Sad, sad, sad
Aug 5, 2015 19:09:22 #
Ugly little wrenling. :cry:
This is the good angle
I really need to do something about the moth problem around here
A few Hummers have come back! The moths haven't found them - yet.
Aug 5, 2015 19:31:17 #
Looks like your wren could have feather mites, Sherry. The only birds I've seen affected have been Cardinals, but I guess the mites aren't picky. Great shots, though, and your hummer is gorgeous! I haven't seen any males..just fighting females.
Aug 5, 2015 20:11:58 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
Looks like your wren could have feather mites, Sherry. The only birds I've seen affected have been Cardinals, but I guess the mites aren't picky. Great shots, though, and your hummer is gorgeous! I haven't seen any males..just fighting females.
Yuck on the mites! Went googling. Most of the info I found assumed I had control of the bird and its living quarters. Finally found some info on treating the problem in wild birds: spray feeder areas with soapy water or use Sevin dust. Do you know any other tricks? It would be REALLY sad to have all the birds at my feeders looking this pitiful.
Thanks for your compliment! The day was so overcast I had to bump the ISO up really high for any shot at all. I have been seeing a female hummer at the feeder for the last few days and today the male showed up. It's so nice to have them back!
Aug 5, 2015 20:28:16 #
Sherry, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I would try to ignore the mites. I'll try to get a shot of one of our pitiful cardinals and send to you. Some of them are so bald they look like buzzards, but as soon as they finish molting they're as beautiful as ever. The mites don't seem to cause disease..just temporary feather loss. The birds are starting to molt now, so it shouldn't be long before they're feathered out again, and you won't have to worry about the mites until next summer. :-D
STVest wrote:
Yuck on the mites! Went googling. Most of the in... (show quote)
Aug 5, 2015 20:53:38 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
Sherry, I know this isn't what you want to hear, b... (show quote)
I have seen a few birds that looked like they were molting, but only from a distance, not through a lens - I could have been mistaken. BUT, I would sure hate if it were mites and not molt. I have plenty of Sevin dust hanging around. It wouldn't hurt anything to sprinkle some about, would it? Probably those stinkin' tree rats spreading them around!
Aug 5, 2015 23:21:55 #
I don't know, Sherry. I'd hesitate to sprinkle Sevin in areas where birds feed. Maybe I'm being too cautious.
STVest wrote:
I have seen a few birds that looked like they were molting, but only from a distance, not through a lens - I could have been mistaken. BUT, I would sure hate if it were mites and not molt. I have plenty of Sevin dust hanging around. It wouldn't hurt anything to sprinkle some about, would it? Probably those stinkin' tree rats spreading them around!
Aug 5, 2015 23:58:08 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
I don't know, Sherry. I'd hesitate to sprinkle Sevin in areas where birds feed. Maybe I'm being too cautious.
Oops. Guess I'd better not. Sevin is supposed to be safe for vertebrates and I was having tunnel vision about the birds. But is certainly wouldn't be good for my bees and butterflies. Wouldn't want to hurt my butters!!!!
Aug 6, 2015 01:45:16 #
No, you wouldn't want to do that. Insecticidal soap is supposed to be pretty safe as pesticides go, but I'm afraid even to use it where I know the butters and bees are going to feed. Just wait, Sherry. Your birdies will be back to their beautiful selves soon, and in the meantime you can concentrate on getting some great flying squirrel shots. ;-)
STVest wrote:
Oops. Guess I'd better not. Sevin is supposed to be safe for vertebrates and I was having tunnel vision about the birds. But is certainly wouldn't be good for my bees and butterflies. Wouldn't want to hurt my butters!!!!
Aug 6, 2015 07:24:17 #
Aug 6, 2015 07:32:42 #
Aug 6, 2015 09:35:38 #
Awww... poor little wren, but these are still wonderful shots Sherry, and you know how I feel about hummers!!!
Great shot on that little garden gem!!
:-D :-D
Great shot on that little garden gem!!
:-D :-D
Aug 6, 2015 12:22:05 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
No, you wouldn't want to do that. Insecticidal soap is supposed to be pretty safe as pesticides go, but I'm afraid even to use it where I know the butters and bees are going to feed. Just wait, Sherry. Your birdies will be back to their beautiful selves soon, and in the meantime you can concentrate on getting some great flying squirrel shots. ;-)
I'll keep the bees and butters safe!
Took the flashlight out in the wee hours to see if any flying squirrels were at their "special" feeder. There were not, but I saw two scurrying up a nearby tree and two more cleaning up the day's remnants at my largest feeder. All kinds of twittering sounds ALL AROUND! I can't believe those cute little squirrels have always been here and I have just discovered them!
Aug 6, 2015 12:23:37 #
DOOK wrote:
Pretty birds or ugly birds, I like your shots anyway, Sherry. :-) :-)
Thanks so much, Earl! That wren is definitely pretty ugly.
Aug 6, 2015 12:26:12 #
docshark wrote:
Not so pretty Sherry but great shots none the less.
-Doc
-Doc
Thanks for looking and for your nice comment, Doc. I hope to see that wren freshly feathered very soon! They really should look as pretty as they sound.
Aug 6, 2015 12:34:01 #
angela k wrote:
Awww... poor little wren, but these are still wonderful shots Sherry, and you know how I feel about hummers!!!
Great shot on that little garden gem!!
:-D :-D
Great shot on that little garden gem!!
:-D :-D
Pitiful little wren. :( I didn't know if it was simply molt or something more egregious; Donna says its the mighty mite! The hummers came back - yay! They are captivating little birdies.
Thanks so much for looking and commenting, Angela.
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