I placed a new store bought suet block in the bird feeder on December 2. 17 days later I saw a Red-Bellied Woodpecker at the feeder. I have never ever seen a Red-Bellied Woodpecker up close before. It is a beautiful animal. What I think attracted the woodpecker was that new suet block. I purchased it at Lowe's along with shelled sunflower seeds that I use in the main hopper of the feeder. I like the shelled seeds because there are no shells blowing around the yard or being tracked into the house on damp shoe soles. I digress.
I must confess. I didn't actually see the woodpecker with my own eyes. I captured photographs of it on my time lapse camera secured to the inside of my breakfast room window. The Brinno TLC 100 is held onto the window by Fat Gecko suction cup camera mount. Any reflections on the glass are because the camera is mounted inside the house. Last year it was mounted outside and there were no reflection. This year I am lazy. The batteries need to be changed everyday and I don't wish to go outside to do that.
Above you will see several clips of Downy Woodpeckers at the feeder throughout the day. Individual photographs were taken at 5 second intervals and are played back at 50% of full speed. All of the clips on this post were taken on 19 December 2012. At one point a Downy Woodpecker is feeding at the same time as a squirrel. That is the only bird I have ever seen at the feeder with a squirrel. I think that bird is either brave or hungry.
I installed the time lapse camera on my breakfast room window this morning. This is the start of fall and winter bird watching from the comfort of my house. This reminded me to re-join Project FeederWatch.
In the line of view of the Brino TLC 100 was one Nyjer / Black Thistle seed sock. The camera started recording at 10:00 EDT/ -5 GMT.
Sporadically through the day, finches came and plucked Nyjer seeds through the material of the sock. They clung to the sock in all positions, including upside-down. Sometimes three birds at a time. There was one twenty-four minute part of the recording that was very active, starting at 18:45. You can see Goldfinch and House Finch feeding on the Nyjer seeds. If you look past the feeder onto the grass you can see several English Starlings pecking about the lawn, if I may call it a lawn. There wasn't much time before sunset. I guess even birds like to bed with a full stomach.
I have become interested in bird watching over the last few years. In November of last year, I joined Project FeederWatch. It is a citizen scientist project in USA and Canada that runs from November 'til April, when regular folk like myself count birds at their bird feeders. The data collected helps scientists monitor long-term trends in the distribution and abundance of birds in winter. You can join, too. Just click on the above link.
When you join you will need to pay a participation fee to cover the costs of the kit and services to Cornell University's, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The kit contains a large poster to help you with bird identification and instructions on collecting, keeping and sending data to Cornell University.
This could be a great opportunity to share the wonder of nature with your children, grandchildren or anyone for that matter, as you watch birds feed just outside your window. I recommend joining now. The kits will arrive in October. Then all you will you need is a feeder or two. Which you could make, but that is another subject.
