while out digging yesterday i was having
fun with the killdeer pair that has returned
again to nest in the fenced garden. i know
it is the same pair as last season because
they are fairly tame when i'm around. they
might flutter a little and call and try to
lure me away, but it is a real half-hearted
effort. within a few moments they settled
down. Mom (or Dad) will go back to the nest
and sit on their eggs. the other will hop
around or wander off. i'm not sure if the
one brings food for the other or not or if
they take turns sitting on the eggs. sometimes
when i'm taking a breather i'll sit down and
bob my head after the bird does. trying to
convey the fact that i have no plans to eat
their eggs or them. it makes for a much more
peaceful gardening experience.

as i was digging i would come across a june
bug or a beetle larva (wire worms aka click
beetles are common too) and toss in over near
the killdeer, but i didn't watch to see if
the bird actually was eating them or not.

after i finished digging that garden for the
day i was sitting in the pathway taking a
break -- watching the birds and listening to
see how many different bird calls i could sort
out. i came across another june bug and this
time i watched when i tossed it towards the
killdeer to see if it ate it. hopped right
after it and gobbled it up. gave me a good
chuckle. then a bit later it was off and came
back and scootched the eggs to rotate them.
that was worth a good laugh.

the bird parade here is pretty varied: we
have the larger birds passing over or hunting
in the ditches: geese, ducks (several species),
herons. we have the larger ground feeders:
turkeys and ring-necked pheasants that pass
through. we have the large birds of prey and
the scavengers: turkey vultures, hawks, owls,
eagles including the impressive bald eagles
that will pick at the road kill. then the
crows and blue jays.

getting into the regular crew there are
cardinals, chickadees, house finches, blue
birds, robins, northern thrashers, cat birds,
redwing blackbirds, grackles, morning doves,
humming birds, and the killdeer.

transitory but daily visits from the flying
acrobatic troupe of purple martins and barn
swallows.

once in a while we'll see an oriole or wood
pecker. i'm hoping the large dead tree i've
left standing to the north will eventually be
a home for some wood peckers or owls as it
slowly falls apart.

that's about thirty characters. i'm sure
i've missed some of the smaller birds that
pop around in the bushes or those that are
similar to others in color or shape.

one critter that deserves honorable mention
that should be considered a bird is the giant
dragon fly as it is about as big as the
hummingbirds.

saw the first snake of the season yesterday.
about two feet long. fairly regular type seen
around here so i didn't stop to take a closer
look. next time i should so i can look it up
to be more sure of what i'm seeing.

was going to head out to weed a little today
but it started sprinkling so i thought to take
a few minutes. before giving up completely i
did get the hoses out and got the garden i
worked on yesterday watered in and was able to
see Ma's new work of yard art. will have to get
a picture of that as it's a keeper.

ok, that's enough rambles for today, but it
would be interesting to hear what others have
for bird life, critter happenings in their
gardens, so get out your guides and memory and
let's hear some stories.


songbird