When my husband and I retired we began feeding the birds. It was so much fun to see all the birds come to the yard and eat at the feeders.
After feeding them for awhile I decided to take photos of them.
We had never seen a brown thrasher before. I was thrilled to get this photo.
It made me happy to see them after awhile not fear me and the camera.
I was as excited as a child on Christmas morning to see this rose-breasted grosbeak. I had to do some research to find out what kind of bird this beauty was.
Then when I saw the first one of the these I had to go do some more research. The beautiful northern flicker.
We were finding retirement brings joy in many ways. We kept seeing many species of birds and enjoying them so much.
I had heard of red-headed woodpeckers but this one was the first for me to ever see. To get photos of this beautiful bird made me giddy. It doesn’t take much in nature to bring me joy.
We started just putting basic food out. The few species of birds that we saw in our yard before we began feeding them came to the feeders. Mostly finches, robins, cardinals, bluejays and mocking birds.
Then we added different kinds of feeders and a variety of food. That is when we began seeing the birds in the above photos.
We learned some birds preferred mixed seeds. Many of them ate black oil sunflower seeds, some preferred peanuts and others ate seeds, nuts, and fruit mixed.
Thanks to the birds that brought me joy and posing for photos.
If you love birds, feed them and they will come.
27 responses to “Thanks to the birds”
Wonderful photos, Mags! I too love birds–ever since I reluctantly took ornithology in college to complete my science requirements. The professor was so enthusiastic, we became enthusiastic too. Do you have the Merlin app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology? It identifies birds by their calls. Great fun to know what birds are hiding in the foliage!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! I do not have that app but, I do go to a site online that has birds and their calls. I get many laughs from the mocking birds. There is one that sits in a tree near my driveway. When I whistle he whistles back, we have had quite a lot of whistling back and forth. .
LikeLike
Beautiful pictures 💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Terrific pics, Sis! I love to watch and listen to the birds around our place. I especially love the ducks that fly over in the mornings and evenings. Thank you for sharing! Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you sweet Sis! I never see ducks but there are geese that fly over my place twice a year. You are welcome, I love sharing photos of beauty in nature. Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These photos are gorgeous, Mags! I used to feed them, but the feed that fell on the ground attracted mice and they chose to store their treasure underneath my house, which caused a lot of damage. If you live in a pier and beam house, or a home that has a crawlspace underneath, think twice. I keep water out for them in various bird bowls and they come for the water. 🧡
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Barb. Those photos were taken some time ago. I no longer feed the birds. We had a raccoon and rat problem in my area so we stopped feeding the birds. There are a lot of trees and creeks so I still see a lot of birds just not the ones in these photos and some other species. The wrens are still here which makes me very happy. One sits by my window and sings almost every morning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I get a sticks and bricks house again, this will be my priority! I love birds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too love birds. I hope you get to enjoy a lot of birds.
LikeLike
How kind of you to do that, win. All the birds look gorgeous. Our birds here eat after the uneaten food of the chickens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Hazel. That is great that the birds can eat the chickens uneaten food.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always welcome, win
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nice collection! The Rose-breasted Grosbeak stops in here sometimes during migration, but so far, I haven’t seen it this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t seen any in a couple of years. I am no longer able to feed the birds so that is probably why. There was a raccoon and rat problem in my area so feeding the birds had to come to an end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so sorry that you can no longer feed the birds, Mags. We don’t have much variety here – sparrows, blue jays, the occasional robin, black birds. This year Molly has taken to chasing them around the yard. At least the squirrels are still happy to come for the peanuts I put out. 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad that I still see birds in my yard, but I miss the ones that no longer come. Chancy loved chasing squirrels out of the yard, but he never chased the birds. There are nut trees all around my area so I still see a few squirrels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good! Squirrels are so cute. I don’t even mind going out at 6am to fill their peanut basket.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will put peanuts out for the squirrels in the winter. They eat every bite of them and there will be none on the ground or around to draw rats and racoons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The man who lives across from us in our retirement resort has fed birds as regular as clockwork 4pm and he has quite a variety visiting at that time. He has one particular bird a magpie that comes into his kitchen and watches as he prepares cut meat pieces for it then sits on his arm and eats.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I would love to see that magpie sit on the man’s arm and eat. Thanks for sharing that Ian.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately he has just taken a number of falls and because he is 102 they have removed him to a high level care facility. I will miss him very much. His birds still come and sit on the fence waiting for him to come out and feed them. I feel sorry to see that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Ian I am so sorry to hear this. Bless that dear man. So sad for the birds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, feed them and they will come. It is so much fun to watch them! Taking pictures of them is fun too. It seemed that I start to notice more when I had my camera.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In my experience some liked seeing the camera and me taking photos. I hope you get to see and enjoy many birds. They are amazing to watch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These pictures are beautiful. I love birds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Birds are so amazing and fun to watch. I am glad to hear that you love them.
LikeLike