Birds, Birds, Birds....

They're everywhere.

There are Cowbirds in the paddocks with the animals. I generally don't like Cowbirds much, because they are really hard on Robins. They push the Robin eggs out of the Robin's nests and lay their own eggs and then leave them for the Robins to raise. Mind you, the Robins are really stupid if they don't realize that their eggs are no longer there. Lately though, the paddocks have been full of Cowbirds. The Cowbirds turn over the poop and check underneath for grubs and beetles etc.... it's a smorg of yummies for them. Mmmmm... my favorite poop covered beetles!

Then you have the Robins who fly about the yard and then hop along the ground looking for worms. They find very few around here so they must be doing pretty good with the Pine Beetle since there are so many.

After the Robins there are the Swallows. There are tons of them. We have a nesting pair defending their young from the peak of the shed. I like Swallows except they tend to carry parasites none of which you want in your home. So that's why if I see them making nests around the house I knock the nest down and force them to go elsewhere.... I know, it sounds cruel but there are plenty of spots around our property to make nests without using the house.

After that there are the Humming birds. There are Calliope and the Rubby Throated around this area. They are mad because I keep forgetting to put the Humming Bird feeders out and they want it. They keep coming to my windows and looking in as though to say..... Hurry up..... we want food!

There are all kinds of Warblers and Sparrows out and around that never show their faces. You only know they are around because of the amount of noise they make. I often wake at 4:30 a.m. for a short while and hear the birds singing outside my window. It is lovely to have windows that open in our house again after so many years of having a house where no windows open. This is my first spring in eight long years where I can experience the lovely songs of the birds and the cool drafts of the breeze through my windows.

My deck is beginning to look lovely as the flowers take hold and start to grow. So with birds galore and flowers in abundance how can I not enjoy the spring. The sun is shining and Jiggs needs her walk so I'm off to enjoy a little walk in the spring morning air.

Get out if you can and smell the roses... or whatever flowers happens to grab you.... check out the birds that are soaring around your home.... time is of the essence!