Prologue:
We haven't used a bird feeder over the last 10 years because of our three indoor/outdoor cats.
I've always wanted a feeder. And not one, but several, visible from various windows.
Way back in the early 2000's...we took a chance and put up a big ol' feeder .
The squirrels came running in from all over the county and ate up all the food in one day.
One Single Day.
And over time, they chewed on the edges of the bird feeder itself.
I was incensed.
Years passed.
The cats became old and fat and lazy.
One day, I had a thought.
What if there was less of a spring in their step?
Less of a "booing booing" in their jump?
That would mean they would be less effective hunters!
The birds would have a flying chance!
If only, I thought, the cats would develop cataracts.
My camera was itching.
I decided to go for it.
But first, I bought a squirrel resistant bird feeder.
What follows is a true story.
March, 2008:
Rick and I are in the Home Depot, where I've talked him into helping me build a free-standing post for a bird feeder. I figured the post would be made from a 4x4 fence post, approximately 12 ft. long, and from it, we could attach various hooks to hang up the feeders.
In the garden section, we pass a display of ready made plant hangers, and I notice a 12 ft metal stand with 4 hooks.
I decide to give Rick a break and buy that instead.
Richard looks a little relieved. No building!
We head to Walmart. This will be a test run to see how well the feeder resists the squirrels, and I don't want to buy expensive bird feed.
Walmart lets me down. $12 for a big bag! Remembering the last bag that disappeared in One Day, I reach for the cheaper stuff.
Back at home, I order coax Brittany into holding up the feeder in the back yard as I move around the house from the kitchen window to the family room window and back again.
I just want to make sure I can photograph the site clearly. Finally I give her thumbs up.
Unfortunately the best place for the feeder is 30 ft from the window. It's the only place in the yard where the cats can't hide behind something and leap out at the birds.
I'll have to use the zooms.
And my zoom lens are a mess. They perform like Windows98 without the Service Pack upgrades and two Trojans to boot.
Richard returns, and frowns as I begin pounding the new feeder post into the ground. He takes charge so it can be done "properly." In his mind, there is a logical order to the way things ought to be. In my mind, things just go up and there you go!
1 Week later:
Still no birds.
Two weeks later:
Begin checking the pole for signs of cat pee. Maybe Rico is warning them off?
No, that wouldn't make sense.
3 weeks later:
Still nothing. I am resolute in my determination not to buy fancy bird feed.
Yet. there is a plus... no squirrels! A bonafide plus.
April:
The doves have moved in, but I'm not impressed. I am looking for birds of color.
Where are the finches?
I have no idea that the mourning doves will soon make me smile.
The ring neck doves have arrived and have begun chasing the mourning doves away. I have decided to sic Rico on the ring necks.
Rico just lays there, doing nothing.
The Middle of April:
I text Rick, Sam and Brittany: "BLUEJAY!"
I grab the camera, but he is gone.
May:
I am growing tired of the Blue jays. They visit every day.
Where are all the Other Birds?
Maybe I should give in and get the good seed.
Nah.
At least I figured out a way to photograph the Jay.
First thing to do was to remove the screen from the kitchen window.
Second thing to do was spray a little WD 40 around the edges so I could get the window open quietly.
Third thing to do was tape a sign reminding everyone that the screen was off.
Fourth thing to do was to tune out all the complainers in the house who were whining about the skeeters.
Good grief.
This is my window, and there is my mini-tripod:
Do you see it? My kitchen tripod is blue, made of heavy glass and easily supports extra long lens. We are nothing if not decoratively and professionally adept around here. Simply lean over the sink, balance zoom lens on the glass, steady thyself, focus, aim, SHOOT! Simple enough.
(ahem).
Sometime in May,
I text Rick again: "CARDINAL!"
(it only takes one word).
He is actually not very excited.
Unfortunately, I have yet to get a photograph of them. Rick put the screen back on the window.
And by the time I got open, the cardinal was GONE.
June, the first week:
Zoey has finally awakened.
(photo by Brittany)
It occurred to him there has been quite a bit of activity at the feeder lately.
(Took him 3 months to figure it out).
He decided to park himself on the stone wall near the bird feeder. Then he got a little sleepy in the warm sun.
Out of the blue, a hose rained down on him, blasting him right outta his comfort zone.
Gee, wonder where that came from.
Sometime in June:
I text Rick again: "PARROTS!"
Richard ain't happy. The local parrots are loud, squawking noise makers. We have several colonies of them around the neighborhood.
I am thrilled. Photo OP!
Earlier in the week, I had taken the screen back off the window again. Gently, I slide the window open so the parrots won't flee.
Focus, aim.. shoot. No. Blur... huh?
Check camera. readjust the dials.
Focus, aim, ...shooot, @#@#
Resolve to throw lens at insurance company representatives on their way to work
Run and grab stock lens instead.
Pray.
Parrot is gone.
%$#@
Parrot comes back. Shoot like mad.
Pray. Edit. Crop.
Here you go!
I am still holding out for the birds of color to show up for my cheap Walmart bird feed.
Stay tuned!
I, for one, appreciate all the trouble you went through to get these photos. Nicely done.
Posted by: me and my puppies | June 28, 2008 at 12:44 PM
YAY! Nicely done, especially spraying the cat and capturing the parrots! We too have colonies of them, but so far I've not been 'blessed' with any at the feeder.
Do you have a birdbath? Nothing visited my feeder until I got a bath for them! LOL!
