Birds

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List

This thread has been locked

Messages 8681 - 8700 of total 9874 in this topic

<< First | < Previous | Show All | Next > | Last >>

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Aug 28, 2016 - 06:50pm PT

Z, I didn't see any 'finchy feet' as I only had eyes for what looked a huge tanager schnozz.

"Sup?"

dee ee

Mountain climber

Of THIS World (Planet Earth)

Aug 28, 2016 - 07:55pm PT

Jaquarundi? WOW.

Feel free to post cool species like this that are nor avian.

All.

little Z

Trad climber

un cafetal en Naranjo

Aug 29, 2016 - 07:29am PT

Rad - looks like you were on my dream trip. Must have been fun. How about Black-browed for your albatross photo?

Reilly - that pigeon would frighten a small child

gobble, gobble says the condor-wanabe

StahlBro

Trad climber

San Diego, CA

Aug 29, 2016 - 08:02am PT

Another shot of a Nashville in Anza Borrego

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Aug 29, 2016 - 11:05am PT

Seems like the birds are going off here in Taos, NM.

Two are better than one.

Mike Bolte

Trad climber

Planet Earth

Aug 29, 2016 - 05:18pm PT

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Aug 29, 2016 - 05:19pm PT

Great photos Mike, I was just thinking where have you been. Love your photos.

dee ee

Mountain climber

Of THIS World (Planet Earth)

Aug 29, 2016 - 07:58pm PT

WAVI, wow and a bunch of other good ones.

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Aug 30, 2016 - 08:20am PT

Sora at Fred Baca Park, Taos, NM this lovely late summer morning.

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Aug 30, 2016 - 10:33am PT

I'm thinking Rufous Hummingbird on the walk this morning in Taos, NM.

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Aug 30, 2016 - 11:55am PT

Pair of Northern Flickers this morning.

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Aug 30, 2016 - 12:11pm PT

Cosmic - I've seen that. I don't let mine on the floor, but there is a lot of beak affection for sure. Parrots are the best. Better than drugs. Better than anything. :)

So many fabulous photos everyone. BN is climbing in Lovers Leap and Tuolumne - hopefully he'll post more when he returns.

So, I had a horrible bird experience yesterday. It involved some animal behavior I never imagined and wonder if anyone else has seen this. It ends badly for the bird, so pass over the rest of this post if you don't want the visual. Bleck.

I was working at home and notice a ruckus outside. Clearly some mobbing so I went out to shoo away a cat, hawk or snake (I figured it was a cat). Out back, there must have been 100+ common grackles in the tree and all over the porch railings screaming down to the lower deck.

I looked down to see what was happening, and notice some movement in the 4" gap between the lower deck and the wooden fence. Looks like a bird is trying to hide from something in the gap. Odd the bird would go there in the first place.

I run down to help the bird (didn't see the predator - I assumed it took off), and the bird appeared to be trying to go under the deck. Weird.

It was a juvenile grackle. I reach down to get the bird, and it's pushing to get under the deck. I get my hands on his body, and try to tuck his wings so as not to hurt him when out pops a big ass rat's head. The bird was alive, but the effing rat had him by the head and was trying. to. drag. him. under. the. deck. Blargh.

The rat dropped the bird's head when it saw me (and happily didn't bite me). I got the still alive bird out, but he was clearly mortally wounded (rat bite to the head, through the eye, lots of blood). It didn't take long for the bird to perish given that injury.

I buried the poor bird, and then poisoned the sh#t in the area beneath the deck (no other animals can get to the poison. Am now on a three x a day look out to pick up any rat bodies too. I hate poisoning, but don't need aggressive rats like that either).

I can only imagine that the bird was on the lower deck minding his own business, and the rat jumped him, grabbed him by the head, and was dragging him beneath the deck to eat him.

I am effing scarred for life seeing this aggressive rat, the horrible wound, and the poor grackle flock being in such distress. Anyone else ever seen this?

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Aug 30, 2016 - 12:32pm PT

A sad tale to be sure and I've not seen the flock commiseration behavior.

I do question your assertion of "no other animal" being able to access the poison.
IMHO trapping is the preferred solution even if you then have to dispatch the perp.
I've heard those rat zappers work but I can't say definitively.

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Aug 30, 2016 - 12:36pm PT

Western Wood Pewee at Fred Baca Park in Taos, NM this morning.

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Aug 30, 2016 - 12:56pm PT

The deck is ground level (and I mean, 1" off the ground at most. Built very well by Prod here - he can tell you the horrors of building it- it was a war zone back there before). The rats have dug little holes to get under the wood so no cat, or bird would/could go under. Case in point, the rat could not get the grackle through the tiny crack where I got him.

I'd put down some real rat traps, but I don't want a bird, cat, rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, or skunk to get the chop. I can't get my hand under the deck to put one there either.

I hate using poison, but what a freaky zombie rat. He and his family will pay for that awful act.

This should bring back digging nightmares for Prod:

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Aug 30, 2016 - 01:38pm PT

A picture is worth 79 words, at the least! Bombs away with the Agent Orange! :-)

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Aug 30, 2016 - 02:12pm PT

I still hate doing it, but what a heinous rat. No rat bodies so far.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Aug 31, 2016 - 08:38am PT

There are non-heinous rats? Me? I'd buy a high-powered pellet gun and put cheese out.

Couldn't get enough of these guys. They're like parrots with little yellow bills!