Free finch feeder Friday!

candy jennings says:

I LOVE feeding the birds in my backyard - and they love it too!!  The most incredible bird I’ve seen is probably a Coopers Hawk - all the birds scatter when he flies over.  The most unusual bird I’ve seen is an oriole - I’ve only ever seen it once (a few years ago) but I wish it would come back!  Thanks much for offering such a neat treat!  Candy

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:26 am.

deborah hall says:

Love your ideas and garden tips…what a great idea for finches, too!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:27 am.

Alyson Breathed says:

while living on a wildlife refuge in far south texas, I woke one morning to a sea of roseate spoonbills milling in my yard.  we had occasion to see sandhill cranes but this color was thrilling.  they are fabulously interesting up close below are link to images.
http://www.google.com/imgres?/Users/alyson/Desktop/spoonbill.tiffq=roseate+spoonbill+texas&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=686&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=2awIkhJT5Jom9M:&imgrefurl=http://lecliquefoto.com/?cat=53&docid=NwQ5KB86k-CD9M&w=665&h=617&ei=shmPTunPF4qIsALb4MmRAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=185&vpy=147&dur=2765&hovh=216&hovw=233&tx=170&ty=152&page=1&tbnh=151&tbnw=162&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:27 am.

aida cook says:

The most amazing bird I saw in our backyard was an owl.  I couldn’t believe it, but it was on our back brick wall just sitting there in the middle of the day.  It was huge.  I couldn’t believe how big it was especially its’ claws.  His eyes were exceptionally large also.  We hardly ever get to see owls up close so they are so fascinating to watch at least I believe so.

My husband seemed to think it may have came out of some trees that they were trimming up the street.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:34 am.

beate loomis says:

Never miss a day reading your informative and often funny comments. My goldfinch feeder just broke and I would love tho have the one you show in the picture. My “regular “feeder” attracts all the other birds, including bluebirds. The area where I live is called Bluebird Canyon, but the bluebirds are rare visitors any more.
Sincerely
Beate Loomis

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:34 am.

Jill McNamara says:

Hi there! I live in central Phoenix, so the most unusual bird we get is the cactus wren, but I have seen, on a few occasions at my in-laws’ house, a road runner. Very cool bird!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:39 am.

Nicki Ann Pike says:

We live in North Tustin and have been feeding various birds for years, hummingbirds, finches, doves,etc…until a sharp shin hawk took up residence in our yard. We used to have so many birds, now just a few and one really big one. Also, our neighborhood has flocks (hundreds) of wild (noisy) parrots!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:41 am.

Deb Shrider says:

The most amazing bird I saw in my backyard was a baby Red Tailed Hawk who had made his maiden flight from a nearby Eucalyptus tree and was ‘resting’ on my waist-level iron fence railing…I was able to get within three feet of him to take some amazing photos.  After about a 20 minute rest he took wing again. He had the flying bit down, but his landings were funny cartwheel - beak over tail affairs!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:43 am.

Steve Engel says:

Hi Cindy, as Past President of the Friends of Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach, I’m always on the look out for new and exciting birds at the center.  We have a California Native garden in our back yard that attracts loads of birds, butterflys and bees.  I guess the most suprising visitor has been a Red Tailed Hawk that flies in from time to time to make his presence know.  Big bird for a small space but we like it.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:46 am.

Linda Gartner says:

We have lived in east Orange for many years.  When we first moved to our home there were very few houses so we had quite a bit of open space.  One day I was working in our front flower bed and down the street came a roadrunner.  This was the first one I had ever seen in our area and unfortunately it was the last.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:50 am.

Jeannette says:

I don’t think I’ve ever seen any unusual birds in my backyard and that is why I need this finch feeder.  We do have sparrows, crows, and mockingbirds.  They are neat birds, but quite common for our area.  There is a huge family of parrots that live in our neighborhood in San Gabriel Valley.  I think someone left a parrot out of its cage at their house one day and over the years, they multiplied. They make a lot of noise but our neighborhood seems to love them.  They stay in the trees but don’t generally land in our yards.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:55 am.

Diane L. says:

One morning I opened up the sliding door to my backyard and startled a great blue heron who was fishing in my koi pond. He spread his giant wings and flew off. A short time later a neighbor knocked on my door to tell me an enormous bird was perched on my roof. Just waiting for another chance to sample my fish.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:58 am.

elizabeth says:

9 anna hummers lined up to feed. just like take off at the airport.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:59 am.

cynthia stetson says:

Good morning everyone. I live in So. Calif, I cannot honestly say I have seen any extrodinary birds.  I feed the hummingbirds in my backyard as well as put out wild bird food.  A beautiful blue jay loves to drink and dive into our pool though.
Thanks

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:19 am.

Becky says:

Shortly after we lost our son to cancer a beautiful pair of bluebirds came into our yard and made a nest in our blubird house.  We were thrilled to have the family with us.  One particular day I was feeling so depressd about the loss of our son and went to the yard and found one beautiful blubird feather in the flower boxes near his bedroom window. I felt it was a gift from our sone to give us hope and joy.. I placed the feather on his photo that day and it is still on the photo.  It has been over 4 years since our loss…..........

