Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Female Finches of the Vermilon River. A Post to World Bird Wednesday.

American Goldfinch


American Goldfinch


Rear view indicates she is a Common RedPoll

Lack of red bib indicates a female.

Shows red head patch and black around beak.
I really don't know if the goldfinch are females or males in winter plumage, but the RedPolls are females as they lack the red bib, and are not Hoary RedPolls as they lack the white back area. So perhaps it is a girl's night out at the Vermilon River. The RedPolls are finches also, but subarctic birds normally found in the tundra, which would be north of me. Every second year there is an irruption, and they migrate south along with the Hoary RedPolls and travel south even crossing the border into the US. They tend to mix with other finches, and in my area with Chickadees who know where the food is.

I have one problem with the naming of these gals. The word "common" has changed from just the opposite of rare to have connotations of cheap. The error is further compounded because the other RedPolls are known as Hoary RedPolls, not Rare Redpolls. These little gals are anything, but common in the cheap sense; so, henceforth in the Vermilon River District they will be known as "Northern RedPolls" and Hoary Redpolls.

BREAKING NEWS..... The partially right honourable Stephen Harper, the minority P.M. of Canada has announced that he will begin his Law and Order crackdown with the Redpolls who are illegally crossing the border. In this endeavour he will be aided by none other than his Minister of State, that poor flawed ex-cop, Julian Fantino, who has been followed by scandal and corruption where ever he goes. With Fantino it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.We're just hoping to pick up a new uniform for Fantino from a deposed middle East dictator, so let us know if there is one available cheap.

To all US citizens, Stevie wanted you to know that he will compensate for out of pocket bird seed expenses. Just send your invoices to the nearest Canadian Legation, Embassy or directly to the Office of the partially right honourable, Stephen Harper, Ottawa, Canada.

A post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/
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62 comments:

  1. ArijaMarch 1, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Whatever you call them, they are cute. just look at the second shot of the goldfinch giving you that pin-up girl over-shoulder come hither look.Is that common or what?

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  2. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Ha Ha, Arija. That's a unique not common come hither look!!

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  3. LarryMarch 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Great post Gary. I'm still laughing about your politicians. And I thought we had a bunch of losers in our congress!

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  4. ArijaMarch 1, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    Gay if you have emu in Ontario, they must have escaped from a zoo and I hardly think they would survive your winters in the wild. They are native only to Australia.

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  5. LouiseMarch 1, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Cornell shows that the Common Redpoll can irrupt in this area but I haven't seen any this year. Pity, because they're a cute little bird and I'd love to see one.

    Strangely, I find it comforting that your politicians seem to be as big fools as ours. It's good to know we're not alone.

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  6. holdingmomentsMarch 1, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    I think politicians the world over are all fools lol

    The birds, however, are just beautiful the world over.
    Great series Gary.

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  7. TexWisGirlMarch 1, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    Love these shots. And politics? I abstain!

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  8. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    Hi Larry. No you're not alone re: polticians.

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  9. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    Arija. Emu's were brought into S. Ontario as an alternative to turkeys for Thanksgiving because apparently they have more meat. Remember Canada is second to Russia in land mass and has many climates.That part of Ontario has a climate that is moderated by Lake Ontario, part of an inland chain of lakes or seas. Thanksgiving in Canada is the equivalent of the US thanksgiving; apparently the puritans made it this far north. Only the date is different and Walmart is attempting to alter that now.Hope that answers your query.

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  10. You can never take too many picturesMarch 1, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Great shots of those lovely birds, did you see the post of my Red Poll????? at first I made the mistake of calling it a Purple Finch....I soon corrected that!!!!! Well it looks like March is coming in Like a Lamb....a bit colder tomorrow evening but no storms predicted....I'm headed through my favorite Park this weekend, so hopefully I will find some interesting subject matter to shoot as I drive through!!!!!

