Bird Watching

The weeks following the "spring ahead" time-change is always a bust around here with everyone feeling sleep-deprived and out-of-sorts.  Just keeping all expectations low while we make body-clock adjustments and try to shake off the residual brain fog.  Again.  Grumble-Grumble.  Think we're finally pulling out of it.  The sun keeps peeking out from the clouds reminding us that Spring will officially be here soon and it lifts our spirits.  Flower bulbs are up and waving 'hello'.  Birdsong is abundant.  I see Lily with her face pressed against the windows anxiously awaiting another mild day so she can get back outside again.  She likes to birdwatch with the rest of us.  Our friend John, recently made bird houses from recycled wood (using crate packaging from France) to put up around the area, and gave us a couple of them.  Finally got both up last weekend.  These are primarily for the preservation of the Western Bluebird, which is considered a sensitive species due to loss of natural habitat.  They are darling little birds, part of the thrush family, related to the Robin, and they primarily eat insects which makes them beneficial to the garden.  We've seen them nearby in the woods and also in other locations peeking out from similar birdhouses.  These nesting boxes are made with optimal specifications to attract them, but the English Sparrows sometimes take up residence too. There's a hatch on the side that can be opened to evict them if need be.  I'm not sure I could do that though and hope I never have to make that decision.  Within half-an-hour of erecting the first one, a pair of chickadees was already checking it out, and I started getting nervous.  Fortunately, and to my great relief, they didn't move in.  Grace had her camera at-the-ready and got this picture of one of them peeking inside.   No sign of bluebirds yet, though we remain ever hopeful.  If you have an interest in creating a backyard bluebird habitat, you can read about it here.  See more images in the Bluebirds flickr group.

Comments

[Dawn]

I look forward to the days when the birds occupy our birdhouse again. I have the perfect view from my kitchen window.

[Mo'a]

My Husband just bought an Eastern Bluebird house. We have seen them at our bird feeder for the last two years...we bought some worms and a feeder to serve them in for them last year.
I look forward to a report on your new residents.

[nanette]

We have some blue jays that have taken up nest in our back yard. They are darling but not quite as special as blue birds. So cute.

[Terri Pollhein]

This is a good reminder to me to get a bird house or two for my yard. I keep moaning that spring is never coming, but it will be here soon enough and I love watching the birds...
God bless.
Terri

[dawn]

Looks like spring IS coming to your house! We are still at least knee-deep in snow...The squirrels have destroyed our bird watching, you have reminded me how much I miss it!

[Natalie]

Somehow, it helps to read that I am not alone... dazed and confused, stunned after the time change! Looking to the birds is a very nice way to recover from our unnatural habit of messing around with time... thank you for this.

[Kitty]

I love blue birds. My Mom has a pair that nest in her bluebird box. No luck for me. Too many trees. Not enough open land. Good luck with your venture.

Kitty

[June]

What a lovely post. I love bluebirds and was lucky to be part of a bluebird house building project when I lived in Virginia. I belonged to the Virginia Society of Ornithologists at the time and we built and installed the houses along the bluebird trail. It was so life-affirming.

[Miss Paula]

You mean I wasn't the only one who was dozing off all the time last week?? I thing the older I get the harder the time change is. Then on top of that jet lag. Last week was a blur...

The Brazilian Red Cap Cardinal's we saw in Kauai were beautiful!! This is a bird I had never seen. Last year in PA I saw my first all red cardinal!!

[Alice]

I love the kitty watching the birds...delightful! I don't have any birdhouses, but I do feed my little ones. I've been seeing them pick up pieces of dried grass in the yard. It's a delight to watch.