jchandler
02-24-2007, 10:53 AM
Hi!
I've been enjoying reading the posts and viewing the beautiful photos, but this is my first time to post a message.
I'm a backyard fan, here in Denton, Texas. We thoroughly enjoy watching the black-capped chicadees, the titmouse, Mr.&Mrs. downy woodpecker, Mr.&Mrs. cardinal, wrens, brown creepers, all sorts of finches, dozens of cedar waxwings that passed through last week, robins, kildeer, roadrunners, bluebirds, darkeyed juncos, wilson snipes, bluejays and yes, all of a sudden, sparrows. I'll even list the walking fishbag, the great blue heron, that enjoys the fish in our stock pond.
Last weekend we put up a martin house for the first time. I had read that they came to this area mid-February. Amazingly, we saw what we thought were purple martins after only 3 or 4 days!
I'm not sure if my excitement should turn to dismay because yesterday afternoon, dozens and dozens of glossy black birds decided to convene in our backyard. I've had the bird book out all day trying to figure out what they were. The fly in flocks and decend on the yard in swarms and move from tree to tree all in unison.
Could there be a mixture of all three birds, martins, cowbirds and redwinged blackbirds, in these flocks? I distinctly saw a red splash on one black bird, so it is a red-winged blackbird. So there may be starlings in the mix. I took a picture of some on the birdfeeder and I believe they were bronze headed cowbirds. Bummer, I do not like cowbirds, they are birdfeeder hogs.
I'm trying to figure out how to attach a picture I took, but am not having much luck. I promise there had to be a hundred birds in my backyard this morning. They've mostly left, thank goodness.
Is there hope that the black colored birds at the martin house are martins? Or most likely cowbirds? Also, my one pair of sparrows have multiplied. How can I get rid of them?
I'm perplexed. I'll be happy to send a picture if someone would tell me how.
Thanks for your help!
I've been enjoying reading the posts and viewing the beautiful photos, but this is my first time to post a message.
I'm a backyard fan, here in Denton, Texas. We thoroughly enjoy watching the black-capped chicadees, the titmouse, Mr.&Mrs. downy woodpecker, Mr.&Mrs. cardinal, wrens, brown creepers, all sorts of finches, dozens of cedar waxwings that passed through last week, robins, kildeer, roadrunners, bluebirds, darkeyed juncos, wilson snipes, bluejays and yes, all of a sudden, sparrows. I'll even list the walking fishbag, the great blue heron, that enjoys the fish in our stock pond.
Last weekend we put up a martin house for the first time. I had read that they came to this area mid-February. Amazingly, we saw what we thought were purple martins after only 3 or 4 days!
I'm not sure if my excitement should turn to dismay because yesterday afternoon, dozens and dozens of glossy black birds decided to convene in our backyard. I've had the bird book out all day trying to figure out what they were. The fly in flocks and decend on the yard in swarms and move from tree to tree all in unison.
Could there be a mixture of all three birds, martins, cowbirds and redwinged blackbirds, in these flocks? I distinctly saw a red splash on one black bird, so it is a red-winged blackbird. So there may be starlings in the mix. I took a picture of some on the birdfeeder and I believe they were bronze headed cowbirds. Bummer, I do not like cowbirds, they are birdfeeder hogs.
I'm trying to figure out how to attach a picture I took, but am not having much luck. I promise there had to be a hundred birds in my backyard this morning. They've mostly left, thank goodness.
Is there hope that the black colored birds at the martin house are martins? Or most likely cowbirds? Also, my one pair of sparrows have multiplied. How can I get rid of them?
I'm perplexed. I'll be happy to send a picture if someone would tell me how.
Thanks for your help!