FALL FOOD SOURCES

10/21/2017

I am by no means an expert on food sources for birds, but I try to be observant about what they appear to be eating when I am out in the field, especially in my home area. What I do know iis if I can locate an available source of seed, nuts, berries, etc., all i have to do is wait there and the birds always show up and pose for their pictures! In The Field there is an old home site on the edge of the northwest corner where three clumps of trees, no doubt planted long ago, still stand and offer their bounty to the critters. The three clumps of trees are about 30 yards apart in a triangle. The trees include Wild Cherry, Dogwood, Pecan, White Oak, Water Oak. Red Cedar, Mimosa, Pine, and Magnolia, In addition, large old Poison Ivy vines grow to the tops of two of the clusters. All of these produce nuts or berries that seem to ripen in October. The field surrounding them is always mowed this month for hay, making it easy to drive to the area. I usually go to the site in early morning, sometimes sitting in the car, other times with my back propped against one of the big pines, and wait for the parade of feeders to come by. I am usually there for 2 or 3 hours and am always amazed by the various species and number of birds that appear. Most are dining on the nuts and berries, but a few insect eaters are using the area to search for their favorites which are abundant as well..

For a photographer, this setup is a real blessing. You don’t have to walk and carry all your heavy equipment. And your subjects just show up and pose!! You don’t have to look for them tromping through the woods and scaring them off to the next county before you even see them!! These type sites can be found around most old farms and fields. Find you one and sit back and count the species! The pics below were taken on Thursday morning this past week in about two and a half hours. Enjoy---