Georgia Backyard Nature

Runaway Dove

You’ve heard of the Runaway Bride who escaped from her own wedding, but how about a Runaway Dove? This snowy fellow has been hanging around a subdivision where friends live. They were mystified by the lone White Dove foraging around empty lots. However, a neighbor pointed out that a popular wedding venue is nearby and they often release doves to celebrate the nuptials. Apparently, this dove decided to escape the wedding scene and seek his fortune elsewhere much to the delight of the neighborhood.

Terrifying Turkey Vulture aka A Buzzard

I saw this big Turkey Vulture, or Buzzard, flying over the lake this morning looking for the carcass of some poor animal. Finding nothing, he landed in the top of a tall tree across the lake and perched there with wings outspread. This is a common behavior for these birds and may be to warm up, cool off, or dry the wings.  Turkey Vultures are easily distinguished from other Vultures by their featherless red head.  Also, notice the five feather "fingers" on the wing tips.  Even though the dietary habits of Vultures are pretty disgusting, they serve a valuable purpose in nature and are often more efficient than county road crews in removing dead animals from the roads.

There Will Be Bluebirds!

There will be Bluebirds! I switched the bird box from winter roost to nest box last week. Almost immediately Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird checked it out. Now I see a flurry of activity with the couple flying to and fro carrying nesting materials. Even though it’s been so wet I haven’t had time to put out pine straw for them to use, they’ve located some nearby. Other tasks have been done.  The bird box pole has been greased with petroleum jelly so ants won't invade the nest and torture the nestlings and a cache of luxurious Alpaca hair hangs in a nearby tree to line the nest. 

Bluebirds like to nest in open areas so they can spot predators and this box looks over the lake and the treeless backyard.  In years past, Chickadees have commandeered that box so I'm glad the Bluebirds got there first this year.  Welcome to the cozy lakefront cottage—prime real estate to raise a family!

Warlike Warbler

Warlike Warbler. You’ve seen the famous “Angry Bluebird” photo, now see the Angry Warbler. Doesn’t he look like he’s ready to go to war? This Yellow Rumped Warbler has discovered the mealworm feeder and waits in the Hawthorn tree for the bigger birds to leave, then nips in to steal a treat. Although these birds prefer insects, in winter their diet shifts to mostly fruit. Unless of course the Warbler discovers a daily cache of mealworms! Sweet!

Bird Breakfast!

Although yesterday's snow was only about an inch, we're now battling the ice that formed overnight from melting snow. Besides that, temps are in the teens with a wicked wind. Bird still have to forage and I felt guilty seeing my feathered friends looking for mealworms in the empty feeder. The patio steps are too treacherous to brave, so I suited up and carefully walked a few feet out of the back door to toss mealworms on the frozen birdbath. Within minutes, birds arrived to get a protein packed breakfast. Nice!

 

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a frequent visitor to the mealworm feeder.

Earthworms are hiding so the Robin makes do with mealworms.

Juncos winter here and disappear in Spring.  Love to see them in the backyard.

 

 

 

Wayward Woodpeckers

It’s cold on this holiday, but the birds and animals still have to find food. I was feeling charitable before Christmas and bought a food cake for the squirrels. I noticed that something had been nibbling on it but I never saw a squirrel there. And squirrels aren’t nibblers; those voracious pests would destroy the feeder and devour the cake at one sitting. It was a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker that had been enjoying a new treat. I love the irony—squirrels usually steal the bird’s food now wayward woodpeckers are stealing their food. Don’t you just love nature? Happy New Year from the birds and creatures of Georgia Backyard Nature!

 

Feasting Finches

Do you deadhead your flowers to encourage blooming and make them tidy? I used to, but when I realized that birds love to mine the seed heads, I quit. Even though it's early summer, some plants already have seed heads that attract colorful birds especially Goldfinches. They swarm the Black-eyed Susans and Catnip. This is the reason Goldfinches nest later than most birds--availability of seeds makes feeding their young a lot easier.

Goldfinches aren't the only birds that flock to seed heads. I didn't realize until yesterday that their cousins, Purple Finches, do the same. The one below  landed on the Catnip and stayed for a while ferreting out tasty seeds.

Now that I have quit deadheading, my flowers look a little unkempt, but who cares when they're decorated with colorful birds?

Baby Bluebirds!!

Yesterday was the first day the Bluebird dad brought his fledglings to enjoy meal worms on the deck. It looks like the nesting produced at least three big healthy babies. Obviously mom and dad did a great job feeding them because these babies look bigger than dad!! They still have to be fed, but I noticed this morning a couple of them were eating meal worms on their own, but still asking dad to feed them!!

I haven't seen the female for several days. Bluebirds can have two or three nestings in a season. These babies fledged several weeks ago so I'm hoping that she's on the nest again!

Solitary Sandpiper

Would you expect to see a Sandpiper visiting an inland fresh water lake? Because of excellent camouflage, I almost missed the Solitary Sandpiper wading back and forth in the shallows of the lake looking for tasty morsels. Sandpipers are thought of as beach birds, but the Solitary Sandpiper inhabits fresh water lakes. They’re big travelers, too, breeding in the woodlands of Alaska and northern Canada and wintering in Central and South America. This one is probably on a rest stop back to his northern home since these birds often visit lakes and ponds along their migration route. And as for their name--Solitary sandpipers aren’t really loners, but they don’t travel in large flocks.

Brash Belted Kingfisher

The Belted Kingfisher searches for fish from his high perch in the Birch tree, then brashly dive bombs into the water for his catch.

These stocky birds nest in burrows excavated in river and lake banks. They don't often fish from my side of the lake so it's a special treat to see one in the Birch tree. Happy New Year to all from the creatures and birds of Georgia Backyard Nature!