Summer Arrival

Right before the Memorial Day Weekend, a sudden thunder/hail/rain storm arrived here in the evening.

These hails beat up my flowers and young veggie plants.

 Luckily, some irises are underneath the patio, staying away from the beating.

After about 30 minutes of torrential downpour rain, the sky cleared and a rainbow showed up.  What a change!  Soon birdies came back to finish up their supper before going to bed at night.



After the weekend, I revisited another wetland nearby to check on my bird friends.
Early in the morning out in the field, a Red-winged Blackbird, busy calling, spotted me.

"Hey, I didn't see you for a long time.  What's up these days?"


Underneath the fir branches, a Spotted Towhee was busy looking for bugs.

"Today is getting warm.  I am glad that terrible hail storm is gone.  That day, I hid under a bush and hoped no thunder would strike a nearby tree." 

Summer is slowly arriving.  The camp grounds up in the mountain are still closed due to below normal temperature.  Yet, the thunder storm is a true indication of the summer arrival.

Who's singing?

Where's the bird?

Who's singing?

Western Tanager (summer bird here):  "It's me.  I like to sing in the upper canopy, hiding from you!"

Black-headed Grosbeak (summer bird here):  "No, no, no.  Me.  I am a good singer from the south."

American Robin (regular resident here):  "Listen, everyone.   Here in Oregon, that song belongs to me all the time."


Backyard Owner:  "I am confused.  Who could be singing like that?"


A couple of bird books say their songs are similar.  In winter, I know the song belongs to American Robin, but in summer, I can be sure only when seeing whoever is singing. 

Here is another reason to keep bird-watching.

An American Goldfinch That Couldn't Fly

Last Firday evening when I was looking out to the backyard, I saw one American Goldfinch hopping around the lawn. 

The bird was eating seeds on the ground.

It still did not fly back home.

It looks like a matured bird.  It had been already 30 minutes or longer covering all over the backyard lawn without flying.  Something must be wrong.....

So I went outside to catch it.  As I approached, it hopped into a big patch of Lilies of Valley flowers to hide, where I finally caught it.  Next day I had to purchase a bird cage for emergency use and hoped the bird would regain its flying skill if the injury would heal somehow over time. 

Meantime, I contacted the local A. Society, who advised me to bring it over to the Wildlife Care Center for any possible help.  

A Little Yellow Bird

by Laoshu Bird

Farewell to you, a pretty yellow bird.

It was good to see you so close

With those tiny, yet gentle eyes.

Perhaps an old injury that never really healed.

Farewell to you, an old Goldfinch.

You must have enjoyed a life flying around,

Now off to another adventure.

Wishing the very best of luck to you.

Brown-headed Cowbird

Another summer bird for my backyard is a member of the blackbird family, Brown-headed Cowbird.  Last summer I first saw a female and could not figure out who it was.  After a while, I noticed a male bird with her, then I finally figured out they are called Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Here are Mr. and Mrs. Cowbird.  

During the winter months, they were gone to the coast or a warmer southern area.  This month I found this couple returned to this area and checking on food in the backyard.

They look like the last year's pair, don't they?

 

Their favorite weeds are dandelions.  Also they like to eat the seeds of many other garden weeds in addition to insects such as grasshoppers and other pests.  

They have one unique, but troublesome characteristic. When laying an egg, she does it at someone else's nest so that the nest owner ends up raising the Cowbird's chick. Sometimes even a smaller bird ends up raising a larger Cowbird.  So if you ever see a young Cowbird being fed by a small mother, you will know why.  

My veggie patch is slowly getting crowded with the young plants of volunteer potatoes, Chinese peas, tomato, green pepper, Japanese eggplant, green beans, etc.   Blueberry bushes are getting berries on.  Lavender bush is getting new stems.  Real summer is almost here.

Blueberries

One Day in the Life of a Young European Starling

Summer is the child rearing time for many birds.  In my backyard, I noticed several birds busy with their offspring. 


What a big mouth!!  Easier to get food from someone.  Who is this young one? 

"I am a European Starling.  I'm hungry because my mom is getting late."

Some are left on their own to observe the surroundings.

"Any food around here?  Can we eat these flower petals?"

And they get to learn how to bathe.

The left bird:  "It's so fun to splash.  You wait."

The right twos:  "Taking too much time.  Hurry up."

Mom:  "Bathing is a serious affair.  Remove all the bugs between the feathers.  Get C-L-E-A-N, everyone."

Mom:  "See, the clean feathers are evenly spread for a better flight."

Dad:  "A clean bird can walk with confidence to get to the food."

"Scratching without falling is another skill required.  My Mom says there are tons of things to learn before the hot weather goes away."

Good luck for your summer.

House Sparrow's Courting Dance

Up on the neighbor's spruce, a male House Sparrow was looking around.  Then as soon as a female just landed on a next branch, he began a twirling dance on the top of the branch.

Boy House Sparrow:  "Ta, ta, do you wanna dance?"

Girl House Sparrow:  "I can sing to your dance."

Boy House Sparrow:  "La, la, dance, dance."

Girl House Sparrow:  "Chi, chi, chi,...."

Boy House Sparrow:  "This is John Travolta's dance!!"

After that, they took off for a happy flight.

Bird Friends from a Wetland

In Oregon there are many wildlife refuges.  There is one wetland near my home.  Last Sunday, on Mother's Day, I revisited there the first time since last fall.

