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#4462135 - 02/20/19 02:35 PM Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming  
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Haggart Offline
I Fought Diablo
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The Lone Star State
I've quit gaming and have taken up bird watching (my reflexes aren't quick enough anymore to keep up with younger gamers anyway). Many years ago i took an ornithology class (it was a tough class believe me) and that was my initial introduction to the world of birds but after that i didn't become a "birder". As i get closer to retirement though I've turned back to birding. Have 3 different feeders now. A 3-seed block hanging feeder which has also been sprayed with chili pepper to keep the squirrels away. Birds aren't affected by hot peppers like squirrels. The middle block is actually made of suet.

I have a regular seed feeder also but I'm waiting for a stainless steel canopy shield for it so the squirrels don't jump from the tree to the feeder but instead land on the canopy and slide off to the ground. Let's hope it works as squirrels don't give up easily.

Also will be hanging a hummingbird feeder in March. Purchased a small concrete bird bath along with a small silent motor to place in it to keep the water moving so mosquitoes don't try and lay their eggs in it.

Birding is just what i need in retirement ! Is anyone else here a birder ?


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#4462151 - 02/20/19 03:25 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Nixer Offline
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Living with the Trees
A nice horned owl for the squirrels would work.

Tree rats....


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#4462154 - 02/20/19 03:55 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Oooh, look dearie, a fleckled speckless northern tufted rock finch!

Uh, no.

I mean, I like birds. Birds are good. But watching them for hours? Not for me. I can listen to them for a long time though smile

Different strokes and all that. Have fun! And may the most rare of all birds alight in your viewfinder.


No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
#4462155 - 02/20/19 03:58 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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I have a couple feeders in the back yard and get some great looking birds in/at it. Some amazing looking finches show up that you would probably never see without the the feeders. My biggest surprise is the red headed woodpeckers that come down to feed.

I have two dogs so the squirrels are very cautious, also the poles are very slim making it hard for them to climb.

Last edited by cichlidfan; 02/20/19 04:00 PM.

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#4462156 - 02/20/19 04:00 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: DBond]  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by DBond
Oooh, look dearie, a fleckled speckless northern tufted rock finch!

Uh, no.

I mean, I like birds. Birds are good. But watching them for hours? Not for me. I can listen to them for a long time though smile

Different strokes and all that. Have fun! And may the most rare of all birds alight in your viewfinder.




LOL +1


I think I'd rather collect stamps or coins than have bird watching as a hobby. biggrin


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4462157 - 02/20/19 04:17 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Nixer Offline
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Living with the Trees
Holy coincidences!

I just NOW watched a smallish Redtail Hawk NAIL a full size crow right off a telephone/power line!

The crow was almost as big as the hawk. It's mate(?) was squacking away on top of a nearby power pole but smartly didn't intervene.

Raptors are probably not a real good idea for squirrel control come to think of it...they like birds better, especially young ones in nests.


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Look for me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Tic Toc...or anywhere you may frequent, besides SimHq, on the Global Scam Net. Aka, the internet.
I am not there, never have been or ever will be, but the fruitless search may be more gratifying then the "content" you might otherwise be exposed to.

"There's a sucker born every minute."
Phineas Taylor Barnum

#4462160 - 02/20/19 04:25 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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DBond Offline
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NooJoyzee
Nixer, now that's the sort of bird watching I can get in to. Like watching NASCAR racing with lots of wrecks. It would have bored my pants off, but wrecks!

Bird battles!


No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!
#4462161 - 02/20/19 04:30 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Mr_Blastman Offline
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My cat is an avid bird watcher. He loves them...

#4462162 - 02/20/19 04:35 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Mr_Blastman]  
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Alicatt Offline
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Ice Cold in Alex or Eating in ...
Originally Posted by Mr_Blastman
My cat is an avid bird watcher. He loves them...

Mine thinks she is one...

[Linked Image]


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#4462191 - 02/20/19 06:30 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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adlabs6 Offline
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About 10 years ago, I had a nice feeder tray outside a window. It was under a wide, low arc of shade tree, which created a sort of safe area for the birds, and also made it visually pleasant to watch them. I took a great many photographs of more species than I can recall. The setup served to rekindle my interest in photography, for a while there.

Oh, and if you have any interest in gaming that doesn't require reflexes, with a bird watching theme... Take a look here:

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan

Last edited by adlabs6; 02/20/19 06:31 PM.

WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#4462206 - 02/20/19 07:57 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Chef Offline
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I like looking at some birds more than others.

[Linked Image]


The road less traveled is filled with fewer needy people.
#4462209 - 02/20/19 08:29 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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LB4LB Offline
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I think you have to own a pith helmet before you are an official birder.

But hey, sounds like a relaxing hobby. Why not?


Last edited by LB4LB; 02/20/19 08:29 PM.
#4462233 - 02/20/19 11:03 PM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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coasty Offline
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I enjoy trying to identify birds by their calls. Many have additional sounds besides the more familiar. Being able to ID unseen birds adds a lot to the study, I have less interest in combat sims these days myself and mostly play Civilization V and VI.


Have you seen the Arrow? WWW
#4462242 - 02/21/19 12:06 AM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Ottawa Canada
Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
Originally Posted by DBond
Oooh, look dearie, a fleckled speckless northern tufted rock finch!

Uh, no.

I mean, I like birds. Birds are good. But watching them for hours? Not for me. I can listen to them for a long time though smile

Different strokes and all that. Have fun! And may the most rare of all birds alight in your viewfinder.




LOL +1


I think I'd rather collect stamps or coins than have bird watching as a hobby. biggrin


Bird watching is a great pastime especially if they are wearing a skimpy 2 piece bikini. biggrin


There was only 16 squadrons of RAF fighters that used 100 octane during the BoB.
The Fw190A could not fly with the outer cannon removed.
There was no Fw190A-8s flying with the JGs in 1945.
#4462244 - 02/21/19 12:15 AM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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oldgrognard Offline
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Lifer

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USA
Murphy sure loved the birds on his property. He not only enjoyed watching them, he found they were the best bug control he could get.

I miss Murphy.


Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.
#4462245 - 02/21/19 12:22 AM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Mad Max Offline
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We all do, OG. This thread would have guaranteed input from Murphy.


"You'll never take me alive" said he,
And his ghost may be heard if you pass by that billabong
"Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me?"



#4462247 - 02/21/19 12:38 AM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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oldgrognard Offline
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Lifer

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USA
I live right against a wildlife management area. My backyard is right up against it. Lots of wildlife. It is also a bear habitat. They say Florida panthers but I’ve not seen any. Lots of red-tail hawks and some Ospreys and Bald Eagles. Here is a turkey parade crossing my street coming out of the woods for a stroll through the golf course. There were over 30 in this group. One day a saw about four of them taunting an alligator. Dancing around it and getting it to lunge at them. Went on for about a half hour before the turkeys then just got bored and walked away. Damndest thing.


[Linked Image]


Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.
#4462249 - 02/21/19 12:47 AM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Mad Max Offline
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NSW, Australia
Living in the bush we see lots of birds, parrots, finches, wrens, swifts, Ibis, you name it. Also the usuals, minahs, crows, pied currawongs,.....

Unfortunately we also have a derelict acreage behind us which is the home of feral cats and numerous snakes which impact on the birds. Only last night I had to escort a red-bellied black snake from our yard after our youngest poodle sussed it out.


"You'll never take me alive" said he,
And his ghost may be heard if you pass by that billabong
"Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me?"



#4462269 - 02/21/19 06:02 AM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Haggart Offline
I Fought Diablo
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The Lone Star State
Wow ! I never realized my bird post would generate all the interesting posts you guys have. Nixer we do have some Barred Owls but idk if they affect our squirrel population much here in these woods which is similar to the Big Thicket. We probably have enough squirrels to have 5 of them for each house in the neighborhood.

OG that is one awesome neighborhood you live in.

I know Murphy mentioned enjoying the bears around his property but didn't realize he was that much into the birds also. Murphy was fortunate to have been able to live surrounded by such wildlife. Max i read that an estimated billion birds are killed by cats (wild or domesticated) each year.

Coasty ...."I enjoy trying to identify birds by their calls" . That is no small feat .... i've been trying but this game will take some patience and some time !


"everything lives by a law, a central balance sustains all"
#4462277 - 02/21/19 08:41 AM Re: Birds Have Taken Over My Gaming [Re: Haggart]  
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Ajay Offline
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Magpies and Kookaburras, love the sounds they make, makes me feel at home. Crows though, i know they do a job, but i wish i could do a job on them at 4.30 in the morning with a pump action shottie.


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