Truly a Work of Art!

As I sit here on this second to the last day of May, I can't believe that the month is almost over.  Even though May seems to be a perfect birding month, it also is a perfect spring cleaning, get stuff done around the yard month.  So therefore, aside from our long service day together, Ar and I have not spent much time birding and bonding, together, that is.  Birding is a way of life for each of us and we discuss our birding experiences with each other, and we bond when we can find the time.  Perhaps June will find us off on our next birding adventure! 

For now, I wanted to share something our blogging buddy, Raven, discovered.  While out in the field, she found what we think to be a Robin's nest.  There were remnants of blue egg shells.  The nest was in the street.  Upon examining it, we marveled at the design and construction.  It was so beautifully made and so well made.  I am quite sure that Raven will blog about it, but I was anxious to share the picture.  I would love to do some research on the nest building of Robins.  I will try to do that if I can find the time, if Raven doesn't do it first.  The instictive wisdom of our feathered friends certainly testifies about the wisdom of our wonderful Creator, Jehovah!

P.S.  Our friend Raven researched this first.  If you want to get a Robin's perspective of nest building, please check out her post of June 1. 2010 at http://www.asthecrowflies-raven.blogspot.com/.

Morning Seranades

Woke up this morning around 4:30am to the sounds of birds singing.  Thanks to San's tutelage I was able to identify a few of them. 

There was the American Goldfinch, which I recognize easily because I hear them everyday outside my kitchen window.  I also heard a Song Sparrow singing his heart out.

When I went outside later to water my plants, I could hear the Red Breasted Woodpecker, Northern Cardinals and Mourning Doves.

I look forward to this weekend where I can lay in my hammock with a drink and a book and take in all the sounds of spring.  I hope you all enjoy it as well.

Nesting Material Dispenser

Since we are getting near to our Birding and Bonding party I thought I should set it up a bit by providing even more ideas that someone could do at our little shindig. 

I hang out nesting material every spring and I always have a lot of birds visiting it and pulling at it so they can make them homes as comfortable as possible, not all birds nest on twigs.

What's great about this is that you can use practically anything to fill it including hair, string old yarn.

So look around your house, pull the hair out of your brush and scavenge what you can out of your garage and let's use it  in our Nesting Material Dispensers.




                                                             

Feeder - Bird Table

There is nothing like a beautifully set table to attract everyone to it.  So why not do the same for our backyard birds.

This feeder is one of the simplest ones I've seen.
Keep in mind, that this type of feeder will be easy for the squirrels to get to as well, so if you don't mind having some four legged friends at your feeder this one will attract quite a few different types of birds.

Of course the table setting will get them there, but what you put on the table makes all the difference in the world. 

BIRD OF THE WEEK - Week Nine (NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD)

Finally, I can say that the Northern Mockingbirds are in full swing.  Or should I say "in full SING"!  This is one of my favorite birds to listen to because his song is so varied.  Yes, he does mock other birds.  He may sound like a blue jay, robin, cardinal or a host of many other birds.  Mockingbirds have also been know to imitate crying babies, car alarms, cell phones and other natural and manmade sounds.  So just how do you identify a bird that imitates other birds?  Mockingbirds repeat their songs anywhere from three to six times and then they move on to a different song.  So just keep listening.  If it is a melange of different songs, it's a Northern Mockingbird.   Their call note is a loud tchack or chair.  Another easy way to identify a Northern Mockingbird?  They also sing at night.  So just about the only benefit of not being able to sleep at night in the springtime is being able to listen to the beautiful song of this tirelessly singing bird!  If you hear them during the day, check the top of trees or the top of poles.  They usually sit within sight so that they can oversee their territory.  You can have a listen at www.birdjam.com/learn.php.  Click on Northern Mockingbird. Keep in mind, every song is different.  What is always the same is the pattern:  repetitions from three to six times before moving on to a new song.  Enjoy your week and happy birding!

Friday in the Field!

What a wonderful day we had.  The weather was phenomenal, and the company was even better.  Our day together started early in the door to door work, but we were hopeful we would see some birds together.  And we were rewarded.  We noticed a bird that we were pretty sure was a Gray Catbird, and it was.  Needless to say we were thrilled that we were able to add a bird to our list even though it wasn't an official Bird Watching venture. 

San will be heading to Florida, so we were fortunate that we were able to squeeze this one long day of service in before she left. 

The process of finding the birds who live on Long Island all year round has been slow, but the adventure so far has been wonderful. 

My New Bird!

Not happy about this, but I thought I would share it anyway!  This is not exactly the species of bird I am trying to attract to my feeder!
Rat or mouse?  Any thoughts, please let me know.