"Red Bird Pest Control"

  To my way of thinking, the best pest control is free pest control.  In the past, I used all sorts of sprays.  I admit it.  It was terrible but I did it because that was what I was told to do.  How do you get rid of caterpillars in the garden?  "You spray them."  It was ridiculous, expensive and probably killing a lot more than caterpillars...me included.  So...I quit.  Then I went the whole routine of companion planting, herbal sprays and soap.  None really accomplished what I wanted.  I wanted the caterpillars to stop eating my plants not be clean, smell like garlic and live in a flowery world.  I wanted them gone!

  

  Today as I was planting squash seeds, I heard a fluttering of wings.  Just a few feet from where I was working, a male cardinal flew to a tomato plant.  I knew there were some caterpillars already munching the leaves so was elated to see the bird there.  Yep, that fellow snatched a caterpillar and flew off to the east.  I figure there is a nest of little ones somewhere near the greenhouse.  Within a few minutes, the bird was back!  Oh, this was great!

  All in all, the bird made about a dozen trips to the tomato plants.  Each time, he flew back eastward so I think he was successful in finding food for his offspring.  This...THIS...is the type of pest control that I have been wanting!  Effective, free and pretty!  My goodness, it cannot get any better!

Waiting for the call

   Early this morning, I found it strange that most of the birds were not around when I put out the birdseed.  Usually, as soon as I open the door, I am literally accosted by birds!  They want their breakfast immediately and will fuss at me if it is not readily available.  This morning, however, it was quiet.  I knew that the hawk must be somewhere in the vicinity.   Even though I looked, I never found our predator.  Shrugging it off, I poured out the birdseed and turned to set the container on the steps.  It was then that I heard a fluttering of wings and looked up to see a female cardinal on a dead branch above my head.  

  Well, hello!  It surprised me to see the female.  She has been working on her nest and usually waits until the male cardinal calls her.  (This is the second nesting female in the yard.  The first has 4 eggs but this one is still building.)  The little bird looked at me for the longest time and never went to the seed.  She, too, felt something was very wrong about the morning.  I sat on the steps watching.  After about ten minutes, the male cardinal flew in and started calling.  The female flew down to greet him and they both filled their tummies.  

  Then it was back to work for the two of them and for me.  They are busy building a fine nest in Grandmother's rose bush about 6 ft from the wren that is on the nest in the potted rose.  Thankfully, there are no squabbles!  As for me?  I cranked the lawnmower and cut for the rest of the morning satisfied that my friends were ok.

My Guy!

   Whenever I walk out of the french doors, I am immediately accosted by at least a dozen birds.  These are wild songbirds of several sort that come to eat at the "Under Bench Diner".  I have taken to scattering birdseed down under the flower benches to protect the small birds from the marauding hawk who is ever present when the birds dine.  It sorrowed me to know that I was fattening the birds for the hawk's dining pleasure so all of the cutesy birdfeeders were taken down and stored.  Perhaps if the hawk goes elsewhere, the feeders can be used again but, for now, the birds seem perfectly happy to peck off the ground.  Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, sparrows, jays, doves...you name it, they usually come.

  This morning, one of the birds that seems to be a leader came first.  The male cardinal hopped up on a log as soon as I opened the door.  I was empty-handed, however, and that was not to his liking.  The bird scolded me!  Finding this humorous, I sat down on the steps to see what he was going to do next.  This confused the cardinal causing him to stare at me in the most comical ways!  Oh, how I love this little guy!

  Needless to say, the birdseed was soon strewn on the ground and my friends came to breakfast.  They were happy.  My little, red cardinal was happy.  I was happy.  Life is good.

On His Own

   Well, it was bound to happen and now it has.  It is time to buck up to the times and get on with life.  Well, at least, the little bird needs to go about his business of being a bird.  The little cardinal that was coming to the feeders with Mom and Dad Cardinal has now been officially booted from the nest.  He is on his own and will have to start "adulting" if he is going to make it.  Mom and Dad are not going to be there for handouts any longer.  The little fellow was taught where to find food and water and how to find shelter.  It is up to him.

  In the avian world, life can be tough on little ones.  Once the parent birds have taught their brood the basics of survival, they literally give them the boot.  In fact, this being a young male, he will most likely be chased from the territory eventually.  Right now, he is chased from the feeders if the adults wish to eat.  Life is not easy for fledglings that are accustomed to being fed or, at least, led to food.  Once parent birds are ready to nest again, the fledglings are out!

