"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!

All is Well

   How the Little Bayou House is situated, it is backed by a rather shabbily wooded area.  By shabbily, I am referring to the fact that the trees have been hurricane ravaged so much in the past years that there are mostly low-growing shrubs with very few tall "canopy" trees.  Probably on the whole of the back five acres, there may be a good fifty full sized trees.  The rest are thick bushes that only reach maybe twenty feet in height.  Through the midst of this, the tiny creek flows until it spills into the back part of the Bayou.  I leave the area wild and woolly simply to provide some shelter for the critters.  With everything around us sold and being developed, this is the only place where the critters can live free and happy.  I am good with it. There also is a lovely canebrake between the wooded area and the house.  This canebrake also provides shelter for critters.  You never know what you might find in there!

  With the woods and the canebrake being on the north side of the Little Bayou House, it is a welcome shelter for us, as well.  The dense growth of both shields us from the bitter north wind during winter.  It is there, that I can meander about without being chilled to the bone.  It is, also, there that I find my critter friends doing the same.  A good many will hunker down in the thickets to be protected from the icy winds.  

  It was on the hike this morning that I found the male Northern Cardinal in the canebrake.  His lovely wife was tucked in the midst of the brake but he was keeping watch from the edge.  Their soft chirps to each other called my attention to the male.  As I eased my way near the cane, the chirps took on a different tone as he told her to sit tight for possible danger approaches.  He never wavered from his post even though my path went directly below him.  Once he realized that I was not there to do harm, his chirps reverted back to the calming, soft whispers.  "It is all ok.  Stay put.  She will not hurt us.  All is well."  His ladylove stayed snug in her sheltered spot and he continued his watch just as I continued my way down the path. 

  I am glad the birds and other critters have a "safe place" from all of the craziness of this old world.  I am also glad that they realize I am a friend and not a predator.  The Little Bayou Kingdom is safe and sound.  All is well.

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.

Friend Cardinal

  If you listen to others, there are signs all about us that heighten our spiritual awareness.  These things can be found in everything from a falling feather to an animal that comes to visit unexpectedly.  I am good with that.   There are signs that we should notice and heed.  Then, there are those that we should ignore.  I pick and choose which I want to bring meaning to the day.

  This morning while out working the vegetable garden, a bright red cardinal came to visit.  This normally skittish bird had no qualms of being within a few feet of me while I worked.  (When it came time for me to get the camera, the bird scooted up to a low hanging hickory branch and sat "hiding" behind twigs.)  As I planted yet more peas and put in a row of lettuce, the cardinal would flit from one fence to the next.  It was watching my every move and I soon became quite accustomed to hearing the flutter of wings just above my head.

  There are those that say a visiting cardinal is carrying a message from those from our past.  In times of trouble or illness, a male cardinal symbolizes hope for renewal and well-being.  Through all of the woes, we should be persistent.  As the cardinal kept its watch over me, I pondered the thoughts of signs and meanings.  Maybe this is one I should grasp.  Renewal and well-being would be a rather nice change of events for me.  I will take it.  I will take it.

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!

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!

Fun in the "Pool"!

  I have finally taken the time to fetch the wicker chairs from the greenhouse where they were stored for the winter months.  After arranging them in the front yard to take full advantage of the Back Bay breezes, I plopped down to "test" them.  After all, we sure do not want "non-working" chairs!  From this point on, these chairs will be my resting spot after doing the daily chores.  It is too hot to stay inside and the breezes are too inviting.  It is also from this spot that I can view a multitude of wildlife that comes to the yard to feed or get fresh water from the birdbath.  The camera will always be by my side to take advantage of the steady flow of photo opportunities that cross the yard.

  During my first sitting, I was fully entertained by a male cardinal that came to enjoy the cool waters of the birdbath.  I keep an old jug filled with water propped in the bath so that the bowl is not emptied too soon.  With the spout of the jug under water, it does not drain quickly.   Only as the water is emptied from the bowl of the bath does the water slowly feed from the spout to refill.  It is sort of a "fill on demand" method that seems to work well at keeping a two day supply of fresh water for the critters.  Today, the male cardinal took full advantage of that bath.  At first, he splashed happily about in the water but, then, I noticed an unusual behavior.  The cardinal would fluff out its belly feathers, soak them and then take off to where Mama Cardinal was setting on the nest.  After a moment or two, Papa Cardinal would come back to the birdbath to repeat the process.  Both to and from, he was careful to not let on where the nest was located just in case a crow or hawk was watching.  The male cardinal followed this routine 6 times.  

  It seems that birds can indeed carry water in their feathers.  They do this so their mate or offspring can get life-giving water during the heat of the day.  In areas where water is scarce, a bird can carry the water great distances to provide for his family.  My little cardinal friend only had about a hundred feet to fly before he was home.  Mama Cardinal could sip the water from his feathers and he could shake his feathers to sprinkle the nest.  He is such a good daddy! Later, he will teach his little ones that fresh water can be found at the birdbath and my entertainment will continue.

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.