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:21 am.

Ellen B. says:

Twelve quail while visiting relatives in New Mexico.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:38 am.

Linda Genis says:

While eating breakfast one Saturday morning, I saw a kestrel land on my patio about 6 feet from the house.  I live near South Coast Plaza, not out in the woods.  The bird looked a bit perplexed, and left before I could take a picture.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:45 am.

Carol Merritt says:

A giant blue heron perched on top of my fountain, I think he(?) was resting a bit trying to figure out where he was going next…maybe to Irvine lake.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:46 am.

Norma Y. says:

Love just about all the feathered guys…so it’s hard to choose.  But among the best was a giant horned owl trying to get it’s baby to fly or do something.  They hooted, chirped, chatted back and forth for an hour or so.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:51 am.

Ingrid Cebula says:

I constructed and placed a Western Bluebird house in my yard about 6 years ago and would get sparrows every year - except finally last spring I had a Western Bluebird move in.  Yeah!  Two baby bluebirds and I sure hope they come back next year.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:51 am.

KM Denny says:

That would be a tie:

A few years ago I spotted an oriole perched and probing in our native bay tree - the one that was a bush when we moved in, but I decided should be a tree.

A couple weeks ago, I looked out and a red tailed hawk was actually ON our back deck railing, then it flew up into the overhanging live oak.

Wonderful birds. But so are the daily and varied finches, chickadees, titmice and wrens that live in our Oakland foothills.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:12 am.

Cheri says:

Love the broad billed hummingbird in my yard. They’re beautiful and fun to watch.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:13 am.

Patricia says:

Sounds easy but I shall have to find a source of niger seed (refills). I don’t think I know that one.
Love the idea.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:26 am.

Susan Bulger says:

Of the many birds that come to my yard the Western Bluebird thrilled me the most.  I became a volunteer with the California Bluebird Recovery Program to provide the right kind of bird houses in appropriate habitat so these sweet birds can safely nest.  With this fabulous hobby over 4900 baby bluebirds have fledged from my boxes in twelve years.  We have a club and website in southern California for those who want bluebirds.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:31 am.

Ron, the Plant Man says:

I think as soon as you posted this today, you knew that if I commented on this one it would be about Hummingbirds!  Yes, I love them and keep them coming to my yard year round.  But, thinking back, probably the most interesting bird I’ve ever seen was many years ago when I was working at South Coast Botanic Gardens and I had Hooded Orioles coming to my Hummingbird feeders.  The tour guide there who was an avid bird watcher immediately brought in a different base for the feeders, one that would accommodate both the hummers and the Orioles so we got to watch them bring the babies when they hatched from the long pouch nests hanging from the underside of the palm fronds.  Very fun to watch.  Also on occasion got to see a Western Tanager fly by.  They are extremely colorful (yellow, black and red) and beautiful, but very shy. Can’t get Orioles to my yard in Orange County as there just aren’t enough palm trees near my home, but still have the feeder base on a shelf in my garage in case they ever show up!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:41 am.

Margie says:

Backyard visitors are such a delight.

Some of the celebrities we’ve had include: Elvis the snowy egret, Tony the Hawk, and Penny the peahen, just to name a few of my favorite visitors. 

My neighbor, Teri, had a Zebra Finch drop in for a visit and decided to stay longer when she put a bird cage out.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 10:16 am.

Jennifer Thompson says:

One afternoon, a red macaw flew into my yard. He had to have been a lost captive, but he was the most beautiful bird I’d ever seen. I stared and stared; I knew that bolting into the house get a camera would spook him off. He pulled apart a few peanuts from the jay feeder and flew off into the dusky night.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 10:18 am.

Kate says:

We have an extensive edible front and back yard garden which attracts many critters and birds. My greatest thrill however was seeing a group of 8 bluebirds who were migrating through and landed on our fountain for a refreshing drink! In 20 plus years I have only seen them the one time.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 10:31 am.

Matty Holder says:

We had an Oriole this summer! I live too far South to actually have one, but this summer, I did. She /he hung around long enough to fill up on fuel, rest a bit, and then head out for parts unknown! What a lovely bird!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 10:46 am.

Donna Minic says:

I had a parrot working over our bottlebrush tree—stayed one day and then left, but kept our dogs pretty interested while it was visiting.  Donna

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 11:14 am.

Jean says:

Reply to Nicki Anne in Tustin. The hawk is more likely to be a Cooper’s if it stays around. I also live in Tustin and it comes often but because the feeders are in trees with a lot of branches the little guys are usually very safe.
Also answer to Ron the Plant Man. I have a fig tree and not only do the Orioles come but I also have Black-Headed Grosbeek.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 11:20 am.