Canadian Geese:  "We haven't seen you for months.  How have you been?  We have goslings."

Then,  all of a sudden, noise and commotion.  What's going on?!@#  Well, that was a demonstration flight a couple of male geese just wanted to show.

"How was my taking off,  young men.  Next time it'll be your turn!"

Down the trail, I saw baby geese walking with their Mommy.

"Today is warm and we have to learn how to find food."

In the grass area next to the swamp, many tree swallow nest boxes have been placed.  Tree swallows were flying in and out of them.

"Hi, I've been watching you.  You seem to be gentle folks.  But that huge black eye (camera)!  That is the only strange thing about you."

Lesser Goldfinches:  "I might have seen you somewhere, but this is my home.  I like these grass seeds."


Farther down, beyond the swamps, a lone Bold Eagle perched on the tree. Last fall I have seen several of them up on another tall tree with their chins down taking a nap. This time, he was wide awake, but showing me his back.

But then after I returned home, I looked up the sky and there he was soaring up high.

Not just one, but together with another one.

That sure was a happy, delightful Mother's Day.

Black-headed Grosbeak

I still remember the first time when I saw this bird on my patio one summer.  Wow, my Adrenalin rushed and I crossed my fingers so that it would stay for a little while.

Female Black-headed Grosbeak in 2010:  "I am a new kid in the block.  It's already in August, so I don't have much time left in Oregon.  But nice to find a new feeding spot."

Starting September, Black-headed Grosbeaks begin migrating back to the south to spend warm winter somewhere in southern California or Mexico.  Come spring, they return to the north, some even going all the way to Alaska.

Male and female in 2011:  "This summer I brought my husband.   I like it here."


This May,  I saw one male a few times.

"Yuk, your backyard was overcrowded with Evening Grosbeaks this time.  I had to wait for a while and sneak in when they were gone."

Black-head Grosbeaks are a little smaller than Evening Grosbeaks, so he might have been overwhelmed and later took off  to somewhere else.

Just remember whenever you need to stop over on the way back to the south, you can take a rest here with your favorite sunflower seeds.  Because I am planting sunflowers again this summer.

 

Return of Nashville Warbler

At the end of last April,  I saw a Nashville Warbler.  Through a camera lens, it looked like Orange-crowned Warbler.  Only when I looked at the computer screen, I realized it was another bird.  Through a bird book, I finally came across the Nashville Warbler.

"Let me introduce myself:  I am a Nashville Warbler.  My chest is lot yellower than the Orange-crowned Warbler and I have a grayish head with a complete white eye ring.  For the male, the top of the head has pinkish dots."

"I like eating plum blossoms here."

This spring I have been wondering on and off if the bird would ever return here.  And finally the other day I noticed a yellowish bird on the plum tree branch.

"This year I am already a week late because of the cold spring here.  And I am disappointed to find no more of my favorite plum blossoms left.  Well, that's life, ta, ta... I am on the way to the north."

That was a very quick, short visit; nonetheless, I was happy to see you this year.  Next time when you come, I hope you can find plum blossoms in bloom to stay a bit longer.

Birdbath Basics

A birdbath is almost as important as bird food.  Why?  The water is first for drinking, and, second, for bathing.  Especially when you don't have any creek or river nearby. 

When placing a birdbath in your backyard, please follow these guidelines:

1) Keep nothing within 2 feet around on all sides since the birds are vulnerable with wet and heavy feathers.  No preditors are allowed nearby.
2) Have a small tree within a few yards for an emergency refuge. 
3) Change the water daily, and scrub the algae and droppings as needed.

Now your birds are ready to enjoy the birdbath just like my backyard friends:

Black-capped Chickadee:  "On a hot day, it's nice and cool."

Oregon Junco:  "When it gets very hot, I'll escape to the mountains.  But until then, I can take a bath here to cool down."

Evening Grosbeak:  "Daily glassful of water is good for health - I heard it on the bird news."

House Finch:  "The fresh morning water can't be underlined enough.  Do I look sound and well?  Certainly I am."

Scrub Jay:  "Ummm, good.  I just saw the backyard owner changed the water.  A taste of fresh water!!"

American Goldfinch:  "I'll send you a kiss to the conscientious backyard owner.  Hurray!!"

I hope your bird friends will love the fresh water this summer to stay clean and healthy.

The Stories of Blue Sky

In Oregon when the rhodies begin to bloom, it is the beginning of summer. We can see more blue sky while the birds crisscross it. 

Under the bright sun, a European Starling feathers begin to shine blue and purple. 

"I am most attractive in the sun."

Three Banded Pigeons gathered at the top of the neighbor's sequoia tree to chat.

"We are deciding where to go for lunch.  Which backyard do you want?  This house with the big yard?  Or that house with the tall tree?  We will take a vote."


On another tree, a couple of Mourning Doves were in a rush to get to another chore.

"Everyone is gone there, so we'd better land and munch the seeds."



An American Crow and a Red-tailed Hawk were enjoying flying around, sometimes being chased and the other time chasing the other. 

Red-tail Hawk:  "Hey, am I being chased or not?"

On a nice, sunny day, birds can dry up the feathers,  find food easier,  and so on.   Literally, they can enjoy flying.  I wish I could fly like a bird as free as can be.