Nancy saw some potted plants on sale last week at Lowe’s and bought a couple. We have a perfect place to hang them on our front porch and she put them there. Within an hour, a pair of house finches saw the plants and deemed the one on the right as worthy of a bird’s nest, and so it is. A bird’s nest. “They’re not going to like it when I have to water,” Nancy said, but she left the nesting birds … [Read more...]

A neighbor came by recently, knowing that I am somewhat of a bird freak, asking if I wanted his bird feeder and explained why. He said he had posted the feeder near his kitchen window so he could take pictures of his visitors. Then he said that between the birds and the squirrels, the waste beneath the feeder was destroying his grass and yard. There is a simple answer, I explained. Cole’s … [Read more...]

  There is an amazing concert being held now in Charlottesville. It’s free and it happens every morning around 6 am. It’ is a concert of our local birds performing spring arias. The air is filled with their songs. Robins are the divas; cardinals provide backup, and many other birds join in on the chorus. Birds, of course, sing throughout the day, but they bring their a-games in the … [Read more...]

  Bluebirds and humans have similar habits. A young human male often takes his wanna-be intended out to dinner and feeds her – just like bluebirds. My resident bluebirds have picked out a house (after several last-minute changes) and are ready to set up housekeeping. But the male bluebird leaves nothing to chance. Ever on the lookout from his perch atop the fence, when he spots a juicy … [Read more...]

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...]