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Birds at My Feeders
Just thought I'd post what kind of birds I feed:
Blue Jays: One of the first birds I really got into and looked up on the 'net. Their color, from the bright blue to darker blue and, of course, the white/gray underside, is really a lovely and beautiful bird to look at. One of my favorite birds.
Tufted Titmouse: Cuuute! That's the first word that comes to mind. Their big black eyes are the cutest, contrasting with the gray color of their head and top of their body. They're very small, sweet and communicative. Their cute little calls/songs are the cutest sounds ever. I just discovered this bird species recently and it's currently one of my favorite birds. They are usually the first ones at my bird feeders in the morning, when the sun is starting to lighten everything, but not yet sunrise. They are at the bird feeders throughout the morning, midday and afternoon/evening. They go straight for my black-oil sunflower seeds, and when I have peanut butter sandwiches, they like that as well, but mainly stick with the black-oil sunflower seeds. I've even seen a little Titmouse grab a big peanut. Too cute.
Carolina Chickadee: Even smaller than the Tufted Titmouse (is that even possible?!), I would say about a third smaller, they are real cuties because they're just so tiny and act so funny and innocent. I believe they are the smallest bird I feed. They "hang" with Tufted Titmice a lot and other related small birds, like Woodpeckers. They are up there with the Titmouse as being one of my favorite birds so far. They have most of same colors as the Titmouse as far as the top gray feathers, but their head has a black top and black bib with white in the middle of their face. They have similar or the same kind of call/song as the Titmouse (♥).
Northern Cardinal: Always a rare treat to see a bright red male Cardinal and sometimes with his mate, the duller red female Cardinal. They are up there in beauty with the Blue Jay. They have the sweetest, cutest faces.
Hairy or Downy Woodpecker: I identified this bird today. I saw two pecking away on my tree with all the bird feeders. Today was the first time I've been able to confirm seeing a Woodpecker. Quite a unique character and cutie, pecking on the wood. I think I spotted a smaller Downy Woodpecker a few weeks later.
Mourning Dove: A larger brown bird, historically a ground feeder but I see them on my hanging and stationary feeder quite a bit. Unique sound from their wings while flapping.
Red-winged Blackbird: Don't know too much about them yet. I did see one or two on my Finch feeder. Pretty black with slight red and white color on their wings.
Common Grackle: Glossy blackish-brown with a metallic dark purple/green head and upper body and wings. Quite aggressive at the feeder with each other and other birds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Spotted this bird very recently, so I put back out the Hummingbird feeder since Wasps, etc. had only been spotted using it, but now there are actual Hummingbirds drinking from it.
American Goldfinch: Yellow and black with a little white scattered about, very uniquely pretty and smaller bird.
House Finch: Cute, small bird. Males have red-colored feathers on the upper body and brown and gray/white feathers on the bottom. Females don't have red feathers and are brown and gray/white all over. Tend to like black-oil sunflower seeds and Nyjer/thistle Finch food.
Squirrel: And who can forget the squirrels. They aren't officially a bird but they sure think they are and frequent bird feeders a lot to not mention them. Yes, they can ruin a perfectly good time of birdwatching when they jump on the bird feeders and scare the birds away, not to mention clean a feeder out, starting with the black-oil sunflower seeds. But they sure are cute.
Oh, and my blog has the colors of my favorite birds. The blue for the Blue Jay, the red for the Cardinal and the gray/light blue for the Titmouse/Chickadee. ' ' )
On a side note, I found two new bird species today I hadn't seen before. One was brown and gray/white with a striped head in the same colors, so it's lead me to believe it's some type of Woodpecker possibly. The other bird was light brown on top with a dash of darker brown on the outer end of the wings with quite a long tail. It made a loud, rough chirp. I'm not sure of the species of either of these birds yet, but will look into them. Always cool to see and learn about a new bird species at your feeder.
Blue Jays: One of the first birds I really got into and looked up on the 'net. Their color, from the bright blue to darker blue and, of course, the white/gray underside, is really a lovely and beautiful bird to look at. One of my favorite birds.
Tufted Titmouse: Cuuute! That's the first word that comes to mind. Their big black eyes are the cutest, contrasting with the gray color of their head and top of their body. They're very small, sweet and communicative. Their cute little calls/songs are the cutest sounds ever. I just discovered this bird species recently and it's currently one of my favorite birds. They are usually the first ones at my bird feeders in the morning, when the sun is starting to lighten everything, but not yet sunrise. They are at the bird feeders throughout the morning, midday and afternoon/evening. They go straight for my black-oil sunflower seeds, and when I have peanut butter sandwiches, they like that as well, but mainly stick with the black-oil sunflower seeds. I've even seen a little Titmouse grab a big peanut. Too cute.
Carolina Chickadee: Even smaller than the Tufted Titmouse (is that even possible?!), I would say about a third smaller, they are real cuties because they're just so tiny and act so funny and innocent. I believe they are the smallest bird I feed. They "hang" with Tufted Titmice a lot and other related small birds, like Woodpeckers. They are up there with the Titmouse as being one of my favorite birds so far. They have most of same colors as the Titmouse as far as the top gray feathers, but their head has a black top and black bib with white in the middle of their face. They have similar or the same kind of call/song as the Titmouse (♥).
Northern Cardinal: Always a rare treat to see a bright red male Cardinal and sometimes with his mate, the duller red female Cardinal. They are up there in beauty with the Blue Jay. They have the sweetest, cutest faces.
