My Bluebird History In my twenty years of feeding and caring for my back yard visitors, I've had a lukewarm relationship with bluebirds. It was years after I put up my first houses that I even had any of them look at them. Then, it became a yearly dance where sometime in late February/early March, a male would show a female one of the boxes she would ultimately reject. It … [Read more...] about My Early Bird Bluebirds
Bird Conservation
My First Ever Chickadee Nest Box Tragedy
It Started Like Any Other I know we bird lovers who provide nest box homes for our back yard birds get so used to the cycle. We know every spring (or even late winter here in Nashville) we're going to see bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, wrens and others checking out our nest boxes. Somebody's going to make a home there. Doing all we can to help them and make sure everything is … [Read more...] about My First Ever Chickadee Nest Box Tragedy
A Welcome Reader Submitted Birding Resource
Birding Resource From Jake and Jessica Last month, I was contacted by Jessica B. who was nice enough to tell me two things. One, her son, Jake, had just joined his school's Bird Watching Club and had found my site helpful. Secondly, that he found another great birding resource he wanted to share with me. Anybody who's been following me for any time at all knows I love … [Read more...] about A Welcome Reader Submitted Birding Resource
Best Birthday Gift I Could Have Had!
Best Birthday Gift This is a short post about something that happened to me that touched me deeply. It was probably the best birthday gift a human could have. I hope it resonates with you too! Flurry of Goldfinch Activity When I got downstairs yesterday morning (my 58th birthday) the goldfinches were already hard at work on the sunflower chip feeder just outside our sliding … [Read more...] about Best Birthday Gift I Could Have Had!
The Zinnia Goldfinch Surprise
A Surprise Zinnia Goldfinch Discovery This year, in addition to the returning perennials and new annual plants, my wife had a pack of mixed zinnias. I think we had it left over from last year. She decided it couldn't hurt to put them out in our baskets. It has turned out to be a pleasant zinnia goldfinch surprise! Let me tell you about it. I'll Just Plant a Few Seeds in … [Read more...] about The Zinnia Goldfinch Surprise
The Tufted Titmouse That Wouldn’t Quit – Part 5
The Tufted Titmouse Story So Far So far in this series, I've told you about my first ever tufted titmouse pair to make a home in one of my bluebird boxes. I was thrilled to have these little birds that I've enjoyed in my back yard for many years finally start a family here! Up to this point we have seen: Part 1 - The tufted titmouse mom start a nest and seemingly abandon … [Read more...] about The Tufted Titmouse That Wouldn’t Quit – Part 5
The Tufted Titmouse That Wouldn’t Quit – Part 4
We've Got Some Tufted Titmouse Mouths To Feed So far, I've told you about my first ever tufted titmouse couple choosing a bluebird box. I told you how they started building and then seemingly abandoning it. Next, I showed you the marvel of engineering that can happen when a tufted titmouse mother decides a nest has got to happen NOW! The last post was all about the … [Read more...] about The Tufted Titmouse That Wouldn’t Quit – Part 4
The Tufted Titmouse That Wouldn’t Quit – Part 3
We Have Eggs! In my last post, I told how my tufted titmouse mother started, stopped and then started a nest again. How she returned with a vengeance after I had cleaned out her first aborted attempt at a nest. I only wish I could have recorded her stuffing those gigantic clumps of nesting material in there. It was something to behold and simply hilarious. I … [Read more...] about The Tufted Titmouse That Wouldn’t Quit – Part 3