My Tufted Smokin’ Buddy

[rodwha]

For a bit over a month I’d occasionally go outside and smoke a tiny cigar with my coffee and this little bird would come around getting quite close (sometimes within 2 feet) and check me out, sometimes chattering to me. He’d even follow me into the garage. Then it began flying straight for my face but veering quickly. I wasn’t sure if this was a territorial act but I didn’t react. Eventually it would land on me but quickly take off. Until today (I spent 2 hours today) in which it clearly felt much more comfortable.

It’s an eastern phoebe and will be heading south some time soon. I’m thinking I should build a bird nesting spot for it.

No cigars in the pics as it’s been difficult getting a good pic.

https://i.postimg.cc/7hDKvLqR/2-E3-B2-BAA-8348-49-C1-AC0-E-1-BC0481-F091-C.jpg (https://postimg.cc/1nCGwsn0)lossless image hosting (https://postimages.org/)

It will come get the bugs I find from my hand:

https://i.postimg.cc/W1fYDj7D/F58-B3-CB5-487-D-41-E2-839-A-6-AF7769595-A5.jpg (https://postimg.cc/3kmF6sV7)

Now I drink my coffee outside.

[rodwha]

Heard it outside and asked who wanted to see it come rushing over (I found if I play some of the songs they sing from my new Audubon Society app it’ll come). Eventually it decided to land again and I love this pic:

https://i.postimg.cc/hPFskWF9/B6-AC8836-1-D40-4-A73-9902-52-FB8532-AD14.jpg (https://postimg.cc/XX895PYJ)

[Old Smokey]

Bob, that is awesome. I had a hummingbird fly and stop a foot in front of my face for about 10 seconds once and then it flew away. But never had a wild bird land on me.

[rodwha]

This has taken a bit more than a month, but it’s certainly worth it. Bought some mealworms to feed it.

[WNYTONY]

Heard it outside and asked who wanted to see it come rushing over (I found if I play some of the songs they sing from my new Audubon Society app it’ll come). Eventually it decided to land again and I love this pic:

https://i.postimg.cc/hPFskWF9/B6-AC8836-1-D40-4-A73-9902-52-FB8532-AD14.jpg (https://postimg.cc/XX895PYJ)

That's a great picture !

[cheaphumidors]

That is awesome! Love that tiny little guy

[AlanS]

Great! I feed peanuts to my visitors daily, fattest squirrels in this neck of the woods. Also have a few scrub jays and a murder of crows. The squirrels will eat from my hand

[rodwha]

Great! I feed peanuts to my visitors daily, fattest squirrels in this neck of the woods. Also have a few scrub jays and a murder of crows. The squirrels will eat from my hand

I’d love to see a pic!

[AlanS]

Currently playing on my front porch..
https://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w366/awssr58/Mobile%20Uploads/2019-12/20191210_103901_zpseax6sbfu.jpg (https://s1072.photobucket.com/user/awssr58/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2019-12/20191210_103901_zpseax6sbfu.jpg.html)

[Emperor Zurg]

Currently playing on my front porch..

Man, you need a good .20 cal pellet rifle. Roast tree rat is actually quite delicious.

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Beeman_R7_Air_Rifle/1899#8725

[rodwha]

Being so close he could likely use a parlor pistol that uses a shotgun primer and a .17 cal pellet:

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/product/product_id/8900/category_id/321/product_name/PH0911+PEDERSOLI+GUARDIAN+209+DERRINGER++4.5MM

[Emperor Zurg]

Being so close he could likely use a parlor pistol that uses a shotgun primer and a .17 cal pellet:

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/product/product_id/8900/category_id/321/product_name/PH0911+PEDERSOLI+GUARDIAN+209+DERRINGER++4.5MM

That thing looks like way too much fun

[rodwha]

There’s another version that uses #11 percussion caps in place of the 209 primers (they’re certainly weaker), but some people dribble a tiny amount of powder.

