Friday, May 31, 2019

Domestic dispute?

The sound drew me to the corner on the yard. Lots of loud chirping. I've seen male sparrows face off, "gang bangs", feeding sessions, but nothing like this. If a female isn't interested in the male she flies off totally indifferent. Not this time. I've never before seen this behavior. Mature male and mature female. Perhaps the male is "displaying". If mating was the goal this sure was a mess. The male has the black bib. This all happened very fast with the birds jumping out of the frame in fractions of seconds.
And then they flew off together. If they plan a family I'll never find them.

Thursday, May 30, 2019

The organic berry service

with three ravenous kids it helps to have supplement food. Worms seem to be skinny in this space. The berries give the kids fluid which they need.
The parents recognize that I'm a friend, no fear.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Fine dining

The day begins down at the fountain, clean start for the day.
Lots of babies to be fed, in nest and out of nest
I have no idea what this baby was being fed. Looks like straw.
A real dining treasure, strawberry
I've always got organic blueberries in my pocket. The robins love them, but don't like raspberries.
Insatiable appetites. Worms, bugs, berries and anything else they manage to pick up.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

A different mixture

At the fountain, sparrow bath time when all of a sudden there was movement in the background. Oh joy, the female black throated blue warbler. I held my breath. She only stayed about 15 seconds.
Male robin's turn in the fountain
My friend Tillie, usually very shy. Not today.

Monday, May 27, 2019

Dove dance

Each day before darkness I hear "coo coo coo coo".   It's not the doves in nests. I've been searching for the caller. Finally I found her sitting on garden rail. Coo coo coo, and then a beautiful dove "ballet".
She knew the lens was pointed at her. No fuss.  Suddenly a second dove flew to the top of the lamp post. More coo coo coo.
And then totally by surprise a "family" of doves, about 9, flew into the tall trees to roost for the night. Now I know what all the calling is about, call for bed time. They don't always pick the same tall tree, but it's their routine.  Coo coo coo, come in for the night.