  This little one has learned its lessons well.  He comes to the birdseed and, more oft than not, feeds below the plants.  He knows that the local hawk could easily swoop down and grasp him.  Hopefully, that will not be the case and this little cutie can grow to be a handsome red fellow like his dad!  Good luck, Little One!

Not Today, Buddy!

  Physical therapy in the gardens has to be the best way.  Strengthening those muscles along with fresh air cannot be wrong.  Plus, I get to watch the critters that visit.  Early this morning, I was captivated by a grasshopper, of all things.  While I hoisted weights, the grasshopper basked in the sunshine.  The grasshopper seemed to not have a care in the world and, for a while, I agreed with him.  As far as I could see, the critter was enjoying life to its fullest but that changed within a snap.  Danger lurked in the mimosa tree!  The grasshopper was unaware that he was in a predator's sight.  He lingered on unaware.

 A flash of red told me that my friend, the cardinal, was searching for breakfast.  Each morning, I set out seed for the family of cardinals.  The male always comes first to make sure it is safe before calling his family in to feast.  This morning, however, the cardinal had his eye on the grasshopper!  I was torn between letting the bird catch the insect or helping the bug escape.  Either way, there would be a loser.  Was it to be the bird's breakfast or the bug's life.  Nature will be nature so I refrained from scooting the grasshopper under the ginger plants.  We would just have to see how this played out if I was to be neutral.  "Let nature take its course" has always been a difficult task for me to follow but...I lifted weights and watched.  The drama that was to be never unfolded.  The bird was distracted by another male cardinal and they went chasing each other in a territorial battle.  The grasshopper was safe for the time being.

  It has long been thought by most folks that Northern Cardinals only eat seeds.  Their thick bills do lend themselves to cracking the shells but about 30% of their diet is made up of insects.  They will often take moths, katydids, flies, spiders and, yes, grasshoppers as tasty treats.  In fact, the parent birds feed their nestlings on mostly a diet of insects. So, had it not been distracted, the cardinal would have made short work of my grasshopper friend!

  

Father Knows Best

  I have taken the notion that physical therapy should be done outdoors when the weather permits.  Not only are you exercising those muscles but you are breathing fresh air and have the added bonus of watching the wildlife.  That said, I take my little weights out to the garden to indulge in the act of healing.  This is perhaps as "holistic" healing as it gets.  The body, mind, spirit and emotions can become in perfect balance within the confines of the Small Gardens.  I am a firm believer that it takes all of these to come together before true healing can be obtained.  Besides, I would much rather be outside even if it involves therapy.

  This morning before beginning the routine, I put out a bit of bird seed for my fine feathered friends.  It only took a few moments before a beautiful male cardinal alighted on the garden bench holding seed.  Ahh, my sweet friend has come to visit!  Then, another cardinal came to eat.  My first thought was that this was the male's ladylove but, on closer inspection, I realized that this was a juvenile bird.  Daddy Cardinal was teaching his offspring where to find food.  The brightly colored male did not feed the youngster but made a big fuss over picking seeds from the plank.  The youngster sat cheeping and fluttering its wings but to no avail.  Father knew best.  Let the youngster learn to eat by itself.  Finally. the little one gave up hope of being fed and started eating on its own.

  Seeing this interaction brought smiles.  Not only was the father bird teaching his offspring where to find food but he felt safe enough to bring his little one to the feeder.  From my vantage point of 6 feet away, I was delighted to view the birds and felt honored that I was trusted.  This, my friends, added to that emotional care...now if only the physical therapy was that easy.

  As a little note here, juvenile cardinals greatly resemble the females and it is somewhat difficult to distinguish which is which.  The easiest method is to check the bill.  A female has the bright red "cardinal" bill whereas a juvenile has a grayish or almost black bill.   

Tangled Vines Are The Perfect Protection

  Again today, I worked in the yard.  There is so much to be done and, well, to paraphrase an old saying "If you want something done, you have to do it yourself."  (Notice that I left "right" out of the statement because I am not sure I am doing everything correctly but, at least, it is getting done.)  Today's chore was digging out the gravel drain that runs alongside of the house.  The torrential rains we get here wash huge ruts in the ground if something is not done.  We dug a trench, lined it with pond liner and filled it with gravel.  It worked great for years but, over time, it has become clogged with leaves and dirt.  The gravel all washed down into the center leaving a mound instead of a gully.  My job was to clear the debris and shovel out the gravel.  It had to be washed and put back in place.  I found out that an old lady has no business shoveling gravel all day!  Needless to say, I am sore tonight but happy that the job is completed.