I’ve contemplated a pair and setting up an indoor target in the garage or something, or one day when I have a brewery/bar room in my future house. The Lord knows I could use the practice!!! 🤣

[AlanS]

Sorry for the blurry shot, my other half out feeding one of our friends
https://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w366/awssr58/Mobile%20Uploads/2019-12/20191212_114548_zps8ud4wyj9.jpg (https://s1072.photobucket.com/user/awssr58/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2019-12/20191212_114548_zps8ud4wyj9.jpg.html)

[rodwha]

Sorry for the blurry shot, my other half out feeding one of our friends
https://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w366/awssr58/Mobile%20Uploads/2019-12/20191212_114548_zps8ud4wyj9.jpg (https://s1072.photobucket.com/user/awssr58/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2019-12/20191212_114548_zps8ud4wyj9.jpg.html)

Oh yeah, send her out to do the dirty work!

[Nature]

Wow! That is pretty awesome, Bob.
Bob, the bird whisperer (or should it be whistler)

[rodwha]

Wow! That is pretty awesome, Bob.
Bob, the bird whisperer (or should it be whistler)

Indeed I did start whistling, and each day I had to wonder if I was doing it the same thinking it might recognize it. Nah. It doesn’t care what I do, but it does come swooping in usually when I play Birdie tweets from the Audubon app.

I’m not sure how common these are but it seems fairly easy to make friends.

[rodwha]

I should have gone a bit more in-depth with my post so I’ll dive a it deeper now.

This has been a really cool experience and one I like to share with others. Many female neighbors aren’t willing to hold a bug to feed them, but if you are this might work for you too.

Initially this bird was acting a bit erratic in that it would fly straight for my face rather quickly, but then veer to the side once it was within a foot or so. I wasn’t sure if it was being aggressive, maybe defending its territory (my damn trees and porch!), but I figured a sparrow sized bird would hardly hurt that bad as long as it didn’t get my eyes. So I didn’t react. This happened MANY times. Now I believe it was testing my reactions, which clearly panned out for me. The Audubon app with its bird sounds has been a tremendous help too (and lots of fun to play with the Carolina wrens too, though it’s also brought a mockingbird and cardinal around, though they don’t sing for me). This has taken a lot of patience, coffee, and cigars, over a month. But it’s been well worth my time and my bug money (I’ve bought 100 mealworms in a bit over a week and I’m about to buy more today as he’s an eater for such a little guy!).

These birds stay east of the Rockies and seem to encompass most of the eastern US and parts of Canada as well. They are said to be a favorite because they seem tame-like (the other won’t come within 50 feet and leaves rapidly when I come around, and I believe it’s the female since this one is quite vocal). Also they don’t migrate until late fall and arrive again early spring giving people hope that they’ll thaw their tush soon enough. And who wouldn’t want a tyrant flycatcher frequenting their yards???

If anyone is interested in seeing if it will work for you too Google them and download an app and see what happens.

Oh, it comes to my daughter and a neighbor but usually flies away soon after Karmen comes out. Maybe she smells funny or something? But then she hasn’t cared to try to feed it or talk to it. We have long chit chats. You know, the weather, his plans for the day, but count so far, and when he’ll fly south and come back, as well as what color he’d like his bird house to be (a winter project I’ll be taking on). I seem to do most of the talking but he is rather vocal.

[rodwha]

A question was brought up. By feeding it could I disrupt his migration timing. I don’t know so I called a local bird business and was told it should not. I had just bought a 100 ct mealworm tub so awesome, and game on!

https://i.postimg.cc/bNGkdCh6/CD4-D3-A80-5-B75-451-D-99-B8-7-A3866-BA30-E5.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mtst5ShM)

[Emperor Zurg]

A question was brought up. By feeding it could I disrupt his migration timing. I don’t know so I called a local bird business and was told it should not.

Well if that bird ain't going to migrate just because it's getting a few free handouts it's obviously some kind of avian welfare case. Lazy, freeloading bastard.

[rodwha]

Well if that bird ain't going to migrate just because it's getting a few free handouts it's obviously some kind of avian welfare case. Lazy, freeloading bastard.

I’ve kicked family out for freeloading but the bird stays if it wants 😬

And at under $4 for a few days I’m good with that. It just means I lose out on a couple of cigars or beers or a pound of gunpowder and lead once in a while. None of them make me smile as big or as long.

