21 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Cal, is the Firebird a 68 or a 69?  I had a 67’ - 326 cu in 4 speed and I loved that car.

Ron, this is a '67 - with a 326 & 4 speed...  It came pretty much fully optioned out with a/c, am-fm, rear defogger; a whole list of options.  It was originally all turquoise interior, my son wanted to switch to the white to match the roof when we restored it.

 

 

9 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Worth the wait...you got a great picture...very cool. I've had a couple stop over the past two springs for a few days. My wife & daughter bought me a feeder for my birthday. Gonna try to entice them to hang around a little longer this year. 

 

Dave, these birds have a real liking for grape jelly.  With both an orange half and jelly in the feeder, it will take the jelly first.  Whether that is true while migrating I don't know, I would probably put both in the feeder.  Good luck trying to get them to stay longer.  Seems their bags are packed, and when it's time to go it's time to go.  And speaking of migration, I had this yellow-gold bird at the suet feeder for about a week or so and then it left and has not returned.  I have not been able to ID it in my Birds of GA handbook.  I have not checked my Birds of North America yet...  Any idea what it is?  A yankee bird of some sort I am guessing...

 

 

10 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Wonder if I put a feeder out this spring if I can entice one of those to hang around say for 25 years or so?

 

Well, with the right feeds and care - this one has stayed with me for 48 years now!  25 years should be a piece of cake... I have been driving my truck nearly every day now for 20 years.  Hmmm, maybe I can put it on my classic car insurance, that is a lot cheaper

48 minutes ago, Cal said:

I had this yellow-gold bird at the suet feeder for about a week or so and then it left and has not returned.  I have not been able to ID it in my Birds of GA handbook.  I have not checked my Birds of North America yet...  Any idea what it is?  A yankee bird of some sort I am guessing...

Not a Yankee bird since it's not decked out in blue. That is a Goldfinch. Your's appears to be a male although the color is more consistent with a female during the summer here. However, the male's yellow is not brilliant during the winter months compared to the summer months. We've had over 100 here during the spring, but usually 25-30 remain in the summer. About 1/2 of those stay all winter. BTW, great shot of the female Cardinal too.

 

Their preferred seed is Nijer (thistle) seed from a feeder similar to this. There are some where the birds feed upside down, but I feel sorry for the little guys so I only use the traditional.

Important note. If the Nijer seed gets wet or moldy they will refuse to eat from the feeder. It's important to keep fresh seed.

 

Edited February 17, 20197 yr by Grandpadave52
typo

A bird feeder will probably attract more squirrels than baltimore orioles

5 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Not a Yankee bird since it's not decked out in blue. That is a Goldfinch. Your's appears to be a male although the color is more consistent with a female during the summer here. However, the male's yellow is not brilliant during the winter months compared to the summer months. We've had over 100 here during the spring, but usually 25-30 remain in the summer. About 1/2 of those stay all winter. BTW, great shot of the female Cardinal too.

 

Their preferred seed is Nijer (thistle) seed from a feeder similar to this. There are some where the birds feed upside down, but I feel sorry for the little guys so I only use the traditional.

Important note. If the Nijer seed gets wet or moldy they will refuse to eat from the feeder. It's important to keep fresh seed.

 

I was thinking that was the female since it didn’t have the black cap, but then I only see mine for about a month in springtime, so I don’t know much about them. 

 

As a side note, in addition to nijer/thistle, they also like sunflower seeds. 

 

 

Sorry about the picture quality here but my phone’s camera likes focusing on the closest thing to it including the screen. 🥴

 

this one also appears to not have the black cap on. 😊

3 hours ago, It Was Al B said:

A bird feeder will probably attract more squirrels than baltimore orioles

Dog polices all squirrel activities here...if one shows up and survives, it doesn't hang around long.

Border Collies & Australian Shepherds seem to like them for squeaky toys. That is until they quit squeaking.

29 minutes ago, Charles Nicholls said:

I was thinking that was the female since it didn’t have the black cap,

It could be Charles...hard to distinguish during the winter, although the female almost appears a pale green many times. I keep sunflower seeds out both in feeders and on the ground. I can't say I've ever seen a Goldfinch or even a "Red Finch" (aka House Finch) eat sunflower seeds. "Ours" seldom eat at other feeders except the nijer. When they do, I have seen them eat cracked corn but that's infrequent.

 

The Cardinals and Bluejays really go for sunflower seeds as well as shelled peanuts (not salted).

