Hummingbird Eggs, Nesting Mama, then two little babies... by Jodi C.

5/18/15 - La Mirada, CA.  See the growth progression of two little sweet hummingbirds.

These fabulous pictures were taken by Jodi C.  

So far, dates 5/18 to 5/21/15 are journaled below.     
Scroll downward within this post for progression. 
   

5/19/2015 - A baby hummer is born!

5/19/15 - The baby hummer turned in another direction.

5/19/15 - A hungry baby.

Awaiting baby number two to hatch....................... 

5/20/15 - Here's newborn number two!

Sweet little newborn hummers are about the size of a sunflower seed.    

5/21/15 Their feathers are starting to get fluffy.

                                              

4-26-2015

June 2, 2015

Sorry to report that on Monday, June 2, 2015, when Jodi went to take some update pictures of the little hummingbirds, they were gone. It is possible a crow may have taken them or some other predator. We don't know. The nest was left empty, intact and did not look like there was a struggle of any kind, which lead me to believe a crow or western scrub jay were the predators.   

Protect backyard birds from hawks

It is important to remember that even though it may be disheartening to see a songbird fall victim to a hawk, the hawks are only playing their role in nature’s cycle and they do not kill more birds than needed to survive.

Here are some tips for protecting backyard birds from hawks.

Bewick's Wren Babies.

This is the first experience I've had with Bewick's Wrens.

We have a 20 year old bird house yard decoration that has been concealed with vines. I've been meaning to take it down, but, glad I didn't. I heard some little chirping sounds coming from it and sure enough, a bewick's wren had built a nest inside. There were 3 babies.

 Their sound is heavenly. Click here to hear>>> Bewick's Wren Sound

Adult Bewick's Wren at worm feeder. 

Homemade Bluebird Tempter Suet

Homemade Bluebird Tempter Suet

This suet is good for bluebirds, robins, nuttals woodpeckers, house and bewick wrens, house finch, western scrub jays, mocking birds, some warblers and various birds. 

1/2 cup shortening (butter, crisco, etc.)

1 cup flour

1/4 cup corn meal

3 tablespoons of peanut butter, crunchy or creamy

1/8 cup water

I mix all of the above in my kitchen aid mixer or use equivalent. It should be the consistency of cookie dough.

If it is too sticky, add a little bit more flour.

After it is mixed well, looks and feels like cookie dough consistency, roll dough suet in 2" balls and place in a baggy. Keep in the refrigerator to keep from spoiling. I take out what I am going to use 20 minutes before, so it will get soft. Place it in your bird feeding suet baskets or press into a tree trunk or where ever most suitable for you to watch your birds feed.   It's a great little meal boost for the birds during nesting season and especially during the winter when there is less food to be found. 

Happy Birding ~ Olivia

Send any questions to garden_gal101@sbcglobal.net

    

Hummingbirds

Greg D's Backyard Hummingbirds in Huntington Beach.  

So Cute!

Great Roadrunner

Greg D. Took these great pictures of  a great roadrunner in
San Clemente, Ca.  Good Job Greg!  

This is the first I've noticed that they have a red and blue marking on their head.
  

Notice how he blends into his surrounding environment. 

CLICK HERE>>>Great Roadrunner sounds 

Nest Building Help

Robin & Cedar Waxwings at backyard birdbath

Poor little Robin lost his post while trying to get a drink of water.   

Cedar Waxwings

 We have a backyard full of majestic cedar waxwings today. Notice the perfect yellow marking on each bird's tail. Nature is a wonderful thing. :)  
 (Sorry for the blurriness.) 

 Notice their little top notches. Sometimes they are vertical then they rise.  

 Cedar Waxwing Sound - Click here

They all flew to the top of our deck umbrella before landing on the bird bath. 

Happy Valentine's Day

To all my Backyard Birder Friends around the World:

Click Here for Hummingbird songs

The GREAT Backyard Bird Count

It's that time of year for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

 February 13 - February 16, 2015. 
This is a great science project for You, Kids or Grand Kids.

 (Maybe extra school credit or show and tell)

For more information, go to

Audubon-Great Backyard Bird Count Information click here

Beautiful Day in Southern California

It's a BEAUTIFUL clear sunny day in SoCal OC. 
So clear, the Good Year Blimp decided to take a tour out here. 
Every bird you can imagine is out in our little wild bird habitat. Here are just a few.
Hope you all are having a great day!.

 Good Year Blimp enjoying the great views of the day.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, Cooper's Hawk Call click here...

