My surrogate backyard
November 18th, 2010
There's a winter bird feeding station about ten minutes walk from where I live, near Hurdman and the Rideau River. It's somewhat established, but often only sporadically maintained. In past years, it's attracted redpolls and siskins--boreal birds who sometimes spend the winter in Ottawa, depending on circumstances in the north (e.g. availability of their favorite foods.)
A big redpoll invasion is predicted for our region this winter. The availability of their favorite northern food, birch seeds, is low, plus, they've had a very successful breeding season, with reports of double and even triple broods. I'm excited about this and eager to see the Hurdman feeders well-maintained to attract them. Not knowing who maintains those feeders or if there's any sort of organized effort, I finally decided to just be proactive! Went to Wild Birds Unlimited, bought a shiny new finch feeder and a bag of nyjer seed (a.k.a. thistle seed), and installed it. Goldfinches, siskins, and redpolls are all closely related, and they all flock together at thistle-seed feeders. So if I establish a goldfinch magnet now, their northern relatives are likely to catch on fast when they arrive.
I had a lot of worries--what you may be forgiven for thinking is a ridiculous amount of neurosis over a bird feeder. Will it survive the weather? Will it survive the squirrels? Will someone be a jerk and steal it? Just how much nyjer seed am I going to be going through? Were the people who installed a finch feeder there in the past (but not, IIRC, last winter) planning on doing it this winter and if so will they feel that I'm stepping on their toes? And, most of all, will the finches come?
...the answer to that last question is yes. Oh my lord, yes.
I've got goldfinches. Teeming, swarming goldfinches. Goldfinches enough to deplete a tube full of thistle seed every three days.
My finch feeder is such a success, that There Are Disputes:
No redpolls yet. But come December or January, there will be redpolls!
Reaction shot: the above photo was taken immediately after a nearby chickadee made an alarm call.
November 18th, 2010
There's a winter bird feeding station about ten minutes walk from where I live, near Hurdman and the Rideau River. It's somewhat established, but often only sporadically maintained. In past years, it's attracted redpolls and siskins--boreal birds who sometimes spend the winter in Ottawa, depending on circumstances in the north (e.g. availability of their favorite foods.)
A big redpoll invasion is predicted for our region this winter. The availability of their favorite northern food, birch seeds, is low, plus, they've had a very successful breeding season, with reports of double and even triple broods. I'm excited about this and eager to see the Hurdman feeders well-maintained to attract them. Not knowing who maintains those feeders or if there's any sort of organized effort, I finally decided to just be proactive! Went to Wild Birds Unlimited, bought a shiny new finch feeder and a bag of nyjer seed (a.k.a. thistle seed), and installed it. Goldfinches, siskins, and redpolls are all closely related, and they all flock together at thistle-seed feeders. So if I establish a goldfinch magnet now, their northern relatives are likely to catch on fast when they arrive.
I had a lot of worries--what you may be forgiven for thinking is a ridiculous amount of neurosis over a bird feeder. Will it survive the weather? Will it survive the squirrels? Will someone be a jerk and steal it? Just how much nyjer seed am I going to be going through? Were the people who installed a finch feeder there in the past (but not, IIRC, last winter) planning on doing it this winter and if so will they feel that I'm stepping on their toes? And, most of all, will the finches come?
...the answer to that last question is yes. Oh my lord, yes.
I've got goldfinches. Teeming, swarming goldfinches. Goldfinches enough to deplete a tube full of thistle seed every three days.
My finch feeder is such a success, that There Are Disputes:
No redpolls yet. But come December or January, there will be redpolls!
Reaction shot: the above photo was taken immediately after a nearby chickadee made an alarm call.
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ilanikhan
November 19th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Beautiful. The dispute picture is especially awesome. I've not seen something like that before.
You know, I was just saying to ironphoenix last night that it's remarkable how you can be such a talented photographer, and he can't even work a "point 'n' click" camera. :) I know I don't comment on every photo journal post but I want you to know that I really love your pics. They're always so uplifting. I love the sharp lines between subject and background, you have some really rich colours, and the poses you get your subjects in seem to tell a story to me like you somehow manage to anthropomorphize your subjects.
Thank you for sharing your art with us, with me.
Mike
November 19th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Can't get no respect 'round here!
Suzanne
November 20th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Thank you. I do go through phases where I feel like no one appreciates my photos and why should anyone appreciate them because they suck and I should just throw in the towel...so comments like this are helpful for me. Not to mention making my day :-)
Mike
November 19th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Hungry finches, hungry finches, hungry finches, watchful finches!
Gillian
November 21st, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Hi Suzanne,
I saw a nyger feeder up at Hurdman last week on November 16th. Is that the one you put up? I've been waiting for redpolls, too, but haven't seen any yet, just goldfinches so far. I wouldn't worry about stepping on anyone's toes; anyone who loves birds surely wouldn't mind another feeder to keep them happy!
Suzanne
November 21st, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Yes, that's mine :-) I've been refilling it every three days or so, and it's attracting goldfinches and house finches galore. I'd like to help maintain the other Hurdman seed feeders too, but I don't know how to get them open.