Birds in my back yard - 4
Feb 2, 2014 14:56:42 #
These are not the shots I would like to have of this bird, but anyone who has chased chickadees may understand my frustration when I tell you this bird is at least three times as fast and flighty. The Boreal Chickadee spends most of its time in the spruce and fur trees of boreal forests throughout Alaska. I manage to attract them to suet when it is particularly cold out. Unfortunately, they tend to appear out of no where, hit the suet and take off to only they know where faster than I can react. It is easy to catch them on the suet feeder but they seldom land in any of the surrounding trees. To make matters worse they are, of course, seldom around except at dawn and dusk and when it is cold enough to limit time outside for the camera ...and me. In size and shape they are almost identical to the Black Capped Chickadee.
Feb 2, 2014 15:05:40 #
erbiv wrote:
These are not the shots I would like to have of th... (show quote)
Try sunflower seeds. Or better yet sunflower hearts, but they are expensive.
Feb 2, 2014 15:09:53 #
Bill MN wrote:
Try sunflower seeds. Or better yet sunflower hearts, but they are expensive.
Thanks Bill. Actually there are four feeders within 10 feet of the suet feeder pictured. One with thistle, one with whole black sunflower seeds, one with medium grind cracked sunflower hearts and one with small grind cracked sunflower hearts. They only occasionally hit the feeders. There are also two other suet cages with different varieties and a couple of suet logs that I make and hang in the trees.
Feb 2, 2014 15:21:06 #
erbiv wrote:
These are not the shots I would like to have of th... (show quote)
Those are dandy good pics., erbiv, :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Your Boreal Chickadees would be a life bird for me.
Good Job! :-D
Feb 2, 2014 15:32:38 #
Here's a tip for you. ALL Chickadees have a pecking order. No one is sure why one is dominant over another but they are. Rarely will two feed together. One will feed and another will wait until the first one is gone. If you want the bird on a perch do this.
Next time you fill the basket with suet, insert a long branch through the basket so at least 18" to 20" are sticking out on either side. So a thin branch is required. Now fill it up with suet and that will help keep the branch in place.
Now watch what happens and have your camera ready. You're almost guaranteed a Chickadee on a perch.
Good luck.
Next time you fill the basket with suet, insert a long branch through the basket so at least 18" to 20" are sticking out on either side. So a thin branch is required. Now fill it up with suet and that will help keep the branch in place.
Now watch what happens and have your camera ready. You're almost guaranteed a Chickadee on a perch.
Good luck.
Feb 2, 2014 15:38:00 #
Joe F.N. wrote:
Here's a tip for you. ALL Chickadees have a peckin... (show quote)
Listen to this guy he knows what he speaks of. By the way I like the images you did get. A remote shutter release might help also.
Feb 2, 2014 15:53:50 #
A. J. wrote:
Those are dandy good pics., erbiv, :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Your Boreal Chickadees would be a life bird for me.
Good Job! :-D
Good Job! :-D
Thank you very much A.J. I see many birds on UHH that would be lifers for me ...someday maybe I can retire and take the chase up in earnest.
Feb 2, 2014 15:54:37 #
Feb 2, 2014 15:57:21 #
Joe F.N. wrote:
Here's a tip for you. ALL Chickadees have a peckin... (show quote)
I will give that a shot Joe. As I said in a reply to one of your post some time ago, I also drill holes in dead branches and fill them with suet. There is one about three feet from the suet cage pictured and while it attracts plenty of Black Capped Chickadees, Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Dark Eyed Juncos and the occasional squirrel, I have never seen a Broeal perch on it.
Feb 2, 2014 16:00:50 #
RAK wrote:
Listen to this guy he knows what he speaks of. By the way I like the images you did get. A remote shutter release might help also.
Thanks RAK ...I know he does. I have a CamRanger I use with the 5D but focusing on a single perch on one of the surrounding trees seems like a low probability shot at best ...great for the feeders though. Also, at zero and below, just leaving the rig outside for an extended period is dicey.
Feb 2, 2014 16:01:24 #
angler wrote:
Great set Erbiv.
Thank you very much Angler!
Feb 3, 2014 08:54:08 #
These are beautiful shots. You can tell by the second picture that they grab a quick bite and then leave by the wing blur you captured. Excellent photo.
Feb 3, 2014 12:43:31 #
barbedwire wrote:
These are beautiful shots. You can tell by the second picture that they grab a quick bite and then leave by the wing blur you captured. Excellent photo.
Thank you very much. I managed a couple more yesterday but again, nothing great.
Feb 3, 2014 13:47:59 #
Feb 3, 2014 15:33:41 #
rlaugh wrote:
Great catch of an elusive bird...good job!
Thank you very much RLaugh! The chase is as much fun as the catch ...except these only really seem to be around when it is extremely cold out.
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