  While out, I noticed a beautiful male cardinal on the grape arbor.  Since all of the other arbors have been removed, this was his only choice of a protected roosting spot.  The vines completely framed the bird.  I first noticed him when I filled the burn bin with garden trash, then, each time I went around to that side of the house, the bird was still there.  I pondered this fact...since shoveling does not take a lot of brain power.  Late in the afternoon, the bird was still on the arbor.  Hmmm...that bird is not waiting for the feeder to be filled (it already was), he was "on watch".  Could it be that his ladylove was already nesting?  It is far too early for little birds but with the weather as crazy as it is, anything is possible.  

  Just before heading back inside for the day, I eased my way to the arbor.  The bird scooted a bit further under the vines but stayed put.  Aha!  I know the telltale signs of a dutiful father and husband! Mr. Cardinal, you are the best!  Although I could not find Mrs. Cardinal, I feel she is quite near the arbor if not on it.  I did not want to appear to be too nosy so I let our beautiful friends enjoy the afternoon.  I did, however, notice the bald eagle fly over with several large sticks in his talons.  Spring is in the air...obviously!

Morning Wakeup Call

  Even though I awake before dawn, I now have my own personal alarm clock!  Each and every morning for the past month, a beautiful male Northern Cardinal worms his way out of the jasmine vine where he and Mrs. Cardinal spend the cool nights and sits upon the fence.  He begins a sort of high-pitched squeaking call which echoes throughout the room even though he is a good twenty feet from the window.  Since I know he will be calling, it has become my habit to sit nearby just to hear him.  This is my wake up call!  In fact, I do believe he fully has that in mind.

  Since mid-December, it has been my habit to step outside and put a bit of birdseed out for my fine feathered friends.  I figure food may be getting a tad scarce so giving a helping hand seems to be in order.  This was always done as I headed out the door for my morning hike about the place.  The birds have gotten accustomed to having breakfast served just a few feet from their nightly roosting spot  and now fret if I am a bit late.  

  I have been putting the seeds directly on a low table but that is all about to change.  This morning, there was a feral cat hiding just a few feet away under the front steps.  That rascal was eyeing up my birds!  I shooed it away but it kept returning.  I had no choice but to sit outside in the icy north wind to keep it at bay. Son promised he would build a bird feeder and put it up out of the cat's reach.  Perhaps my sweet friends will be safe, then.  

A Cardinal Came To Visit

  Early this morning, I took the old dog out for his morning exercise.  He was moving slowly....even more slowly than usual.  His energy seemed sorely lacking and his movements appeared to ail him.  The cool front that dropped our temperatures some 20 degrees during the night may be the culprit.  He has arthritis pretty heavily which makes walking rather painful at times.  Since our hike was progressing at a snail's pace (if even that), I had plenty of time to check around for anything worth photographing.  About half way down the hill, our hike came to an abrupt halt.  Mr. PJ had enough of the walking and sat down to rest his weary bones.  He did not want to move no matter how hard I tried to cajole him.  We could go no further.  We could not go back.  He sat.  Well, it was best to let him sit so I meandered a bit always staying with in his line of vision.

  Alongside of the path, there is a couple of dead trees.  It was on one of these dead limbs that a cardinal suddenly popped in to visit.  The bird seemingly was trying to get my attention.  It flitted about the tree just a few feet from me then came to rest in full view. The bird started making a light chipping sound all the while keeping a steady gaze at me.  I talked with the bird as if it could fully understand what I was saying.  By the head tilts and intermittent silences, maybe it did.  After about ten minutes of our visit, the bird broke out into full song.  Wow!  I felt honored.

  It is often said that when a cardinal appears to be trying to garner your attention, it has a message from beyond.  It seems that the name "cardinal" comes from the Latin word "cardo" which translates to hinge.  If you use your imagination here, you can see where this all got started.  A door has hinges so the bird is passing through the door between Heaven and Earth as it carries messages.  Sometimes, we need that assurance that our loved ones are still there...still watching over us.  The myths and legends about the cardinal all deal with good health, happy relationships, renewal of spirit and protection.  Since the bird is hard to miss with its bright color and happy song, it is easy to see why folks want it to be associated with someone they have loved...and still love.  I wonder who came to visit me today???  There are so many that I would love to visit again. 

The Sentinel

  After taking the old dog out for a short walk to do his morning business, I let him go back to bed.  The morning fog would not be good for an ailing dog.  I ventured out alone for a few moments merely because I had heard the "critter neighborhood watch" gang screaming their alarms.  The blue jays were up in arms about something and they were not letting it go easy.  With finding the snake yesterday, this was most likely another.  Best I keep track of where they are since the old dog's senses are dulling and I do not want him getting bit.

