06-29-2006, 06:41 AM
Where are you located, Lee? The small birds that you refer to as "Creepers" are most likely Nutmeg Mannikins. Their appearance is a medium-light brown overall with dark faces and thin dark U's on their bellies. They are seedeaters native to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Phillipines. This species may have the most alternate common names of any in the world; aka Ricebird, Spice Finch, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Spotted Munia. There are Hawai'i Creepers on the Island, but to see them, you have to search in the native rainforests above 2000 ft.
In our yard up in Volcano near 4000 ft., we have lots of Spotted and Barred doves, Northern Cardinal, Common Myna, a few House Finch, Mejiro (Japanese White-eye), Kalij Pheasants, and Wild Turkeys. Two of the turkey moms have been bringing their chicks by to feed. Elsewhere in town, I've seen a Saffron Finch.
The only native species I've seen in the yard so far have been many 'Apapane (one of the red honeycreepers) and a couple of 'Io (Hawaiian Hawk). I haven't yet seen any I'iwi (another red honeycreeper with a banana-like bill), Hawai'i 'Amakihi (a common greenish honeycreeper that can be mistaken for a Mejiro), or Hawai'i 'Elepaio (a monarch flycatcher from which my street's name derives) in our yard.
To enhance the bird activity, try putting in a water feature, as simple as a birdbath (change water frequently - daily), or as elegant as something with a drip. Make sure that it's high enough so that cats can't get to the bathing/drinking birds.
Les
In our yard up in Volcano near 4000 ft., we have lots of Spotted and Barred doves, Northern Cardinal, Common Myna, a few House Finch, Mejiro (Japanese White-eye), Kalij Pheasants, and Wild Turkeys. Two of the turkey moms have been bringing their chicks by to feed. Elsewhere in town, I've seen a Saffron Finch.
The only native species I've seen in the yard so far have been many 'Apapane (one of the red honeycreepers) and a couple of 'Io (Hawaiian Hawk). I haven't yet seen any I'iwi (another red honeycreeper with a banana-like bill), Hawai'i 'Amakihi (a common greenish honeycreeper that can be mistaken for a Mejiro), or Hawai'i 'Elepaio (a monarch flycatcher from which my street's name derives) in our yard.
To enhance the bird activity, try putting in a water feature, as simple as a birdbath (change water frequently - daily), or as elegant as something with a drip. Make sure that it's high enough so that cats can't get to the bathing/drinking birds.
Les