*EDIT*

Wait until it sees the bird house I’m about to build!

[Emperor Zurg]

Wait until it sees the bird house I’m about to build!

Oh no! He's building the freeloader a HUD house!!
:p :p :p :p

[rodwha]

The damn thing is demanding health care now! I should have listened @Emporer Zurg!

[Emperor Zurg]

The damn thing is demanding health care now! I should have listened @Emporer Zurg!

Hahaha!
Next it'll demand a free cell phone and satellite TV.

Ever notice how even the poorest hovels have at least 2 direct TV dishes bolted to the roof? Always amazes me. I don't even have satellite TV.

[rodwha]

Hahaha!
Next it'll demand a free cell phone and satellite TV.

Ever notice how even the poorest hovels have at least 2 direct TV dishes bolted to the roof? Always amazes me. I don't even have satellite TV.

We cut the cable cord more than a decade ago. I didn’t want a smart phone but I demanded certain features that pushed me there. And now I sometimes look like a Gen Z. Maybe I should move further out.

[Emperor Zurg]

We cut the cable cord more than a decade ago..

I only have broadcast TV; some cheap, stick-to-the-wall antenna panel from Amazon. I refuse to pay for a waste of my time that infuriates me by inundating me with commercials. If I'm going to pay money for a waste of time it damn well better be commercial free... so sometimes we'll watch a movie.

[rodwha]

I only have broadcast TV; some cheap, stick-to-the-wall antenna panel from Amazon. I refuse to pay for a waste of my time that infuriates me by inundating me with commercials. If I'm going to pay money for a waste of time it damn well better be commercial free... so sometimes we'll watch a movie.

Remember when cable was add free? Wasn’t that part of the deal then?

We found we were paying for a mid level package and watched maybe 5 or 6 channels mostly. It was nice when you wanted it but not worth what we were paying for it, especially for how little we used it.

[Emperor Zurg]

Remember when cable was add free? Wasn’t that part of the deal then?

We found we were paying for a mid level package and watched maybe 5 or 6 channels mostly. It was nice when you wanted it but not worth what we were paying for it, especially for how little we used it.

Exactly. The logic was that you were paying to have it, therefore it didn't have to be supported by advertising. Now it costs far more and almost all the channels are full of commercials every (seems like) 30 seconds. No thanks.

My parents have dishnet or something. The provider is constantly coming out with 'new packages' where, of the 6 channels you like, now (surprise surprise) 2 of the three aren't in your package anymore. "Oh, you need to move up to the next higher package to get all 6 of those channels now" which of course includes another 75 channels of crap you don't want and will never watch. Again: no thanks.

I really don't know why anyone puts up with it. It's a total scam.

[rodwha]

Birdie Friend visits nearly every day, usually multiple times, but all day Monday and until 4 on Tuesdays he was a no show. I began to worry the cat lady’s cats got him. But no! He likes people’s garages and was locked in my neighbor’s one day. Guess he was in birdie jail again. That or he’s a tramp!

Not sure how to post a video (not YouTube as I don’t use my old Google account).

[Emperor Zurg]

Guess he was in birdie jail again. That or he’s a tramp!


Well if he's like most welfare cases, he's out breeding a bunch of young he won't bother to support. :D
He could have been in jail too... probably for 'domestic issues'. Maybe he's a birdie dirtbag.

[allusred]

Birdie Friend visits nearly every day, usually multiple times, but all day Monday and until 4 on Tuesdays he was a no show. I began to worry the cat lady’s cats got him. But no! He likes people’s garages and was locked in my neighbor’s one day. Guess he was in birdie jail again. That or he’s a tramp!

Not sure how to post a video (not YouTube as I don’t use my old Google account).

Seems I've heard that The Lady Is A Tramp also.

