Young grackles, starlings, jays, catbirds, and cardinals. Click on pictures to enlarge.
Young grackles, starlings, jays, catbirds, and cardinals. Click on pictures to enlarge.
Adults are starting to bring their babies around and I am loving watching the robins stuff as many raisins in their mouths as they can to distribute among the young ones. I was thinking this morning that perhaps one of the reasons few people really experience the birds around them is it takes a lot of time before birds become comfortable enough with a human to get close. I have robins coming up to me on the patio for raisins, but that did not happen overnight (I started handing out raisins during our awful extended winter). They are leery of humans, as they should be. Generally, when I sit outside to watch, I need to be in my “sit spot” for about an hour before they get comfortable enough with my presence to hangout nearby. I realize my own privilege in being able to make time to do this. Time outside being still and quiet, watching everything, is immensely good for my soul. Click on pictures to enlarge.
Morning visits to the patio from this lovely cardinal just make me smile. Click on pictures to enlarge.
If you can, put out a water bowl for neighborhood animals. With temperatures expected in the hundreds for the rest of the week here in Kansas, everyone needs to stay hydrated. I’ve even been hearing about many hawks and owls around the area visiting sprinklers and bird baths to keep cool.
You may have seen some bald birds around your yard this summer. Not to worry; it seems to be a summer thing for quite a few birds. The first time I saw a bald Northern cardinal in our yard, I was very worried about her, but according to Cornell, this may be quite normal, and nothing to worry about. I have to wonder if the bald cardinals I’ve been seeing around the yard for the last couple of weeks are much cooler without those head feathers. First the female nesting in our yard showed up completely bald and now the male has too. Click on pictures to enlarge.
She has all her feathers back now. 🙂
And, they have a new nest.
I was cooking dinner when I saw this baby cardinal and her father on the patio. I ran for the camera and filmed them through the window. How sweet!
This is the momma cardinal of the pair nesting in our yard. She keeps an eye on me whenever I am wandering around outside. I was looking at some plants, looked up, and she was right over my head. Click on pictures to enlarge.
Now that we have the feeders up, our list of backyard visitors is incredible. Click on pictures to enlarge.
While the heat has made everyone a bit scarce these days, there are still quite a few young ones out in the morning, following their parents around, and taking advantage of the cooler temperatures (if one can call 80 cool!). Click on pictures to enlarge.