H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 776 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

Mourning Doves

There’s a species of birds that are a permanent fixture in my backyard, non other that the Mourning Doves.

I would dare to make not so wild estimate that they account for approximately 50% of the seed consumption from all feeders in my backyard! They eat like politicians in a free banquet! Gluttons is a good description for these doves!

At your first look they might seem to be innocent and peace loving birds but how far from the truth you can be! They are naughty birds, often push other birds away from the feeders and they have a habit of fighting among themselves and all the ruckus they create is just a waste of seeds that fly all over. They also love to station themselves in front of a feeder and eat until there’s no more!

But their brain is not as big as their stomach must be, when there’s imminent danger they don’t fly away, instead they freeze and assume that the enemy can’t see them. That’s why most of the time they are the most likely victims. But then, that’s life in the wilderness!

Text and photographs © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101

Tags: birds, Mourning Dove, nature, photography, photos of birds

Panoramic View of Birds

Header1

Chipping Sparrow – Panoramic – Click to enlarge

© H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101

Tags: Chipping Sparrow, photography, photos of birds

Got a New Hummer Feeder!

I bought a new nectar feeder for the hummingbirds again, the previous one which I had recently bought failed because it leaked and also allowed the rain water to seep in the bottle. This other new feeder is serving well so far.

For some time I’ve been waiting for hummingbirds to show more like it happened last summer when I could easily count two or three at any time of the day. This year has been quite different, they came early on the beginning of summer and then disappeared until last week when I’ve seen them back.

However, they feed sporadically and for short time only. Oh well!

I got some recent photos of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird for you.

Tags: birds, nature, photography, photos of birds, Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ups and Downs

Life in the bird’s world is very much alike as life for humans. Not everyday is glamourous and peachy, we have to face the odds of getting in an accident, sick, killed in a 1000 ways or simply become invalid.

The same way is for our friends the birds in the wilderness, they too confront the hardships of life as well as a complete life cycle as average.

I’m posting this subject because once in a while I see birds that have suffered some kind of incident whether lethal or accidental.

Last Monday I shot some photos of a young House Finch that appears to have been attacked and injured, resulting on a lost of an eye and part of his tail feathers. He was able to fly and there was nothing that I could do to help him.

It was sad to see a beautiful bird in that condition. I hope that he recuperate soon and continue his life cycle even when he’s handicapped.