Red Finch aka House Finch

6 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Mine loves watching the feeders from the window. He’ll sit there for anywhere from 20 minutes to almost an hour. At times he’ll even rush the window, trying to scare the birds, but they rarely move lol. 😺

Definitely goldfinch. They are here year round along with cardinals. Baltimore orioles return each summer.

12 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

It could be Charles...hard to distinguish during the winter, although the female almost appears a pale green many times. I keep sunflower seeds out both in feeders and on the ground. I can't say I've ever seen a Goldfinch or even a "Red Finch" (aka House Finch) eat sunflower seeds. "Ours" seldom eat at other feeders except the nijer. When they do, I have seen them eat cracked corn but that's infrequent.

 

The Cardinals and Bluejays really go for sunflower seeds as well as shelled peanuts (not salted).

Red Finch aka House Finch

I have the Purple Finches here year round, which makes me wonder why the gold finches are so “picky “. 😊

4 hours ago, Charles Nicholls said:

I have the Purple Finches here year round, which makes me wonder why the gold finches are so “picky “. 😊

We have both year round, but for a few weeks early Spring to 1st of June, the population quadruples...I maintain three tube feeders (I think 20 feeding perches?) all the time but add a fourth in the spring. At minimum I have to fill the feeders every other day and for a short period daily. The red (Purple, House) finches will eat other small seeds but the yellow feed on the Nijer. I can tell pretty quick if something is wrong with the seed or perhaps the feeder needs thoroughly cleaned especially at the seed slots because the yellow will boycott a feeder not meeting their standards. 

On 2/17/2019 at 9:49 AM, Grandpadave52 said:

Not a Yankee bird since it's not decked out in blue. That is a Goldfinch.

Dave, I really do not think it is a goldfinch.  We have goldfinches migrate through here in the spring so I have seen them in their "olive drab".

This bird is much larger than a goldfinch, and the beak is not finch like.  A friend has suggested a warbler, but they do not seem to have the distinctive wing band that this one (and goldfinches) have.

We're in the tourist zone. The only colorful birds are just passing through. Lots of Quail, Ravens and Road Runners stick around. But, we feed those tourists and, the Quail. The Ravens eat the carrion, usually road kill, and the Road Runners eat snakes. 

4 hours ago, Cal said:

Dave, I really do not think it is a goldfinch.  We have goldfinches migrate through here in the spring so I have seen them in their "olive drab".

This bird is much larger than a goldfinch, and the beak is not finch like.  A friend has suggested a warbler, but they do not seem to have the distinctive wing band that this one (and goldfinches) have.

@Cal, I believe your bird is a Yellow-throated Vireo.

John

1 hour ago, HARO50 said:

@Cal, I believe your bird is a Yellow-throated Vireo.

John

Mine may have been the yellow throat as well! The band on the wing appears the same, and it also seems to have the brown tint to the yellow feathers

2 hours ago, HARO50 said:

@Cal, I believe your bird is a Yellow-throated Vireo.

John

@Cal, @Charles Nicholls @It Was Al B

 

After researching John's suggestion, it appears the Yellow-throat Vireo and the Pine Warbler are very similar...one of the major differences is the beak. After seeing the Pine Warbler, then comparing to Cal's picture especially at the suet feeder, I believe his is in fact a Pine Warbler especially given Cal's geographic location with the abundance and variety of pine trees. Other significant differences are the migatory and feeding habit's and preferences for cover. Who knew, three birds could look so similar but be so very different. Great team effort...I certainly enjoyed the learning.

 

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pine-warbler                                  https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/yellow-throated-vireo#

 

Pine Warbler                                                                                                            Yellow Throated Vireo

  

I think the most noticeable difference from a distance with the goldfinch is the whole bird appears yellow with the exception of the wings.

10 hours ago, Cal said:

Dave, I really do not think it is a goldfinch.  We have goldfinches migrate through here in the spring so I have seen them in their "olive drab".

This bird is much larger than a goldfinch, and the beak is not finch like.  A friend has suggested a warbler, but they do not seem to have the distinctive wing band that this one (and goldfinches) have.

I think you are right,Cal, When I saw it, I didn't think of Goldfinch (our State Bird). I would lean more towards Johns ID.

 

Herb

 

I think we were all barking up the wrong feeder! Check out the female Orchard Oriole. The beak sure seems right, as well as the larger size.

John

 

On 2/17/2019 at 9:49 AM, Grandpadave52 said:

 

 

No question Dave, these are goldfinch. I'd almost bet my shop. They are slightly smaller than the red finch, which tend to bully the goldfinch at the feeder.We generally have shelled sunflower seeds and niger in the feeders. This also attracts the cardinals , nut hatch and chickadees that are here year round. Nut hatch really prefer the suet.