Weedwhacker said:
Also, I don't think the photo of Jennifer's is a Junco, although I don't know what it is. We have Juncos here all winter -- here's a link with a good photo of the "Dark-Eyed Junco" http://www.allaboutbirds.org/g...
Edited to say -- I think I was looking at the wrong pic -- there IS a photo of a Junco in Jennifer's post! Sorry!!

The Juncos can look VERY different, one from another:

Ladies, this is who voted on the FL state bird. And there was a competition in 1931 as to the mockingbird's song & that of the European nightingale. Read on.....
https://books.google.com/books...

My dh read this many, many years ago & we have marveled at it ever since. Bok Tower Gardens has always been one of our favorite places.

We need to teach the schoolchildren to vote for better birds! There has been a push in the last few years to get the Scrub Jay listed as the official state bird. I remember reading about it in the paper. Haven't heard much lately, though.

One of the wonderful people I once met at MOSI was a woman whose father had worked with the Scrub Jay population at Archbold Biological Station. That was a really fascinating conversation.

Aaah, so the children decided on the state bird of Florida! I wonder if children were polled today which bird they would choose?

I love everything about Bok Tower Gardens, the gardens are so serene and beautiful, even if nothing is in bloom and the "singing" tower is a sight to behold. It's a birders paradise too. The tower is built of marble and coquina (the marble came from Georgia and the coquina came from here in Daytona Beach!) I haven't been over that way in many years but once my DH retires we plan to make more day trips around the state and Bok Tower Gardens is at the top of my list.

For anyone who has not had the chance or opportunity to visit Bok Gardens, you can read about it here. It's a beautiful place to spend a day or just a few hours on a spring or fall afternoon. The Carillon is really amazing! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... haven't been there in years!

I don't know if this is the same juvenile White Ibis that's been hanging around for the past few days or perhaps another but it seems to be finding a lot to eat in my neighbors lawn. It was perched on our fence for awhile again today, then the dog startled it and it flew to the power lines where it perched and preened and after awhile(after I brought the dog back inside) he flew back to the fence before jumping off into the neighbors yard again. so funny to watch them walk along the power line ... looks like it's walking a tightrope.

Perched on the fence in my backyard again today:


Ibis knees and feet


Standing on the powerline, preening his feathers:


Ready for take-off ..... and back on the fence again:

Lin, Mom saw me looking at pictures of your juvenile Ibis the other day and she asked what it was. So I got to feel smart explaining to her that it was a juvenile and would one day turn all white like the ones she's used to seeing. Love your photos - keep 'em coming!

I want an Ibis on my fence!! So cute!

Jennifer, glad you found us here on the bird thread!!

Ann, I have not taken many hummer photos this year though they are constantly busy here. I decide to just take the time to really watch and enjoy them instead. Congrats on your female Baltimore Oriole!

But I do have a few photos from over the long weekend to share.

Hummer is up first!







Just a few of the robins that were here early Monday morning. I had just filled the bath with fresh water like an hour earlier.


Chickadee drinking out of the ant moat on the hummer feeder. They do this a lot.






One male Baltimore Oriole


One of our Crows stopping by

Claudia, great pictures! I wish you could send some of your hummers south to visit my garden, the last hummingbird sightings here were on August 11th and again on August 20th! I have not seen one since but I'm keeping the feeders cleaned and filled just in case one wants to stop by for a sip as they migrate farther south. Love those Robins at the birdbath, can't wait to see them around here and although they only visit Florida briefly ... it will mean the weather is cooling down a bit which I really look forward to; getting tired of the mid 90's and high humidity. Pretty little Chickadees in the second chickadee photo there's one perched at the hummer feeder and another bird flying into view ... is that one a chickadee also? It looks a bit different in coloration. Oh y'all are lucky to see those beautiful Orioles!!

Great photos Claudia. Claudia, there was a male Baltimore Oriole too! That's the main reason I was able to ID the female.

Lin, those close ups of the anatomy of the ibis are super cool! Wrinkly knuckles & all. I think it needs to go get a manicure though. Woot, those are some long nails!

Ok .... I am confused. I thought the Florida state bird was ...... mosquitoes!????

@plantladylin the other bird in the one shot is a hummingbird who was not happy to share the feeder!

From what I have read the Mosquito is the state bird of Alaska!

I missed that Ann..... woohoo a make & female!!!

I like his legs and knobby knees too.

I take pictures of my chickens feet.

Here's Pearl's feet, she looks like she's had a French manicure oh, I mean pedicure.

I didn't know you have chickens Christine. We would love to see some full photos of them.

Claudia said:@plantladylin the other bird in the one shot is a hummingbird who was not happy to share the feeder!

Saying to myself ... Duh! I guess my eyes must not have been working too well earlier (or I probably didn't have my new reading glasses on) because I clearly see now that it's a hummer!

Oooh, love Pearl's Chicken Feet ... she needs to give the Ibis in my yard a lesson in proper pedicures!


More of the Ibis from late this afternoon ... it was traipsing through my yard and I took a couple of photos through the kitchen window. Later I let the dog out before checking to see if it was still in our yard ... Bo took off after it so it flew up to the power line again.


Posing on the power line ....................... vulture immitation ...... should I jump?

Well okay, I love showing pictures of them too.

Start of with some chicks 'cuz they're cute.


Here they are scratching up termites from an old rotting stump.


Staying cool.


Dogs and chickens.


Pedicure Pearl.


What are you girls up to?


Here's my rooster, Captain Jack. He's an Ameraucana and the best rooster I've ever had.


He must be easy going to let him have spurs like this!!


OOOPS! I see I'm getting carried away.

Christine ... I'm loving those pic's .. the baby chicks are so cute and the hens are really pretty! Cap'n Jack is a handsome rooster too, I had no idea they had spurs and boy do they look sharp!

Those chicks and rooster are adorable!

Oh! I would love to have a few chickens. We are zoned for 2 here, but I haven't been able to convince my husband yet.

Baby chicks are adorable. Captain Jack is really *something*! VERY handsome! Those spurs would stop me dead in my tracks!!!!
Pearl is a beauty. It looks like you have some unusual breeds there Christine. Please tell us about them. It looks like you free range them? I hear people say the rooster will protect them if you free range them ~~ is that true?

Love the chickens!! We have five of them! Great pets and eggs too

Thanks Lin and Becky. The chickens are very entertaining too. They're so much fun to watch, so easy to care for and they provide delicious eggs better than any you can find in the store.

Becky, tell your hubby that they are way easier to take care of than a dog or cat.

Okay, a few more chick pics ...