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  11. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Hi Louise. I was thinking we could do a trade on polticians. Sort of like a monopoly game in reverse. You're penalized for having them. Here's a start-I'll give you two Northern RedPolls for a month and you take Slow Steve and Julie "Big Bubba" for a year. Let me know.

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  12. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    I agree Keith!!

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  13. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Hi Texwisgirl. No abstaining now!!

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  14. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    Hi Pictures. I went and looked on your site.

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  15. LouiseMarch 1, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    The RedPolls make it a very tempting offer, Gary, but I think I'll have to decline. Though, it would be tempting if you would, in return, take Sarah Palin and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker for that same time period.

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  16. theconstantwalkerMarch 1, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    Beautiful images and an amusing post Gary. Politics and watching lovely little birds are poles apart.

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  17. ArijaMarch 1, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    Gary, what a hoot, emus for thanksgiving? I'd like to see a roast emu at any thanksgiving table, the bird is 1.5m tall, that would have to be some table! I know Lake Ontario is pretty big but what I recall of Kingston, there was still plenty of snow there in winter. I still think they would have a tough time surviving your climate in the wild. Farming is a different matter since they would be fed and sheltered.
    I haven't eaten emu but ostrich is good eating. We had both ostrich and camel in China.

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  18. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    Not so far apart, Andrew. I know where to put Sarah and Scott. I just have to get the RedPolls to agree.

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  19. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    I know Arija the whole idea sounded weird, but they are great birds to look at. Just the vision of the Pilgrim fathers and an Emu reduces me to hysterics.All this while we watch the bowl games.

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  20. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Louise I have just the place. Sara Paulin can be president of Milnet, an abandoned mining town, with no electricity or phones, cell or otherwise.We'll supply a compass and a big red button. The compass will let her know who she is nuking this week, the Russians or the Canadians. Scott can be president of Moose Mountain, not that far away, and it is just as isolated, and has no budget shortfall. The animals and birds will just love his approach of laissez-faire, possibly while they eat him.Is it a deal?

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  21. mickMarch 1, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Great photos of all the little birds. I wonder at all the birds that have "common" tacked on to their names. The ones I know down here are not common at all!

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  22. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Yes I think in the 19th century it did not have negative inplications.

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  23. Bob BushellMarch 1, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Lovely birds, the best of them is the last, what a beauty. Well your PM, yes those could him vote for him.............

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  24. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    She's just a beauty isn't she Bob? And she's as tough as nails as she operates in a hostile climate.

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  25. Hilke BrederMarch 1, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Thanks for cheering me up with your tongue-in-cheek post, Gary!! Love your Redpoll ladies, not so common after all.

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  26. LouiseMarch 1, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    Done deal! We'll put Stephen Harper in as Mayor of Nogales, Arizona, where he can worry all he wants about the Mexican/American border, and I think that Julian Fantino would make a wonderful police chief of Centralia, PA, where the earth under his feet would be continually on fire. When can I expect to see those RedPolls?

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  27. jooMarch 1, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    They are so beautiful and your photos are superb!

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  28. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    Thanks Joo and those photos of yours are great too.

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  29. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    The male and female RedPolls are on their way. They said they'd kick Steve's and Bubba's posteriors all the way there, and kick Scott's and Sara's posteriors all the way back. Don't expect to hear from your politico's any more. They may nuke each other or their constituents may eat them. The RedPolls like their sunflower seeds on the top of the snow not in feeders.

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  30. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Just keep the faith Hilke and let us know from time to time what's going on.

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  31. SondraMarch 1, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    LOL SO the Illegals are on their way back home now and all is well along the border once again..
    Love the photos and the humor is welcomed and enjoyed!!

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  32. JMarch 1, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    Lovely to see your Goldfinches. They behave (if I remember correctly) similarly to ours, but look quite different!

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  33. SpringmanMarch 1, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    You are in rare form Gary! I figure common names are there for us to change if we want and I hardily concur with your name change. If one or more of these little wonders does make it to Michigan I may rename it the Mid-western Red poll and sign him up for unemployment.

