Does anyone birdwatch? (easter)

[evearael]

Ooo! That is gorgeous, Kreeden, but not the one I keep getting glimpses of... I think it was a Western Bluebird. Do the females have less red on their chests? I recently saw a very ugly bird with a red head and a dark body. He just looked grungy... maybe he was old?

[kreeden]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

I think bird-watching is kind of boring. I always dreaded it when my parents would drag us out to Miller Island to look for owls. It's not that I don't like birds. In fact, I'm a big fan. But they rarely do anything at all interesting.

Well , Owls don't during the day ....

[Aqualung]

Well, we didn't go during the day...

[kreeden]

Originally Posted by evearael

Ooo! That is gorgeous, Kreeden, but not the one I keep getting glimpses of... I think it was a Western Bluebird. Do the females have less red on their chests? I recently saw a very ugly bird with a red head and a dark body. He just looked grungy... maybe he was old?

I had to look the other Bluebirds up ... yea , they do have red chests ..

I only know the Mountain Bluebird . But the females aren't even blue . They are more brownest as it hids them better while nesting . Colours can vary quite a bit though , so colour alone isn't a good way to identify most birds .

Perhaps it was a Woodpecker or Sapsucker that you saw with the red head ???

A good site for identifying birds is http://www.enature.com/home/

[kreeden]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

Well, we didn't go during the day...

Bird watching in the dark eh ?

I assume that it was dusk ? Or on moon lited nights ?

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by kreeden

Bird watching in the dark eh ?

I assume that it was dusk ?

Finally! First you assume I was looking for owls in the day, then you assume that "not day" means night...

Well, anyway...

[kreeden]

I was just giving you a rough time Aqua . Dark , overcasted days can be a good time to spot owls too . But I have never " owl watched ", as such . Sounds kinda interesting . { the first few times at least ... }

[Ramacharaka]

In native US, birdsong is sacred, at least here. they are smarter than you think and orchestrate etc., besides predict weather.

[Scarlett Wampus]

In some woods near where I live there is a bird-watching hut. It has a big sign on it that says, "Please be quiet. Birdwatching."

Last time I was there I saw a bunch of kids run down the hill before screeching and launching themselves full force against the side of the hut. Angry birdwatchers appeared but the kids would be half way back up the hill by then. Five minutes later it started all over again.

Wildlife.

[painted wolf]

Most Owls are quite good daytime hunters... that was how I saw a great horned owl.
He was sitting on top of our hotel looking for small edibles when I went to New Mexico.
Most of thier prefered prey, mice, rats and things are active mostly at dusk and night time... and they are definatly prepared for night time hunting.

I got a fly by, from a large owl once when we were on a night time hike... I didn't get a good enough look at him to tell what species, but based on the size it was either a great horned or a great grey... I'm leaning more tword the grey, but it isn't enough to justify putting it in my book.

as for the kids... If I was there birdwatching I'd carry a large super-soaker filled with water and just a dash of pepper oil.
That would teach them right quick.

wa:do