JUNE 2015 • VOL 13, ISSUE 6 THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS, IT’S STILL…
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It' s Baby Bird Time T
hey didn’t come this year; the great horned owls. Maybe the crows in our yard somewhere. They have a beautiful bubbly song that resemtook over their nest. We did look forward to seeing the new fledgbles the robin but much more melodious. lings just like we did last year. The Cedar Waxwings didn’t come The black-capped chickadees have been around all year and we either even though we had an abundance of their favorite flowers, the know they have set up housekeeping somewhere in our bird sanctuary. red-hot pokers. We have seen at least four pairs. I’m not sure how many bird houses The red-hot poker flowers are the favorite of Bruce put up but know there are several sizes, the waxwings, finches, hummingbirds, chickaseveral kinds of materials and different sizes dees, buntings, and Western Tanagers. The holes. They can get quite picky and may not use Tanagers usually stop by on their way through any we have but it is okay as long as they stay this area in the spring and fall. This year they around and entertain us. came in pairs not singles. These exquisite birds One white-breasted nuthatch is coming regustand out while sitting atop the bright red tops of larly to our feeders. It comes when there isn’t the poker plants. Their bright yellow front, black much activity so it can slip in, grab a sunflower back and tail together with the reddish orange seed and zip out of there…fast. They nested here head will always make me stop and wish I had a in one of our very dilapidated bird houses last camera to catch the moment. I only wish they year. They prefer holes in trees so maybe that old would nest here but from what I gather they nest house looked like part of the tree it was on. in more wooded areas. Sunflower seeds seem to be the favorite food Right now we have many house finches and a of many different kinds of birds. It is a must for couple of purple finches that frequent our feedthose who love to watch the bird life and want to ers. The baby house finches are learning where have them up close and personal. The finches their favorite foods are located. We see them also like the thistle seed. begging for momma bird to ‘feed me, feed me’, Speaking of finches, we have dozens of golduntil they can figure it out for themselves. finches feeding at our feeders these days. These Also the bossy evening grosbeaks have been little five-inch birds love to sing and fill the air hanging around longer than they usually do. The above: A Lazuli Bunting perches momentarily while hunting for dinner. BIRDS—cont’d on page 3 black-headed grosbeaks are plentiful and do nest right: Robin Redbreast babies, hungry, as usual!