2013 and beyond

It's pretty simple: the most birds seen or heard from one's yard during 2013 will be the "winner". Want in? O.k....then do it despite that.

2013 promises to be a lot less mean but still a carbon-free birding competition, even if slightly less exciting than a MEGA x EPIC hybrid.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

The Owl Ranch

Howdy all,

I'm in! Got a new yard, got a new year, got some great habitat- now if only the birds would find my feeders.....

I'm at a modest 22 birds for the year, nothing too crazy. A Hoary Redpoll dropped in for a couple of days, and I've had both species of Crossbills flyover. A small flock of Bohemian Waxwings were around a few weeks ago. I'm in a much more wooded place with lots of oaks, so Red-bellied Woodpecker is a near daily bird for me as opposed to being a rare treat. I'm right on the northwest edge of town with the Dead River just a few blocks over so another near daily bird for me is Common Raven (my old place would only see a few of these a year). Truthfully my feeders have been slow. I'm concerned that the much more wooded habitat of my new place may not be as attractive to migrants as my old yard was, but I am looking forward to having more breeders in the yard. I am certainly thinking there should be a Pine Warbler nesting in the yard, and daresay I am dreaming of a summer resident Blackburian Warbler. But I don't think I'm getting a Grasshopper Sparrow at this new place! I will just have to settle for that Band-tailed Pigeon that will eventually come into the feeder one day......

So the yard is .75 acres, and is surrounded by a small woodlot on two sides comprised of birch, maple, and white pine. The yard itself has several apple trees with a couple of wide areas of lawn (read my soon to be prairie garden...). I have a lot of white pines, 4 of which are huge and likely at least 150 years old. There will be a water feature sometime later this spring.

But for now enjoy a few pictures!




4 comments:

  1. huh... best click on the pictures to see the full photo. Not sure what happened there.

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  2. Nice to see you posting, Haastage! Now get on it and beat the city boy (=me)! I'll put a post out soon on my new digs to get you all up to speed.

    And in case you northerners are still feeling like it's winter, FYI I had 16 year ticks today including Tree Swallow, Pied-billed Grebe, Eastern Meadowlark, Grackle, Cowbird, Wigeon, Shoveler, Wood Duck, Rusty Blackbird, and Ring-necked Duck. Guess what: SPRING is on, at least down here in the tropics.

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  3. Call me when that BTPI shows up! There was one only 3 miles from my house here in 2010, but found out too late...

    Looks like cool digs! Always nice to start fresh.

    It was great birding with you too, Put Nut.

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