   This, however, was not a snake.  The birds were alarmed that a great horned owl had decided to rest in the tall pine.  The jays were relentless causing the  owl to move further down into the creek.  Once all the commotion had calmed, the sweet music of a cardinal could be heard.  My path changed to find this bird.  Perched high in the old dead tree that sits on the edge of the marsh, the male cardinal was keeping watch on his ladylove below.  Obviously, birds think winter is over and nesting time has arrived.  In the shrub below the dead tree, the female cardinal was trying out her new abode.  Whether she chooses this nest or waits to lay eggs in another is to be seen.  Whichever, I am sure Mr. Cardinal will stand guard for her.  Last year, the small screech owl actually raided the cardinal nest in this very same shrub so it is doubtful she will try it again.

  My quick outing had to come to a halt as I needed to check on the old dog.  He does not do well without my presence, as of late.  

Keep Singing, Mr. Cardinal!

  It often makes me ponder when I observe things on my hikes about the hillside.  It matters not if I see something beautiful, unusual or even mundane.  I still ponder the being of things.  This morning, a bright red cardinal sat in the gum tree just above my head.  The bird was singing such a lovely tune that I had to stop and listen for a good ten minutes.  Below him in the underbrush, his ladylove was busy scratching the ground.  From his perch, the male cardinal kept a close watch on her, on me and any predators that may be nearby.  His song, while sweet, seemed to me to be a distraction.  It was called for my ears to keep me from venturing too close to his wife.  Had I proceeded on my hike and neared the female, his song would have changed to a call of urgency.  She would have been warned of the nearing danger.  That did not happen, however, since I was content to watch him.

  The  thoughts that crossed my mind while observing the cardinal ranged from everything of how he protected her to how folks are more familiar with the male cardinal than most other birds. However, other than recognizing the bird, folks rarely know anything about the cardinals.  Because of his brilliant red feathers, this bird is a favorite subject for Christmas cards, figurines and paintings. Some folks, however, have no idea what the female looks like.  Her colors pale in comparison to his but it is for good reason. She cannot be easily spotted while nesting with her muted colors. Also, not many know that the cardinals are monogamous...at least for the season.  While the male is very attentive of his ladylove during the mating season and will often stay with her through the winter, he may choose a new mate during the next spring depending on her ability to raise a successful brood.  Another little known fact is that both the male and female sing.  While his song is more of a territorial thing, hers is usually a "bring me food because I am hungry" notice...and he, more oft than not, complies.  

  My cardinal was doing his best to let his ladylove gather her breakfast without worry.  His song did what he intended for it to do as it distracted my attention from her and brought it to him.  Pretty fellow, you needn't have worried. I would never harm you or you sweet wifey.

Little Lost Cardinal

  I have a habit of watching the critters of the Bayou and surrounding woods.  It is one of the most enjoyable things that I have found to do. Critters do not cause drama in my little world so most of them seem to be far better friends than most humans.  Still, occasionally, you have to ponder if there is any compassion in the critter world.  It seems that it is all about survival and those not fit enough to compete are simply lost in the shuffle.  That old survival of the fittest idiom is sure evident around here.

  For the past few days, a baby cardinal could be heard calling for its mom.  The little squirt lingered a little to close to the cat for comfort yesterday causing me a bit of angst.  Even though our old cat rarely catches anything lately, she might take a hankering for a baby bird if the situation arises.  I watched each day to be sure that the old cat merely snoozed and did not stalk the bird.  Each day, the bird was getting stronger and soon had all of its adult feathers making me believe that it might just survive. The little rascal found the bird feeders and the bird bath so at least it was able to eat and drink.  At night, it was smart enough to wriggle its way far into the rose brambles for a bit of protection.

  Meanwhile, Mom Cardinal decided it was time for another family. Her abandoning the little tyke was essential as she had already started laying another nestful of eggs.  This will be her fourth nesting of the season. The first clutch of eggs was eaten by crows leaving the cardinal without any little ones to raise.  She tried again and had the nest raided by the owl.  Then she had our little lost one but immediately started nesting again.  She is one busy little mama!  

 This morning, the little cardinal seemed almost sure of itself as it made its way to the feeders.  There, it mingled with the doves and blackbirds and got its tummy filled with fine seeds. It does still have a little trouble cracking the outer shell of the sunflower seeds but that will come with time and practice. Neither the mom nor dad showed up to help the tyke. This one is fully on its own now.

