Frosty Robins

Posted on December 30, 2010 by admin

I ran across hundreds of robins, quite a few starlings, and one lone grackle drinking and bathing in the icy water on the east side of Clinton Lake the other day. They were fun to watch until I realized I’d been standing there so long my face was frozen. 🙂 Of course, the beauty of Kansas is that it will reach 62 today. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Conversations around the bath

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

It’s great to see everyone visiting the bird bath these days. I’ve got to figure out a cordless way to keep the water from freezing. Perhaps a solar-powered heater is in order. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Visitors to the watering hole

Posted on October 8, 2010 by admin

It’s been pretty dry lately, so there are not a lot of puddles or other places with standing water. If you have a bird bath, it’s a good idea to keep it clean and filled up right now. The birds will thank you. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Robins

Posted on September 15, 2010 by admin

The robins are getting together in their winter groups. It’s nice to see them coming through the neighborhood. It’s particularly nice to see so many young ones in the group. They love bathing. 🙂 Click on pictures to enlarge.

Wonderful Wakarusa Wetlands

Posted on August 27, 2010 by admin

Sadly, my camera is off getting fixed and I have no idea how long it will be away. I’ve been so busy with work these last few weeks that I am way behind on updating the blog. The good news is, I have a nice assortment of pictures to post over the next few days and can’t wait to share them. 🙂 These are from a long walk in the Wetlands on August 16. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Baby birds do not always need our help

Posted on June 21, 2010 by admin

Baby birds are everywhere right now. Watch out for them. If you find a baby bird, do not assume it needs rescuing. Every year, good intentions separate a great deal of healthy babies from their parents. More often than not, the baby’s parents are nearby and have been feeding her/him. Cornell has some great info on what to do and what not to do.

Operation Wildlife advises if you find a baby bird and he or she is hopping, has most of his or her feathers, and has a short tail, the baby is a fledgling still learning to fly. His or her parents are nearby watching, feeding, and socializing the baby. I know it can be hard to resist getting involved. They look so vulnerable, but they need to be left alone so their parents can take care of them. If you are not sure if a baby needs help, call your local wildlife rehab. They will be happy to tell you. This is Operation Wildlife’s busiest time of the year. Donate or volunteer if you can. Join their Facebook page.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Empty nest

Posted on May 11, 2010 by admin

Something happened to the nestlings over the weekend. We didn’t see it, so it’s not clear what it was. There doesn’t appear to be any damage to the nest. It’s intact, but empty. I know this happens, but it’s sad. I did see the parents running off grackles on Friday. This morning I saw some starlings getting chased by a cooper’s hawk, and an owl flew low through the yard. Anything could have happened. It looks like the parents are still around, hanging out in the usual places. They may even be trying again nearby. I saw one (that I think might be one of the couple that built here) trying to drag a big piece of plastic into a bush at our neighbor’s house. I hope they have more success the second time around. For any other neighborhood birds who do not build your own nests, there is a vacancy. Inquire within.