I found this bug/flying critter at Bissett Park yesterday.
He just sat there on this bud. He was TINY!
A Male Red-Bellied Woodpecker
I had the most Amazing Experience yesterday!
A Carolina Chickadee ate seed directly from my HAND!
I have never feed a wild bird from my hand before....it was AWESOME!
An update on the Boys Basketball Team.....they came in
Fourth Place at Nationals. They were playing many teams across the
United States....so I thought that was pretty awesome too.
We are so proud of them!
Nice series of photos, especially the chickadee. What a treat to have one eat from your hand! I love seeing the red bellied woodpeckers.
ReplyDeleteI love all three of these, Sherri! I don't know what kind of flying critter that is. You must have been thrilled when the wren ate out of your hand. I would love to feed the little feathered ones that way!
ReplyDeleteLooks like three wonderful photo ops!!!!!!!! Fantastic shots each one!
ReplyDeleteOut of your hand?!! Thats awesome!! Beautiful birds!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all well done to the boys...
ReplyDeleteA great set of pictures Kerri.. I am so glad you got to feed a bird from your hand, it is a special feeling... it can be done in your own garden with a bit of patients.
You can get your garden birds landing on your shoulder and taking food from your hand if you go about it in a calm quiet way. Winter and early spring are good times to start training them. With a little encouragement, some birds will accept you as a natural part of their environment, if you can be there at the times they are there it makes them at ease with you. It's not difficult to win the trust of the bird at your feeders.
Fill your feeders at the same time of day, do it in the morning when birds are seeking their first meal. Treat them to foods at this time which you have seen them enjoying. Certain birds will catch on and be there waiting for the feeders to be filled and to get their morning treat..
Just sit quietly from about 3 metres or so from the feeder after you put out the food. Try talking to them, birds will learn to associate you and your voice with food. Do not make sudden movements.
Birds will start just coming to the feeders while you are there.. that's great because it show they are now getting used to you. Make sure you can keep this up over a number of days, and keep still in the same place and keep talking to them. After a few days move that bit closer, keep doing this as often as you can...the birds become used to you, your sound and you just being a part of the garden.
When you can stand very close to the feeders and the birds will still come then you can leave your hand with some of the treats next to the feeders. When the birds have become comfortable eating near your hand, don't put any more food in the feeders. The birds will still come down expecting them to have food in. This is where all your patients will pay off. All it will take is for one bird to start feeding from your hand, the others will see this and in time follow suit. Once this happens you have more control... you can now start sitting where it is best for you.. the birds will hopefully follow.
All this will depend Kerri on how quiet and still you and your garden is, and if you have the time to see it through... it is a great feeling when it happens. Jane and I did this many years ago.. it took about 3 weeks but the birds or some birds got quite tame, our Robins were very easy to take up the offer... sparrows and the Blue Tit's would come to us as well.. Starling and Thrushes never would come to our hands but did come very close and would wait to be fed.
I hope you didn't mind this long comment Kerri
Tom
Wow, that is so cool that the chickadee ate out of your hand.
ReplyDeleteI read all of old wom tigley's comment and I am going to do what he said. I never would have thought to talk to the birds. Thought that would have scared them away.
Spring, flowers, birds and great photography - what more can one want?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE the bug on the bud! Wonderful work!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you that you got to experience the bird eating out of your hand!
Congrats to your son and his team!
These pictures are beautiful. I've been trying to capture birds close up - still trying.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos as usual thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteIncredible gets! And speaking of "gets" how awesome to have had a wild bird eat from your hand!! Adding my congrats to your son's team doing so well in the Nationals.
ReplyDeleteOUT OF YOUR HAND WOW that is totally KEWL
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the boys
WOw TOM, maybe becasue the cats are outsdie that is why they do not land in my hand...
Great tips there Tom
Beautiful pictures Kerri
Your are getting some great bird photos lately.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to hear about the Chickadee eating out of your hand.
I have never had the good a bird eat from my hand, but have had a few of the deer become friendly enough to do so, a few on a regular basis. This is always a thrill! I'm glad you had a similar experience.
Congratulations to the team! I know how exciting championships are because my daughter was an athlete through college.
ReplyDeleteI envy you Chickadee moment! I just read on another blog about the same experience. Check out Ruth who posted a video:
http://bodysoulandspirit.blogspot.com/
You must have had to stand very very still. What a thrill, to have a wild creature trust you so much.
ReplyDeleteGood for your son's team, that's super. Love the picture of the insect. Awesome shot.
ReplyDeletewhat a buzz having one eat out of your hand.
ReplyDeleteThis is another great set of photos, Kerri. Those little birds are so cute! I can only imagine what a wonderful feeling it is to feed a bird from a hand. That really is amazing experience.
ReplyDeleteYou obviously had a wonderful day! and great photos to remember it by!!
ReplyDeleteLoved the chickadee photo.
ReplyDeleteWonderful images, well catch.
ReplyDeleteyay for you, the boys and that little chickadee :)
ReplyDeletehi Kerri, sorry I've been so scarce, life has been mad! But I have enjoyed looking through your recent posts and catching up, I particularly adore the red bellied woodpecker.
ReplyDeleteNice shots Kerri. I like your bird pics
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I think I am getting a complex, because I cannot get bird photos like this! Do you secretly bribe them or something?
ReplyDeleteAll wonderful pictures.
ReplyDelete