Where are my worms? I am the Mealworm Fairy. I am the one who magically fills the bluebirds’ feeder bowl with fat, juicy mealworms. Sometimes the bluebirds recognize that the Fairy has come, and sometimes they don’t have a clue and wonder where the heck all those worms came from. I have been feeding and observing bluebirds for over 20 years and the one thing I know for certain about these … [Read more...]

I grew up in what could be acknowledged as the Iris Capital of the World - Greenbrier County in West Virginia. Every May, the West Virginia Hills would spring to life with Iris blooms - along roads, bordering driveways, in massive beds and overwhelming the landscape with their beauty. The climate is perfect in this, one of the most beautiful counties in America. Add cool evenings, with warm … [Read more...]

Every year it’s the same. Within the same week, sometimes within a day or two, my snowbirds leave and my catbirds return. They must both get the same weather report or whatever it is that makes birds come and go. I had a large flock of snowbirds this year - maybe 20 in all and they practically camped out beneath my feeders. I made sure to toss them some extra seeds on the ground since they … [Read more...]

How do you spell beauty? P-h-l-o-x. Phlox, not flox. Phlox may be hard to spell, but they sure are pretty, and they are easy to grow. I remember when I first moved to Charlottesville, I made many trips to Sugar Hollow to engage the trout in the Moorman’s River with assorted flies. I also vividly remember that in early April, lawns all along Garth Road and Sugar Hollow Road were teeming with … [Read more...]

A week ago, I wrote about seeing a female blue grosbeak. I saw her on two straight days, but no male. I also said that I had never seen a male blue grosbeak in the yard. But I was mistaken. In April 2000, I wrote the article below “Jim, come quick. There’s a strange bird beneath the feeder.” Reluctantly putting down my morning paper, I went to the kitchen window and saw the blue bird … [Read more...]

I saw a strange bird scratching below my feeder this week. It was a deep rich-brown color, larger than a sparrow but not as large as a thrasher and lacking long tail feathers. I had no clue until I scanned my bird guide. It was a female Blue Grosbeak. I saw her for two days, then no more. I have never seen a male Blue Grosbeak in my yard. Adult males are royal blue with a tiny black mask in … [Read more...]

It’s amazing what a week or so of 70-degree weather will do. Blooms, for example. Our forsythia patch is turning into a golden vista. Yellow jonquils are showing off all around the yard. Lovely purple hyacinths have popped up and the little crocuses are erupting in beauty. The ever-faithful Lenten Roses are in full bloom – they start before all the others. Perhaps the happiest of all my … [Read more...]

Feeding and birdwatching is fun, but if you’re not careful, you can spend a small fortune in food and seeds. Americans spent about 5 billion last year. That’s a lot of sunflower seeds. Recently, I have been buying in bulk wherever I can. I buy Premium Birdseed at Sam’s, for example, at about $29 for 40 pounds of high-quality seed, but that blend does not have sunflower hearts or chips, which is … [Read more...]

I have 3 crows that regularly make the rounds in my back yard.  That’s because they know they will usually find some goodies – like whole kernel corn - scattered about. And sometimes they find their favorite snacks - pieces of stale bread that I have tossed out for the birds. They will grab the bread before the corn, peanuts, or seeds. The first thing they do is fly to the pond or a … [Read more...]

Buy a dome feeder I saw one yesterday. A grackle. The  first of  the  year, but there will be  more to come. Down in Atlanta they are thick as thieves and my son Jimmie has declared war on the  thieving birds  as they  come in hordes and devour his birdseed. Unless  you stop filling your birdfeeders, the grackles will come, but as I advised … [Read more...]