Bird On A Mission!

One afternoon while sitting on the porch, we observed a Morning Dove sitting in the feeder tray on top of the feeder system, by the fountain. Eating and not paying attention to anything except the seed. A Sparrow flew in and landed on the vine next to the feeder system to check things out. The Sparrow flew to the feeder system and was looking at the Morning Dove in the tray. He hopped down the vine that is attached to the system head first.  I was thinking to myself  "No way! he's not going to do what I am thinking". Well, he sure did, he pecked a feather out of the Morning Dove's butt and flew off. That was just the nesting material he needed. The Morning Dove looked around stunned. What just happened? I've been mugged!

Bluebirds

We are so pleased that a pair of bluebirds have taken a box in the lawn next to the grapes near the porch. We have been able to observe them taking in nesting material and guarding the area. The female hangs out in the nest box door way, we hope there are eggs.

Weekly Bird viewing

 Week of May 17 -23, 2014
 Every day we put out crunchy peanut butter, and grape jelly. Every other day I put out unsalted peanuts, sunflower seeds, and mixed bird seed.  The list of visitors to our feeding area is growing and we have observed some taking over the bird houses we have put up, and bathing in the fountain. We hope to see many babies soon.

1 Barn Swallow     2 Bluebird 2 Great Blue Heron 4 Blue jay  1 Bobolink 3 Cardinal  1 Carolina Wren 3 Catbird 4 Chickadee  1 Chirpping Sparrow  3 Cowbirds  3 Grackle 3 Crows  6 Downy Woodpecker 8 Canadian Geese  6 Goldfinch 1 Grouse  3 Hairy Woodpecker 2 House Finch  4 House Sparrow  3 House Wren 3 Hummingbird 2 Indigo Bunting  2 Junco 6 Morning Dove 4 Oriel  1 Pleated Woodpecker  2 Purple Finch  1 Raven  1 Red bellied Woodpecker  3 Red-winged Blackbird  6 Robin 6 Rose breasted Grosbeak  2 Song Sparrow  2 Titmouse  3 Towhee  2 Turkey Vulture  4 Tree Swallow  1 White Breasted Nuthatch  2 White Crown Sparrow  2 Yellow Warbler 2 Chipmunks  3 Squirrels - Gray  1 Squirrels - Red  1 Deer  6 Rabbit  Oriel coming in for the grape jelly.

Robins on the porch

http://www.pinterest.com/BirdAirportCafe/

On May 20, 2014 We started with Mom and Dad Robin building a nest on the porch, then 4 small blue eggs. We were very surprised they all hatched. Mom and Dad Robin were very busy feeding the newly hatched babies with worms and grape jelly.  They were very protective of the babies, we watched them chase away the Blue jays, Chipmunks, and Squirrels. Flying with precision and pecking the crap out of them across the lawn, what a show! The nest was so crowded, stepping on each other and aggressive about food, we watched the young knock Mom from her side of the nest perch. They knocked her down to the floor of the porch with worms still in her beak, stunned she took a moment, then back to the nest to feed. Today, we were lucky enough to see the babies leave the nest. Mom took each one to the wooded area by feeding and coaxing each one with worms and hopping across the yard. From the nest, to the porch rail, to the fountain, and then the lawn, chirping and flapping their little wings.   Amazing nature happening just outside our door!

The Hawk and Dove

In our backyard on April 27, 2014, we came in the house in the afternoon and noticed something floating in the air outside the back door, What is that? It was gray feathers. Paul went quickly to the window, an seen a Sharp Shinned Hawk dive into the door of the dog house after a Morning Dove.  I went for the camera and starting clicking shots of the Hawk with the Dove clutched in his feet pulling the Dove out of the dog house. The Hawk was not able to fly because he was not much bigger than the Dove. Wings open and Dove struggling to get away. Wow! I thought I was capturing it all on camera. I thought that the action was going to go on for awhile, I decided to put the bigger lens on, and get close up shots. I placed the camera on the tripod found the flash message of “NO CHIP IN CAMERA”. What a disappointment! Although, we didn’t capture the kill, the Hawk stayed for an hour and a half, so we were able to get the camera set up, and captured pictures of the Hawks’ meal.  It was an amazing site to see, just outside our window in the back yard.