The sun peeks out from behind the clouds illuminating the landscape of emerging green, reminding us that Spring is finally here. Flower bulbs pop up and wave 'hello'.
Birdsong is in the air.
Our kitty is enjoying a new bustle of activity outside the window too.
Our friend John, recently made bird houses from recycled wood (using crate packaging), and kindly gave us a couple of them. They 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 primarily eat insects--making them beneficial to the garden.
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 ever do that though.
Within half-an-hour of erecting the first one in our backyard a pair of chickadees was already checking it out. I started getting nervous. Fortunately, and to my relief, they didn't move in.
Still, no sign of bluebirds, but we will keep watching.
I look forward to the days when the birds occupy our birdhouse again. I have the perfect view from my kitchen window.
Posted by: Dawn | March 15, 2008 at 04:15 PM
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.
Posted by: Mo'a | March 16, 2008 at 06:45 AM
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.
Posted by: nanette | March 16, 2008 at 08:41 PM
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
Posted by: Terri Pollhein | March 17, 2008 at 05:12 AM
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!
Posted by: dawn | March 17, 2008 at 06:09 AM
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.
Posted by: Natalie | March 17, 2008 at 07:43 AM
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
Posted by: Kitty | March 17, 2008 at 08:43 AM
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.
Posted by: June | March 17, 2008 at 09:15 AM
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!!
Posted by: Miss Paula | March 17, 2008 at 10:44 AM
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.
Posted by: Alice | March 18, 2008 at 08:42 AM