Kristine, John Jay Audubon, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and ME

     A good friend of mine, Kristine, recently gave me a book, Song and Garden Birds of North America, by the National Geographic Society, copyright 1964. Luckily for me Kristine salvaged the book while cleaning and dismantling the home of her deceased parents. Kristine knows I like birds because of my bird photographs that I share with the "Circle Ladies" at church.
     Reading in the book I find that the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak species won John Jay Audubon's heart and was a bird that influenced him to explore the world of birds and display it before others. "The evening was calm and beautiful, the sky sparkled with stars...Suddenly there burst on my soul the serenade of the Rose-breasted bird, so rich, so mellow, so loud in the stillness of the night, that sleep fled from my eyelids.  Never did I enjoy music more."
     My heart began to beat fast as I realized that this, too, was a bird that that made my head spin with joy.  For two springs now the Rose-breasted Grosbeak has visited my bird feeders, staying for a couple of weeks on its migration north.  After that first spring I had to get a camera and capture this and other beautiful birds.
     Do you think that John Jay Audubon and I have even a tiny bit in common?  I wonder.......

Squirrels At The Bird Feeder

I don't even try to keep the squirrels out of the bird feeders.  In fact, just this past week I have watched as this summer's young squirrels have like over night built two nests closer to the house than ever before.  Usually they nest way out back in the tops of strong oak trees.  But these two nests are in aging Bradford Pear trees with flimsy limbs bent over with the weight of the nest.  These trees are only a hop, skip, and a jump from the bird feeders.  Easy access I would say to a constant food supply. I love all God's creatures.....and the squirrels pull at my heart strings.  Did you know that traffic is the number one enemy of squirrels and cause more death than anything else?  Do you brake for squirrels?  I do. 

People are Like Birds

Do you know much about the redbirds?  Did you know that they connect as a couple for life.  In the yard the two birds are not very far apart.  And as they fly about they call out to each other.  It is a simple tweet tweet from one, and then the other tweet tweets back.  They always know where the other is.  I love listening to them and watch as I see where they are.  Always seemingly in eye sight of each other but always in hearing of each other.  My husband is like that.  He has a simple cell phone that he only uses for calls.  When we are apart he calls me.  "Hey, What are you doing?"   He is not jealous or anything like that.  He just wants to connect with me.  I have grown to love his calls.....he cares for me...just like the birds. He can tweet tweet me anytime.

Night Time Creatures

Just now at 3:30 in the morning I have been out back with my dog Scooter as he does his routine middle of the night business.  Standing with him I am staring across the yard into the eyes of a deer.  We lock our eyes and silently communicate.  Out the corner of my eye I notice a raccoon scurrying towards the garage, where I think he will be going after left over cat food.  But I hear a grating noise that leads me to believe that this raccoon just might be swinging on the bird feeder hanging from a crook at the den window.  Yesterday I found this bird feeder on the ground, opened, and in disarray.  The feeder has a tightly screwed on metal ring top...and now I guess that this guy committed that crime.  Just another animal attracted to the bird feeders.  One day in broad daylight a deer walked up to the feeder and forcibly licked around the rim, sending the feeder swinging.   I have many stories to tell of animals at my bird feeders, night time and day time.   Let me try and find a picture of that deer. He looks a little guilty in this first picture....and the messy window is from the dog's prospective.  That is the same feeder in question for tonight's raccoon.

Birds as a Tribute

Pictures taken this afternoon.  Such a sad day as I learn of the passing of a dear friend.  A wonderful Christian man, a man that lead others to church by his  example.  He will be so missed at Mt Zion United Methodist Church.  John, the birds are still here and remind of us God's eternal love. You are still in our hearts.

Deer Pass Through My Backyard

There are two acres of lawn and trees out back that are surrounded by woods. Most every morning and every afternoon deer walk and graze across the yard....males, females, doe, usually in groups of six or seven but I have seen as many as seventeen.  They are absolutely beautiful.  Be looking for more pictures of these awesome creatures.

Everyday Visitor

"Yeah, she shows me that one all the time." That's what my grandson has to say about me calling out to the family so often to come look at birds out my kitchen window.  This male cardinal frequents the sunflower seed feeders out there. Birding is an incredible, new hobby for me!  I'm looking forward to writing about how much watching and photographing birds makes me smile!