Posted by: pam | June 28, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Excellent! That blue jay is beautiful!
We don't get many parrots up here in nawth Florida of course, but that one is a beaut.
Tripod adaptability really is crucial isn't it?
What is up with whining during wildlife photography?
What's a few mosquito bites and malaria compared to the "perfect shot" ?
Posted by: FC | June 28, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Pups, boy, was it a lot of work, LOL.
Pam, Yep. We have two birdbaths and the birds seem to prefer the one that is the most shallow of the two. I swiped the second one from a pair of renters that not only messed up our back yard, but also caused a lot of repair damage to the house. So when they left the birdbath behind, I put it in the truck and brought it all the way back home again. LOL!
FC, my thoughts exactly. I see the screen is back up on the window again, too. Oh the things we have to do to get a good shot!
Posted by: Laura | June 28, 2008 at 05:55 PM
This is one of the best b**gs I ever seen. Lovely picture, by the way, of the Blue Jay. You the maestro!!
Posted by: old horsetail snake | June 28, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Gorgeous pics! Loved the tale of their making.
Posted by: Sara | June 28, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I know it is frustrating, but we appreciate your efforts and the photos!
Posted by: kenju | June 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Judy, i'm not frustrated, just having fun with the blog. ;)
Thanks Sara!
Hoss, check's in the mail. ;)
Posted by: Laura | June 29, 2008 at 12:03 AM
I couldn't imagine anything as lovely and colorful as a parrot coming along! The yellow finches excite me...goodness.
Posted by: Deana | June 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Great shots!! I never knew they have red feathering on their feet.
Posted by: Dani | June 29, 2008 at 01:08 PM
The pictures are great!
We feed the squirrels and whatever else will eat the bread crusts (with traces of peanut butter from my 4 year old's sandwiches, lol) and heels (we don't eat bread heels here). We get jays (a family of 4, usually), 2 pairs of cardinals (they are sweet, the male feeds the female!), we've had a few visiting orioles, some starlings (yucky birds) and the resident fat cat (she reminds me of Zoey, begs for food from us, which we don't give since her owners requested we stop, lol) and she DOES eat the bread, too.
I had to laugh at your lens comment...and my mind went south of course...wondering why your zoom lenses (or as I call them "big lenses") needed condoms and had 2 boots. (I think I need some serious sleep!)
Posted by: Linda | June 29, 2008 at 07:41 PM
I can't believe it took so long for the birds to discover your feeder! Keep it up...more will come. The pictures you have so far are terrific! I love the parrot ones. I've never had them land in my yard, but just fly by at sunset. Very cool!
Posted by: SwampAngel65 | June 29, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Great stuff! Our blue jays never leave and they chase off all of the other birds. They are huge bullies. And...they eat our dog's food right out of her bowl. They are nervy!
Posted by: Sugar Britches | June 30, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Parrots! I wish we got parrots at our feeder. We see a lot of brown, and our highlights are during migration.
Tip: If you want the good birds - you not only need the good food, you need the good feeders. If you get the good food and put it into a "neighborhood" feeder, it's a waste of money, so get a few fancy feeders that are specific to finches and will be hard for sparrows, etc. to get into - and put the good stuff in it. :D
Posted by: Leanne | June 30, 2008 at 08:22 AM
ROFLMAO! I have a pair of cardinals, a pair of mourning doves and a pair of robins at my feeder, plus a gazillion sparrows, a red winged blackbird, a titmouse and some other bird that I have no clue what it is. Also a chipmunk and the other day...FOUR squirrels at the bottom of the feeder. It was like ring around the squirrels! I sicced Wolf on them. Bastids!
Posted by: Janet | June 30, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Congrats on the Perfect Post award!! :D
Posted by: pam | July 01, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Happy Canada Day ... have a lil cake in celebration of a very important day ...
Posted by: Nilbo | July 01, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Your cat problem is the same as my cat problem.
We do have a blue jay nest way up high in the pine tree.
The parents don't like it when I get too close while hanging out the laundry.
It's good to see Nilbo come by. I already mentioned over at his place how long it has been since he wrote a nice long story for his adoring fans.
Posted by: MrsDoF | July 01, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Haha. Thats soo funny! :D
I didn't realize that many birds were comin to our feeder thing. :]
Posted by: Brittany | July 02, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Just a side note here for ya. I just checked out my "Remembering Old Miami" blog for the first time in quite a while. I responded to a couple of your comments. I really need to pay more attention to that blog. I feel like a neglectful parent :(
Posted by: SwampAngel65 | July 05, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Great shots of the Nanday Conure. They are highly social birds; therefore, they are loud!
Posted by: Joe | July 07, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Sounds like quite an ordeal Laura, congrats it payed off - nice shots. My wife has a few feeders around here, we have this visitor once in a while. http://www.pbase.com/image/74098881 (in our tree, 3 feet from the feeders)
Now I call most of the birds at the feeder by one type - "bait"
Scott
Posted by: Scott | July 07, 2008 at 08:35 PM
soo.. I think it is time for a new blog :)
Posted by: sam | July 08, 2008 at 01:43 AM
Ummm.......
Can I make a suggestion?
Update your blog!!!!
I think its time. :]
Posted by: Brittany | July 08, 2008 at 09:20 PM
LOL, tomorrow then.
I'll see if I can get it up in the afternoon!
Posted by: Laura | July 08, 2008 at 09:27 PM