My backyard nest of bluebirds has fledged – four beautiful gray and blue chicks. They are all healthy and flying well, but have become worse beggars than the fellows who hold up cardboard signs along Rt. 29 North, saying something like this: “I once knew a fellow who was veteran. Personally, I am on drugs, but if you give me a few bucks, I promise I will buy fresh spinach.” My bluebirds don’t … [Read more...]
The Red-headed Woodpecker
“Come look at this woodpecker at the feeder,” my wife Nancy called to me last week. “What about it,” I replied, fully expecting it to be a red-bellied or maybe a pileated woodpecker. But when I glanced out the window, I was stunned. It was a genuine Red-headed woodpecker, the first I can ever recall seeing in our yard. There are many types of woodpeckers and most have red or at least some … [Read more...]
Bluebird Behavior
Bluebirds never cease to amaze me. Last week, when I thought the bluebird hen was on the nest, she wasn’t. The babies had already hatched, somewhere around April 2, the earliest I can ever remember bluebirds hatching in our back yard. We have had bluebirds for probably the last 12 years or more, and each pair has behaved differently. They have their own patterns and personalities. One of the … [Read more...]
Chipmunks Welcome
When I was 12 years old and a full-fledged paperboy, one of the highlights of my morning route was to try to sneak up on the chipmunks at Nancy Young’s house. The Young’s had a rock wall as a landscape border and it was full of “munks”, the skitziest critters I have ever seen. They’d spot me coming and zip beneath the rocks in a flash. I have always found chipmunks to be interesting creatures … [Read more...]
Smallmouth Bite Is On
Mossy Creek Fly Shop Report The James and Shenandoah Rivers Spring has finally arrived and the Valley is turning green and colorful once again. Recent rains have really helped replenish water flow from the mountain streams to our biggest rivers. The extended forecast is showing more rain so hopefully this trend will continue to provide us with a quality peak spring … [Read more...]
Bluebirds On The Nest
My resident pair of blue birds laid claim to the birdhouse on my back fence back in December. Each day, they have come by to check on their property. There were a few scuffles with squirrels and chickadees along the way, but the nest is now built and I believe all the eggs are in place. Now it’s time for Mrs. Blue to do her thing, to keep the eggs warm for a couple weeks until the 4 or 5 chicks … [Read more...]
A Better Thistle Feeder
From Jill Smith, Fluvanna County Says Jill: I always enjoy reading C’ville Buzz. Thank you for taking the time to write all those articles weekly. I’m sure some of that is quite a chore! You do a great job covering many areas of interest to many people. I read your article about finding a thistle feeder and, having tried those, I wanted to show you one that I think is the best … [Read more...]
Feeding The Finches
I am truly a doofus, as my wife constantly reminds me. But she’s right. Sometimes I think my brain is in the charging mode and not really plugged in. For example. A thistle sock I used last summer to feed finches was completely worn out, so it was off to Lowe’s for a replacement. Instead of buying another sock filled with thistle or nyjer seed, I bought a bag of finch food and a new, plastic … [Read more...]
Mmm! I Love Onions
Remember that old song, “I Love Onions”, by Susan Christie recoded in 1966? The lyrics went something like this: I don't like snails, or toads, or frogs. Or strange things living under logs, But, mmm, I love onions. I, too, love onions, especially spring onions and I planted three rows in my garden last Sunday. Can you believe this weather – planting stuff in your garden on a balmy day in … [Read more...]
Bluebirds: Getting Ready To Nest
This past fall and winter, we have been blessed with 7 bluebirds – one pair and one small flock of five. Each day, they visit my feeder with the sunflower hearts, and from the looks of things, we will again have a nesting pair of bluebirds in the birdhouse on the fence, overlooking my small garden. Last week, I saw a squirrel scampering along on the top of the fence when, suddenly, he was … [Read more...]
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