Editorial: The Injustice of Leap Year

Here we are in the "dog days" of winter, and the humans go and tack on one more day! Ridiculous! We want Spring--and it won't get here any faster if we have an extra day in February. Winter has many pleasures, including curling up in one's favorite chair with a good millet spray, but enough is enough. We expect Spring to be delivered on time in 20 days! Or else.
Geoffrey

News from Furby

Hi "Keets,
My two-leggers checked out your theory that the birds can see me through the window, and because of that, don't come to my feeder. They went out and stood next to the feeder, but couldn't see me through the window. So, it's not a problem unless feeder birds see differently than humans. They attached a tray to the top of the pole, broke up the seed block, and put the seed on the tray. Next day, a cardinal came to the feeder! But, I wasn't there to see it--I was getting in some bird-watching through another window. There are lots of birds there, perched in the tall aquavitae outside. Blue jays and all sorts of little wrens... The jays scream and argue. Very entertaining! I have added blue jays and the cardinal to my life list.

I've been held captive a lot lately. The cold weather makes the two-leggers want to hold warm, fuzzy things. My goodness, sometimes I can barely get to my litterbox on time! The two youngest make "caves" for me under tables and chairs. But, just as I settle myself for a nice fantasy about crouching and pouncing, one of them reaches in and drags me out.

Sigh....

Furby

Benefits of Wild Bird Feeding

Our ad hoc journal club continues. We were delighted to read in Nature Research Highlights, that a study in Ireland demonstrated that birds who have access to feeders have greater breeding success than birds who do not. So get out there, and hang up a feeder! The paper is Robb, et al, in Biol Lett. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0622 (2008).
Geoffrey

Day 3 of the GBBC

Hello! We had a wonderful time yesterday. I have started my life list, and have 25 species on it! Geoffrey and Jary are helping me. I saw the Carolina wren and his wife who live in our yard. They are spending the winter in the birdhouse nailed to the pole on the deck. The suet block is hanging nearby, and the wren said that they are very comfortable. (One of their kids got into the house twice last June. He was a cheeky little guy, and wanted to try out our seed, but he didn't come back after he landed on a very prickly cactus in the kitchen window. The older female let him out through the garage.)
The older female was very happy yesterday. She found part of the black-headed vulture flock at the dumpster behind the "7-11", and was able to count them.
Best!
Jay-Jay

Red Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

Yo! Day 2 of the GBBC. Great day yesterday! Saw a red-breasted nuthatch! First one for me. Photo above. Also, we alerted the old lady to a huge flock of grackles. Stood on the cage, and squawked like crazy! She counted over 200 in the back yard!
Cheers!
Jary

The Great Backyard Bird Count

We're excited this morning, and have been up since dawn, with our beaks pressed to the kitchen window. It's the start of the GBBC (see link above), and we've already submitted 3 checklists, and added one bird (the red breasted nuthatch) to our life lists! We encourage everyone to participate. Even parakeets can be citizen scientists! We didn't count ourselves, of course, in part because the habitat "living room" is not listed as an option on the submission form.
Geoffrey

My Valentine

Me and my sweetie.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Geoffrey

Diagnosing Furby's Feeder Problem

Hey, Furby:
We talked over your problem with the feeder. Jay thinks it's because the birds can SEE YOU through the glass window. I think she's right. Sep says there are "one way" windows--you see out, but they can't see in. Your two-leggers seem to really like you, so installing one shouldn't be a problem.
"Cat"ch you later.
Jeekins

Year of the Rat

c) 2000-2004 Martin Krzywinski (photos are for public use)

Happy New Year! The older male is a "rat" person, so we are recognizing the day. Jay-Jay is a "boar", and Jary and I are "roosters"--which is very appropriate, because we are. We see no special celebration in the offing, although we were offered our favorite iceberg lettuce this morning. We have our doubts about honoring Rattus norwegicus, having had serious trouble with rodents before. Most of the other animals in the Chinese zodiac are either useful or awe-inspiring. Rats are neither, unless you think the ability to survive insults and situations which would annihilate an ordinary human or parakeet is "awe-inspiring".
Geoffrey

Bird Deficit

Dear 'Keets:
My feeder has been up for a couple of weeks, and I'm not seeing any birds at all! It's made of sunflower seeds and suet, and it's in the bushes, so there's plenty of cover. I've been watching it carefully, and not one bird has shown up.
What do you think is wrong?
Furby

Warning! Pin Feathers!

I'm shedding my feathers in batches.
New feathers produce itchy patches.
I'm cross when I'm molting,
'Cause I feel revolting!
I need love and lots of head scratches!

Irritably,
Jary