Bird Watching

[Lavender2]

With the almost Texas heat we've been having lately, I have been doing more bird watching. Beats cleaning the house when it's too hot to garden. Anyway, I watch every year for Bluebirds. I have had two houses up for several years, making sure they are clean and ready. 'Vacancy' signs still hang.

I was so excited to see a pair of them hanging around this year, although not thrilled when this male seemed to be checking out the wrong guest cottage. Shoot!

THEN, yesterday!...



There is a big tree with many holes over by the pond, where they flew from. Mom escorted them to the woods pretty quick, but I'm glad they stopped by the patio!

Next: the big blob that's trying to eat the bluebirds!

 

[so lucky]

Do bluebirds overwinter in your area?

 

[Smart Red]

No, they don't! Lavender is approx. at the same growing zone area as I am. Our bluebirds leave in early fall and don't come back until the first day of May.

 

[Lavender2]

Do bluebirds overwinter in your area?

No, they migrate south, but some bluebirds have been spotted down by the river during mild Winters. There must have been food available. We actually saw one here on Christmas Day, about 5 years ago. That's very rare though, but COOL!

 

[Nyboy]

I had a pair of Blue jays move in, they are not welcome. Had a pair of cardinals for years that nested here. Have not seen them since jays moved in!!! Wish cardinals would come back.

 

[Lavender2]

So, this morning I went out early to try to beat the blasted heat and saw something hanging in a tree by the pond. It looked like a big blob laying on a branch, from the house anyway.

I grabbed my camera to zoom in and see what it was and... !!! Right near the tree with holes /possible bluebird hotel! The robins were going nuts, squawking and flapping. It didn't seem to faze it a bit.

I took some quick shots and then yelled, "don't you eat my bluebirds"! and it flew away.

Anyone else checking out the wild birds, um, besides the wild chickens.

 

[Carol Dee]

2 days ago I had a Indigo bunting visit my feeder. He left before I could get my camera. We think we have 2 pair of bluebirds using the houses at the garden/lot.

 

[Lavender2]

I had a pair of Blue jays move in, they are not welcome. Had a pair of cardinals for years that nested here. Have not seen them since jays moved in!!! Wish cardinals would come back.

Blue Jays are so noisy, and they seem to get the raspberries more than any other bird. We have switched to the type of feeder they can't seem to land on easily. It attracts the cardinals, grosbeaks and the smaller birds. I have rarely seen the Jays since we changed feeders.

 

[Lavender2]

2 days ago I had a Indigo bunting visit my feeder. He left before I could get my camera. We think we have 2 pair of bluebirds using the houses at the garden/lot.

Indigos are another one I rarely see, just a few times in the many years we've been here. My sister lives about 30 miles north and has a yard full of them most the Summer. What did you have out to attract them?

 

[Smart Red]

No, they migrate south, but some bluebirds have been spotted down by the river during mild Winters. There must have been food available. We actually saw one here on Christmas Day, about 5 years ago. That's very rare though, but COOL!

Remember the winter of 2011-2012? That was the year we had fruit trees flowering in February's 80s(F) and thunder storms in January. Basically the year in south-est, central-est Wisconsin would have fit into a warmer than usual zone 7 growing area. I could easily see bluebirds not flying all that far south with bugs flying in February around here.

Then came the drought of 2012 that followed. Beastly!