My Morning Wake-up Call

  Early this morning, I was pondering what was on the agenda for the day when I heard a happy sound just outside the living-room window.  The sound was telling me that it was to be a wonderful day!  "Cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer!"  Yep, those early morning greeters were telling me that it was to be a cheery day!  A pair of Northern Cardinals were in the Crepe Myrtle Tree about ten feet from the window.  They were examining the climbing rose bush on the old arbor to see if there was a suitable nesting site available.  The call soon turned to a almost identifiable "Bir-dy, bir-dy, bir-dy" as the male moved off to the second arbor.  The first already is inhabited by a Mockingbird family and an unidentified critter that has moved into the birdhouse.  The hole of the birdhouse was obviously not large enough so the critter took things into its own hands (paws, feet, beak, whatever!).  This arbor had no vacancies so my sweet friends looked elsewhere.

Some critter was not too happy with the doorway of the birdhouse!

  The second arbor proved to be just as disappointing to the Cardinals as the first.  A lovely pair of Mourning Doves made their usual slipshod nest in the upper right corner while a Titmouse was busy trying to coax his ladylove into the birdhouse on the left.  Things are really beginning to fill up fast in the garden!  What was this pair to do?

A pair of Cardinals just outside my window this morning.  

  After a bit, the Cardinals moved to the west side of the garden where, as of yet, no critters have claimed a homestead.  A fence post woven with rose canes seemed to be satisfactory so the birds busied themselves for the rest of the day.  The fence post is only four feet above ground and that worries me a bit with our two cats always on the prowl and with three other cats trying to call the Bayou their home.  (Stray cats seem to love it here!)  By mid-afternoon, the Cardinals were well on their way to creating a fine home.  I suppose that in a few weeks, the entire garden will be filled with the tiny chirps of baby birds!  

  Isn't it grand to wake up to happy sounds such as birds singing?  It sure makes all seem right with the world...or at least all seem right with life on the Bayou.  "Cheer, cheer, cheer!"  Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal...I love your attitude!"

Scrubbing the Tub!

  The sun was shining when I finally bounced out of bed this morning. Last night, the gears in the brain would not stop turning so I was a bit groggy when 5am showed up on the clock.  Once I did get moving, things were quite busy.  My idea was to clean a bit in the garden and then scrub up some of the terracotta flower pots.  The pots were getting a tad grungy and had some nice green mold growing on them.  While I do not mind the stuff on the outside, I figure that the inside should be clean.   Plus the large plates that sit under the pots get a bit unsightly after a year or so of collecting water.   One such terracotta tray was sitting on a bench in the garden.  Each time I water the garden, I add a bit to the tray.  This is to encourage birds to stop in for a drink.  I figure birds should be a welcome addition to the vegetable plot.  Most will eat an abundance of bugs and that eliminates any need for harmful sprays.  

  While I was weeding the broccoli,  I noticed that the tray was nigh on empty.  It was not long before I heard a fluttering of wings.  A lovely Cardinal came to take a sip.  Poor little guy had to work hard at finding enough to drink!  I really must fill that bath!  The Cardinal left the watering hole and started scratching around under the rose bushes.  It obviously did not mind me being a mere ten feet from it as it worked. Perhaps it thought I would toss a handy meal its way.  Instead it had to be satisfied with the seeds from the Black Gum Tree.  

  It was not long before that familiar flutter could be heard again.  This time a cute, little Goldfinch was paying a visit.  To even get a sip, the Goldfinch had to get right down inside of the plate.  The bird turned to look plaintively at me as if to request a bit of clean water.  Ok....time to stop weeding and clean those terracotta pieces!  That birdie bathtub needed scrubbing!  My birds need a clean water source!  I am sure they will be happy to know their servant has obliged them.

Winter's coming!

  Winter is my favorite time of the year..well, maybe second favorite as I do, indeed, love fall as well.  The cooling weather lately has gotten me thinking of all things that go along with this time of year.  You know, things like orange and red leaves, sweaters, geese flying overhead and pumpkin...pumpkin everything!  It just seems like the smells, sights and sounds of this time of year bring such a homey touch to life in general.  I have a tendency to start searching for anything that can remotely remind me of the season.  Today, I heard such a racket outside that I thought that I should investigate.  Squirrels were barking, birds were fussing and even Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, was barking.  Hmmm?  Something was intruding in the yard and from the sound of all the critter alarms, it was not welcome.  

