January 4, 2008
Backyard tip of the week:When you're ready to get rid of your cut Christmas tree, consider holding on to it for just a while longer. You can add a great feature for your feathered friends if you take it outside, set it upright, or lay it the ground, in an appropriate area of your yard. Occasionally spread black oil sunflower seed on the tree or even attach your own homemade bird-treats. The birds are sure to enjoy it!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Northern Cardinals visit the backyard daily throughout the year and this past week was no exception. Several pairs were recorded eating black oil sunflower seed on the fly-thru feeder as well as the squirrel-proof hopper feeder. Cardinals are traditionally a ground feeding type of bird, but will visit certain feeders and have also been seen on the peanut feeder.
Dark-eyed juncos, who are also traditionally a ground feeding type of bird, were seen on the ground and in the fly-thru feeder this week. A common winter resident, the Dark-eyed Junco looks quite cheery as it kicks up the ground to uncover seed. Its funny to see them make the same kicking movement when they're on a feeder.
Other backyard sightings this week include white-throated sparrows, eastern goldfinches, house finches and purple finches, white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, blue-jays, the occasional pair of crows and a couple of grey squirrels.
Cool sightings of the week:
The elusive red-breasted nuthatch was seen regularly. A Carolina wren was seen as well, I think he's living in my workshop. And, the local red-tailed hawk was photographed in the backyard New Year's Day while perched on a dead branch of the willow tree.
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