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Spring Bird return.....Grackles,Robins, etc......

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#22 ·
I have bluebirds on the farm that I have seen around for the past month. Bright blue plumage also like mating colors. Dont know much about them but do they migrate south and return?
 
#23 ·
Dont know much about them but do they migrate south and return?
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Some do and some don't, They can survive the winter on berries.

There primary diet is bugs and some migrate to follow the bugs south, however some stay for the berries.




If any one is interested I sell nest boxes, bluebird, wood duck, wrens, etc. PM Me
 
#24 ·
I have bluebirds on the farm that I have seen around for the past month. Bright blue plumage also like mating colors. Dont know much about them but do they migrate south and return?
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As far as I know, they're here year round. I don't see them often, but did see several in the beginning of January at Scotland Run Park, right outside of Clayton.
 
#25 ·
Bluebirds are another bird that is now here year round. We have two nests on the property and both are typically full of at least 2 successful nestings each season per box. Sometimes in winter they'll duck in to get out of a storm (like tonight[hihi]).
 
#28 ·
Hey Elusive, I think I have your grackles at my bird feeder. They keep all the smaller birds away.

I saw flocks of some type of birds all winter long. But, they would never sit still long enough for me to ID them for sure. I know at least some of them where grackles, but don't know if they all where. I had a very large flock fly over me late in the fall. It was actually kind of creepy, like being in the movie The Birds.
 
Discussion starter · #29 ·
I know at least some of them where grackles, but don't know if they all where.
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Usually you will get mixed flocks in the Fall and Spring. There can be Grackles, Red Winged Blackbirds, cowbirds and the occasional starling mixed in.

I am waiting on the starlings (I hate them birds),
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You and me both. They have a great song because it is always varied, theycan copy almost any sound and song from many diffrent birds. The problem is they are in introduced species(considered invasive) They are very aggressive and thier chicks often all survive because the parents are so tenatious. They push other birds out of nesting sites and can cause major house damage. They are also very messy birds. A little to annoying for me:p
 
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#30 ·
Neat to keep a log. Thanks for sharing.

About 20-30 years ago it was a big event to see your first Robin of the new year to mark spring. My Dad and I would always keep a close eye out for the first Robin. But in the last 10-20 years, I see Robins year round. Since I am usually out hunting a lot, I see Robins in December, January and February. It's not just 1 or 2 or 3, but sometimes 10-15 feeding together. In my neighborhood, I generally see 1-3 at a time. Still neat to watch them.

Of course, my favorite are the Cardinals. I love seeing them in the snow. I have my bird feeder going every day when we have severe cold or like now, with the ground snow-covered. I'll have 5-50 birds at the same time either feeding or staging in nearby trees. When the grackles come, all heck breaks loose but I step outside and clap my hands and off they go!
 
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#33 ·
i dont know about robins staying all yr because during the snowstorm there were literally over 100 in my hedges in the back and i counted 11 cardinals
 
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Discussion starter · #34 ·
I had a big flock of Slate Colored Junco's in the yard yesterday afternoon. They are common visitors but that was the biggest flock I've seen.....about 50 birds.
 
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Discussion starter · #35 ·
Also.....does anyone have a winter roosting area of vultures by them? I have a good number of Norway Pines in the neighborhood and this winter a HUGE group of Black Vultures and Turkey Vulters use them to roost everynight. There is close to 60-70 birds flying in every evening. An erie seen but extremly interesting and neat to see.
 
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#36 ·
There's a place near me where I've seen vultures roosting, but it's just the turkey vultures, not the black. I never used to see any black vultures, but have been seeing more and more lately, as well as bald eagles.

I keep hoping for spring. Earlier this month I heard the mating call of both the tufted titmouse and the chickadee.
 
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Waterbird17
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