  Once outside, I searched and searched.  I figured that it was a tad cool for a snake to be lurking about but other predators could be slinking just out of sight.  I searched high and low but never found anything amiss. After about ten minutes of me being amidst all the clamor, it suddenly quieted and everything was soon back to normal.  Whatever had the critters in an uproar, had obviously slunk away into the woods.  Perhaps a hawk, owl, coyote, fox or bobcat had entered into the relative safe haven of the yard and riled everyone up a bit!  Just as I was turning to head back inside, a glimpse of red caught my eye.  My brain screeched to a halt and thought of predators no more!  I found the prettiest male cardinal sitting in the branches of a small maple tree!  The bright red reminded me of winter! (Of course!)  I smiled at Mr. Cardinal and asked if he was doing right fine today.  His calmness made me wonder how the recent turmoil of the other critters had escaped him.  He sure did not seem to have been in a tizzy!

  Mr. Cardinal watched my every move but never once made any effort to flit away to the treetops.  He let out a few whistles and soon, the Mrs. came to join him.  Right now, he was "King of the Yard" and he was bent on letting me know it!  I figured that he deserved the pedestal he had put himself upon.  I smiled, saluted him and went on my merry way.  Mr. Cardinal, you make me happy.  Your bright red outfit sure smacks of winter!  

Parental Guidance is a Good Thing!

The hillside that overlooks the Bayou is my stomping ground.  It is here that I take my daily hikes and it is here where I take numerous photographs.  The marsh and woods are filled with flora and fauna that never cease to intrigue me.  It would seem that after a while, I would grow tired of climbing around in the brambles or sludging through the marshes but that thought has never entered my mind.  There is always something new and exciting just around the next corner or under the next log.  Michael and I hiked a bit the other day looking for driftwood to use in a few creative projects.  While we were out and about, we came across evidence of some intruders.  It seems that one portion of the neighboring vacant twenty acres has become a dumping ground for litterers.  Trash was piled high in some areas and in others, there was evidence that some "unsavory" actions were taking place.  This bothers me a good bit as it means that I will have to be a bit more careful on my treks.  I used to have to only worry about the coyotes or wild hogs.  Now I might come face to face with another type predator.  Michael informed his old mom that she is not to go traipsing about without him.  How is that for "parental guidance"!  I never thought the tables would be turned to where my kids are curtailing my activities!  I am supposing with the discovery of the trespassers and their illegal activities, I will have to stay on our property or take along my bodyguard aka son.  The nefarious activities will be reported and hopefully something will be done to make my backyard a bit safer.

In the meantime, I will have to be satisfied with shorter hikes.  On one route that I take through the back creek, I pass through an area that is filled with sassafras and bay trees.  Both of these make me smile as I know that I can harvest a number of the leaves each year.  While exploring, I found the neatest little pathway that was lit with sunlight filtering through the leaves.  This sort of gave the natural path a bit of a surreal appearance.  It was almost magical!  I almost had the feeling that some sort of mystical beings might pop out of the bushes to greet me! Sad to say, no faeries, gnomes, elves or sprites made their presence known.  I had to be satisfied with the company of a lone male cardinal.  I was good with that.  He was most lovely!

Hopefully, the intruders will be banished from the area and my hikes can continue uninterrupted.  Otherwise, Michael will be tagging along as his mom clambers through the woods in search of those ever elusive magical creatures..or at least another cardinal!

A bit of cheer

It was a dreary, stay-inside type of day here on the Bayou.  There was just enough drizzly rain to make meandering about the hillside most uncomfortable.  This is all well and good as I do have a number of projects to keep me busy.  This seems to be a most busy time of year with folks all wanting to purchase gourds and other handcrafted items as Christmas gifts.  My living room is cluttered with all sorts of half-finished art projects that really needed tending.  So I pulled a chair up to the window overlooking the Bay and  busied myself with several gourds.  Over the course of a couple of hours, I found myself staring out that window about as much as looking at the gourd that I should have been painting.

Right outside of this window is the arbor that has the Seven Sisters Rose growing on it.  While it is quite void of roses now, this past summer it was covered with the clusters of blooms.  This rose vine also provided a great housing area for a family of Cardinals.  The parent birds raised three sons to maturity and then moved to another area to nest again.  The three youngsters would still come to the rose vine to roost at night.  I watched all summer as their plumage changed from the drab brown to the splotchy red and finally the beautiful, brilliant crimson.  The youngsters had grown to adulthood within just an arm's reach of my window.

Today, one of the Cardinals came back to roost in the roses.  His feathers were all fluffed out to help protect him from the cold and rain.  I watched as he sat there.  He occasionally snatched some bug as it raced along the canes of the rose bush but mostly he just waited out the rain. His presence brought a bit of brightness to the gloominess of the day.  I do hope at least one of the birds will decide to bring a mate back to the old home spot to nest this next spring.  It will be fun to watch another generation of the Cardinals grow to maturity.