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  34. ArijaMarch 1, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    Just a PS, emus were being farmed here too for a while some 10-15 years ago and a pair could set one back up to $40,000.00!!! on top of that you had to build 6' high very strong fences. The meat never caught on so the whole exercise was a waste of time.

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  35. Bill S.March 1, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Beautiful photos of birds I love to watch. We are lacking Redpolls this year that we have had in the past. Housefinch and American Goldfinch are the most abundant here.

    I love the post.

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  36. AnonymousMarch 1, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    Love the photos of these little birds and enjoyed your humorous narrative!

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  37. Johnny NutcaseMarch 1, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    Great post, Gary. You got some nice photos of these gals!

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  38. AnonymousMarch 1, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Those Goldfinch photos are very nice!
    I thinks it's important that politicians take up that huge topic of cross boarder birdseed stealing ;-)

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  39. MarvinMarch 2, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    Northern RedPoll works for me since we don't have them at all because the Ozarks are too far south. Nice shots!

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  40. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Hi Sondra. I think they just left before Homeland Security got wind of them.

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  41. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Thanks Jeremy. I think the Goldfinches are alike , not sure about the RedPolls as they're from the far North.

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  42. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    Hi Springman. Be careful I understand Homeland Security is on the trail of these guys.

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  43. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    The fences are just what I saw them in, Arija.

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  44. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Thanks for the visit Bill and the kind words.

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  45. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    Thanks BRC for the kind words.

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  46. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Thanks Johnny.

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  47. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    Hi Dreamfalcon. I know the whole cross border birdseed market is the next examination.

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  48. UnknownMarch 2, 2011 at 12:16 PM

    Hi Marvin. Careful, I think these guys go where the food is.

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  49. Empty NesterMarch 2, 2011 at 1:35 PM

    LOL We've had one American Goldfinch at the feeders. Haven't seen him/her lately. Have you? LOL

    Your pictures and content are wonderful as always!

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  50. tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.comMarch 2, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    I am dying with laughter here! You all are so funny!!
    Send some redpolls here to Pa.,haven`t seen any yet this year,phyllis

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  51. NatureFootstepMarch 2, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    great shots of those "shy" ladies. :)

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  52. KaHollyMarch 2, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    You crack me up!! Great photos, and good I.D. tips. They really are cracking down on crossing the border, but they are hounding the good guys and the questionables are still getting through! ~karen

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  53. eileeninmdMarch 2, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Wonderful post and photos! I love cute goldies and the redpolls. I would love to see some redpolls at my feeders.

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  54. AFTERMATHMarch 2, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Funny Gary. Very funny. I think first year not-so-common-northern-not-hoary redpolls also lack the pink bib in males. No?

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  55. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 5:01 AM

    Thanks EmptyNester.

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  56. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    Hi phylliso. I can't send any your way. Homeland Security is really upset, and rightly so these guys just cross as if the border didn't exist.

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  57. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 5:05 AM

    Thanks NatureFootsteps.

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  58. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    It's OK. Stevie and Julie are going to make everything work. Julie is going to wiretap these pesky little creatures.

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  59. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 5:09 AM

    I don't know if they come that way. But Homeland Security is tracking them now. They're the guys and gals with no red patch and no wings,eileeninmd.

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  60. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 5:14 AM

    Geeze Robin not pink. You know that will throw the republicans into a frenzy of name calling. Commie, socialist, etc are just a few, and these guys are in trouble already with just about everybody. A juvie would be a Northern RedPoll without a red bib, until he's old enough to have one, or A juvie Hoary RedPoll without a red bib ....

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  61. jeanlivingsimpleMarch 3, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    I appreciate the tips on how to ID the two different types of RedPolls....just in case they enter my state border.:-D)

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  62. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 6:35 AM

    Hi Jean. Just remember the guys and gals without the wings and red patches, but with the guns and badges are Homeland Security and the Border Patrol.

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