Hairy or Downy Woodpecker: I identified this bird today. I saw two pecking away on my tree with all the bird feeders. Today was the first time I've been able to confirm seeing a Woodpecker. Quite a unique character and cutie, pecking on the wood. I think I spotted a smaller Downy Woodpecker a few weeks later.
Mourning Dove: A larger brown bird, historically a ground feeder but I see them on my hanging and stationary feeder quite a bit. Unique sound from their wings while flapping.
Red-winged Blackbird: Don't know too much about them yet. I did see one or two on my Finch feeder. Pretty black with slight red and white color on their wings.
Common Grackle: Glossy blackish-brown with a metallic dark purple/green head and upper body and wings. Quite aggressive at the feeder with each other and other birds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Spotted this bird very recently, so I put back out the Hummingbird feeder since Wasps, etc. had only been spotted using it, but now there are actual Hummingbirds drinking from it.
American Goldfinch: Yellow and black with a little white scattered about, very uniquely pretty and smaller bird.
House Finch: Cute, small bird. Males have red-colored feathers on the upper body and brown and gray/white feathers on the bottom. Females don't have red feathers and are brown and gray/white all over. Tend to like black-oil sunflower seeds and Nyjer/thistle Finch food.
Squirrel: And who can forget the squirrels. They aren't officially a bird but they sure think they are and frequent bird feeders a lot to not mention them. Yes, they can ruin a perfectly good time of birdwatching when they jump on the bird feeders and scare the birds away, not to mention clean a feeder out, starting with the black-oil sunflower seeds. But they sure are cute.
Oh, and my blog has the colors of my favorite birds. The blue for the Blue Jay, the red for the Cardinal and the gray/light blue for the Titmouse/Chickadee. ' ' )
On a side note, I found two new bird species today I hadn't seen before. One was brown and gray/white with a striped head in the same colors, so it's lead me to believe it's some type of Woodpecker possibly. The other bird was light brown on top with a dash of darker brown on the outer end of the wings with quite a long tail. It made a loud, rough chirp. I'm not sure of the species of either of these birds yet, but will look into them. Always cool to see and learn about a new bird species at your feeder.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Saw a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker Today
I don't see them a lot. You can tell by the black and white stripes on the head and checkered feathers. They stand out quite a bit and are pretty cool-lookin', so it's always nice to see one. They apparently hang out and flock with the small birds, like the Chickadee and Titmouse. I hope they have made my little birds some good nests.
Well, the sun just went down and for the second night, the Cardinal was the last bird at the feeder. Gotta love the Cardinal. Saw it giving a seed with its bill to a female Cardinal with a black bill (interesting), and saw another female with the normal red/orange bill with them, but the male Cardinal seemed to be aggressive towards the female for some reason. Cardinals are so pretty, unique-looking and sweet and usually not very aggressive, unlike some of these super-aggressive bigger birds. I think they're Brewer's Blackbirds but not certain. They're very aggressive big birds and are probably the biggest birds I feed, either the same size or slightly outsizing the Blue Jay. One was real big and had really thick, long legs and super-super-aggressive and was dominate over all of the other Blackbirds. I know I've never seen a Blue Jay that big, but usually the others are around the size of a Blue Jay, though. They travel in large flocks and groups, too, about eight or so at the feeder at one time, I saw.
Well, the sun just went down and for the second night, the Cardinal was the last bird at the feeder. Gotta love the Cardinal. Saw it giving a seed with its bill to a female Cardinal with a black bill (interesting), and saw another female with the normal red/orange bill with them, but the male Cardinal seemed to be aggressive towards the female for some reason. Cardinals are so pretty, unique-looking and sweet and usually not very aggressive, unlike some of these super-aggressive bigger birds. I think they're Brewer's Blackbirds but not certain. They're very aggressive big birds and are probably the biggest birds I feed, either the same size or slightly outsizing the Blue Jay. One was real big and had really thick, long legs and super-super-aggressive and was dominate over all of the other Blackbirds. I know I've never seen a Blue Jay that big, but usually the others are around the size of a Blue Jay, though. They travel in large flocks and groups, too, about eight or so at the feeder at one time, I saw.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Oh, you think you got rid of the squirrels?!
I found the same squirrel from yesterday chillin' again, this time on the ground on top of a tree's trunk. It rained today, so it wasn't very hot, unlike yesterday. I saw him playing with a friend or mate on the tree around the same time. As for the birds, they are doing well, eating the regular birdfood mix, a lot of black-oil sunflower seeds and a few whole peanuts, unsalted, of course, for a nice treat and something different.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Challenge: Moving Birdfeeding from the Front to the Back
That is the challenge. The back is much more private and relaxing. The problem is getting the birds to come to the back. I've sat out a birdfeeder out on the deck, but no luck yet. Thinking of putting a crepe mrytle or other tree or bush out there or nearby on the ground. I think I can do it... maybe...
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Trees are Bird's Friends
It occured to me that birds love their little, er, make that large, friends. They have a lifelong bond with them. First and foremost, their little nests and homes are on or in trees usually. They help keep them safe from predators on the ground by being high in the air and help provide shade and cover from threats from above. They use their little branches and limbs to perch and sit on. Some trees even provide food for the little birds, like acorns and berries. Everything about trees makes them a good friend to have for birds.
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