Another Case of Mistaken Identity

  Folks mean well.  They really do.  It is just that sometimes their good intentions are misguided.  With the popularity of social media and the welfare of pets. people just get overzealous at times.  With just a bit of commonsense and patience, a bit of the urgency could be avoided.  Some of the "found pets" would rather not be found at all since they are supposed to be wild. Today, there was just such an incident where a well-meaning lady thought she saw one thing and it turned out to be something totally different.  The "swat crew" of animal rescue folks was called to retrieve "two beautiful, blue finches that are on the loose!"  After all of the hullabaloo that ensued,  it was decided that it was all a case of mistaken identity.  Social media on high alert!  Animal Rescue notified!  Two hours of searching for pet birds!  Nary a "beautiful, blue finch" found.  On the other hand, I have seen lots of Indigo Buntings flitting about the place!

  While not everyone knows an Indigo Bunting from a bedbug, it is sometimes wise to check things first.   Folks at the animal rescue place should have been aware that it is the season for these little birds to be moving through the area as they migrate.  They come twice a year, stop in for a few days then hurry on their way. 

  I had read the urgent request for help early in the day then set about painting the front door.  While I worked I had the windows all flung open to take advantage of the wonderful breeze that comes off of the water.  The sound of birds singing, squirrels fussing and waves hitting the marsh made for a pleasant work atmosphere.  At one point a flash of blue caught my eye.  I peered out the window and saw the "beautiful, blue finch" also known as an Indigo Bunting searching for seeds under the rose arbor.  Sweet!  Then, it dawned on me what had caused all of the commotion down the road a ways.  Bless their hearts, I felt for those poor folks in their never-ending quest.  You know fully well that the little buntings were oblivious to their no-show doppelgangers and were probably confused at being chased by good-hearted folks with their "birding" nets.  Come on, folks!  Get a birdwatching guide book if nothing else! So, here is a photo of a bunting as seen through the window screen.   It is NOT a tame finch!  That said, buntings and finches are related and this bunting is blue so this case of mistaken identity may be understandable....somewhat....but the panic involved in the search was a bit of overreaction...to say the least.

Feeling a tad blue!

I worked cleaning house today.  The Little Bayou House needed some deep cleaning so I was up with the birds.  I flung open all of the windows and allowed the cool morning breeze to blow through the entire house.  Airing out the place is something that I always do several times of the year..winter, spring, summer or fall.  There is nothing like a good bunch of fresh air to clear the mind and detox the house!    Each time I walked past the windows, I would glance outside at the bird feeders.  I was happy to see my usual bunch of visitors.  They could eat hardy today as Ms. Ez was out guarding their meal from the marauding squirrels.  She does love those birds!

About noontime, I noticed a bit of blue on the ground under the feeders.  Could it be?  I stopped in my tracks to get a better look!  Yep!! It was!  There was a single Indigo Bunting pecking at the seeds the Redwinged Blackbirds had dropped.  I was excited to see this little fellow as last year, nary a one came to visit.  I watched as the little guy ate a goodly amount of seed.  He was quite persnickety about his dinner and only ate certain seeds.  The Mourning Doves came along behind and cleaned the ground of any he left.  Wanting to lure more Buntings if there were any in the area, I headed out with a mug of seeds.  These I simply poured on the ground.  Buntings seem to prefer to scavenge the ground for their meals instead of hanging on the finch feeders.  If I had a nice flat tray feeder, it would be to their liking but the ground would have to suffice.  Once I reached to steps to go back inside, I turned and was surprised to see three more Buntings!  I was elated!

By late evening, several more Indigo Buntings stopped to feed.  I will definitely have to rise before dawn to fill the feeders and scatter several cups of seeds on the ground.  I do not want these little birds to think I am not the perfect hostess!  Hopefully, they will hang around for a few days before heading on their journey.  Perhaps if word gets around in the avian world that there is a smorgasbord of delightful dining to be found in this yard, the birds will make this a regular stop.  Last year, I truly missed the brilliant blue lawn-covering!  Welcome back, little Buntings, welcome back!

Something's Missing....

Here it is April and it seems as though summertime has been upon us for months. The temperatures are soaring into the mid-eighties and the humidity is enough to flatten the hair and make even the daintiest of Southern Belles sweat like a hog! Somewhere down the line, I missed spring! I do not even recall a decent frosty morning that burst into a warm, sunny day. We went from fall to "non-winter" to summer. I am not the only one that missed this season..so have the birds. Perhaps it was because the winter was so warm, the birds did not migrate but I have seen nary a one of my usual friends at the feeders.

No Indigo Buntings came at all this year! Usually in March, the yard is turned into a sea of bright blue as these little fellows forage for as many seeds as they can find. I have found that the feeders stay empty when they are here. Occasionally, I was fortunate enough to be blessed with a visit of a multicolored Painted Bunting but those occasions were rare. As long as I have lived on the Bayou, the Indigo Buntings would make a stop during their migration. For about a week, the yard would be graced with their blueness and then..as quickly as they came, they would be gone. This short visit was a highlight of my springtime..one that did not come this year. Not one Bunting..Indigo or Painted..came to visit.

Mixed in with the Buntings would be the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Not this year...none came. This, too, made me sad. I loved seeing these birds with their tuxedo-like feathers. It was like a formal dinner at the feeding stations when they were here! I would marvel at the brilliance of the red patch on their white, white "shirt fronts". Some sad tale could have been written about how this was a "bleeding heart" or a perhaps a humorous tale of how it was red wine spilled on the tuxedo during one of their fancy dinners! Whichever way..these birds did not come to the Bayou this year. Nor, did the Blue Grosbeaks.

My friends stayed away from the Bayou for one reason or another. The feeders were filled and the birdbaths were cleaned..all in hopes that the yard would play host to the migratory masses. None came. The seed was eaten by my locals...which are always welcome. Still, I miss the changing of the seasons....WHERE WAS SPRING????