Wordless Wednesday

A Mother's Love

The temperature has been all over the map around these parts. The warm weather forced flowers and trees to bloom earlier than usual. But plants weren't the only things that were fooled.
Our killdeer, that I've posted about a few times already, built their nest and laid 3 eggs. The nest, which is on the side of our driveway, is marked with rebar and landscape tape so the UPS guy, or anyone for that matter, doesn't run over it. It is impossible to see, if you don't know it's there.
Well, the weather has turned and we've had a few cold days with even colder nights. They were predicting 1/2" of snow for today and all I could think of was the killdeer nest. We've seen her sitting on the nest in pouring down rain in previous years, but the thought of seeing her sitting in the snow was a sight that I didn't want to see. I had visions of taking the cedar cat house and inverting it over her and the nest, but in reality I would never do that.
So far there has been no snow. This morning when I drove out the driveway, I saw her sitting there in the cold (20's), put the truck in reverse and ran in to get the camera. I stopped the truck next to her and took a few quick photos.
Nature amazes me constantly. This pair of killdeer come back every year. They build their nest in the driveway, no matter what is going on around here. They sit on the nest until the eggs hatch and then they're gone.
Until next time.....

Busy Birds

I love this time of year, when the birds come back and start building nests and raising their young. I think they're pretty used to me and my camera by now.

1. I have no idea what kind of bird built this nest. I just discovered it this morning. See the entrance at the left? I'll be watching to see who comes and goes. This is a first for us.
2. Mr Bluebird taking a break in the shade, near one of the bird baths. Him and Mrs B are in the process of building a nest. We have another couple that built a nest on the far end of the garden. I tried to take some photos, but they didn't come out good. It's one of our older bluebird boxes. Our new ones have a view window we can look through.
3. Mockingbird eggs. They built this nest in a red honeysuckle bush, about three feet off the ground. Not smart at all. It's dark in there. I had to lighten the photo up quite a bit just so I could see the eggs. I didn't want to stick around too long, so I snapped a few quick shots and split before the birds came back. Mockingbirds don't like anyone messing around their nests!

Moving Day

We have a couple of bluebird boxes in the back. We also have a bluebird feeder that I bought several years ago, thinking it would be cool to feed bluebirds since they don't eat at regular bird feeders. That's it, in the foreground. We bought the feed and put it out but the bluebirds never came to eat. But they do seem to like to use it as a house. Why not? Great view with an awesome fixed glass window.
Yesterday, a couple decided to move in. I tried to get a few shots of them without freaking them out too much. I didn't want them to leave.
Today I had to till the round bed and transplant peppers. The nest sits in the middle of the round bed.
Below: Mr B staking his claim.

Above: Mr B checking out the progress from the south door.

Below: Mrs B with a mouthful of pine needles. They both build the nest.

Below: I think that's Mr B inside the box, adding to the nest. They finished the nest. I finished transplanting peppers. I'm heading outdoors to water them in. Bluebirds are not shy birds and tolerate being around humans. Hope they get used to me fast because I'll be knocking on the door when the eggs are laid and again when they hatch.

Until next time.....

Wordless Wednesday

Welcome To Tennessee

Last May a pair of whistling swans stopped off at the pond down the road for a few days during their migration. Well the other day, they returned! They are so cool. I've never seen them before.

Such beautiful birds! Enjoy your stay and rest up for your flight.

Until next time.....

Hold Everything!

This morning while I was outside in the garden, I noticed a little face looking out the opening of the bluebird house. Stop everything! .....runs to get camera.

So, I slowly walk up to the bird house and snap a few photos of the tiny Wrens about to leave the nest. One by one, they flew off into the world. I was half tempted to follow them into the garden, but mama Wren was SO loud. It sounded like I was trying to eat them. So I let them be and wished them well.

Until next time.....

Backyard Bird Update

Here's an update to this blog post, as promised. Like in real life, things don't always go as planned.
Out of the five nests, two of them hatched and went out into the world without a problem.

All four Robin eggs hatched. I took a few photos of them in nest, but tried to stay away. Mama Robins are very protective and I didn't want to upset her.

The House Wren eggs hatched safely too. That was a given. After all, she did build her nest in a bluebird box! I took one picture of the babes. They're still in there. I'll try to get another if I see them when they come out of the box.

Something got the eggs in the Chickadee and Thrasher nests. We're thinking that it was a snake because the nests weren't disturbed.

One night, something got into the Red Finch nest. We woke up to find the nest on the ground. I have some ideas as to what happened to them.

