I have seen them sit at my feeders too, they are smart and know where to find an easy meal.

Hawks are very intelligent birds ... they know where the buffet's are located!

We have a lot of Red-Shouldered Hawks in this area. I used to think it was just the pair that hung out on my street, but I saw two that had been hit by cars earlier this year. When I was driving, the wings flew up from the air caused by other cars and I could see the pattern of the feathers. Oddly enough, nothing seemed to eat the bodies of the hawks as they remained there for quite some time. Do buzzards not eat them? In happier news, I have seen several other hawks this year, including one sitting on a fence post in my favorite cow pasture the other day. It was like he was just watching the traffic go by. So while I used to think it was just the pair of hawks (and their babies), I'm thinking now we have more than that throughout the larger neighborhood. I wonder how much area each hawk requires?

I am sad that our Blue birds seem to have vanished. I walk a half mile circle and there has always been Blue Birds along the route plus some in our yard. But none this spring. They have always enjoyed the bird bath. I am not seeing along my routes into town either. We are in a rural area and they have always been on the field fences or wires above the farm fields & pastures.

We have had a Cooper's going thru regularly the last few months. Sharp-shin hawks used to be common in our yard but has been years since I have seen one.

Blue Jay



Brown Thrasher


Boat-tailed Grackle


Northern Cardinal and ............................ Northern Mockingbird


Red-bellied Woodpecker

Claudia, that's probably why you don't see the bluebirds this year. We also have a huge owl around here but they go more for the mice, etc. Last year an eagle landed in our front yard and hung around for a couple of days. They are so common now that it isn't as exciting to see one as it was a few years ago.

Melanie, when we travel out west, we always see lots of Hawks on fence posts and those big round bales. They are watching for rodents and they are really quick for such a big bird.

Hubby said yesterday, a Cooper's hawk followed him around as he mowed with the riding mower.

I also have lots of European House Sparrows around & they are not at all kind to bluebirds.

I have been keeping tabs on a pair of brown thrashers that built a nest under one of my daylilies. She was sitting on three eggs and seemed such a gentle bird. Last night something tore the nest apart and took the eggs. Nature is so sad sometimes.

Karen, so sorry to hear about the Brown Thrasher, I had no idea that they nested so low to the ground. Nature can indeed be cruel sometimes.

From what I read, it's not common to nest on the ground and the reason why is obvious!!!

These were all taken through the window today, lighting wasn't good on some as it got cloudy outside this afternoon ... hope there are no duplicates!

Jays


Brown Thrashers


Northern Cardinals



Boat-tailed Grackles, male & female


Mockingbird ............................................... Doves ............................................... Hummingbird


Red-bellied Woodpecker

Cookies4kids said: I have been keeping tabs on a pair of brown thrashers that built a nest under one of my daylilies. She was sitting on three eggs and seemed such a gentle bird. Last night something tore the nest apart and took the eggs. Nature is so sad sometimes.

Great pictures Lin.

Thanks Rita. A hug from you means a lot.

It is sad but sometimes something in nature dies to feed something else. Always wish our favorites could stay safe.

Very true, Rita. I was reading on a butterfly site about how only 1 to 2% of eggs make it to adulthood. And they said as much as we want them all to survive, the consequences would be catastrophic. They used an example that started with 3 females and 3 males, and did the math to show that within 6 generations we would have literally trillions of that species of butterfly flying around if each egg reached adulthood! Imagine what that would do to the host plants! Nature is a pretty delicate balance but we have to trust that it knows what it's doing.

Some birds took over my bluebird box. Atlanta Audubon identified as house wrens. Had to peek at them. I think they were yelling at me bird-style.

Cute, cute, cute! Those wrens can be LOUD Meredith. Sometimes I think they just like to hear themselves scream & scold.

Oh my goodness, those little house wrens are adorable! Yep, babies in the nest and mama and daddy will give you a good talking-to when you get near their nest site.

So adorable but they are fussy and chatty!