Linda says:

A year ago we had two kestrels visiting our backyard.  At first I thought they were fat doves but then noticed the hooked beak.  We would dig up those fat white japanese beetle grubs, put them in a freesbie mounted on a pole and watch the kestrels swoop in for the grubs.  They stayed around for the entire spring and summer and squawk when the frisbee was empty.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 11:39 am.

Guida Quon says:

Diane L. has my story…..big bird in with the Koi…..so on to a different story…..hawk on the fountain and I got a photo…..but my favorite birds in my garden are the wild parrots…..I love them..

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 12:38 pm.

Maureen says:

The running joke in my family is that every time I see a large bird, I think it’s an eagle as opposed to a hawk or sadly a crow. So what happens when a beautiful golden eagle, real eagle, sits on my wall?  The only person in the house beside me is my sister on a business call.  I jump up and down, right her a note, act out what I think looks like an eagle… The eagle takes off before she’s off the phone and no one, NO ONE, believes me!! Again (sigh.)

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:01 pm.

meredith french says:

I would have to say the most spectacular bird visit to my bird garden was a flock of Cedar Waxwing who were in the companionship of a flock of Robins. They are extraordinarily beautiful birds and are rarely seen in San Diego. They fed together on my ficus (with its fermented berries) and spent the next 12 hours hanging on for dear life before they left for better pickings.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:02 pm.

Elaine says:

We have a family of hummers in our backyard who enjoy our fountain right outside the family room window.  We love to watch them flit around!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:47 pm.

Jill Patterson says:

Just a few weeks ago, I saw a family of California quail in my backyard.  Two adults and 3-4 chicks hopping along!  They ended up in the front yard and disappeared from there.  A rare sight—only the 2nd time I’ve seen them in my yard in 20 years.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 3:45 pm.

Angela Kreutzer says:

Probably the most amazing bird I have seen is a Kite Bird!

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:35 pm.

Kit Oliveira says:

For about 6 months we had an adorable pair of chukars wo called our backyard their occasional hotel.  They wandered around watching my husband garden.  The female got stuck in the neighbor’s chimney and required a real chimney sweep. Sometimes they would be out “touring” for a few days and arrive back again for rest, food and a drink. (Makes them sound every so human!)

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:56 pm.

Kate says:

Maybe not so amazing, but when I was little and living in Alaska, we had a hawk fly into and shatter our glass door while we were hosting a dinner party.  In true Alaskan form, the guests helped strip it, cook it, and eat it.  Yuck, but a unique memory.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:49 pm.

Mimi says:

A year or so ago, a white egret was in our backyard near the pool.  It was beautiful - but seemed so out of place.  It stayed a while - and then gently flew away heading toward Mile Square Park, I believe.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:57 pm.

Cheryl MethenY says:

I couldn’t think of a single exciting bird as I am a new gardner.  I have many hummingbird and small bird feeders in my yard only the lasts 2 years.  So when I read your criterion, I thought….no way.  Then, to my surprise, when I went outside, TODAY, and I saw a Red Tailed Hawk, ...( I think) I thought to myself…wow this is “a sighting”  I love having my little birds these past few years and now it looks like they are going to have to avoid these birds of prey to get their free food!!!!

Y

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:24 pm.

Ann Ryan says:

I’ve had a Red Shouldered Hawk and an Oriole as very occasional visitors.  I did get pictures of the Hawk, but not the Oriole.  But my favorite was when we lived in Philadelphia.  On Easter Sunday we were out easter egg hunting and I realized there was a Pileated Woodpecker watching us from a pine tree.  He made eye contact with me and just gazed at us for about 15 mins while my son looked for eggs. 
    I’m going to look for the blue bird web site.  I’d love to have some blue bird nests.

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:50 pm.

melissa says:

The Cooper’s hawks bring their Passage into the garden to learn how to hunt the smaller birds. No body gets hurt during these practice lessons.
Hummingbirds leave their chicks among the leaves of the tall shrub branches until they come back to feed them. Besides being very small, you can tell by their obvious effort to stay balanced on the branches that they are new to being out of the nest.

Posted on October 8, 2011 at 5:31 am.

Jennifer says:

A Kestrel.  Though the parrots are pretty amazing, too.
On another topic, I have been trying to subscribe by email, but it won’t go through….what to do?

Posted on October 8, 2011 at 6:39 am.

Dana says:

I love all the birds that visit our feeders and birdbaths, but the most stunning ones are the male Orange Bishops. We had four again today! Also have 3 budgies that show up every few days (one white, one blue, and one bright green).

Posted on October 8, 2011 at 12:33 pm.

Sherrie Wolfe says:

We have a pair of Orioles that come to our back yard every year and have
been coming for years. This year there were two pairs so the word must have gotten out. We love seeing them here.
Sherrie and Chris

Posted on October 8, 2011 at 6:41 pm.

kelly says:

Sweet!

Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:50 am.

Maureen Flaherty says:

The most amazing bird in my yard is the hummingbird.  They are not unusual, but you can’t help but be amazed at these little spitfires. I never tire of watching them.

Posted on October 10, 2011 at 12:08 pm.