[rodwha]

I built Birdie Friend a perch to use in the garage. It used to be a paper towel holder.

https://i.postimg.cc/Vkbd9wSk/CE821-EFB-7913-4946-8-E9-B-B8-E42-B328344.jpg (https://postimg.cc/qN4J09XP)

Scared the crap out of him when I sneezed! Good thing he likes to sit on Karmen’s chair and not mine!

https://i.postimg.cc/fRLbz9nF/909-AEC47-30-BB-41-B2-B70-D-0866-EB4-C3-A11.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bs7PLdvH)

He rarely uses it and sometimes just doesn’t seem to catch on to the idea of little branches. His brain is rather small...

https://i.postimg.cc/52NmfntV/87-FEE7-F7-7310-490-C-BE54-02-E31-BFD8-A23.jpg (https://postimg.cc/pp4jZQ8G)

[Emperor Zurg]

I built Birdie Friend a perch to use in the garage. It used to be a paper towel holder.

He rarely uses it and sometimes just doesn’t seem to catch on to the idea of little branches. His brain is rather small.

Looks rather phallic. I'd be afraid of it too. :p

[Nature]

I built Birdie Friend a perch to use in the garage. It used to be a paper towel holder.

https://i.postimg.cc/Vkbd9wSk/CE821-EFB-7913-4946-8-E9-B-B8-E42-B328344.jpg (https://postimg.cc/qN4J09XP)

Scared the crap out of him when I sneezed! Good thing he likes to sit on Karmen’s chair and not mine!

https://i.postimg.cc/fRLbz9nF/909-AEC47-30-BB-41-B2-B70-D-0866-EB4-C3-A11.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bs7PLdvH)

He rarely uses it and sometimes just doesn’t seem to catch on to the idea of little branches. His brain is rather small...

https://i.postimg.cc/52NmfntV/87-FEE7-F7-7310-490-C-BE54-02-E31-BFD8-A23.jpg (https://postimg.cc/pp4jZQ8G)

I love this, Bob! I have a fondness for our feathered friends. Honestly, I am quite envious. I would dearly love to have a friendly visitor such as this. I have heard crows are very approachable and will sometimes bring shiny objects for reward. They have been seen in the area, but not near my yard. I would be satisfied with a lowly finch or other small avian.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rodwha]

I love this, Bob! I have a fondness for our feathered friends. Honestly, I am quite envious. I would dearly love to have a friendly visitor such as this. I have heard crows are very approachable and will sometimes bring shiny objects for reward. They have been seen in the area, but not near my yard. I would be satisfied with a lowly finch or other small avian.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is quite bizarre that it just starting hanging around a lot and being curious and comfortable. Though it eats from my hand and will often land there for 2 shakes of a lamb’s tail usually, it seems more skittish. Regardless I greatly enjoy that he stops by here and there, and cherish it for the unique thing it is. I’ve been contemplating spending $$$ on a kit to help me just farm mealworms. If I knew they’d work as perch bait I suppose I might. It’s all this little bird’s fault that I’ve made a routine out of drinking my coffee outside with a tiny circle virtually every day.

[rodwha]

I love this, Bob! I have a fondness for our feathered friends. Honestly, I am quite envious. I would dearly love to have a friendly visitor such as this. I have heard crows are very approachable and will sometimes bring shiny objects for reward. They have been seen in the area, but not near my yard. I would be satisfied with a lowly finch or other small avian.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As an aside I’ve become a little more familiar with a few other birds that come by frequently. My favorites are the Carolina seen as they are so crazy to watch search for bugs even darting along upside down or head first. I’ve played the male/female song on my app and can get them singing too. I also do this with the tiny Carolina chickadee. Fun getting them all riled up and searching for the culprit.

[rodwha]

This evening he upchucked a little gift:

https://i.postimg.cc/W3ZqkXz5/9-BE0-B4-EC-81-D7-4-FB8-930-C-F6-BC579-BB5-AE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jwsjV6zf)

Not sure what in the hell it was:

https://i.postimg.cc/d0pT3zs7/64-BCF7-E4-75-C0-47-BE-9503-FE352-F231928.jpg (https://postimg.cc/3yjwbfD7)

[Nature]

This evening he upchucked a little gift:

https://i.postimg.cc/W3ZqkXz5/9-BE0-B4-EC-81-D7-4-FB8-930-C-F6-BC579-BB5-AE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jwsjV6zf)

