A Tough Bird...to Shoot
May 29, 2019 20:57:05 #
Beautiful bird Vicki. The fifth shot is by far my favorite, The pose and the position against the background seem to pull the image together. 
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May 29, 2019 22:28:09 #
vicksart wrote:
Thanks Bill. These started showing up about 5 years ago. Until I first saw one getting into the feeders, I had no idea why the HB feeders were being emptied so quickly. When the whole family starts visiting regularly, I go through sugar at an amazing rate. I’ve tried other delicacies like jam and orange halves, but they seem to prefer the sugar water mix.
It’s always a delight to have them return each year.
It’s always a delight to have them return each year.
Try mealworms. It will take a couple months from a culture (which I could send). Or, buy 500, culture half, feed half. Try the adults, too, tho these are rarely eaten. They exude tannic acid.
The sugar is not the baby's food. In is fuel for the adults to gather food for the young. Same as hummingbirds.
The babies are fed hi protein items such as bugs, pre-masticated. And caterpillars have no chance.
They may eat suet.
They may share a trait with hummingbirds. The same ones and their families return annually. This also shared with eagles and others.
Bill
May 29, 2019 22:59:21 #
newtoyou wrote:
Try mealworms. It will take a couple months from a... (show quote)
We have a local store dedicated to wild birds which I recall sells mealworms. I’ve thought about getting some to try for some of the other species. Maybe it’s time to buy some. I think Petco and the local feed stores also sell them.
Thanks for the ideas.
May 29, 2019 23:50:53 #
vicksart wrote:
We have a local store dedicated to wild birds which I recall sells mealworms. I’ve thought about getting some to try for some of the other species. Maybe it’s time to buy some. I think Petco and the local feed stores also sell them.
Thanks for the ideas.
Thanks for the ideas.
Shop online for mealworms. Get 500 large larva delivered maybe $15.
A pet store wants three or four dollars for a few dozen.
Get a can of Quaker Oats. Divide colony in two and use half as feeders, put other half in a plastic shoe box and add can of oats.
Dry dog and cat food and oats a good diet. Every week or so give one or two diced mini carrots. Never water, carrots are moist. Watch for any mold from too damp a condition.
If this happens get as many larva as you can and put in a new batch of oats. Use rest as feeders.
Repeat as necessary. My culture is under my bed. No noise, stink, or any smell at all. Three or four years old.
After time you will have all sizes.
A bonus, most insect eating animals, not just insects, eat them readily.
Feed sparingly, a couple dozen set out in a shallow plastic dish.
Chitin to flesh ratio too high, can cause glogged guts if overfed.
Long winded, me? Just not a simple answer.
Bill
May 30, 2019 00:07:00 #
newtoyou wrote:
Shop online for mealworms. Get 500 large larva del... (show quote)
Thanks for the information. I never thought about raising them. It sounds easy enough.
May 30, 2019 00:55:58 #
Bill_de wrote:
Beautiful bird Vicki. The fifth shot is by far my favorite, The pose and the position against the background seem to pull the image together.
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Thanks so much for the thoughtful input Bill. I really value your opinion and am glad you liked the fifth.
May 30, 2019 05:33:07 #
May 30, 2019 05:38:35 #
May 30, 2019 06:21:44 #
May 30, 2019 06:37:46 #
vicksart wrote:
Every year we have Orioles that spend time at our ... (show quote)
Vicki, still an awesome set and the last one is really great.
Greg
May 30, 2019 07:50:54 #
vicksart wrote:
Every year we have Orioles that spend time at our ... (show quote)
You might try a motion detector (trail) camera. Set it to video and you can enjoy the movement as well as the appearance
May 30, 2019 08:48:04 #
May 30, 2019 09:03:21 #
May 30, 2019 09:09:11 #
I agree about the difficulty when trying to photograph them. We have a pair that have been visiting our
hummingbird feeder and the half orange we put out for them.
hummingbird feeder and the half orange we put out for them.
May 30, 2019 09:21:51 #
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