I love the tanenger photos!

Thanks Lori, they are beautiful looking birds.

Hi, bird folks. I'm recuperating from gardening. Spent most of the day in bed. I did manage to water the plants, and while I was out there, I saw an Ibis in the neighbor's yard. I could have walked closer, but I'm tired, so I just zoomed way in and here you go.



In other news, here's the bird feeder I bought.



And in reports from around the house...Mom said while I was outside the Hawk landed under my Abutilon, grabbed something, and went up into the tree with it. I heard it screeching while I was out there, but I didn't see it because I was on the other side of the house. I hope it got another one of those Cuban Frogs.

Dad saw the hummingbird on the feeder yesterday evening when it was his turn to water the plants. He saw it again on the feeder today while he was outside working. He has nicknamed it "The Flash" because of its speed and the red flash you see on its throat.

To the Florida people and other subtropical folks, how often do you change your hummingbird nectar? I didn't put a lot in since I figured it would take time to attract more than one or two. I don't want to poison them. I did make sure my feeder was dishwasher safe so I could disinfect it. The other bird feeder I bought is dishwasher safe, too. I did place the feeder in the shade, but I know the hotter it gets, the more I'll have to change it. Luckily, sugar is cheap and we have a well so water is free in terms of money (different cost for environmental impact). I figure the hardest thing will be getting enough energy to keep up with it - and hopefully the many hummingbirds it will attract. I'm also assessing the best spot to place my lounge chair for viewing.

Oh, I saw these at Lowe's a few weeks ago and thought about buying them, but I wasn't sure I had the room. But now that I've planted most everything, I picked up two Salvia 'Saucy Red' plants. Think the hummingbird will like these?

Hope you feel better real soon, Melanie.

Now that's a cool looking bird, the ibis!

You reminded me I forgot to check the hummer feeder yesterday. Will have to write a note to do it tomorrow. We have our feeder hung right on the edge of our front porch low enough so we can see the top of the feeder while sitting down. We didn't think they'd like it that low but we wanted to try it and were happily surprised when they used it without a problem. We clean and refill it about once a week, sometimes more on very hot summer days.

Sorry for the bad picture but I haven't figured out yet how to get a clear shot




A funny hummingbird story from last year...three days in a row last summer when I went out to water my dil's container vegetables one of the three hummers that were coming every day would fly over to about three feet of where I was standing and watch me water the veggies! The first day I said, "Nahhh....just a coincidence", but he did it again the following two days. The three days he hovered there 6, 10 and 7 seconds respectively before flying off. I figured the water from the hose was perhaps attracting him but I like to think he came to say hello!

That's a nice Salvia plant. Sorry, don't know what plants the hummers are attracted to. It seems like it should work.

Hummers love water! They fight over my fountain/birdbath as much as the feeders. When I was still working in landscape on the freeways, I would watch them flying through the Rain Bird sprinklers.

Thanks Carol. Yeah, I thought it was the water that was attracting him and not me! It was so cool to see him get so close.

The hummers are just starting to appear up here, but I haven't gotten any at my feeders yet (that I've seen).

This is the titmouse at my window feeder with the safflower seeds.

Very cute titmouse! Love the little tufts of feathers sticking out.

Such a cute little bird, we don't get those here.

That is one seriously adorable titmouse, Lori! And we certainly don't get them here, either!

Hummers love Salvia, they like anything that have tubular blooms. You're off to a good start Melanie! Please don't forget about your tropical birds, they are such a treat for us northerners.

Geesh, I agree with Mika, Margaret and Marie (the M&M's)...seriously adorable! Do you have one-way glass on that window?

Edited to fix sp.

Sadly there will be no fledgling bluebird or robin pictures. It was still closed last night but I found the bluebird house door open this morning and feather scattered around the ground and one in the house. No body though which makes me think it was a cat and it carried her body off. I see a few babies in the nest but are so young , barely moving and won't survive with out mama to keep them warm. Also seen papa checking it out once , so he is still alive , but other then feeding them really doesn't care for them.

So I also checked the robin's nest while I was out there and found one egg on the ground and the nest pretty much empty , and no longer cup shaped inside. I still put the one egg back in but doubt they will return again this year.

on the bright side I can go back to gardening without worrying about disturbing them.

Oh no. It is so disturbing. I watched cardinals hatch and thrive ( still fuzzy tho ) and saw them no more than 15-30 minutes before they were gone. I am sure mama and papa were watching the whole thing from a safe distance. Rat or black snake. Happens more than not. I try to remember it is the way of nature nut it is still painful.

yes it is very sad and painful Rosie , Hopefully I can figure out a more secure latch system and put the house in an attractive spot farther from the house.
definitely not going to let this stop me from trying again.

Ohhh......so sorry, Kurt. Along with the beauty of nature comes the reality. Hope you get another opportunity with a happy ending.

Kurt, that is very sad, real bummer about the poor little babies.

We had blue bird boxes...I heard them chirping but did not disturb... One day no chirping....did they fledge so soon?? I peeked in the box and saw solid white...I thought " Is that a thick spider web..spun so tight it looks solid?" I got a stick to poke it...it was the belly of a fat snake..it got in the box...ate those babies and then settled down for a long protected nap!

UGH!!!!!!!