Starling Bully

The starlings have taken over the suet cage. Poor, poor Stella and Henry Woodpecker!
Now that it's spring, the starlings have returned in full force. Gone are the days when I would watch my little woodpecker friends visit every hour to have a snack. The starlings are bullies and scare my poor Stella and Henry downy woodpeckers away. Starlings are large and fight all the time. When battling each other for prime position on the cage, they make this really annoying screeching sound. "Screech, screech, look I'm bigger than you, go away!"
Bullies.
Since I rarely see my woodpecker friends and the suet cakes are disappearing in lightning speed, I'm thinking about repo-ing the cage and maybe replacing it with a nice orange and jelly holder as to try and attract Baltimore Orioles. I'll return the suet in the late fall early winter for my Stella and Henry, when the starling numbers dwindle!

Do starlings like oranges too?

Henry Immortalized in Watercolors

Henry shall live on! Forever! He is now immortalized and embedded in watercolor paper. Because I love him so, I painted him balancing on the suet feeder cage from the post a week ago or so. I sprayed the background with a misting water bottle sprayer, so that it was a little "out of focus" and Henry was able to come in loud and clear.

I love the patch of red on his head. Do you know Emeril, the cooking guy chef? Do you know how he says, "BAM!" When he throws in some spice?" Well, that is exactly what I said when I painted the red male trait part of Henry's head!

Anyway, I'm pleased at how he turned out. If I wasn't, I would have said so!
Henry is available for sale by clicking here.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Turkey Day tomorrow! Enjoy it with your family and friends.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Stella's Back

Stella's back and today she is showing us a great example of how she uses her tail feathers to support herself when foraging for food. Their stiff tail feathers holds the woodpeckers in place, aiding in balance so they can have enough strength to poke though bark and such. Do you see her black tail feather sticking straight up, resting on the corner of the suet cage? What balance!
I was having such a fun time watching her, but then all of a sudden, she flew away along with many other birds because the dookie was going to hit the fan.....


Here comes trouble! Not only did this stray upset Stella, but she made my cat Clover tremble with anxiety! Clover is bird friendly, she loves to sit and watch them everyday and is not allowed to go outside to hurt them, however trouble kitty was looking for a meal. Clover does not like trouble kitty.

Henry Loves Stella

Thank you to Drowsymonkey who came up with the name of Henry's wife, the female downy woodpecker, who's name shall be Stella. Awesome name!

It's a Boy!

Nobody even knew I was expecting. Let's name him Henry. Isn't he cute!
You can tell a male downy from a female because of the red on his head, which surprisingly, my true blue, trusty Kodak Easy Share got a good picture of at a 3x zoom, through a window! By the way, this picture does not need to be rotated, Henry is striking a horizontal pose for us, what talent!
Henry is very comfortable with humans around. Earlier, I went to fill the seed feeder, which is right next to the suet feeder and with every slow step forward, I was surprised how close he was letting me get. He allowed me to be within 10 feet of him! He then flew just above my head when I filled the feeder and returned as soon as I was done. He's so sweet!

I usually see the female at the suet feeder. That must be his wife. We should give her a name! The first person to give me a name for her, gets to name her, no matter what the name is!!! What will the female downy woodpecker's name be???

Red Breasted Nuthatch Beauty

Yesterday a red breasted nut hatch landed on my suet feeder. I can't prove it because I didn't have my camera, so I painted his watercolor picture! At the time he landed, a male downy woodpecker was having breakfast, so the little nuthatch hopped around excitedly, but was too impatient to wait it's turn so he flew away. Little Stinker. That's OK, I'm sure he'll be back when I still don't have my camera.

Let's Learn About the Red Breasted Nuthatch:

In Chicago, only around in winter as opposed to white breasted nuthatch (year round).
Tiny bird 4.5 inches.
Black cap on head and black bandit eyes.
Chestnut-Russet colored tummy.
Hops down a tree head first, not up a tree.
Wedges seeds in crevices to hatch with bill.
Eats seeds, insects, & suet.

Thank you little red breasted nuthatch for your visit, please come again soon and stay much longer!

Woodpecker Treat

Good Saturday morning! Look who just payed me a visit at the suet cage. The very creature I was trying to attract 2 months ago when I purchased the cage! Finally the reward, the quest accomplished. It all started a few months ago when my husband and I were sitting in the backyard, when suddenly, a male woodpecker (I know because I saw a little red on his head) landed on the walnut tree next to our property and began softly pecking away. I was so excited when I pointed it out to my hubby, who does not get excited over birds, but I guess a little excitement rubbed off because he was thrilled too, I could tell. So started my quest to make the woodpecker a regular guest at my home. However, 2 months pass and no woodpecker, I attracted tons of starlings, ants, a squirrel, maybe a cardinal, but no woodpecker. Then......

Oooooh, Aaaaaah. Now, I know this is a female because of the lack of red on her head. I'm not quite sure if it's a Hairy or a Downy. Downy maybe because it looks about 6" long and has a smaller bill, I think. Hairy maybe because it announced it's arrival with a few loud "chirps" before it landed, which is a tell-tail sign (get it? ha, ha) in Stan's Notes from the book, Birds of Illinois, by Stan Tekiela (my favorite field guide book).



Here she is again resting in the pines. Isn't she beautiful? She is however very fidgety though, flying away with any movement I make inside my house. Don't worry Miss, you are so welcomed here!