Not sure what in the hell it was:

https://i.postimg.cc/d0pT3zs7/64-BCF7-E4-75-C0-47-BE-9503-FE352-F231928.jpg (https://postimg.cc/3yjwbfD7)

Looks like a mulberry


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[droy1958]

This evening he upchucked a little gift:

https://i.postimg.cc/W3ZqkXz5/9-BE0-B4-EC-81-D7-4-FB8-930-C-F6-BC579-BB5-AE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jwsjV6zf)

Not sure what in the hell it was:

https://i.postimg.cc/d0pT3zs7/64-BCF7-E4-75-C0-47-BE-9503-FE352-F231928.jpg (https://postimg.cc/3yjwbfD7)

If it smells like shit, I may have an idea. If you'll just taste a little bit of it, and it tastes like shit, then I think I'm definitely on to something.....LMK

[SoCal gunner]

If it smells like shit, I may have an idea. If you'll just taste a little bit of it, and it tastes like shit, then I think I'm definitely on to something.....LMK[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

[rodwha]

Birdie Friend still stops by pretty regularly. He has learned he might spot me in the kitchen from the side door:

https://i.postimg.cc/tJq4ss6W/75422340-933-E-4152-A28-B-F6637-E5-BFCB1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bD5hMN3w)free image upload site (https://postimages.org/)

And I still enjoy playing the bird songs on the Audubon app to mess with the Carolina chickadees and their friends the titmouse, along with the Carolina wrens. But now I’ve been fascinated with the hummingbirds. I had just one feeder out and noticed soooooo much greedy fighting so I got two more and spaced them out. It’s entertaining to watch how they’ll distract one and others will fly in to feeders. Watching them chase each other off is kinda like the fight scenes in Star Wars with the X-wings and TIE fighters swiftly zooming, turning, dodging and insanely sliding through the tree branches somehow.

And the high-pitched fast-paced chitter reminds me of a Hispanic friend of mine’s mother when she’d get after him. 😆

We have the black-chinned and ruby-throated birds.

Though I’ve always loved nature of all sorts, I never figured myself for a bird watcher...

[Emperor Zurg]

And the high-pitched fast-paced chitter reminds me of a Hispanic friend of mine’s mother when she’d get after him. 😆


Sounds like you know Speedy Gonzalez. I used to watch him on TV when I was a kid...

[rodwha]

Jorge wasn’t that fast and didn’t speak Spanish that I know of. And no sombreros either. But his mom could cook!

[rodwha]

This one is near my driveway where I sit. This one’s name is Squeaky as it’s the noisiest little thing, and the only one who’s mostly comfortable with me sitting close by. It’s a either a female or juvenile black-throated hummingbird:

https://i.postimg.cc/ZnsTkTJQ/E3-B16712-A949-4-E52-AB52-7-D17970-B87-DA.jpg (https://postimg.cc/D4sVL3JQ)

Come to find out the anole loves honey water too!

https://i.postimg.cc/tC7q3V5G/460-FFA8-C-C6-AE-491-A-8-A0-C-63-F3-BE74-E811.jpg (https://postimg.cc/TpMvG1Ft)free photo upload online (https://postimages.org/)

[Old Smokey]

My neighbor across the street has 2 pet birds in his house and he loves birds. He has a parakeet that he has had 12 years. He gave up eating chicken about 4 months ago because he felt guilty when he ate it in front of his birds, so he gave it up all together. He loves beef and pork though.

[SoCal gunner]

my neighbor across the street has 2 pet birds in his house and he loves birds. He has a parakeet that he has had 12 years. He gave up eating chicken about 4 months ago because he felt guilty when he ate it in front of his birds, so he gave it up all together. He loves beef and pork though.lmao

[Old Smokey]

lmao

My sentiments exactly. He told me his fellow employees tease him about it. Go figure! :)

[rodwha]

There’s not much off the menu for me. Many, many moons back I lived with my grandparents for a bit. It was my last trip hunting and I came back empty-handed and was a little bummed. My grandma told me I could shoot one of the deer in the backyard. I told her that first of all it was illegal (not enough acreage) and secondly it would be too much like cheating as they were a bit used to people. And I greatly enjoyed watching them in the mornings with my coffee.