Animal people are my kind of tribe. My Grandmother used to say, “honey, there is something wrong with people who don’t like animals”. You guys are great animal people.
Happy for the finches. Sad for the mourning doves. You and Charlie are kind and do all possible to help many critters. I love how you learn to find the best ways to help them. Sending hugs to Eli and Auggie. Good weekend.
One of our great joys was watching a pair of Mourning Doves from the start of the worst nest to the fledge of two baby birds. It was a glorious experience.
Then, this year, alone, I watched a pair of House Finches from the very well built nest to the fledging of 5 babies. It was fun but lonely.
My uncle in MD is a big bluebird guy. So much so that he has installed bluebird nesting boxes with squirrel guards at 4 different spots at his place and various neighbors and other public spaces in his neighborhood. Any time I visit in the spring, the first order of business is to check the bluebirds!
He knows what the appropriate nests should look like and disposes of anything that might be a dreaded starling nest!! Apparently, they’re a non-native, invasive species and, as he calls them, bird assholes!
You’re officially hooked and it sounds as if Charlie has come along willingly. Thankfully for me, when we moved to Ca in 1981 for my husband’s initial classes for nav school to fly in the F4 were located, my best friend came to visit. We took her around Sacramento to see the sights and at the state capitol grounds she was amazed at the array of birds. She had us take her to a bookstore and bought a guide for me. Since that day I have written in that same book the date and place of the first sighting of a new bird, and there were many entries over the years. It all started with the little Pine Siskin. Now having moved to Spain, I have to start all over again with a totally different set of birds to discover. Enjoy your new adventure!
There are many flowers that goldfinches love for their seeds. Sunflowers, coneflowers, black eyed susans are some of the best. They like thistles too but thistles spread like crazy. I LOVE watching the birds feast on my flower seeds in the fall. Time for Charlie to dig up a little patch and start a bird garden.
Our obsession as non-bird people is hummingbirds. I call them my generation’s tomato plants as they’re seemingly brought up in every casual conversation.
One thing I miss about living in a house is the variety of birds. Where I live now, bird feeders are not allowed. We have trees, but the one outside my apartment is young and maybe not adequate for birds to nest. We had cattails around the perimeter of the pond outside my place, and red-winged blackbirds loved them. They were all cut out, I guess because they are invasive. My heart is with that female Mourning Dove and her one little egg. 🩶
Had a tiny goldfinch in my grass this morning when I went out to water. I believe it had flown into the sunroom glass and was stunned. Picked it up and put it in a bush and it flew off😍
So sad to hear of the demise of the mourning dove and her lone egg. I recall seeing them all the time so many years ago until our state government allowed people to started hunting them. How sad. We have to have people shoot such a lovely bird with its soft cooing. Why??
Animal people are my kind of tribe. My Grandmother used to say, “honey, there is something wrong with people who don’t like animals”. You guys are great animal people.
Yes, that's how I feel about Riordan and Sykes. I love that they're animal people.
Happy for the finches. Sad for the mourning doves. You and Charlie are kind and do all possible to help many critters. I love how you learn to find the best ways to help them. Sending hugs to Eli and Auggie. Good weekend.
One of our great joys was watching a pair of Mourning Doves from the start of the worst nest to the fledge of two baby birds. It was a glorious experience.
Then, this year, alone, I watched a pair of House Finches from the very well built nest to the fledging of 5 babies. It was fun but lonely.
Love the bird stories!!! Enjoy the pleasant weather!
This is one of my new favorite reads. You make it all come to life, it’s like I’m there. Have a wonderful day at the lake.
My uncle in MD is a big bluebird guy. So much so that he has installed bluebird nesting boxes with squirrel guards at 4 different spots at his place and various neighbors and other public spaces in his neighborhood. Any time I visit in the spring, the first order of business is to check the bluebirds!
He knows what the appropriate nests should look like and disposes of anything that might be a dreaded starling nest!! Apparently, they’re a non-native, invasive species and, as he calls them, bird assholes!
Always love the view of the lake thru the ears💜
You’re officially hooked and it sounds as if Charlie has come along willingly. Thankfully for me, when we moved to Ca in 1981 for my husband’s initial classes for nav school to fly in the F4 were located, my best friend came to visit. We took her around Sacramento to see the sights and at the state capitol grounds she was amazed at the array of birds. She had us take her to a bookstore and bought a guide for me. Since that day I have written in that same book the date and place of the first sighting of a new bird, and there were many entries over the years. It all started with the little Pine Siskin. Now having moved to Spain, I have to start all over again with a totally different set of birds to discover. Enjoy your new adventure!
There are many flowers that goldfinches love for their seeds. Sunflowers, coneflowers, black eyed susans are some of the best. They like thistles too but thistles spread like crazy. I LOVE watching the birds feast on my flower seeds in the fall. Time for Charlie to dig up a little patch and start a bird garden.
If the thistles are native, I’d leave them for the birds.
There’s a limit. They take over everything.
Understood.
Our obsession as non-bird people is hummingbirds. I call them my generation’s tomato plants as they’re seemingly brought up in every casual conversation.
That’s so sad! I love my birds in the back yard. This is the first year my hummingbird didn’t come back. Happy for the finches though!!
One thing I miss about living in a house is the variety of birds. Where I live now, bird feeders are not allowed. We have trees, but the one outside my apartment is young and maybe not adequate for birds to nest. We had cattails around the perimeter of the pond outside my place, and red-winged blackbirds loved them. They were all cut out, I guess because they are invasive. My heart is with that female Mourning Dove and her one little egg. 🩶
Had a tiny goldfinch in my grass this morning when I went out to water. I believe it had flown into the sunroom glass and was stunned. Picked it up and put it in a bush and it flew off😍
Bird stories for bird lovers.
A champagne and sunset kind of day… beautiful
So sad to hear of the demise of the mourning dove and her lone egg. I recall seeing them all the time so many years ago until our state government allowed people to started hunting them. How sad. We have to have people shoot such a lovely bird with its soft cooing. Why??
I wish more people were enthusiastically feeding birds. I’ll never forget the article in The Smithsonian https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/southwest-bird-die-caused-long-term-starvation-180976643/
I have some misgivings, but here we are.