What is going on around here? And I have heard from some of you! Part 4
Baltimore Orioles! Here are photos Cleon took of the male who has just arrived. The male orioles will be setting up nesting territories in ours and our neighbor’s trees and so for the next few weeks will only be at the birdbath and feeder off and on. The females will arrive in 1-2 weeks. Once pairs have mated and nest building begins, these orioles will be more regular visitors to both the feeder and bird bath – most often from mid-afternoon to dusk. Watch for them!
White-throated Sparrows. In my opinion, these birds should be thinking about packing their suitcases and heading back home to the northern parts of our northeastern and north central states, or just about anywhere in Canada, and get going on raising families. The winter vacation is over!!! Even though they are still here, it is spring, and this is when mating season begins for most songbirds. These White-throated Sparrows are singing. If you have never heard their song, here is a good place to listen – I think it is one of the easier birdsongs to remember. I love it – to me, sounds wistful and full of hope at the same time. Song of White-throated Sparrow
Here is a video of this same White-throated Sparrow. Cleon and I had been working outside and were taking a break – sitting at a fire he built. This bird did not mind us there at all. But seriously – maybe think about migrating back north? It is already the end of April and summers up there are short! See you next winter……
White-throated Sparrow – Part 1
We had a Great White Egret on our lake – this is very early for them to be right here. In our area, yes, but not on this lake. We normally get 1-3 of these big birds in August and early September – not before. A beautiful sight!
Janelle from Illinois sent me the video I shared with you in my last post – the crayfish in her perennial bed – her dry perennial bed a long way from any water. She just sent me a second video of a Red-shouldered Hawk sitting on its nest at the edge of the woodland that is down the hill from her house – the stream is right there. Perfect Red-shouldered Hawk habitat.
Shelly Lyons from North Carolina – whose poem, “Wood Violets”, is posted under Natural Thoughts on this website (the poem Wood Violets) – just moved into her first home and sent me the first bird at her new feeder – a Downy Woodpecker – I posted that in my last blog. Here is a video of one of the first birds to use her new bird bath. Shelly went on to say she has not been a birder – she likes birds, like to hear them singing, but that was as far as it went. I think that is about to change!
Eastern Bluebird in Shelly’s new bird bath
P.S. The first hummingbird has been spotted at a feeder in our area. Keep an eye on the feeders on both livestreams. Hopefully you will see a few soon. We have never had many in our yard – there are lots of people in our area who have more than we do. But we can usually count on about 4-5. As the months go by, there will be more and more of the red flowers they love right at or close to the large birdbath. Hopefully that will draw them in so you can watch their antics.
And our Dark-eyed Juncos are now all gone – flying north to nest in northern Wisconsin Michigan, Minnesota or just about anywhere in Canada. When they arrive in fall, it is a sure sign winter is close. And when they leave in spring, I always know our cold weather is over. They have always been a favorite of mine – I will miss them!