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Happy Mother’s Day to all….. viewing some great moms in hosted bird cams!
Happy Mother’s Day… to all the great Moms out there!
From the winged to the walking and everything in between, bird cams capture the miracle of life, and the harshness of Mother Nature as well. Two interesting live streams of hosted Bird Cams from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and New York Sate Bluebird Society are listed below.From The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Live Red-tailed Hawk Nest. There’s also a cam for a Great Blue Heron Nest on their website.
Watch live streaming video from cornellhawks at livestream.comAlso from a bird cam: “New high-speed videos of hummingbirds overturn nearly two centuries of conventional wisdom on how they drink. Researchers previously thought tube-like channels in their tongues sucked up fluid by capillary action, but the new analysis shows that their tongues actually trap nectar by curling around it.”And From the New York State Bluebird Society, birds cams have been in place since 2002,
Recently a post on a Bluebird List-Serve mentioned an attack by Tree Swallows which was captured on the cam… I don’t have the heart to watch though. The actual date of attack is May 5, 2012. Here’s a link for the brave of heart.
http://www.nysbs.org/nestcam.htmBecause of recent pricing decreases (amazing huh?) bird cams are available to the masses at very reasonable prices. The newest one is a Time-Lapse Cam from Wingscapes which sells for around $100 to $110. A one-time investment for the camera will bring hours, days, weeks, months and even years of glimpses into some of nature’s tiniest miracles. A fantastic educational tool for young and old alike, Bird Cams promise to bring joy and a touch of wonder to the viewer!
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thistle feeders are a great choice when starting out
Here’s a real note (and our quick response) from an enthusiastic customer who’s just staring out with the backyard birding and gardening thing. This is the kind of stuff we love to see! Aside from a happy customer, another wildlife friendly habitat is being born.“I just received my Solar hanging bird bath and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I LOVE it……I have it in my back yard…..I want to purchase another one for my front yard…..Do You have different styles and colors of solar hanging bird baths??? I am new to having a garden and bird feeding and baths….I love it!!! It is soooooooo peaceful!!! Do I need to put anything in the solar bird bath for the water??? Should I change the water everyday???? Thank You for the 2 gifts….I need to get a suet feeder. What is the pop.outz that you are speaking about on the card that you sent me?? Also, I have a bird house, should I put the feathers, moss and horse hair in the house with some hanging out in order to attract birds??? I am not sure how I should present this to the birds?
Thank You so much and any information is greatly appreciated!!!
Lisa”Hi Lisa,
Sounds like you’re on your way to becoming a bird-fanatic like me 🙂
It really is so cool just to sit and watch, sorta takes you away from the “day-to-day”. Even though I’ve been doing this for a long time, there are still scenes and birds who never cease to amaze and bring joy!The first brood of Bluebirds fledged a few weeks ago, and mama brought the babies down to the feeder last night. When they first leave the nest, they stay in the tree-tops for about the first 10 days. So darn cute! I’ve been trying to lure Orioles for years (gorgeous birds) who are considered migratory (only here in summer). My first one was in the yard the other day. The brightest hue of yellow-orange I’ve ever seen! They eat grape jelly and oranges!
Hummingbirds will come back to the same place every year if they find the spot to their liking. Last night while sitting outside, one buzzed my head and sat only a few inches away while drinking at the feeder! What a site when they’re that close! Jeez… this sounds like a blog post right here!
Anyway, you’re off to a good start because fresh water really does entice more birds.
Not sure if you have any other feeders, but thistle feeders are very cool. Goldfinches (great little songbirds) will stick around all year if you feed thistle. In summer, they molt (shed old feathers and grow new new ones) and turn an electric lemon yellow color. Sweet songs and very gentle birds too! Thistle (also called nyjer) won’t germinate to sprout weeds, and squirrels usually leave these feeders in peace! It’s not cheap seed though 🙁Just buzz me any time with any bird questions!
Have a swell day!
Beth -
Large Capacity nyjer feeder won’t “go mushy” at the bottom
Its great when cool stuff comes along that really works! This innovative nyjer feeder is unlike any other in the way it distributes the seed. Instead of one large tube with lots of perches, The Finches Favorite 3-Tube Nyjer Feeder operates on a horizontal principle. Typically, seed sitting at the bottom of a finch or nyjer feeder does just that… it sits there and molds – then it starts to stink! And then your finches will stop visiting.
With the cost of thistle/nyjer seed these days (some refer to it as black gold) who can afford the waste? Not only does it make great sense as far as seed staying fresh longer… but all 36 birds will be in full view when this feeders’ perches are occupied. That’s a pretty impressive statement, and an even more fantastic sight to behold!
Nyjer is also unlike any other birdseed or seed mix. Its non-germinating property means no weeds sprouting, and squirrels usually leave these feeders in peace! If you feed thistle year-round, Goldfinches’ electric yellow plumage will grace the yard in summer. If you already offer thistle in your yard, an extra feeder is always helpful during Goldfinches’ busy season. The babies are fed nyjer almost exclusively. Goldfinches have one of the latest nesting seasons, so it’s not too late! Don’t forget the fresh water too, birds are drawn to this life force year-round.
Birding Tips, Information & News