Female - Western Bluebird, Western Bluebird Calls, click here

American Gold Finch - Male on left, Female on right.
 American gold finch sounds click here

Bewick's Wren  Click here for their sound

White Crowned Sparrow  Click here for their sound

Male- Western Bluebird (for sound click above on Female bluebird)

Mocking bird
Click here for Mocking Bird sounds

Spice Finch or Nutmeg Mannikin ( no sound sample)

Song Sparrow  Song Sparrow sounds click here

Mourning Dove  Mourning Dove Sounds click here

California Towhee Towhee sounds

Male- Dark eyed junco
Junco sounds click here

Southern Cal Eagles

13 Bald Eagles are tallied at area Lakes in Southern California 

Thirteen bald eagles were spotted during an organized count at sites across Southern California last weekend.

The U.S. Forest Services says bald eagles commonly migrate south to spend their winter vacations around the region's lakes.

More than 100 eagle-eyed volunteers and agency staff participated in the count at six lakes on Saturday.

Two adult and two juvenile eagles were seen at Lake Silverwood; two adults and one juvenile were observed at Big Bear Lake; and two adults were spotted at both Lake Hemet and Lake Arrowhead. Lake Perris and Lake Gregory had one adult apiece. 

(Tues., Jan 13, 2015, OC Register, News 7)

Assist in feeding birds. It helps!

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Nesting Box Camera

Researching outdoor mounted video cameras for this next nesting season.
Anyone with information about a good camera they could recommend, please email me at garden_gal101@sbcglobal.net 

Would like to get this on video:

Create a backyard habitat

You don't need a yard to create a backyard habitat. 
......You could hang a simple hummingbird feeder on a condo deck. If you are concerned about clean-up, buy some shell-free bird seed.
I guarantee, you will be entertained, it adds so much joy to your day.

Hear an Anna's Hummingbird Sing, Click Here

  Creating a backyard habitat? 
  Click here






Hummingbird nest with eggs compared to a quarter in size.

Male Bluebird looking for a 'hand-out'

Knock, knock, knock, peck, peck!   "More meal worms please."

Free App - Merlin Bird Identification

This is so exciting to me!  

Check out the Merlin bird identification app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  You can use it to identify birds you see, answer simple questions such as when and where you saw the bird and what it looked like. Then, browse photos to find your match and even hear what it sounds like.   Learn more here:

Merlin Bird Identifier App

Visit your local Mountains

I visited the most amazing place today in our local San Bernardino National Forest. It was the Wildhaven Ranch - San Bernardino Mountains Wildlife Society. 

It's a place where you can see mountain wildlife up close and personal while getting  a great education about the animals and how they help our environment.

 Visit here:    Wildhaven Ranch - non profit 

Crow vs Raven Identification

Some of you were interested in knowing the difference between a crow and a raven. Here is an educational Cornell Lab ornithology video. We have remarkable animals and incredible things on our planet.

Even crows and ravens have remarkable beauty. 

Cornell Ornithology - Crow vs Raven Identification

Video


One more differentiating video to watch

Identify Female House Finch vs Pine Siskin

House Finch

House Finch - Adult Female

• Larger and stockier than Pine Siskin
• Thicker, conical bill
• No wing bars
• No yellow coloration on wings or tail

Pine Siskin Adult

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•  Pine Siskin - Adult
• Small, streaky finch
• Brown streaks darkest and most dense on breast
• Very slender, sharply-pointed bill
• Bright yellow on folded wings

Owl Web Cams - Starr Ranch Orange County, Ca.

   Click here>>>Barn Owl Web Cams


The owls are especially busy eating from dusk to dawn. The parents bring them rodents to eat. See nature at some of its best.

11/9/2014 Follow-up note, The owlettes have fledged their tree nesting cavity for some time now. There is occasional activity, but the little ones are gone.

California Drought - Water Wise Responsible

Conservation-

Water rationing is in the first stage alert for the Yorba Linda Water District Service Areas. 
In an effort to reserve water, I'm limiting the water intake to many of our backyard bird habitat yard plants. The plants are alive, however, it's looking somewhat brown and dry around here and not its best, but the plants are alive for the birds to have cover. Once the drought is over, (Did I hear this is the first couple years of a 12 year drought?) I'll increase the water a bit or plant back what doesn't make it. At this time, we'll keep only the bird bath full of water, a couple hummingbird feeders and some mealworms for the bluebirds.  These triple digit heat days aren't helping either.  UGH!  

Perhaps it's time to look at converting to a Xeriscape for the birds.  For us, I'm liking this idea more and more.

Follow-up to June 13th Post

I'm happy to report that all five eggs hatched that day from the June 13th post earlier this year. The five teenage birds are healthy and happy returning for mealworms and water now and then.

Another Great White Egret Visit

Egret looking for lizards in our front yard. In the picture post below, neighbors Jane and Janice have a a visitor also. I wonder if it's the same guy.  

                                    EGRET SOUND CLICK HERE