home office – Craig Connects

Hey, I get a lot of appreciated disturbances at my home office. Sometimes the visitors act as my alarm clock, and other times they’re drooling. Here’s a brief look from my window…

Fighters, or …?

Insects are delicious, or, Woodpecker waking Craig up at five am is hilarious.

Steller’s Jay locks in best target in the Squirrel-resistant Suet Palace.

(note to self: refill the Palace)

A Robin, bath interrupted, and indignant.

Craig’s wake up call is sometimes provided by two raccoons, here’s one of ’em.

Others have discovered a new way to wake up Craig: a very chuffed, very loud, Western Scrub Jay.

Okay, we’d like to see more of these guys. The Mrs put up a parrot toy. She’s instructed me to make “parrot noise.”

Parrots, skeptical and amused. (At least the bald spot hasn’t grown in 20-30 years…)

Philosopher pigeon wonders about it all.

Selfie with Billy, nephew #20 who will visit, someday. Billy’s the one (visibly) drooling…

The demure one.

The team.

And, finally, this is Walter.

These photos are all by the Mrs. and myself, and were pulled from my facebook page, and the #Crileen (that’s Craig and Eileen) Birdography Spectacular. A Special thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eBird.org for helping out with some bird IDs, they do great work!

I’ll keep you posted on the parrot noises…

Folks, it’s been a great year for wildlife at my “home office” as I’ve had lots of visitors. I thought the beginning of a new year was a great time to share some of my favorites, especially since I recently posted some tips about how to attract feathery friends (and squirrels, too) to your yard. These photos are all by the Mrs. and myself, and were pulled from the #Crileen (that’s Craig and Eileen) Birdography Spectacular. A Special thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eBird.org for helping out with some bird IDs, they do great work!

Hummingbird, Anna 2 — Anna’s Hummingbird

Goldfinch, Lesser — A pair of Lesser Goldfinches

Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, juvenile male (a vagrant from the East) — Rose-breasted Grosbeak, juvenile male (a vagrant from the East)

Hawk, Sharp-shinned (note blue-gray upperparts and long banded tail) — Sharp-shinned Hawk (note blue-gray upperparts and long banded tail)

Hummingbird, Anna 3 — Another Anna’s Hummingbird

Hummingbird, Anna — And one more Anna’s Hummingbird

Sparrow - House and Robin, American — American Sparrows – House and Robin

Sparrow, House, female, feeding a Cow Bird — Female House Sparrow feeding a Cow Bird

Brewer's Blackbird (AKA Swoops the bird.) — Brewer’s Blackbird (AKA “Swoops” the bird)

Warbler, Townsends — A pair of bathing Warbler Townsends

Woodpecker, Downy, male 2 — A busy Downy Woodpecker

Woodpecker, downy, male — And another busy Downy Woodpecker, male

I have a feeling that 2014’s going to be a busy year at the “home office” so make sure to stay tuned, and let me know what your local wildlife looks like. A nerd’s gotta do what a nerd’s gotta do.

Okay, so my “home office” extends to the deck, and I have a bunch of feathered and furry friends who stop by. The wife and I have created the #Crileen Birdography Spectaular (that’s Craig and Eileen…) to document the visitors. We’ve identified 48 species as of September 2013.

As a nutty connoisseur, here are my suggestions to attract birds and squirrels to your yard:

1. Provide clean-ish open water.

2. Use a “squirrel-resistant suet palace.”

This squirrel defeated Squirrel-Proof Suet Palace. I’m okay with this, he can only eat so much at a time.

3. Feed squirrels to attract hawks. (see #2, note “resistant”, they see it as a challenge)

4. Have glamorous new wife fill the feeders and water. Then have her do so for the birds. They appreciate it.

5. Go outside and act like a nut. (Mission accomplished)

Tag: home office

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