I've got my eye out for more nests. If I find them, I'll be camera ready.

Until next time.....

Sunday's Peace

Come Take a Peek

Shhhhhh! Be real quiet and try not to move. Come take a peek at some of Mother Nature's finest work. There are all kinds of nests on our property this time of year, here in middle Tennessee. They're either filled with eggs or baby birds. Here's a few nests that I discovered the other day.

The first one is a Robin's nest. It's in the middle of a Euonymous bush. I snapped that one quickly before the mama returned. They are very protective of their nests!

I found the second nest when I checked our bluebird box. Definitely not bluebirds. (Their eggs are blue). These brick red beauties belong to a pair of wrens, but I'm not sure what kind of wren. I do know that it's not a Carolina wren.

Number three is a tiny nest built in one of our smaller Foster Hollies. This nest sits about three feet off the ground. I need to go outside with my bird book to see what kind of birds these are. I'm thinking Chickadee.

Next is a Thrasher nest. It's in another one of our Euonymous shrubs. She was in the shrub and wouldn't leave, so I took a picture and quickly left.

Last up are a few fuzzy freshly hatched Red Finches. The nest is built in the variegated ivy that grows up a cedar post. I've been watching the couple fly in and out for a while now, but was unable to find the nest, until the other day. I'll be back with some baby pictures if I'm lucky enough to see these eggs after they hatch.
Until next time.....

Bird Wars ~ Day 3

The Cedar Waxwings are still here, trying to eat the berries. And Bill is succeeding at keeping them away. Every now and then, they'll storm the Foster Hollies and grab a berry or two before Bill returns to chase them away. When I hear the commotion, I grab the camera. I still haven't been able to get any good shots, but the sun is out now, so the ones that I did get are a little clearer. I'm not crazy about posting bad photos, but at this point, it's all I have to offer.

They're at in again, right now. This time Althea is up in the window, watching the show. It's

going to be an entertaining day~

I've got to transplant our broccoli and cabbage seedlings today. I think I'll bring the camera with me. Maybe I'll get lucky and can finally get the money shot.

Hope your weekend is filled with simple pleasures.

Until next time.....

Cedar Waxwings vs One Mockingbird

Yesterday, while working in the office, I heard a commotion outside the window. I got up to see what it was and saw at least 100 Cedar Waxwings flying around. Every spring during their migration, they stop here to eat the berries from our Foster Holly trees. Every year but this one.

It seems that our Mockingbird that lives in the front yard doesn't want anyone eating his berries. These berries have been here all winter and this bird has hardly touched them. But, this is where he sleeps, so these trees are his. All three of them. M'birds are very territorial. Ever see one harass a cat or a hawk? Sassy birds! I can not believe that a flock this large is afraid of one little ole cat bird.

I've had my camera out, ready to photograph the birds if they ever get a chance to land on the trees to eat. We'll be eye to eye. I know that I could get some great shots, if only Bill (yes that's what we named him) would learn to share. I did take a few shots of them this morning, waiting patiently in the Bradford Pear, but it's dark and rainy and they didn't come out too good. I'll post better photos, if I get some.

Do you plant trees/bushes to feed the birds in your area?

Until next time.....

Just Around The Corner Now Part 2

The birds are coming back, slowly but surely. I love hearing them chatter away in the morning as they wake up. Sure sign that Spring is just around the corner! I can't wait until nests start being built and baby birds start peeping. Until then, here's some of the birds 'round here from previous years.

Are the birds coming back where you live?

Until next time.....

In The Garden

I went out yesterday morning, while the sun was out, in search of shadows for this week's Shadow Shot Sunday photo. We've had a week of on and off clouds mixed with rain. Love it, especially for July. Here's a few things I found:

Baby Mockingbird. The look on his face is priceless. He did not move a muscle the entire time I photographed him.

Volunteer Sunflower with honeybee.

Sunflower against the bluest of blue skies.

Corn with ears.

Enjoy the weekend.

Until next time.....

Somebody is in Trouble!

A little background first. For those of you that don't know or forgot.....our Spring garden rotted or washed away. Twice. The Summer garden was late getting in the ground due to all of the Spring rain. That means that our tomatoes are late this year. Last week, they finally started ripening. I am so ready for my first tomato of the season.

We have an Eastern Box Turtle that has a Summer home in the main vegetable garden. He's been there several years. Last year he returned, but was not alone. I know that the Dude and his Mrs. eat tomatoes. I've caught them with seeds on their face and juice dribbling down their chins.

