A Bluebird family had a hard time this year. They had tried to nest in the garden since April but the House sparrow chased them out of the first nest box even though they had finished building their nest. Then they picked another nest box on the other side of the garden. She, female is the one who does the nest building, finished the nest … Continue reading The Resilient Bluebird
Almost A Full House The temperature is still seesawing, but most of the migrating birds have reached us on their usual schedule. The Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) have finally settled in one of the bird boxes and have started building their nest despite harassment from the House sparrows. We really have to keep an eye on this one to make sure that the sparrows don’t … Continue reading Back From Wintering
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
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
Eastern Bluebird The weather is still too cold for spring. Night time temperature a little bit above the freezing point most nights. Making matters worse, we had an ice storm four days ago. The birds, on the other hand, seem to know better since they have started to shed their winter down. This is the time of year I see a lot of fine feathers … Continue reading First Family Of The Season
Eastern Bluebirds Have Settled However bad this last winter was, the Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis) elected not to leave us for warmer digs down south. Maybe because we provided everything they needed here: food, water and places to roost inside from the cold wind and snow. This last winter was the first time that they were really present on an almost daily basis. Once the weather started to get warmer, they started … Continue reading First Family of the Year
Petals and Wings 