No live action feed in my yard, but plenty of lively action feeding.
The action's heating up right in my backyard. A pair of House Wrens are considering my nest box for an abode. I do hope they'll stay this year.
Today a Crow caused a ruckus in my flowering crabtree. The Grackles and Robins noisily trying to chase it off before it found their nests and raided them for the chicks. The jet black figure looked menacing as it skulked amongst the branches, a dark hulk of feathers and beak punching a hole of darkness into the green foliage
Baltimore Orioles are back this spring, nibbling at blossoms and buds in the trees. I sat with wine in hand last evening as a female flitted between the lilacs around my patio, she trailed a flood of heady perfume as she fluttered through the branches. Hummingbirds have been visiting these same lilacs ever since they first started blooming, adroitly avoiding the buzzing bumblebees arguing amongst themselves.
Brad, we are having out best year ever for birds at the feeders. Our hummingbirds have just stared settling in and aerial dog fighting at the feeders.
Bluebirds, indigo buntings, finches and warblers and sparrows. The usual several species of woodpeckers. Rose breasted grosbeaks last fall and again this spring. Gawd that’s a pretty bird.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...T4KHUvWAMwQ_B0IejAK&ei=JT04Wc_POMez-wHLrIPgDA
The birdsong all day long is a thing of beauty. It’s like a wonderful (and quite loud) wake up alarm at dawn, and watching their behaviors and bully pecking order at the feeders is a joy.
I’m not sure what made the difference this spring.
I kept 3 seed feeders and at least one suet feeder going for the past few years. Always there, always filled, probably more dependably refilled than in years past. Even when I was away travelling.
I put up a dozen or so nest boxes last fall. They have become filled and that couldn’t have hurt.
I have, uh, “reduced” the absurd and flippant grey squirrel population. I haven’t had to buy new feeders as often, and predation on eggs and nestlings has been lessened. The lovable chipmunks, who don’t destroy my feeders, are getting pudgy on seed under the feeders.
The red shouldered hawks that nest in the backyard are going have been going strong for years and the “crow brothers” are pure delight in their antics.
We have a full murder of crows, but three have laid claim to my property. They have distinct voices (one is especially hoarse). And they have different levels of crow intelligence.
One, and I think it is always the same one, has learned how to knock chunks of suet out of the chain hung suet feeder. It required a learning curve of hovering attempts and semi-comical failures, but he has the technique down pat now. His bros just sit on the ground below the suet egging him on.
“Baltimore Orioles”? Northern? Bullocks cross? I couldn’t tell them apart with a mist net and a field guide.
Now if I could just convince the wrens not to start building nests in the shop five minutes after I open the garage door.