This happened today…am I old yet?

[-]

Ambitious-Outcome-12@reddit

I call for 1,000,000,000 up votes on this picture!

[-]

I have one of these and love it. The app even identifies what type of bird. Hot tip: put it just close enough to a tree or something for the squirrels to take a flying leap at… and miss 80% of the time. It is hilarious! (We have a squirrel feeder full of peanuts so they are not starving.)

[-]

ShezeUndone@reddit

It's way better than doomscrolling. Carry on!

[-]

Inessence4@reddit

I beat you at Christmas. Good luck keeping the squirrels out. They are kinda cute though.

[-]

KddKc@reddit

I put a little bowl on the ground with some bigger squirrel food (nuts, corn, seeds etc) and it seems to keep them out of the feeder. Course now I have rabbits stopping by every night too lol

[-]

KddKc@reddit

Haha I just got one for my birthday last week. Yes, join the old club. Btw doesn’t take long to get crowded. It was about two days before the “house finches” took over at my house.

[-]

beckybooboo1978@reddit

I’ve been wanting one of those!

[-]

JoeSicko@reddit

I thought you bought a front bumper for your John Deere!

[-]

Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit

What is that thing? Is that part of the camera?

[-]

GoldenRetreiverMom@reddit

It’s the perch in front of the camera lol

[-]

Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit

Thank you!

[-]

JoeSicko@reddit

Now I'm thinking it's a Green Bay Packers helmet house

[-]

Dear_Mess_1617@reddit

🤣🤣🤣

[-]

SERVANT2aCORGI@reddit

♥️😂♥️ I just peeped my pants because I thought the same thing! ♥️🤪♥️

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

It does look like that.

I wish

[-]

JoeSicko@reddit

Get a Toro commercial version and save some money. JD will kill your birdseed fund with parts costs. Haha

[-]

Nephilimn13@reddit

Got one for christmas! It's great! (I'm 56 btw)... lol

[-]

Dear_Mess_1617@reddit

Oh man! My daughter bought me this for Mother’s Day last year. I’m 55….
I loved it! Had to stop filling it because the neighbors car was stalking the birds and snatching them out of the air when they took off. 😩 now it’s just a video of sadness lol

[-]

AnatBrat@reddit

It's the excitement that makes it official. We did the same for my husband's last birthday

[-]

MotherOf4Jedi1Sith@reddit

I have a feeder on my living room window, but did not know they can come with cameras!!!! Brb

[-]

N29R48@reddit

Birds don't like their pictures taken while eating.

[-]

ConstantConfusion123@reddit

Lol bird watching is not an old person thing. Sorry but I guess I take it a little personal since I've been bored watching since I was like 10! The most avid birder I personally know is 32.

[-]

jenyj89@reddit

My cats love to sit inside, in front of the windows, and watch the birds and squirrels. My late husband called it Cat TV.

[-]

runningoutofwords@reddit

Old souls.

[-]

MaximumJones@reddit

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

I feel this shit

[-]

jenyj89@reddit

My favorite was You know you’re an adult when you have a favorite pen. That hurt me.

[-]

Ok-Lingonberry-8261@reddit

I've been bird watching since I was 15 and the red tailed hawk ate the squirrel in my backyard.

[-]

jenyj89@reddit

I was on a smoke break at work (on an AFB) and saw something out of the corner of my eye. A hawk swooped down, snatched up a squirrel in its feet and landed on top of a wooden light pole. I ran in to tell our Natural Resources guy (I worked in Environmental) ,who grabbed his camera & came out. That hawk was tearing that poor squirrel up…he must have been hungry.

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

That would be awesome!!!

[-]

Ok-Lingonberry-8261@reddit

My mom was traumatized but I was like "Dang, that's a beautiful bird!"

Thirty-plus years later, I spend my weekends in the woods with long lenses and camouflage.

[-]

MuttsandHuskies@reddit

I’m picturing you in a ghilly suit in some sort of city park freaking little joggers out!

