the garden visitor

Tags

back yard birds, eastern bluebird, garden, home, Virginia

A few weeks ago I looked out to see a newly fledged Eastern bluebird hopping around my terrace. It was alone. Normally when bluebird chicks fledge, they fly to the highest branches of the nearest tree and remain there with other members of their brood for a couple of weeks, while the adults continue to feed them.

This fledgling did not.

As a bluebird monitor, I had immediate concerns. I grabbed my camera and captured these rare shots through my storm door. I hope that you enjoy them.

So tiny in such a huge environment…this female chick contemplates her next move…notice the size of her feet!

This chick raised a ruckus to attract its parents, who wondered why this babe was not high in a tree with its nestmates.

While waiting for the adults to feed it, this chick wanted a nap. After all, these birds go from hatching to flight in merely 18 days. Quite a feat. I love the feet.

After a short flight to the terrace wall from the bench, this wee one nearly fell into the birdbath. What a face. Some mornings I wake with this same expression.

Gathering gumption, a few minutes after this shot, she managed another flight across the turf to the deep shrub border, where it landed on the ground not in a tree. Both adults were at her side during flight, another spectacular sight. I surmise that this miracle fledged too early and was not strong enough to gain altitude. Fingers crossed.

Before vanishing into the wild, this chick preened itself. I do hope she survived. She appeared to have an attitude which I hope serves her well during her lifetime.

Life is precious, and I am reminded of this every day as I witness the creatures and beauty that surround me daily. The difficult part is simply observing, as I can do nothing to change a situation like this. I must permit nature to take its course and be content with not knowing.

How glad I am to have this brief moment with my tiny garden visitor, and now this observation with my trusty camera allows sharing with you, my followers.

Have you witnessed a miracle this summer? Do tell.

Copyright © 2017 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

May’s DIY project ~ the big dig!

Tags

Albemarle County, back yard birds, Central Virginia, DIY project, garden, home, landscape design, life, nature, sustainable living

Uncanny, how vistas change in a wee season and projects present themselves abruptly.

This month, the wild bird bath waved its copper flag at me from across the turf…hey lady, this shrub is toast and I need a makeover. How about it, NOW!

Ok, I concurred. This winter was very hard on a few residents of my landscape, and this small feature became an eyesore overnight.

my little ugly duckling in full view from the rear terrace ~ winky-wonk copper bird bath…

the original circle was topped with pea gravel and river rock, and the holly was a volunteer, seeded by a fly over wild bird

I can do this! One small shrub cannot be that hard to remove…ha!

after the holly was sawed off, I raked the largest stones into the wheelbarrow and reused the pile in the lower garden

once the deck was clear of most stones, I pondered on the stump…it could not remain, as the bird bath needed centering, or so I thought…

on both knees, I began to chop, chop, chop with my little Swedish hatchet

as moments passed, I realized this “small” root was not. The bin began to fill and numerous trips were made to the shed for additional tools…as I hacked, forked, and picked at tough roots, thoughts of the great pyramids and the tedious excavation of Pompeii trickled through my brain, keeping me on task. I can do this!

This bugger took ages to excavate; close to an hour. I considered calling my digging man, yet this simple DIY lured me to finish in ONE morning!

I pushed on and somewhat leveled the rich soil. Paver sand was in the shed from another project, and I hope the effort makes a difference. The old aggregate step stone has served me well and once leveled, I discovered a 1994 quarter. Not a coveted arrowhead sometimes found in these parts…drat!

1994 quarter-dollar. When I carried it to the shed, it slipped from my gloved hand and is now lost again somewhere in the shed. Guess that coin enjoys being lost…

after a trip to town, twenty pavers completed the circle and mulch top dressed the project. I swear the bird bath is centered…hmm.

This is certainly an improved look, don’t you think? While I contemplate what plant material should go around the bird bath I will heal my wounded self. I admit my body ached from head to toe for two days following this DIY, and I am rapidly succumbing to future assistance from hired labor. No pain, no gain?

You go girl, cooed the garden ornaments…

The following week I added three plants around the stepping-stones…

those tiny plants are Munstead lavender, in honor of Gertrude Jekyll ~ an easy start to a great plant, if they are happy here. Time will tell.

this is the bed in May 2015. Munstead is doing very well, despite the very cold winter.

