Thump! “What was that?” A cardinal, what else. This is the time of year when the beautiful and usually mild-mannered cardinals go on attack.  The males are very territorial and mark out their territories with song. During courtship, the male feeds seeds to the female beak-to-beak. In late March, the redbirds quickly decide which bird controls which turf. We usually have a half dozen male … [Read more...]

We had three days to kill in Jamaica. Mostly we wanted to do nothing, just lay around and soak in the Caribbean beauty. If we chose, there were lots of things available to do or see – white water rafting, horseback riding, deep sea fishing expeditions, tourist stops and snorkeling over the reefs. Snorkeling was out. The last time we went snorkeling, we freaked out all the clown fish in the … [Read more...]

We have had 4 bluebirds hanging around our house and mooching sunflower hearts since last fall. I think it’s the mom, dad and 2 young’uns from last year, but I’m not sure. Soon, though, the two little guys will be gone. Whereas all 4 birds fed in turn at my feeders, the dominant male now shoos the others away. Daddy Bluebird wants no competition for the hand of his betrothed. He has already begun … [Read more...]

I am in full-grackle mode. They showed up last week and I am prepared for the confrontation. For the past several years, grackles have attacked my yard and birdfeeders like the Russians going after Ukraine real estate. It wouldn’t be so bad if there were 6 or 8, but they come in swarms, as many as 50 or more in a gang. I cannot afford to feed 50 grackles. In order to continue to feed my … [Read more...]

We once had three dogwood trees in our front yard. They were planted when our house was first built. About 20 years ago, we lost one of our dogwoods to a young teenage girl who wasn’t paying attention to where she was driving and plowed into my dogwood. The girl was okay, but the tree didn’t make it. A couple year ago, we lost the second tree to old age. We had trimmed and trimmed it until it just … [Read more...]

  I have been seeing a pair of Downy Woodpeckers at my various feeders recently. They particularly like the peanut suet bar. One Downy with a cherry red patch on the back of his head (the male) will peck on one side and one without the red patch (the female) will peck at the other. Obviously, I have had a mating pair of Downy’s, and they will no doubt soon be nesting near or on my … [Read more...]

I don’t even want to know how much I spend on birdseed. Moneywise, I’d probably come out better if I played the ponies instead of watching birds, but when I see my little flock of 11 snowbirds scratching around for old seeds, I go the shed and toss out a couple cups of millet, their favorite. I also keep peanuts for the blue jays, corn for the crows, hot pepper suet nuggets for the bluebirds (as … [Read more...]

  I have a fly-through bowl feeder just outside our den window, primarily to entertain Foster, our parakeet. Foster chirps and tweets and hops from bar to bar in her cage when the various birds fly in and out for a bit of seed. Something that got my attention, however, was that the house sparrows dominated other birds of that size, most notably my bluebirds. I didn’t realize how aggressive … [Read more...]

They must like to shop at Kroger’s. Otherwise, why do so many crows gather in flocks near Kroger’s. Sometimes every tree limb and light pole in the lot have crow claws clinging to them. I have noticed this phenomenon for the past several years. This morning, there must have been 100 or more crows chatting away about whatever crows chat about. But then, they break up into small groups – there is … [Read more...]