[-]

Infinite_Tension_138@reddit

next you’ll be cursing at the squirrels for stealing birdseed and yelling at the neighbors kids t o stay off your lawn

[-]

No_Salt5374@reddit

Next stop hospice

[-]

rbowen2000@reddit

We had one. The squirrels destroyed it. I repaired it, and they destroyed it again. I repaired it again, rewriting the entire thing, and the squirrels utterly obliterated it, strewing the pieces all over the yard. We are now obliged to watch birds with our own eyes, like cavemen.

[-]

Typical_Hedgehog6558@reddit

On a pole with a baffle will help keep squirrels out.

[-]

rbowen2000@reddit

Apparently our squirrels are smarter than that. Have you seen Mark Rober's squirrel videos? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg

[-]

Oiggamed@reddit

Try safflower seed. Squirrels don’t like it.

[-]

rbowen2000@reddit

Oh, *NOW* you tell me. :D

(Thanks for the tip.)

[-]

Oiggamed@reddit

I’ll let dad know. 😉👍

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

Oh no…that sounds like it might be a problem.

[-]

redhotbeads@reddit

After teasing my best friend about birds for YEARS, she got me one of these for my birthday a few years ago. Yep. I'm hooked. I love seeing what comes in (nothing really exotic) and waging war with Fat Waldo, the resident squirrel.

[-]

krysnik17@reddit

So are squirrels able to ruin this just as they do other feeders?

We took our bird feeders down 2 yrs ago because of these A-holes ruining it for the birds!😡

[-]

redhotbeads@reddit

I finally put a baffle on mine, and so far, no squirrel issues in that feeder. Might be worth a shot!

[-]

Biza_1970@reddit

We would get that app with bird songs and calls, then sit in the backyard and play the cardinal chirps and whistles and listen to them respond and fly around us - it’s both pathetic and thrilling at the same time!

[-]

LaceyBloomers@reddit

I love this! I’m going to try it.

[-]

GoldenRetreiverMom@reddit

It’s called Merlin 👍🏼

[-]

Left-Nothing-3519@reddit

If it’s the app from Cornell, it has a newer feature, it records bird sounds and IDs them in real time with names and pics.

[-]

Beautiful_Spread_644@reddit

I must be really old because I have 2 birding apps on my phone! I like the Merlin app for IDing birdsong!

[-]

Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit

Due to peer pressure, I downloaded that app last week.

[-]

GoldenRetreiverMom@reddit

I absolutely love my bird feeder camera and yes, I’m 53 🤷‍♀️🤣

[-]

theghostofcslewis@reddit

It appears to be pointed at a popular "Yoga Pants" angle. It is common courtesy to keep it pointed in your own yard.

[-]

krysnik17@reddit

Yoga pants angle??

[-]

theghostofcslewis@reddit

It was a joke because it was pointed at the sidewalk where someone might jog by.

[-]

McGonagall_stones@reddit

It can take a week or more for them to discover a good food source. Get them some freeze dried meal worms and some dried fruit in there and set out some nesting material and soon they’ll be swarming!

[-]

ridingwithgsdtx@reddit

My wife has a whole set up out her work from home office window. Camera bird feeder, bird bath/fountain, a small space in the ground I dug for an old bowl she uses for water on the ground, multiple hanging feedes and a place for ground food.She spends LOTS of hours in there working hard and it brings her joy. It brings my son and I joy also by seeing her happy with the animals. She get TONs of birds, squirrels, and rabbits. If fact we are getting her more stuff for her for mother's Day.

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

This made me smile.

I’m picturing Snow White with all the animals lol

[-]

ridingwithgsdtx@reddit

Well not far off, She loves animals. I am lucky to have her drunk as hell in Mexico on the ground feeding coti(Mexican racoons) on video. Sea world worker as animal care person when in college. We would all be better people for stopping and watching birds.

[-]

slothboy@reddit

I've been actively shopping for a hummingbird feeder. I just haven't found one cute enough yet lol.

[-]

SunshynePower@reddit

I bought a wildlife camera and will be attaching it to the porch soon. The security camera gets the "action" on the porch but not a lot of the animals that graze just below the porch. Because, that's how old I am. I have a watershed behind the house so we get all sorts of creatures out there. I'm just curious who all are my neighbors.

Congrats on the bird feeder!!

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

Thank you!
Good luck!

[-]

MonkP88@reddit

Next up, cat hoarding!

[-]

krysnik17@reddit

Never!

[-]

LetUsTryThisOnceMore@reddit

What am I looking at?

[-]

krysnik17@reddit

The camera view over the bird perch, minus the birds 😂

I bought one for myself last Christmas for $30 but waiting to take it out of the box to put up at my next home.

[-]

Previous_Feature_200@reddit

Not unless you talk about the weather while looking out the window.

[-]

SBognerAnderson@reddit

I'll see you in a Progressive ad soon!

[-]

XannieMC@reddit

You're not old. You have simply caught up with all of us cool people who've been feeding birds for decades now.

(And I'm proud to announce that one of my bluebird pairs has five eggs, and another pair already has hatched chicks!)

[-]

Embarrassed-Map2148@reddit

Over the past few years my wife and I have spent so much time in our backyard we've noticed that we can sometimes recognize individual birds, chipmunks, squirrels, etc. I hadn't thought of them as unique individuals before. But now we know that like people, creatures tend to limit how far they stray from home. I don't know what any of this means, other than I now have an awareness I didn't have before.

The late fifties are pretty good that way.

[-]

SunshynePower@reddit

I now recognize one of "my" squirrels. Her tail is fluffier than the others. Plus, she was climbing all over my screens so she's why I now have a bird feeder on the window and I toss unsalted mixed nuts out for her on the patio. I will also get organic peanut butter in the winter for her LOL JUST STAY OFF MY SCREENS!!! It's worked like a charm. She knows me as not being a threat. This morning I tossed some nuts out for her and she actually stayed on the porch. She normally runs and then comes right back once the door shuts. She's funny.

[-]

Migamix@reddit

I cut to the chase, I have squirrel feed in the bird feeder. Low to the ground, they all share.

[-]

Substantial-Chip-102@reddit

Yes. I noticed that now that I am “old” I have slowed down enough to be amazed at the incredible beauty in the world that is right in front of us every day.

[-]

Powerstroke357@reddit

Man, bird feeders are super cool! My wife and i have several though it's more her thing than mine. I've set up a lot of the stuff that needed mounting but she has done some of it too and she feeds them.

Having bird feeders is mostly an older person thing i think. We only have one friend who is into it too and he's easily in his mid 70's.

[-]

Darling3boys@reddit

I got mine for my birthday 3 yrs ago. My partner laughed and said, you are old!! Last 2.5 yrs he's been loving that feeder as much as me. Even has a favorite bird. Lol I even have a book of Colorado birds, I take a pic of them and there's a spot to check off in the book if you've seen take bird. Boy we have seen a lot. Love it!! We are 66, so yeah old. But I wish I got it a long time ago.

[-]

Independent-Dog5311@reddit

"Get off my lawn!" 🧓 😡

[-]

Global_Friend5300@reddit

No matter what happened today, if you’re a GenXer, you’re old. Welcome.

[-]

Babymik9@reddit

I got one for Christmas! Gotta set it up now that the temps are above freezing (most days!)

[-]

Confident-Fun-1307@reddit

Pssst. They also make special ones for hummingbirds and other nectar drinkers.

[-]

TexasHuck@reddit

lol, yep! I’ve been wanting one myself.

[-]

kalelopaka@reddit

Yes

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

The kids just confirmed at dinner.

We got straight roasted by our teenagers

[-]

Mountain_Ladder_4906@reddit

It’s all good! So fun to watch them. Our daughter got us one for Xmas and we are addicted. Go to Etsy to find all kinds of attachments for hummingbirds, fruit and suet!

[-]

WeekendLegitimate615@reddit

Hey that's really cool I think be great to have.

[-]

baldmisery17@reddit

I got my hubby one and he keeps sending me bird pics.

[-]

StressMysterious7530@reddit

Older? Yes. Remembering what's really important and enjoy your peace.

[-]

Ironhide_Fleshy@reddit

Im in the woods so this would be so cool

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

You just need WiFi in range. It’s great, it sends push notifications when it sees movement, and it has an alarm that you can sound if it’s a squirrel to scare it away lol

[-]

UnicornFarts1111@reddit

I'm sure those squirrels will learn it is only a sound after a while and ignore it. They are smart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

I’ve seen that!

They’re smart af

[-]

Ironhide_Fleshy@reddit

Very cool

[-]

AcidRayn66@reddit

yea we’re old now. wife had me set up 4 of them.

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

We’ve already got the next couple spots picked out lol

[-]

cruisereg@reddit

You’re a better husband than me, I bought one for my wife and I haven’t put it up yet :(

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

I’m a terrible husband. This was really easy. Just a couple of screws and then I climbed up as high as the chord could go and screwed the solar panel in. She connected it to the WiFi and all.

[-]

homedude@reddit

I set up mine last week. It was actually a failed Christmas present for my mom, their house is built like a faraday cage and we opted to not mess with their wifi just to use a bird feeder. So now it's mine. It's BirdBuddy with the solar roof. It's definitely cool but I would look for other options if I was purchase a second one. The solar charging doesn't cover an entire days worth of use, there is still a net drain on the battery. There is a subscription that paywalls a lot of features.

In spite of the negatives, I really do enjoy it. We've got Northern Cardinals (mean bastards), House Sparrows, White Winged Dove, and Grey Catbirds making regular stops. I know there are Jays nesting in the area but I haven't caught one yet. I think the Cardinals keep them away.

[-]

ReluctantSeer@reddit

You're not old, I'm not old.

gif

[-]

this_kitty68@reddit

I love that you’re super excited even though there are no birds yet. lol

[-]

pistafox@reddit

We live in a renovated 1910 factory. We’re on the top floor(s) and for a decade have had hawks call the roof above us home. I’ve been tempted to pick the lock to the roof and put a camera up there. Now I’m really tempted.

[-]

UnicornFarts1111@reddit

You might not like what you see with hawks. I would forgo the cameras.

[-]

pistafox@reddit

Yeah, I’m really tempted but the last thing I’d want is to spook them. They keep coming back every year, and at least six times have made a new hawk. It’s amazing watching them teach it to fly, then to glide on thermals, then hunt, and then leave to do hawk stuff until the next year.

[-]

thecannarella@reddit

Do you have a rain gauge?

[-]

UnicornFarts1111@reddit

My dad used to have one. To be fair, he also used to be involved with that kind of stuff for the FAA back in the day.

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

lol not yet

[-]

FlippingPossum@reddit

My son got one for my husband. The whole family geeks out over the pics. Enjoy!

[-]

runningoutofwords@reddit

For us it started with a $50 gift card to the bird store. We are in so deep now!

PS, get ready to go buy some Tabasco-coated birdseed, becuase you're going to get a LOT of squirrel photos

[-]

AlyceEnchanted@reddit

🤣

We had a pair of Robins build on our back patio. Under a roof. Should have been safe. Unfortunately, last year, a snake found them and told friends. They have built on the roof, by the chimney, this year.

We get Carolina wrens, too. The Finch built in a rose bush. A snake got those eggs, too.

If you feed in the winter, you will get a variety of feeders. Feeder and ground birds. Squirrels, too.

Get worried when you start recognizing and naming them.

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

That’s how it started for us.

We had nests start going up in the outside ledge of window sills. We could sit inside and watch the mom hatch and feed the baby’s for a couple of years now.

No snakes though

[-]

Juan-Quixote@reddit

Show me your birds!

[-]

basahahn1@reddit (OP)

I’ll follow up to the post if we get anything good…nothing yet. We just put some apple quarters and water out there too so we’ll see

[-]