Couples.
I always find it fascinating to see the differences in the appearance of birds. Here is a little selection.
(top two rows: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird - ladies in row 1, gents in row 2
third row: Mourning Doves and House Finches, they wanted to be in the same photo with their partners :D)
Dr. Clara and Mandrake
and me have had a rough couple of days. After they sucessfully fledged four babies, the couple disappeared as usual to show the babies the world. They did come back occasionally to feed and check on the box. One day, however, a House Sparrow took a liking to the box. This was a first, it has never happened in five years. I use a Gilbertson box, which they usually do not like, with fishing line around the entrance, and the sparrow spooker also was still up. Shooing and spooking the sparrow did not deter him and his lady. One day, I was not home for one hour, and the sparrows had started a nest in the Bluebird box. House sparrows are invasive to the US and can have negative effects on the breeding success of native species like the Bluebirds. I will not let them nest in my boxes.
Eventually, I took the Gilbertson down. After one day, the sparrows moved on. I was very upset about this whole situation and decided to be proactive. I researched and built another box, a slotted style called Troyer. The slot and its relatively small volume are something that HOSP are usually not fond of. The slot lets in lots of light, and they like it dark and deep. The slot opening also enables the female to escape if a House sparrow should go in there to attack her. I also updated the camera in the same step. Now the BBs have brought their baby (it looks like possibly one one of the four has survived this far) to the backyard yesterday, and they have been checking out the new box already too. I hope this all works out, I did not like changing things like that mid-season but I did not want to keep the old box up that the sparrows ended up liking. This is a weird spring.
For more information on how to help Bluebirds and other native cavity nesting birds, check out sialis.org.
Oriole activity
has been off to a comparatively slow start, and I am a bit bummed that I haven’t seen an Orchard Oriole or a Catbird yet. But the season is also young, and there is plenty of time for them to show up. Migration is still ongoing, and right now is a great time for surprise visitors to the backyards and feeders. As far as Oriole feeding goes, I find it interesting that some years, they seem to prefer oranges while in others, they are all in for the grape jelly and hummingbird nectar. Here are three beautiful males.
Grackle appreciation post
I have been so busy with work this week that I did not have a lot of time to process photos. But I have a selection ready and will post that in the morning. For now, please enjoy these goofy beauties and sleep tight.
(PS - the Grack in number 6 shows it’s nictitating membrane, a third kind of eyelid.)
First glimpse
at the class of ‘21 (well, one of them). It was once again mostly overcast today but I love that I saw several Rubythroated Hummingbirds. As probably many birdwatchers do, I have a very special spot for these minature warriors in my heart, first of all because I still cannot believe they come to my garden (where I grew up, in Germany, we don’t get Hummingbirds and they have alwqays been like an exotic miracle to me). These photos are not optimal but I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. More to come, it looks already like this year has more Hummingbird action than 2020!
I put the jelly feeder on the cam
to see how Oriole frequency is, and here is who hit it today. I also saw a female Hummingbird. However, this is Michigan. We have a frost warning tonight, and I hope everybody has a warm spot. The week should be warmer, and hopefully, May finally has a chance to really show off. Happy Monday!
(I realize the lens was dirty but I did not see it at the time.)
When you put out grape jelly,
it’s not just the Orioles who go for it. Many birds seem to have a sweet tooth, amongst them House Finches, Grosbeaks, Woodpeckers and these guys - American Robins. For a short time today, the sun came out, and I am happy it was when the Michigan state bird was there for portrait time. When I first saw Robins, I thought they were interesting, but in close-ups they reveal all these really cool details like eyebrows, rictal bristles, eyerings and throat feathers. I personally also love their song. I am always happy to have them around.
His lady was there the other day,
now here’s her man. I love Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and today, several more have arrived. They are very easy bird guests, they are happy with black oil sunflower seeds and safflower.
Nesting season has really begun,
and one way to tell that is birds coming to the feeders getting their beaks full or even bringing stuff while on the way. This is why we don’t use chemicals in our yard. The birds collect insects and feed them to their wee ones. I always find it interesting what they bring, it gives me insights into the secret bug life of my garden.
This beautiful lady
was new at the feeders today. She is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and I find it funny how she had a fabulous portrait on her first day while the male was messing up, being not properly in the frame. I love these birds, they have a calming and badass presence at the same time. I have seen them sitting on the feeder through tunderstorms, gobbling away calmly. Welcome back, beauties!
