- Post score: 17
- #26
Thank you.
- Thread starter ssheipel
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- Post score: 1
- #28
While invasive….still…a great portrait. I really like how you see the natural world.
- Post score: 17
- #29
Thanks. I didn't think about the colour and season; this guy clearly hasn't moulted to drab yet!
- Post score: 18
- #30
Thank you! And, yah I try not to hold any impact of their invasiveness against the intruders. Not their fault some human thought it would be a good idea to bring their favourite animal to another continent, or in this case a different coast.
- Post score: 18
- #31
Apparently the house finch is very new to this far north (bird counts suggest they became noticeable in number (eg had moved in) around 2006) -- I just went to read more about them specifically due to your comment. There is also a finch native to here (Purple Finch) and they are difficult to distinguish but for the House finch's dark streaks are more pronounced and has a more square (vs notched )tail. All to say I now don't know if the bird in my photo is a Purple or House Finch! Anyway, the search was about your point about colour change, or not. Gave up after a few totally conflicting articles as to whether they moult to drab or not in winter hereOut here in their native range they have nice color in the winter. They make nice holiday decorations in the snow covered shrub-steppe with red, orange and yellow variations
I'm going to be paying more attention this winter to the sparrow and finch parties to see just who is and who is not amongst the crowd and what colours they're sporting Gonna be looking to see whether I'm seeing Purple or House Finches. This wildlife photography thing just make me a birder after all
- Post score: 16
- #32
Yup, don't get the hate for house sparrows, though I understand (and share) the upset /concern for those birds who are losing out. The 'how to get rid of house sparrows' articles are sad making. As I asked a neighbour (in Toronto) who was switching all of her feeders to the type that exclude (or tries to) House Sparrows, why not both types of feeders? But nope that would mean the 'pests' were still around!? Sigh LOL
Replytoken
Well-known member
- Post score: 2
- #33
I'm of the same mind as you. We have the same issue with squirrels here. Those (birds and squirrels) who are living in or around my yard are my "neighbors" just trying to get by. I know that there are also mice and rats that live in the neighborhood, but we try not to feed them (and avoid any methods of killing as best we can) as they can be invasive to household structures. The birds and squirrels are not really an issue. I know situations can vary from place to place, but I try not to add to any creature's misery. It is tough enough to get by from day to day without additional obstacles placed in your path.
--Ken
- Post score: 18
- #34
Well said. The success of some animals (eg not just those who are invasive) makes them enemy number one. In Toronto the racoon is wildly successful with urban racoons far, far bigger (eg well fed) than any racoon I've seen in the non urban wild. Laws have had to be enacted to (try) to stop people from leg hold trapping or poisoning racoons; actions taken almost exclusively because Racoons feed from garbage cans, resulting in garbage on the sidewalk not in the container, which is damn annoying most assuredly but surely not excuse enough for a death sentence for the racoons. There is an entire engineering culture aimed at trying to build the perfect garbage container to keep racoons out. So far, no ultimate success, just a slowing of the problem until any new learning spreads through the raccoon community LOL The city several months ago now (maybe a couple of years given time has stood still for me re COVID) launched, with great fanfare, their new anti racoon locks for garbage and recycling bins. Within days there were videos of racoons pondering, tinkering and then successfully opening the locks.
Replytoken
Well-known member
- Post score: 1
- #36
Yes, my wife and I talk about the squirrels beating out the birds for food, and have a good chuckle at all of the videos on YT for how to make a feeder squirrel-proof. We do have a feeder, now with a rain dome which seems to have helped balance out the eating affair, but we have also placed out loose seed for the ground feeders. Years ago, when we found a large rodent dining on suet, we decided to not leave out large amounts of open food. So, we both go out during the day and place smaller amounts of loose seed in a couple of places. At times, the squirrels "Hoover" it all up while the birds just stand there flustered, and then I wait an hour or so when the squirrels are gone and place out another feeding for the birds. I suspect that everybody would like it if we had larger amounts of food in feeders, but the juncos and chickadees seem to return every winter, so we must still be on the short list. And since I have had some health issues of late that may not allow me to head out to photograph eagles, I keep reminding myself that backyard birding is a good way to build technique and get some nice song bird images.Well said. The success of some animals (eg not just those who are invasive) makes them enemy number one. In Toronto the racoon is wildly successful with urban racoons far, far bigger (eg well fed) than any racoon I've seen in the non urban wild. Laws have had to be enacted to (try) to stop people from leg hold trapping or poisoning racoons; actions taken almost exclusively because Racoons feed from garbage cans, resulting in garbage on the sidewalk not in the container, which is damn annoying most assuredly but surely not excuse enough for a death sentence for the racoons. There is an entire engineering culture aimed at trying to build the perfect garbage container to keep racoons out. So far, no ultimate success, just a slowing of the problem until any new learning spreads through the raccoon community LOL The city several months ago now (maybe a couple of years given time has stood still for me re COVID) launched, with great fanfare, their new anti racoon locks for garbage and recycling bins. Within days there were videos of racoons pondering, tinkering and then successfully opening the locks.
--Ken
- Post score: 17
- #37
Oh, I love Jays. I think I've got a thing for 'noisy' birds as jays, crows, ravens, magpies... love 'em all!
- Post score: 17
- #40
Thanks. A friend dug a little deeper on the story -- seems the selling of them began in the '20s by mail order! They were marketed as Hollywood Finches. The Long Island release was a couple decades later and a group of them, providing obviously a chance to establish and reproduce.
- Post score: 1
- #41
Nice pic Steven and thanks for the info. They are probably my most numerous visitor here in north eastern MD.
- Post score: 17
- #42
Thanks.
Jack McEwan
Well-known member
- Post score: 1
- #43
Nice shot Steven!
- Post score: 17
- #44
Thank you, Jack.
- Post score: 17
- #46
Lovely. Thanks for sharing This far north they haven't, at least where I tread, appeared in numbers as you describe or as we have, say, with the House Sparrow, but give them time I figure
I'm in a high rise so have no feeders of my own. Many feeders placed by folks in the forested river valley here and I've purchased seed this year to add to the refilling responsibilities as I saw several empty the other day.
- Post score: 1
- #47
way cool
- Post score: 17
- #48
Thanks, Ken.