Twitcher the British name for bird watchers. Anyway Cornell has an AP called ‘ Merlin ‘ it’s a free download to your phone that picks up bird calls and songs even from a ways out. ID’s the birds, provides you with a photo and description. I find it addictive especially now in Spring. 

Probably not new to many here but it’s fun

Rick

I would have guessed more than just the two of us burntwater. Perhaps the others are out twitching? The wrens have not arrived yet, but expect them any day. Thanks for posting.

I'm tempted to download that app, but doing so wouldn't fit in with my objective of slowing my descent into digital slavery.

Armed with my Audobon field guide and Leica binoculars I go forth into the avian world of my backyard!

How fast do Northern Flickers fly anyway?

It probably has been 40 years ago now we had Redheaded Woodpeckers invasion trying to make dinner out of our cedar siding on the house. 
Took several days with my Browning o/u 20 gauge to solve that problem! I did wait until they were in trees by the house. Didn’t think the wife would appreciate pellets in the wood siding. Must have shot about 25 of them, haven’t had a problem since!

Okay, back on thread! I put out about a dozen bird feeders on the house decks and in the trees in the yard. She buys hundreds of dollars of bird feed each winter. She loves watching and identifying the birds. I sorta do the opposite.

Just so everyone knows, woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

My a wife is a natural offhand shooter. She breaks the trigger on a wobbly rifle almost every time for a dead hit. Five years ago we moved into a 20 acre house overrun with Chipmunks that were tunneling into her gardens everywhere. 

I gave her a slicked up a Ruger 10-22 with a trigger job and Hogues over-molded stock. She instantly became a chipmunk assasin taking two or three a day. The funny thing was that every time she let a shot go the crows would show up and grab a dead chippy. They came in literally minutes after the shot, known as Peggy’s ‘ Steak House ‘ 

Rick

In Wisconsin all birds are protected except for Starlings, English Sparrows and I think Feral pigeons.

The Starlings learn very quickly where the danger zone is.
Its best to shoot only lone Starlings.  The reason for this is no there would be no witnesses. 
If you do shoot a Starling with other Starlings nearby try to only wound one.  The others may try to find out what the hell is happening to their buddy because he flopping around and which with a quick reload of the air rifle you can drop another.

In Colorado there is no limit on Eurasian doves. They have practically driven out the native mourning doves. Besides the dang flickers, our house is under constant attack by pygmy nuthatches.

Sure shot wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2025 at 1:09pm:


cool !
grubs are favorite food for skunks!   
problem solved!