I have empty nest syndrome,
since the last BB baby fledged this morning. I cleaned the box and rehung it so Dr. Clara can start another nest, and that helped with the little sadness of not having seen any of them leave the box. Meanwhile, I keep an eye on the events and visitors on the yard. Yesterday, I saw the first Hummingbird, just briefly in the evening, today a female and male Rosebreasted Grosbeak. There is a very vocal Oriole, too. May is starting nicely but so far, also very wet. I am ready for some sunshine. Peanut the Redbellied Woodpecker seems to have a girlfriend nearby. He comes very frequently and also announces himself loudly. Sail smoothly into Wednesday!
It rained cats and dogs today,
and overall it was a weird day. I saw two Orioles, and heard them singing all day, which was awesome. They have a very distinctive song. You might have heard it on the livestream too. I was also distracted by the Bluebird babies. Two were left in the box this morning, I took time to watch, nothing happened. Then I did some gardening towards the evening, and of course during that, one of them fledged. Now I was in position to watch the other one with my big lens… And nothing. That baby is spending the night in the box. But while I was watching, I saw a Hummingbird :D (Pictured wet mops: Blue Jay, Cardi lady, Oriole, Grackle) With this new set of birds, I am changing up my setups a bit, and things still have to settle in. It always is a bit like a game to capture all the new arrivals, and this is one of the most enjoyable times of the year for me.
A very interesting
spring day today. It rained a lot, I tried to keep an eye on the yard out for Orioles and Hummingbirds while also trying to focus on work because they seemingly had rained down onto Michigan today, but nope. None. I did see the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak though! A beautiful male quickly stopped by. The regulars seemed irritated by the new offering. Tomorrow might be the day, there is less rain in the forecast but temperatures are still not pleasant. (Titmouse, Robin, Cardi lady and House Finch)
The four
baby Blues have been growing a lot in the last couple of days, and I am glad that they all look strong and healthy. Their eyes have started to open and they are slowly growing feathers. Dr. Clara is still spending the night with them in the nestbox. She will continue doing that until the babies are fully feathered and can regulate their body temperature by themselves. For the time being, they like cuddling up in a big pile to warm each other while Mom and Dad are out hunting insects for them.
Round is the word of the day,
for one because we are experiencing what is hopefully the last frost and for two because it’s Earth Day! The weather might not be good for gardening everywhere yet but this time is perfect to get a little garden planning on. There are lots of possibilities to make your garden more inviting for birds, also some that might not come to a feeder. Native flowers and berry bushes and trees can help creating more habitat for the wildlife around us. Stay warm! (MoDo, Grackle, Robin and Cardinal)
And a little update
on Dr. Clara and Mandrake. Sadly I have to report that one of the babies has passed this past weekend. I am not sure exactly why but I think it might have been the runt. Remember how those eggs did not all hatch in the same day? The first clutch is always kind of cursed. I checked all my footage and actually saw Dr. Clara carrying the dead baby out of the box. There was no predator attack. This happens and while it is sad, it is also nature. The other four are doing great and hopefully will all make it. But witnessing things like that is always tough. Be sound ❤️
I was feeling adventurous
and put one of the hummer feeders on my photo setup. They are coming but I have not seen one yet and we got snow today. But oh well. I did get a Tufted Titmouse, which I haven’t seen in quite a bit.
A Grack appreciation post.
Because I love them and the week should always end on a good note. If my gut feeling is right, we have a great week ahead. I compared photos of my peach, plum and cherry trees from last year to today, and it turns out that last year, they only started barely blooming by April 27th. But today, they are already blooming. You can see the Serviceberry in the background here a bit too. I think we might see Orioles, Hummingbirds and maybe even Grosbeaks this week! It is just a feeling, don’t take my word for it. But get your feeders ready!
1 part sugar, 4 parts water is the recipe for Hummingbird nectar. Don’t waste your money on the storebought stuff, the red dye is suspected to be harmful to the birds.
The backyard is starting
to brim with fertility, and love is buzzing all over the place. I saw Grackles mating, Robins collecting nesting material by the bath, and the Cardinals were totally hamming it up today. There is just something so pure and adorable about a Cardi man feeding his lady to woo her. I have seen it several times today, and I am so happy that they even took it to the camera. I hope their nest, wherever it is, is safe and sound, and they will have some babies this year. Come good into Saturday!
Times are boring and busy
at the same time right now, if that makes any sense. And that is part of why I am posting less. There is not a lot happening. Some of the summer crowd has arrived and is settling in but otherwise this is still a boring time with possible frost and snow and whatnot. A good time to focus on my job :) Anyways, here is Dr. Clara, as of today proud momma of five. Mandrake is attentive, and the babies have grown a lot even just today. This bodes well. Happy Friday, world!
