[TN-Bird] Blue Grosbeaks and other feeder birds, Henry County

From: Shawna Ellis <yodergoat@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Tn Bird List <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:01:32 -0500
Paris, Henry County
4-12-2013

Today we've had two gorgeous male Blue Grosbeaks eating black oil
sunflower seed from time to time since about noon. First sighting this
year. I hope they like the feeders and decide to hang around the yard.

Two Red-breasted Nuthatches continue. It has been such a great winter
with these that I will loathe their departure.

We've had our first winter of regularly appearing Pine Siskins and far
more Purple Finches than are normal for us, but these are slowing to a
trickle here and there.

I have had out some hummingbird feeders for about a week now but
nothing yet. I think they arrived in our yard on April 12 last year.
I've been transplanting some bee balm and pineapple sage for the
hummingbirds in the hopes of getting a few more here this year. Our
neighbors just a couple hundred yards away get them by the dozens,
while we just get a few. At least I take some comfort in knowing that
we get FAR more winter birds at our feeders than they do, and they
don't even offer seeds in spring and summer so they miss the joy of
watching the fledglings come. But oh how I wish we could get a few
more hummingbirds!

White-breasted Nuthatches continue to occupy the nest box in our front
yard, but I don't know if they have hatched young yet. I have a
feeling that they have... but haven't heard any evidence. On another
nesting note, on Easter Sunday we were in my parents' yard across the
dead-end road from us and I noticed a Pileated Woodpecker excavating a
hole in a dying beech tree. Not long afterward I saw a female poking
her head out, and the male has been calling and flying around more
than usual. I hope this works out for them as a nesting location... it
is very visible and would be fun to observe. I also noticed today that
there is an active Blue Jay nest in our beech tree, which explains why
I have seen jays coming from that tree so regularly to get seeds and
suet. The limbs of that beech extend out over the feeder area, so the
birds have chosen a convenient location.

I'm just about ready to start a drip at our bird bath, but I'm not
sure how to go about doing it this year. Last year it was just a
dripping hose looped over a post with the drips falling into a
concrete bird bath basin on the ground. The birds loved it but it was
hard to regulate the speed of the drip. I'm thinking of putting a very
small fountain pump set on the slowest setting out there with a length
of fountain hose suspended above so it will drip down into the basin.
I have some of those lying around when I was into outdoor goldfish
ponds. Not sure if I can get it to drip slowly enough, though, or if
the basin is deep enough to hold the little pump. Our water drip
attracted lots of species last year... my favorite was a
Yellow-breasted Chat.

I'm also hoping to begin offering mealworms near the water for all of
the bluebirds and such that come to bathe, but I'm not certain yet how
to offer them. I've been working on a mealworm colony so should soon
have a small but steady supply. I'm thinking of a simple platform
feeder that could also have some raisins and the like or some oranges
and jelly for the orioles which also come to bathe.

Lots to think about and do to get ready for the next season!

Shawna Ellis
Paris, Henry County
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[TN-Bird] Blue Grosbeaks and other feeder birds, Henry County

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