Check out my other DIY project at https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/the-thing-about-renewal/

Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

Bluebirds ~ our very special relationship at Swallowtail Cottage

Tags

Albemarle County, back yard birds, blowfly, bluebird monitor, Bluebird Monitor's Guide, Bluebirds, coir, garden, home, life, nature, nesting bluebirds, Virginia

rural Albemarle County

Bluebirds are native, timid, and endangered here in the US. In order to continue my life’s mission of sustainability and education, four years ago I became a Bluebird Monitor. During the nesting season, I observe, serve, and promote the health and survival of this wonderful species.

The following photos were just taken this morning from inside my home, so please forgive the few slightly blurred images, yet I think it is important to record and blog about the very special relationship I developed with this particular pair. They nested here last year and I welcome them back with open arms and camera in hand. They do not feed here during the winter, and I celebrate their safe return from the wild.

Virginia’s wild

Let’s return to the timid part—bluebirds frighten easily and nesting conditions must be just right for a pair to claim a box. Since I feed many other species of wild birds on my half-acre, placement of bluebird boxes is critical. Not too close, just the right size and angle, positioned on stand-alone posts just the right height off the ground, and goodness knows, plenty of predator guards.

I offer two boxes here and currently have a small feeding station set up in the Noel guard of one box—specifically for the blues. It is hidden from wrens, titmice, cardinals, and Mary Mockingbird, all of who adore the same sunflower seeds, currants and nuggets. Happily the bluebirds found this private feeder quickly, and chose the other box in which to nest. All this I learned by observation.

Another tidbit learned in recent years is, is about the nesting material. Bluebirds fancy pine needles here, yet with nearby cattle, the bluebirds are easily infested with blowfly parasites, which kill. I learned the hard way two years ago when I lost all but one nestling in an otherwise healthy brood. Blowfly apparently love pine needles, so last year I experimented with coir, a sustainable by-product of the coconut. It is cheap, clean, and nicely simulates pine.

coir nest built by moi when blowfly was detected in pine needle nest

I lined coir nest with raffia strips to prevent nestlings from tangling their nails in coir. From this nest the fledge was successful.

In spring I stock up on a few plant basket liners, and place shredded bits near the bird box when the female shows interest. This streamlines the female’s nest-building chore as the male does not help construct—he guards the process.

Can you imagine being a nesting bird who flies around large areas in order to return with just a few threads of nesting material per flight? Hundreds of trips must be made, using precious energy. While assisting in this process I feel such joy when through the glass, I observe a connection with this wild creature as she selects the coir and hops into the nearby nest box. Now for the photos taken within the hour:

this year’s scenario~
notice the coir tucked into the fence post

female bluebird making the connection, yay!

bluebird up on post ready to enter the box

there she goes!

male at private feeding station

Male guards while female grabs a snack~nest building takes energy!

Male bluebird checking out the nest-building process

Dear readers, I cannot begin to express the absolute glee—a kid in a candy store perhaps? Filled with hope, pride, and pure joy that I may share this small miracle with you.

If you host bluebirds in your gardens, please do not feed dry mealworms! Most of them are from China! Please order fresh (USA), live mealworms from Nature’s Way in Ohio. They are easy to care for (just put them in a deep tray with oat bran and a few fresh romaine leaves) where they happily reside until plucked out (I use tweezers) and feed to appreciative birds. If readers have questions, please write to me through the comments link above…

I would be honored if you would continue to learn about my bluebird adventures by typing bluebird into the search bar on this page. There you may read previous posts and see photographs of this miraculous process. If, per chance, I inspire you to become a Bluebird Monitor, please type suggested reading into my search bar to learn titles of the essential publications supporting this incredible bird. Also one of my followers a great source of information and her blog may be found at http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/
Check it out and get inspired!

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

on the horizon

Tags

back yard birds, change of seasons, photography, poetry, vultures

Just now, this Friday morning, I noticed a few newcomers to the yard. Mary Mockingbird was having a fit, attempting to drive them off, as her third nest is not far off in the magnolia. Is this an omen?

These guys appear rather ominous, yes?

This was my observation yesterday morning:

The sun is shining,

the zinnias are brilliant,

five doves poke around,

one bunny snoops,

not a snake in sight.

Mary Mocking bird feeds her new chicks,

catnip is in the drying shed.

I smell fall.

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

bluebird project

Tags

back yard birds, Bluebird Monitor's Guide, bluebird of happiness, Bluebirds, climate, eastern bluebird, english sparrow, human dedication, nature, Virginia

In the US and Canada, bluebirds need help from humans to restore their populations. Continuing habitat destruction, insecticide use, and predation by the English sparrow caused dramatic bluebird decline. Through human dedication, education, and monitoring, bluebirds are enjoying a comeback. Here are a few photos showing my backyard efforts this nesting season.

six day old bluebird chicks

In 1939, Judy Garland sang “somewhere over the rainbow” in the Wizard of Oz and numerous poems and songs were scribed during the nineteenth century, celebrating the timid yet well-loved “bluebird of happiness.”

