Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Red-bellied Redheads

A nice comparison of female (above) and male (below) Red-bellied Woodpecker visiting the feeder. The female chased off a Blue Jay on the feeder, but the male was reluctant to get on the feeder itself.

When the light is right, these eyes are rather spectacular.

Bonus: about to lose a feather…

FYI: I gave permission to the New York Times to use one of my iNaturalist photos, but for the print edition yesterday, they credited it to someone else. On the fucking front page. On the inside page, I’m credited for a picture I didn’t take, so it seems they reversed credit lines. My photograph, of a seemingly still undescribed gall wasp species, was correctly attributed in the online version, which came out earlier, but damn it, it sucks to be screwed off the front page. Some spleen-venting here.

mthew

6 responses to “Red-bellied Redheads”

  1. Chuck McAlexander

    We still know who took the photo. Your fame is intact, if not enhanced.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Well put!

      Reply
  2. Elliot H. Brown

    Dear Backyard and Beyond Guy,

    I’ve never written to you before, but I’ve faithfully followed your excellent and informative reports for years.

    I finally have a question:

    We have a small backyard in Manhattan with a big tree and a small garden. Our bird feeder rarely attracts anything other than sparrows and doves (and the occasional titmouse).

    Perhaps we should have a bird feeder like the one in your pictures below. Could you let me know where I might purchase one?

    Also, the bird seed in your feeder looks quite different from the sunflower seeds we use. What would you recommend?

    Thanks for your advice.

    Best,

    Elliot Brown

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Elliot,

      The feeder pictured isn’t mine; it’s located in Green-Wood Cemetery here in Brooklyn. I’m frankly not sure who is filling it; in the past staff has maintained feeders at the Dell Water, another part of the cemetery, but that’s not happening this winter. Another feeder near the 4th Avenue entrance seems to be stocked by a cemetery plot owner there.

      Since this feeder is located in large green space, it tends to attract more species of birds than home feeders here in the city. Outside of the cemeteries and parks, it’s typically House Sparrows who show up.

      This may be helpful on choosing a feeder and seeds: https://ny.audubon.org/conservation/choosing-bird-feeder.

      Matthew

      Reply
      1. chuck NcAlexander

        Try Birds and Blooms for feeders, too

  3. constance wolf

    Ugh, that sucks – I’m sorry that happened to you! I’m gonna go look at your photo though. csw

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    Reply

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