The Stakeout!

As I was filling the bird feeders yesterday morning, I made a morbid discovery. There scattered on the ground were feathers. At first, I thought perhaps the birds were moulting in the same manner that chickens do. This was sure a lot of feathers and all appeared to be from the same bird, a dove. Then the most disturbing find..a beak and a few bones. Ms Put! I was just recently noticing how she would pick a spot under the feeders to take a nap! A sleeping cat would not appear to be a threat to birds coming in for a meal. Still, this had happened sometime during the night..doubtful..or very early in the morning..most likely. Ms Put had spent the night inside and was still sound asleep on my daughter's bed. I hung the feeders and mulled over the possibilities of the culprit. A murder had been committed and I had almost falsely accused my kitty! A murder had been committed and I, by filling the feeders, had unwittingly lured a bird to its death. I grieved for my little friend.

I watched the feeders as I worked in the yard but nothing disturbed the birds. Of course, Ezzy, the dog kept a vigilant eye on the feeders as well. She does love her birds! All sorts of birds visited the feeders and the water dish. All seemed well in the avian world. Not one of them noticed that one of their own was missing. Or at least, it did not seem to upset any of the birds to the point that they lost their appetites. They cleaned the feeders! I thought to myself..perhaps (hopefully!) this was a one-time incident and the birds would not have to fear a serial killer. Darkness fell and I figured the birds would be safe enough during the night as none would be feeding.

This morning, I arose before daybreak to find a spot to position myself so I could view the feeders without being noticed by the marauding killer. I hoped that nothing would occur and I would not witness any disturbing scenes. I waited. The sky started to lighten in the East giving fair warning that a new day was about to debut. I waited. The songbirds were greeting the day with their usual happy songs. No sign of any trouble. I waited. One by one, birds flew to the feeding station. All seemed to be well, it was just another ordinary morning on the Bayou.

Then in the Hickory tree, I noticed a slight movement. The shape of a small hawk could be seen against the palely lit sky. Ahh, not Ms Put..but a much more dangerous villain. I could not make out enough detail to identify the raptor but I could tell that it was definitely watching for its breakfast. I sat still and waited. Should I watch as another bird falls prey to this hunter? Should I chase it away? The hawk is a natural predator to all birds but I do feel a tad guilty that I am fattening up doves just to have them slaughtered. I realize that the hawk must eat and later it must feed its brood, still..

In reality, the yet unidentified hawk is rather smart. Obviously, it positions itself in the Hickory tree above the feeders late in the evening so it will be on the ready to catch its breakfast. There, it could sit motionless, unseen, as the birds gathered below. I will leave it be for now, until I can get a positive ID on the bird. It is a smallish hawk and I can tell it has markings on it undersides from the picture, but until I can see it in the light of day, identification is difficult. If any readers have suggestions of how to effectively protect the songbirds while not harming the hawk, I would love to hear them! Perhaps I should build a feeder with a large roof??? Until then, I suppose I will have to deal with an occasional mound of feathers and other body parts.

Now..onto the day's find in the sewing room! The picture just shows a small part of a massive quantity of ....rug yarn! Nice little bundles of three inch snippets of yarn in assorted colors. This would be a boon to find if I knew how to do latchhook but for someone that crochets, I view it as a waste of good thread! This is one of those.."just where did this come from" items that was stashed in a plastic storage box and forgotten. This is one of those."now what do I do with it" items that takes up a lot of space but is never used. Too good to discard..too "un-useful" to keep! Hmmmmm..

Birds of a Feather...

Today when I was out filling the bird feeders, I decided to see just how close I could be to the feeders and still have birds enter. I sat directly beneath the feeders on the boardwalk path that leads to the pier. Three feeders hang from old driftwood pieces about four feet from the ground. At any given moment, I could have easily stretched up my hand and grasped the feeders. I did not particularly try to be "un-noticeable" as I wanted to know if the birds saw me as their friend. I sat there with a mug of coffee in one hand and the camera readily available. It wasn't even a full minute before the smaller birds started flitting around the feeders. They would fly in and immediately zip back to the safety of the trees. Then a brave little Brown-headed Nuthatch landed and started pulling sunflower seeds from one feeder. That was all it took to entice the other birds in for breakfast! Besides the Nuthatches, there were Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, Swamp Sparrows, Cardinals and Mourning Doves all withing arm's reach of where I was sitting. Not a one of these birds showed any fear of me at all. To say it was exhilarating is such an understatement of the thrill I had sitting there among my avian friends! I plan on repeating this action as often as possible to record the actions of the birds. What an adventure!