We have several families of mockingbirds that live around us. We love them and look forward to the day each year when they start singing again. (usually around Valentine's Day). We put out apples for them. They bring their young to the swing, where the apples are. We got along fine for years.

Yesterday, I was working in the garden and what did I see? This!

I also saw a bird fly out of the tomato patch, but wasn't really paying attention, so don't know what kind of bird it was. We never had a problem with birds eating tomatoes in the garden, but I did catch Bill (the bird) eating this one, after I brought it up to the house. Coincidence? I don't know who's doing this, but it has to stop. One dozen tomatoes, mostly green with just a splash of color, pecked on. Even though I hate to do so, I may have to start picking the tomatoes way under ripe.

Honestly, I don't mind sharing, but I'd like to eat a ripe tomato already.

Somebody is in trouble!

Until next time.....

Bluebirds

If I could be a bird, I believe that I would choose to be a bluebird. Besides their color, which happens to be one of my favs, they have a very even temperament.

One of our bluebird houses up at Crystal Lake is around 25 feet from our campsite. Our presence doesn't seem to rattle them at all. Nor does the smoke from our campfire.

These birds are in the process of raising family #2 for 2009. The male and female both are very hands on when it comes to building the nest and taking care of the babies. They chatter away as they bring food for the babes. I could sit for hours and watch them come and go from the house.

We better get busy and hang more bluebird houses next to the fields. We're going to need them.

Until next time...

The Tale of the Littlest Dude

When it comes to nature, I rarely get involved. But I made an exception this past weekend. Do you remember the post with the pictures of the killdeer eggs? The bird built the nest a few feet from where our new water lines were going through. I roped the area off with survey stakes and orange tape. On the day that the dozier came through, I went out and spoke to the big, burly, bearded guy about the nest. I asked him if I needed to move the eggs while he worked. He assured me that he would have no problem navigating that beast around the nest. Word must have spread because every piece of machinery that entered our driveway carefully stayed away from the killdeer nest. I never doubted these guys. I've worked in construction for years. But some of y'all questioned whether or not they would be careful around the nest. Now, you know.

So, days go by and according to my records, it's time for the eggs to hatch. One hatches and a couple of days go by and the other three eggs are just sitting there. The damn mama takes off; figuring her work is done. Ha! On Saturday, while I'm out mowing the lawn, I notice that one of the eggs is cracked open. I immediately shut the mower off and look around. Sure enough, there's the littlest dude. Freshly hatched and wobbly as can be. I can not just leave him there; after all we've been through together. His mom is long gone and he's so tiny and all alone. Killdeer are precocial birds, like chicks and ducklings. They hatch fully formed and ready to roll. Our killdeer chicks in the past hatch out and are gone by the second day, but the mama is around long enough to teach them the ropes.

What to do? What to do? I got a basket and lined it with rags and put the littlest dude in it to try and keep him warm. He felt so cold. I even got out one of our fleece socks and wrapped him in it. I put a light on the basket for added warmth and hit the Internet. There are times when I really love the computer. This was one of them. I found out how to take care of an orphaned killdeer chick and started cooking. First I tried hard boiled egg yolk. The littlest dude didn't seem to really like it, but I did get him to nibble on some. Lights went out and the dude went to bed.

The next morning, I drove into town to get meal worms at Pet Smart. Wasted trip. The littlest dude didn't want anything to do with them. I mixed up a small batch of sugar water and fed him with a syringe. When the sun came up enough and it was warm out, I put the basket outside, turned on it's side. I watched from the deck; so tempted to go and pick up the chick, but knew that he needed to do this on his own. He looked strong and healthy. He started hopping around. I went about my day, but kept checking on him. By the end of the day, the littlest dude was gone. I can't hear his peeping anywhere. He's off on his own, doing what he was born to do. Part of me was sad to see that he was gone, but I knew that this was for the best. I helped him through his rough patch and now he was ready to begin the rest of his life. I hope he (or she) returns next year to start a family of his own.

Long may you run my sweet baby bird~

Until next time.....

They're Back

Two years ago, a pair of killdeer made their nest in our driveway. They toss aside the gravel and voila ~ they've got a nest. You can read about it here:

http://blackstarjewelry.blogspot.com/2007/06/with-their-running-shoes-on.html

Well, they're back. In the same place. The only problem is that the county is running new water lines out here. The line is going through our right of way, about six feet from the nest. I put up two stakes with orange landscape tape in hopes that the dozier, gravel trucks and construction boots will tread lightly. Time will tell.

Until next time.....