• Tuesday-What'sUP March 24 - 06:08 pm

This Pine Siskin was a bit overzealous in his quest to get enough seeds from Brenda Leigh's birdfeeder in the Menominee area. Lucky for him that Brenda spotted him trapped inside the feeder and was able to snap a few photos before letting him free. Of course he couldn't fly straight up, so Brenda had to don a pair of gloves and lift the bird out of the feeder. She said he was so happy after being rescued, that he flew off as fast as his little wings could carry him. I wonder if he'll ever get "caught" again or if he learned his lesson?

The third shot is from E. Neil Harri and shows two swans somewhat "stuck," too. It looks like they may have flown north a little too soon, as they're not having much luck finding open water in the Gogebic back-country. But, no need to worry, things will be opening up soon enough, if it hasn't already begun.

A few years back we had a similiar incident. Almost the same type feeder. As I was taking the feeder apart the little finch was frantic, but upon his release he flew up on a branch a okay.

After posting the above I thought of another incident just two years ago. Twas a total blizzard and really cold. Had just got home for lunch, and my wife said looking into the back yard that little finch appears to have its head caught inside the feeder hole. Went out to the feeder and sure enough it was caught, and the little bird was looking pretty bad off. Unable to remove the little bird head back, I had to twist the feeder holder off along with the finch. Took it inside the house and it did not look too good for the little one, anyway I was able to remove its head from being stuck. We put him in the garage after warming up several bath towels in the dryer, and place him in like a little house with a small hole for air. I went back to work, about an hour later my wife called and said the little finch was flying around in the garage. We waited until I got home from work later that afternoon, upon opening the back door it did not take long for the little finch to fly out and away to face another day.

It's amazing how resilient the birds are. Imagine if you or I smacked into a giant pane of glass at full speed... I don't think we'd just pick ourselves up and run away again!

Cool photos, and very good stories, Pam & Jim!

Did that finch eat so much that it couln't get back out through the opening?

I know how that Finch feels....everytime I'm trapped in the house due to lousy weather.

I believe in pictures 3 and 4 the swans can not lift off when on ice..It is my understanding that their wings must go down into the water when flapping in order to propel them upword...Any birdwatchers here to correct this?

I'm not sure, but I know that the first bird is a Pine Siskin, we get lots of them in the winter.

Mary says: I think you're right, Josh...my mistake. I've corrected it in my notes up above. Thanks for spotting that.

A bird in the feeder is worth two pics on the PastyCam!!

Eddyfitz, I hadn't heard the one about the swans needing to dip their wings in the water. I do know that certain species of ducks need to "run" along the surface of the water for a ways in order to take off, & I'd imagine that would be the case for the swans. The need for a long runway is partly why you see diving ducks like scaup, canvasbacks & mergansers on larger bodies of water while dabbling ducks (e.g., mallards), who can spring up into the air, are found in small ponds.

Silly bird, above! The Pine Grosbeaks below let me walk up to them and crouch down and take their picture - no food involved.

We had a robin around here last week- silly bird. I love the pictures again today!

Kathyl, you are right on!

Notroll, can't see the beaks good on an otherwise nice photo. I think though those are White-winged Crossbills! The crossed bill would be the defining factor. Pine Grosbeaks are much larger, chunkier, about Robin sized with a conventional type beak. Crossbills are just a bit larger then a sparrow. The markings on the wings of this photo shown look more like Crossbills. There has been an unprecedented invasion south of WW Crossbills this winter being found all over the state even in big citys and as far south as Kentucky!

The Swans shown are either Tundra or Trumpeters, not the more common Mute Swan! Hard to tell which though from that height but I'm thinking Trumpeters. We had hundreds upon hundreds of the "Tundra" Swans fly right over our house last Friday migrating north!

Wow what a sight that must have been, Russell! Did you hear them also? Just where do you live ? In the UP? I love hearing the flocks of geese as they fly in migration over the Mississippi.