Back to the Birds

We started the year with the identification of birds. Our list of winter songbirds quickly ran out but now all of the summer birds are back. Most notably our swallows and bluebirds.One of the prettiest to visit the bird bath is the gold finch. This picture has three finches all waiting their turn.

The swallows have once again claimed the luxury bluebird house but both Steve and I have agreed that the swallows are probably the most fun to watch in flight. They truly soar when they are flying about catching their meal of bugs. The other interesting thing about the swallows is that they actually feather their nests. This picture taken Saturday shows a swallow on my house with a feather in his mouth. He actually caught it in the air. I have put some blue feathers in the yard and it will be interesting to see if they make it to the nest. Two years ago we had pink feathers in a nest.

 

I have been waitress to the bluebirds this year but so far no one has occupied my other bluebird house. We see them flying through the yard and I have continued to feed them. Our neighbor has a bluebird house and when we checked it about a week ago it had 6 eggs so I think I may be helping feed the babies. The bluebirds also like the bird bath. I am trying to get a picture of the gold finch and the bluebird together. It happens but I am never quick enough with the camera.

 

 

We had a great time this past weekend at the Northwest Ohio Area Special Olympics Games. Mike ran the 100 and the 400 and placed 3td and 4th respectively. Not great times but he had been suffering with a cold the previous week so that may have affected his times.  We had a wonderful Mothers Day with a visit from Jesi and AJ and John's best friend Annal. Mike was here and I talked to Jessica. We even Skyped with my Mom and Dad, adding a special Happy Birthday to Mom. She had celebrated her 89th birthday on Saturday. Hope those genes follow me.