...it's a plane...
...it's a frog (a frog?)
No, you were right the first time: it's a bird.
And not just any bird - it's the bluebird of happiness. Yes, the bluebirds are back and they are lookin' to set up house. At this point, they are a bit skittish, so I was having a terrible time getting them to pose for photographs. I followed this pair all around my yard twice over the course of about half an hour and these are about the best shots I got. As the season progresses, though, and they settle in, photo ops will be easier.
In the meantime, if you haven't cleaned out your nest boxes yet, you'll want to do so. Unless, of course, the box already has a mossy nest inside, which will be the nursery of this happy little bird:
...who was also difficult to photograph, which is unusual for chickadees, but I blame the wind this time, which kept blowing not only the tree branches about, but also the birds. Yes, Virginia, it was a VERY windy day.
This country is so diverse in it's climate, isn't it? We in north central NC just this week had our first family of bluebirds leave their nest. The adults were flying at the box to coax the little ones out. I watched and watched but finally had to get some work done so missed their exit. One year luckily I was standing at the window when they popped out one by one. I was thrilled to have seen this event. Soon these same adults will be starting their second family.
ReplyDeleteKaren - even up here we have quite a diversity. My county coordinator for the NYS Bluebird Society has babies fledged about the time I have the first eggs laid - and we are in the same county! But I'm in the central part of the mountains, and she's down in the banana belt near Lake Champlain.
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of nestboxes set up right outside my back door and often sit on the back steps eating breakfast and watching the bluebird family as summer approaches. I've spent a lot of time with a camera trained on the opening trying to get The Shot of a fledgling's first flight - to no avail, yet. Like you, as soon as I turn my back, it happens. They are sneaky.
Ellen, Have you ever read any of Edwin Way Teale's books such as Wandering Through Winter (or Summer or Spring, etc.)? As I was reading your reply comment, it occurred to me that he wrote books about this very fact .... that the seasons bring on different changes at different times depending on where in the country you are and at what altitude, etc. So, I am guessing that maybe you have!!!
ReplyDeleteKaren - as a matter of fact, I have several of his books! It's good stuff. I use copies of his "Insects' Fourth of July" as an example in my journaling classes.
ReplyDelete