“Come quick! There is a new bird at the feeder!” When my wife Nancy spoke those words, I came-a runnin’. For us birders, there is nothing more exciting than to see a visitor in your back yard. Picking sunflower hearts from the feeder were two beautiful Indigo Buntings, the first I can ever remember seeing in our yard. They stayed for a while, then left, and I haven’t seen them since. I … [Read more...]

I had just put a handful of mealworms in the bowl near the bluebird house and stood back to watch the male fly to the feeder and secure a beak full of worms. Suddenly, a hawk swooped over the fence, talons stretched, heading for the bluebird. Fortunately, the hawk missed as the bluebird ducked quickly, but these bluebirds are like my children, only better behaved. Startled and extremely upset, I … [Read more...]

If you want a delightful serenade, go outside one morning right after sunup, and if there is a Carolina Wren anywhere in the area, you’ll get the serenade of a lifetime. These little fellows love to sing. I have two types of wrens in my backyard – the House Wren and the Carolina Wren. I saw my little Carolina Wren at the feeder yesterday afternoon and heard him singing when I went to retrieve … [Read more...]

Looks like we’ll have a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers nesting in a cavity of an old white maple in the back of our yard. I saw them swoop that way this morning and there are lots of hollow places in that old tree from which to choose a nesting site. Many people confuse the Red-bellied Woodpecker with the less common Red-headed Woodpeckers. Red-bellied Woodpeckers do have red heads, but not … [Read more...]

Currently, I am providing mealworms for two bird families. My old friends, the bluebird couple from last year, have reclaimed their bluebird house on the fence. The eggs have been laid and the hen is on the nest. There is also a pair of cardinals that got in on the mealworm action last summer. They know my habits and me personally and when I go out to drop a handful of mealies in the bluebird food … [Read more...]

Last weekend in Charlotte while playing golf, I noticed an extraordinary number of birds feeding along the concrete cart paths. Upon closer inspection, I discovered the reason. Ants. The little fellows were out in force and the birds were taking advantage. What ants lack in size, as far as a meal is concerned, they make up for by numbers and quality. Ants have more bang for the buck than almost … [Read more...]

We have had bluebirds nesting in our backyard every year (except one) for the past 15 years. For years, we never saw a bluebird in or near our yard, then one spring we saw a couple at our birdbath and soon after, they began nesting. There has been a pair of blues hanging around all winter. I assume it’s the same pair that pulled off two broods last summer. Early on, they checked out the … [Read more...]

  The goal of every bird watcher is to see a new face at the feeder or in the backyard. We love our regulars - the cardinals, bluebirds, robins, chickadees, the jays and other year round residents - but to see a visitor on occasion is really exciting. It happened to me early this week. Through the kitchen window, I saw dozens of small birds in the birdbath – at least 20. They looked … [Read more...]

  I missed my backyard birds – my cardinals, my blues the goldfinches and the chickadees. I was glad to get back home after 10 days on the road and reconnect with my fine-feathered friends. While in Hawaii, however, I paid extra attention to the birds on the islands. As best I can tell, there was only one bird there that I also see in my backyard – the House Sparrow. Because Hawaii … [Read more...]

  My resident male bluebird has outdone himself this spring. In the past week, he has changed from a beautiful blue into a drop dead gorgeous blue – a blue that could never be duplicated on any artist’s palette. He is stunning. Also, at my feeder I have noticed that the gold finches are just starting to gain color. A hint of yellow is peaking through what were once olive gray feathers. … [Read more...]