Sunday, November 23, 2008

The Birds Have Arrived!


Sunday quiz for all. What is the button you normally press in photo editing software to not make pictures so blurry? I am desperate here. Thanks

I cannot believe the amount of birds I have had the past couple of days. I must have 20 house finches, 10 gold finches, a few cardinals, 3 tufted titmice, 2 chickadees, 2 downy woodpeckers, 5 blue jays, a bunch of those darn house sparrows, 3 crows and a flock of seagulls. Yes you heard that right I said seagulls. I was mortified to see them arrive but they couldn't resist the peanut butter toast I put out there for Squiggy and his family. They left after all the toast was gone so I was fortunate. All I could picture was them sticking around all day so people could drive by and realize that yes I am indeed crazy.

I have figured out the water station until I get my heated bird bath this Christmas. What I do is get a gallon of hot water. Pour it on the bird bath and then take a rock and chip away at the ice until it's gone. I pour the rest of the fresh water in and it lasts the birds 2 hours before it freezes up again. I also have one of those flexible Rubbermaid trash container covers that is on the ground and filled with water. This is in full sun all day so it stays unfrozen longer.

While I love watching the birds from my kitchen window, I already miss going outside and looking at them. This is my therapy and it gets me away from the insanity of my house and lets me refocus and put things into perspective. I am hoping it will be a little warmer next weekend so I can layer up and get out there with my binoculars. Until then, my kitchen window will do.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

11 comments:

troutbirder said...

Good attitude, interesting posts. Thanks for sharing

Shelley said...

Congrats on all your bird activity! I have a heated bird bath that you just plug in. They also have those "solar sippers" which helps keep the water from freezing.

A New England Life said...

Kallen,
Try 'Sharpen'. That is what Picasa uses as well as my Photoshop program. What do you have for a camera? Don't give up, you'll get the hang of it!

We've had LOTS of birds the last couple days too. They are going through the suet like crazy! I just bought a large block of it yesterday but I think I'll buy another one today since I have one little piece left after filling both suet containers. It also becomes scarce around the holidays because they use it for mince meat pies. Who knew?

My mom remarked that she thought there were more woodpeckers this year than normal. Good for you getting a picture of one!

Sharon

Deborah Godin said...

The work we go through for those little visitors; and all we ask for in return is a few poses for the camera! I haven't tried a heated water source for winter, but I've been thinking about it. Let us know how your works. My bird feeder is hung from a tree with that vinyl-wrapped metal clothesline, but after three years the cord rusted through and broke. It didn't break a week ago when it was warm and sunny, no, it broke when it was one degree below freezing and a sharp wind! So I'm hoping for a little warm spell to give me a chance to get out and set it up again. Meanwhile the birds are happy to eat the seed that got flipped onto on the ground!

NCmountainwoman said...

Great bird activity. We also spend a lot of time breaking the ice. Fortunately, the cold spells don't last too long here.

Jayne said...

A flock of seagulls? WOW! Huh, I only get to see them in the Wal-Mart parking lot...lol! Glad your flock has descended Kallen. My feeders are rather quiet now that the pine siskin flock has moved on.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

This is my first time to your blog. I enjoyed it very much!!! I'm usually up early drinking my coffee also.. My birds are not outside of my kitchen window; however, I can sit in my recliner and watch ours outside of our Great Room sliding door. I could spend hours and hours doing that!!!!

Larry said...

Nothing wrong with watching birds through your window.It acts as the perfect blind.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Fall and winter photos from indoors (through a window) are difficult. The subject is so dark that the camera must leave the shutter open for a long time for correct exposure.
Zooming in makes this even worse.
Try not zooming in, or a higher ISO setting that will allow faster shutter speed.
Or, try from outside, where light will be better.

The picture is still a good one.
We all struggle with pictures we wish were better!

Rambling Woods said...

I understand how you feel. I love to be outside and now I too am at my kitchen window. But I do get all dressed up and go out. Do you use E-Bird or something to keep track of what you see like a journel? E-Bird is a way of keeping track online and also helping scientists. There are hard cover journals, but I keep a diary type with what I see in addition to E-Bird.

Your idea to give the birds water is great. I use a boot tray or bin lid to put out cracked corn on. I have two heated bird baths, but it has been a process of getting my gear together.

Rambling Woods

Kim said...

Thanks Rambling. I didn't even knew there was a tool as useful as that. I just signed up for it.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails