Eastern Bluebird One of my fellow bloggers asked me recently how the Bluebirds fared this season. A light bulb went on in my head how about a recap’ of this past breeding season? The Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) have done quite well. To our surprise, they have raised three broods this season however the broods may not be of the same pair. I know one … Continue reading A Recap’ of The Breeding Season
Starting Their Second Brood I think the Bluebirds are getting more comfortable with our garden now. They no longer leave us during winter. We provide roosting boxes, food and water in heated birdbaths when nothing much is around in winter and we help with guarding their nesting box during their breeding season. Since they have become our resident birds, they have started their nesting early. … Continue reading Good Year For Bluebirds
They Are Back Around this time in spring we prepare a welcome mat for the migrating birds, both the ones that come to stay for a season or just passing through. We clean the birdhouses that were left out during winter for cold night roosting and set them back up. Plenty of food is put out as well and we make some effort to insure the feeders won’t … Continue reading Migrating Birds
The First Family To Settle Spring is a very active season for birds. I can tell that spring is really coming when the male American Goldfinches shed their winter coats and the male Cardinals are no longer willing to eat together. The same thing goes for the Eastern Bluebirds which no longer flock together like they do in winter. There is also their singing. The … Continue reading Eastern Bluebird
…With A Cold Shoulder I took the day off from work yesterday and the weather was on my side. Still plenty of snow on the ground but the temperature had soared to nearly 60°F. The honeybees should have been out and about now with a temperature this high, but alas, none to be seen. So I decided to inspect one hive. Intrinsically I knew I … Continue reading Spring Has Sprung
With Snow On The Ground We had around two feet of snow last Tuesday and most of it is still on the ground. The daytime temperatures are hovering between 30 and 40°F which isn’t helping to melt it. Today is the official first day of spring but outside, you would never know it. It’s more like ‘Hello spring, where are you?’ to me. Crocuses, Hellebores and … Continue reading Hello Spring
And Enjoying Bird Watching Snow is still on the ground, a residue of the snowfall a few days ago. It’s very peaceful watching snow falling and the quietness afterward as the snow absorbs sound pretty well. Though it was too cold to go outside, a joyful moment was still there. We hang bird feeders along the patio roof during winter which makes it much easier … Continue reading House Bound
Saving A Mourning Dove I admit I’ve never really liked Mourning Doves. They take over the tray feeders, sitting in the middle and keeping others out. They sit in the birdbaths and enjoy the water while fouling it. They won’t leave until they are done or until I chase them off and they don’t sing. Their worst offense is eating my vegetable seedlings or just sitting … Continue reading Rescue Mission
In Anticipation Of A Better Year Happy New Year 2017 I would like to present you with the image of a warmer day in our garden, the Zephirine Drouhin rose. A climbing fragrant rose that blooms continuously throughout the season. One of many things I anticipate again in June. About this ‘anticipation’, I got the idea from a free bookmark I received from the American Horticultural Society of which … Continue reading Happy New Year
Finally Caught on Camera Every year we look for new lives visiting our garden and nature has never stopped surprising us. I still remember when I saw my first Downy woodpecker in the garden years ago when the yard was still barren, just green lawn and trees. I was so excited to see the woodpecker, a rare occasion back then. After a decade of organic gardening and … Continue reading New Visitor
Petals and Wings 