We Saw It, and Other Bird Tales

Today we saw a Baltimore Oriole outside our schoolroom window. The screams from the children sent it across the street but not before we watched it's large streaks of orange flash before our eyes. It was beautiful and the only one we've ever seen. We want it back!

Though we thoroughly enjoy most things "bird", we had a rather bad experience with our feeder experiment during the first few chapters of "Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day". We put up two, two-litre bottle feeders with different feed for the "experiment". We were literally ATTACKED and INFESTED and OVERRUN...BIG TIME...by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Yuck.


There had to be over a hundred and they devoured the seed in about 24 hours. My husband demanded we remove the offending feeder and "never put it up again!" Well, we bought a finch feeder because we'd seen numerous beautiful Yellow Finches. We weren't sorry! They came in numbers, but not offensive numbers! We truly enjoyed them. However, we'd like to attract other beauties to our yard without the Brown-headed Cowbirds descending from above. Every time we go to Lowes, we walk past the feeders and think about all the bird sightings we're missing.


We are in a relatively new development, but there are woods way behind us. Between us and the woods, is a golf course and a lake. We see all kinds of water birds, which is fascinating. We have a few Heron in the Spring that are quite exciting! Mostly, Geese and Ducks the rest of the time. The only other birds we've seen are Red-Winged Black Birds. Oh...and the Sparrows.


Let me just tell you...we have a psycho sparrow that has become rather "attached" to our house. We haven't been able to determine if there is a nest, but we have seen it with at least one other sparrow. But THIS sparrow first made itself known by attacking our patio door. And attacking. And attacking! It would flutter right against the glass and grab hold of the pane dividers. THEN, just when we thought that was weird enough, it began doing it to EVERY window in our house. We have 30+ windows! It would even attack the side-panel window by our front door! On our porch! AND our second story windows. All sides of the house. Very strange! We've been told it may like it's reflection? Who knows! Weird bird. You should see the poopy mess on my door steps! Ick! It has eased off a bit sense we've been outside most every day. I'm afraid he may be a permanent "resident" though. We saw him again today, right after our Oriole. Just what I need, MORE window cleaning. (Note: I've really, really tried to get pictures of him in the act. It's hopeless!)

So those are our up to date bird tales. If you have any experience you'd like to share to help us in our quest, I'd love the advice! Down with Cowbirds, UP with Orioles!!!