Just a note..Spring cannot be too far away so think warm thoughts! As I was sitting there watching the birds, I noticed the the small transplanted Red Maple tree was showing signs of budding! This was a tree that my son pulled from the middle of a pathway on the other side of the house and transplanted on the Bay side. At the time, I told him that there was no way a "pulled up" tree would grow if replanted. Boy, was I wrong! It is doing so well! This little tree serves as a perch for the birds as they wait their turn at the feeders.

Birds and Birders!

Today when I was taking a break from peeling the mountains of grapefruit to be canned, I wandered outside for a bit. It was a beautiful sunny day with just a light breeze..just the perfect day for a stroll. As I walked, I thought..pondered anything that popped into the head. Then..oh, my goodness! A redheaded woodpecker! This bird has to be my all-time favorite! It looks as if it is dressed in formal attire! A bright red hat topping off its tuxedo! I love this bird! It tickled me to watch as he would try to stay on the opposite side of the tree from me. He would peek around the side to check if I was still there then..rat-a-tat-tat..he would hammer into the tree. Perhaps he thought that Ezzy, the dog, and I might steal his grub worms! Yes..this has to be my favorite bird..but no..I do not want his grub worms!

Like I said..I pondered things while I was out and about. The redheaded woodpecker made the thoughts turn to birds. I remembered another bird that wears a tuxedo..the rose-breasted grosbeak. Oh, yes! Another lovely bird! I think perhaps the grosbeak is my all-time favorite bird! It is a bit early for them yet..but come the first part of spring, they will be here. They will only here for a short visit as they migrate through. I wish they would stay for a bit longer but I know they must be on their way. The male grosbeaks, too, wear the black and white formal wear but instead of a bright red top hat (their's is black!), they opt for the crimson ascot! A little patch of red on their breast..hence the name! Add a few splashes of white and their outfit is complete! They usually intermingle with the indigo buntings making for some pretty colorful gatherings at the feeder.

Then a flash of crimson..ahh..my all-time favorite bird..the cardinal!! Yeah..I know..this one does not wear a tuxedo, but it is just so pretty that I had to throw it in here! The brilliant red of the cardinal does something to brighten up an entire winter. It can be the most dreary, grey day out, but if the cardinal makes his presence known..the day does not seem so bleak. This one will devour every black oil sunflower seed in the feeders all the while tossing the other seeds to the ground. The doves do not seem to mind this one bit since they are ground feeders and with the cardinal above, they are literally showered with feed! I do believe this must be my sister's favorite bird..she has several paintings of cardinals in her house. What a gorgeous bird!

Well, now that I think about it, I have an awful lot of "favorite" birds! Perhaps all of them are favorites. Ones like the red-bellied woodpecker, the blue jay and the summer tanager..lots of favorites! This reminds me of a comical thing happened about a month ago. I have a cousin that is an avid birder. She prides herself on being able to identify most birds with just a glance. I stand in awe of her ability to do this and truly wish that I would take the time to learn a bit more about my feathered friends. She has all the trappings of a serious birder..the binoculars..birding scope..bird identification books..and much more..too much to tote! Anyway, last month, this cousin had a houseguest that she wanted to take birding. She called to ask if it was ok to visit the Bayou to view any unusual birds that might be around. I agreed and immediately set to making this visit a success. I filled the feeders to the brim, scattered a bit on the ground and filled the birdbaths. That should help. Then, since both of these ladies are in their 80s, I lugged two of my wicker lawn chairs to the end of the pier so they would have sturdy seating. No hard benches for my guests! Two lap-throws were added to the chairs to shield them from the icy winds. (Which I thought was a nice gesture!) All was set..birds were flocking to the yard..waterfowl had settled in on the bay..the ladies arrived. By the time we got them settled in to watching for birds..there were no birds. No birds..anywhere! It seems that every bird within a quarter mile had gotten wind that some one was there to look at them. They hid!

No ducks on the bay, no osprey in the dead pine, no chickadees on the feeders. Where had they gone?? The ladies did see on osprey in the distance and a beautiful egret but nothing out of the ordinary. The bird-watching trek was a bust! I must say that the house guest and I had quite the amusing time but my cousin was miffed. Then to top it all off..I was told that it was the lap-throws that scared all the birds away! hehe..It is funny how navy blue throws were deemed "too loud"! I can just imagine all of those fine feathered friends sitting in the bushes, giggling at their successful joke!