Yup! It's that time again. During the weekend of May 20-22 we had a record hot spell of temps in the high 90s. This past weekend we were in the mid-80s. But that spell of hot weather was enough to make the "tatonie" berries on the Cottonwood tree start popping, spreading their lovely cotton contents. If the weather gets cool that will usually slow down the process but then it prolongs the "cotton season" too. So, now the birds will have soft cotton to line their nests. I have seen some House Sparrows or House Finches actually eating the seeds in the cotton fluff on the tree but they can't eat enough of it to make a difference.
Well, we cleaned out the chicken nests about 3 weeks ago to stop their brooding. Chicken Little has be out of hers for a week or so and is back to sleeping in the wisteria vine around the gate. Her nest was in a patch of the weeds in the back yard. A couple days after she left it, we cut down the patch. The whole city/county is fighting a terrible war on an explosion of weeds this year, probably due to all the rain we got earlier. Anyway, Mazey made her nest in a corner of the patio, under the trumpet vine. She is still in there and we can't figure out why. Unless it is just cooler there. She does come out for food in the afternoon. Oh well.
As for bird news, we really don't have anything new to report this time. Maybe next time. Adios!
P.S. -- I got the website working correctly now. Please check it out if you get a chance: Rancho Colibri. I'd like to know what you think of it, too. Make your comments here. Thanks.
31 May 2005
19 May 2005
Ah, Summertime . . .
The calendar says it is still Spring but our temps are in the 80s and this week even the 90s! We are keeping the water dishes filled so the birds can keep cool. The hens are still brooding even though we've removed all their eggs. Maybe they are cooler in their nests. No new birds to report, just an increase in the number of Hummingbirds. We now have the females and juveniles to feed. The Red-winged Blackbirds are really being pigs at the seed feeder. The females spend a lot of time there.
Last weekend I got to go up to our family's mountain cabin. It is truly a birder goldmine. There were Black-headed Grosbeaks all over and their calls echoed all through the valley. I also saw Yellow-rumped Warblers. I only heard the Mountain Chickadees and Goldfinches. There were other birds that I heard but couldn't ID. Silly me, I forgot to bring my binoculars! My brother-in-law had a small pair of folding ones that I used but they were not as good as mine.
At the lake, we watched Tree Swallows dive to the water to catch bugs. They were so fun to watch. So graceful as they glided just above the surface scooping up bugs. They are so striking to look at with their irridescent dark blue coloring and white underbellies. Also, overhead was a big hawk, maybe an eagle, just gliding lazily over the valley. It was really a great day to watch birds.
So, that's the latest news from the Rancho. Hasta la vista!
Last weekend I got to go up to our family's mountain cabin. It is truly a birder goldmine. There were Black-headed Grosbeaks all over and their calls echoed all through the valley. I also saw Yellow-rumped Warblers. I only heard the Mountain Chickadees and Goldfinches. There were other birds that I heard but couldn't ID. Silly me, I forgot to bring my binoculars! My brother-in-law had a small pair of folding ones that I used but they were not as good as mine.
At the lake, we watched Tree Swallows dive to the water to catch bugs. They were so fun to watch. So graceful as they glided just above the surface scooping up bugs. They are so striking to look at with their irridescent dark blue coloring and white underbellies. Also, overhead was a big hawk, maybe an eagle, just gliding lazily over the valley. It was really a great day to watch birds.
So, that's the latest news from the Rancho. Hasta la vista!
01 May 2005
The Web Site is Up
I finally got the web site up, so if you want to learn more about Hummingbirds please check it out. There is mucho information about them and more.
Rancho Colibri
And please return here often to see what's happening.
Thanks!
Rancho Colibri
And please return here often to see what's happening.
Thanks!