Yikes, no sunning yourself outside in a hammock or on a day bed with those around. Do you think they have really sharp beaks that cut bits off or do they yank it out by the roots?

Oh, I think they yank it out -- if it breaks, so be it. If not , it comes with the roots.

The style of taking the fluff is so different with the little birds.

The Titmouse really goes at it. I have been unable to get a good photo of the process. It is fast and furious.

The other birds study the fluff, and perch on the dispenser and pluck at it and sometimes it is a long process. So I have photos of them. But I cannot catch this Titmouse at all he/she is very aggressive and fast. Which makes sense now that I have seen him go at living sources posted online!

He also has a very aggressive call. He was woken us up several days in a row ....

Listen here:

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The first call is what we have had daily here. It is very piercing when close to the house. When he woke me up the other day I thought it was a car alarm! Usually he is in 3's ... sometimes,
it sounds like "judy judy judy" and other times the call is slightly different, but always in 3s or 4's.

So they must be nesting near by I guess?

Here are some photos from this week... Mr. Goldfinch is working on a volunteer sunflower from the seeds planted by our little red squirrel during the winter. He has been very busy yesterday especially, so I think he is taking the seeds to his mate who is probably on the nest now. (she was taking lots of fluff from my dispenser over the past 2 weeks.).

MrsD,

Wow! Thanks for a fascinating and fun thread!
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I LOVE watching birds!
We live in the Northeastern U.S. We have some Robins that build three nests, one nest after another, each season. (The same Robins come back to build the nests each season.) Once the chicks of the first nest have hatched and fly, then the second nest is built, etc. In between building the nests, we watch the "parent birds" running around on the ground with the "adolescent Robins," etc.

They build the nests in a location where we can watch them building each nest, see the babies when they hatch, watch the feedings, and also watch as the birds leave, one by one. We get to observe a great deal about the parents as well as the chicks.

We have many other types of birds around. The Robins just happen to be the ones building multiple nests within view, season after season.

I "talk with" the mother bird often. She comes over very close to me as I talk with her.

It's all quite amazing and so much fun!
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I am thrilled to discover your thread just now!
great pictures and info!
Thanks so much for sharing!
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In Joy,
DejaVu

Hi DejaVu,

Funny you mention Robins on this Thread. As with MrsD's Goldfinches, they are a totally different bird to their European/English Cousin.

Yet, with your Robin approaching you it seems that the temperament of the types are very similar here and there. In my healthier days I 'trained' my Robins to come within inches of me for mealworm rewards.

Dave.

Oh, yes! I find Robins very amenable to communicating and to "training."

I had first "met" this mother Robin when she was sitting on the door handle, tapping on the glass, shortly after we had moved in. She did this day after day. (The former owners were my parents and had never interacted with these birds. They were shocked to find out birds had been around that closely.)

Since she kept tapping on the glass day after day, it seemed there was something she'd wanted. I looked at the rafters above, where there is a deck on a higher level of the house and saw the open areas FILLED with old nests. My DH and I had gotten a ladder and cleaned out the old nests.

The mother Robin was then quite content and has been back to bless us with 3 nests per season over the past three years!

She comes to me to "chat" and we "chat" back and forth. She is within a foot of me by the time she makes her way across the yard, after I have called to her. People watch from indoors and are amazed she will come to me when I talk to her. (She and her older offspring live across the yard once they leave the nests, which are close to the house.) If anyone steps into "our area" while we are interacting, she is quickly gone. Just so much fun!

I want to learn more from MrsD, and others, on the topic of birds.
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Such a tremendous blessing to have them around.
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In joy!
DejaVu

P.S. I have my pet wild rabbits, too. One made a nest right next to the same glass door, where I could witness the events around a rabbits' nest.
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MrsD-

I was just reviewing this thread again. The pictures are lovely!
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It really means a lot to me to see pictures of wildlife!
I have not been able to get out to hike in several years now.
I enjoy what comes near my home. Beyond that, I am so thrilled to see pictures of wildlife others are observing. My spirit is immediately lifted!

I apologize for taking this thread a bit OT in mentioning the Robins.

These finches are gorgeous and your enthusiasm for them is palpable in your writings. I am also very fascinated by the nesting fluff offerings available to the birds. Great idea!
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Thanks again for sharing with us!

Warmly,
DejaVu

Deja, I have many photos in my 3 albums of birds, that I have taken...Have you looked there?

Today right below my window was a lot of movement and I stood up and looked down, and Mr. Goldfinch was working on a catnip plant that is currently blooming. I have a few shots of that, but they are still in the camera. He was about 10 inches from the window pane!

We used to be upNorth during this time of year, so I have not seen the finches doing all these interesting things.

Thanks for the compliments too! I have alot of fun photographing all these bird behaviors.

Your robin comments are welcome here. Our robins will mob our cat, Weezie as she stalks around the nests. Twice she has gone for a fledgling, and you'd be amazed at the bird mob that created. All the birds swarmed together--robins, jays, chickadees, titmice, sparrows. The first mob was 2 yrs ago when Weez was young...she ran up the hill from the creek with a young robin in her mouth with the army of birds swarming her. I saw this as I was on the back porch. She was totally afraid and didn't know what to do. I took the robin from her and put him in a yew bush nearby at the top so she could not get him, again.

This year she had a small mob too, but it was much less dramatic. Weez doesn't kill or eat her catches. She does kill mice and shrews sometimes, but not always. The robins around here are very quiet all of a sudden...maybe have moved on?

Oh, wow, mrsD!
I will take a look at your albums soon!
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Nature is simply amazing!

I'll bet Weezie wondered what might happen when swarmed with all types of birds! Fascinating!

The robins here are quite aggressive in protecting their perceived territory and especially areas near the nests. They fight for the nest areas every season, although these are in the same location each season. They guard and intercept birds flying too close to their nesting area, heading the other birds off into another direction.

Last night, hubby and I were sitting quietly on the deck and a dove landed on my head.
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As soon as it realized I was "alive," it took off in a hurry! We have some doves hang out on the deck railings most evenings.

So many species of beautiful birds around, we are so blessed!
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As always, thank you, mrsD!
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Warmly,
DejaVu

Helping them build their nests is sweet.

I have had 2 families of sparrows feeding off my window ledge. I put out left over noodles, Life cereal, mashed potatoes and ice cubes when it's hot. The poor little babies are so hot they lay on the ledge panting, it's in the sun. But they come around each day at dawn and dusk to feed. If I don't put anything out for them they peck at the window and cry. It's so cute to see all those little heads in a row looking for me in the window.
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I'll try to get a picture of them and post it.