When the English Sparrow was imported to the US in 1851 for an exhibition, some escaped and rapidly competed with the eastern bluebird for cavity nesting spots. Therefore, nest boxes are now provided on Bluebird Monitoring Trails and in back yard gardens throughout the US. These houses are designed specifically for bluebird requirements, restricting some predation, yet additional assistance must come from humans in order to insure successful fledges.

Despite careful monitoring in May, only two out of six eggs survived. Three nestlings lived to fledge, yet one vanished in the wild. Dramatic spring temperature swings contributed to this diminished cycle. The adult pair returned for a second cycle, producing these three hatchlings—leaving one egg, presumed infertile.

bluebird box with four predator guards

Providing two bird boxes within my half-acre yard, I collect a small pile of pine needles and place them on the ground under the box. The female gratefully uses these to construct her nest. This chore takes me merely ten minutes, where if the female collects needles—a few at a time—this would take her days and dozens of flights.

Since blowfly is another killer of bluebird nestlings, I monitor daily for signs of infestation. Since the chosen box is in full sun, I also place my 8′ patio umbrella over the box during these oppressive summer temperatures. I remove this every evening, as a persistent raccoon attempts to breach the box. The green wire on the front of the box is called a Noel Guard, and was instrumental in saving this brood last week.

deluxe bluebird accommodations during very hot weather

The flat wire is something that I rigged up with bamboo stakes. This rests above the stovepipe guard, designed to discourage cats and snakes. Without the help of three local bluebird experts and naturalist, I would not be the monitor that I am today. Thanks to Ron, Priscilla, and Ann—the effort continues.

I hope that this blog gives readers a small glimpse of what bluebirds must contend with when nesting. If you want to learn more or care to become a bluebird monitor, please read The Bluebird Monitor’s Guide by Cynthia Berger, et al, a Cornell Bird Library Guide. This is essential reading.

Remember to glide your mouse over images for further captions.

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

oh to fledge

Tags

back yard birds, Bluebirds, fledging, meal worms, nature, photography, tree swallows, Virginia

I must preface this blog with the fact that birds are extremely difficult to photograph—especially bluebirds (BB), who are the most timid of my back-yard birds. Therefore I apologize in advance for the slightly blurry images submitted here. All exposures were taken at maximum zoom through a window with solar film.

Yesterday morning I set up my tripod to capture a long awaited event—the fledging of three BB nestlings resting in my back yard bird box. Eighteen days had elapsed since I spotted the four perfect blue eggs and both parents have been very busy since they hatched. I am unable to supplement the bluebird diet with meal worms, as the resident mockingbird gobbles them up before the timid blues fly in.

Three years ago I met two bluebird experts who happen to live in my locale. I hang onto their every word, as I learn how to monitor bluebirds and assist with the success of the population.

Last year I had no nesting bluebirds. Tree swallows inhabited one bird box, and greatly entertained me with their beauty and impressive flight pattern. The year before, four BB nestlings died from a blowfly infestation, yet the remaining nine-day-old nestling survived following my emergency transport to the Waynesboro Wildlife Center across the mountain. Therefore with some trepidation, I spruced up my two nest boxes for the 2012 season.

Mary Mockingbird was mellow this spring and left the BB pair alone as they considered the remaining box. The other box was claimed early by a chickadee pair who raised two chicks out of six eggs.

I paced the house, eager to see one of Nature’s miracles unfold.

The adult BB pair took turns feeding and observing as the three nestlings took turns poking their heads out of the opening. Alas, at eleven AM, I had to go on an errand, only to return to find the box empty—fledge successful.

The yard is not so interesting today, as it is quiet, except for Ethel, the flightless young Grackle, and of course, Mary Mockingbird, the bird who refuses to find another yard to inhabit.

Both bird boxes now stand empty, perhaps beckoning another brood. I look forward to being witness to this ongoing life process. As a monitor to both blue birds and butterflies, my life is enriched as never before.

So I ask you: when you are driving your automobile, slow down for the birds and flutterbies who cross your path, as their effort to thrive/survive in the wild is enormous, yet our benefit even greater.

And remember to slide your mouse over these images for captions.

Be well.

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved