[Carol Hanrahan]

I better go fill my hummingbird feeders!

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

And my sunflower feeder

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

and my thistle feeder

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Cool owl

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

I LOVE these pictures!  That painted bunting is gorgeous!  In which part of the country are they found?

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

These pictures are beautiful. We get the red Cardinal and the bluejay around here. Our hummingbirds are either green or grayish, wish we had some colorful hummingbirds around. In the fall we do bald eagles around the cliffs across the river in Illinois (especially up around Alton). I'd love to see one of those orange Orioles around here.

Kevin,
In early April, I was driving with my Dad from Jacksonville to Quincy. We counted 33 red tailed hawks on the way. They were huge and easy to spot because they would perch in the trees that hadn't leafed out yet.

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Beautiful photos. I have never seen a painted bunting. I love watching the birds. I collect Stangl Pottery Birds and have a curio cabinet with about 20 in it.

Dori,
My aunt would send me a Lenox bird for Christmas every year. My collection has really grown over the years. My aunt lives in the country and she puts out about 5 lbs of bird feed daily! She has some happy birds! She is who I based the character of Aunt Jess in my Baling novel. She is a rare gem!

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Jeff,
How similar is a painted bunting to an indigo bunting?  Anyone have a picture of an indigo bunting?

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Just gorgeous.  I'm sad these birds aren't around here - so. Cal.  I might have to go on a trip to find them!
Thanks for the picture, Jeff.

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

C'mon, Dori.  We wanna see.

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Yeah Dori!  Great hummingbird!  How did you do the beak?  I bet it's a trade secret!
And thanks so much for trying Baling! 

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Dori,
What's an apple balloon?
(You'll get there!)

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

I don't think I've ever seen a golden pheasant - not even a picture.  They are strikingly beautiful!

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Love the finches, love the red-tailed hawk.
Here in So. Cal. we get the Lesser Goldfinch, looks more like the female American Goldfinch.  Sometimes we get an American Goldfinch, and it is a real treat!

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Dori,
How long will the hummingbird last?
1 more post and you've got it! 

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

A few years ago, we had scrub jays, that's a western version of a blue jay, nest in a tree in our back yard.  I went out there, and apparently got too close to their nest, and one of them dive-bombed me and actually pecked me on the head!  It was such a weird feeling to be attacked by a bird!

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Dori,
Did you do a little dance after the BIG post?
I think birds landing on the longhorns would be funny..... how many would fit per horn?

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

LOL!  Too cute, Dori!

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

So what do you put in your hummingbird feeders?  Store bought, make your own, clear, colored?
I boil 3 cups of water, add 1 cup of sugar. No color added.
Anyone else?

 

[Carol Hanrahan]

Dori,
I also heard 1/4 cup sugar to water ratio.  somehow I got on the 1/3 cup sugar to 1 cup water ratio, and the hummingbirds just flock to my feeders.  I have also seen a honeybee land right on the little hole, and I have seen other birds trying to drink from it - although I don't know how successfully.
One day, the hummingbird kept squeaking, landing on the feeder, sticking his beak in for a second, then flying off squeaking loudly.  I went to the feeder and jiggled it a little - there was a large air bubble preventing him from getting any of the food.  After I jiggled the air bubble out, he came and ate quietly!