Birdish

 This little fella made it's presence known pretty early Monday morning.  I scoped the yard before sun up and this chickadee tweeted on a branch right in front of me. He flew to the branch , let me look at him with my binoculurs and then flew away. I love chickadees . After reading about them I learned  what I had already witnessed many times. Chickadees like Titmouse get along with others. Birds don't fly away when the chickadee comes around. They even migrate with other flocks.  They are accepting of other species; their sounds, their mating routtines, their flight path and the chickadee is content to tag along.   These birds are not aggresive, nor are they known for their impresssive hunting skills or supreme intellect. However the happy chirp of the chickadees and willingness to play along contribute to the peaceful vibe they give a backyard .   How often do I forget that I can bring a lot of peace to myself and others if I would just be conte...

  I walked outside to look into my tree and see who wants to make their presence known.  Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a wing span and look over to see the slow flap of an owl making its way across the golf course.  A truly magnificent sight to start off my week.  The Great Horned owl is a regular in the Hill Country however because of its stealth and secretiveness even the avid bird watcher rarely gets a good look at this species.  I myself only had a view of it flying into nearby trees.   These predator birds actually prey on my bird of the week last week, the Great Heron.  They are not as smart but cunning. They kill with their feet and claws most aggressively.  Owls are largely tame when captured and will be accommodating to their owners until they mature. As they mature they seem to resent their owners and will be aggressive and attack.  A captured owl will live as long as 29 years, a wild owl 13.  I resonate with the ca...

  I found him, finally.  On a hunt for my Monday bird, I was determined to make it a heron of some sort.  I predicted a blue heron but as the morning wore on and it began to get warmer I was still without a heron, and without a bird that made itself known.  As Kirby and I walked around Landa park in New Braunsfels we stopped over the still water that gathered under a bridge but for a considerable width.  Was that a stick out there or was it a turtle? No, binoculars affirmed, it was a bird, stalking its prey. He sat with his beak tilted down staring at the surface of the water. His green head shone from the morning sun. His eyes were intense, his beak ready to make the kill.   It became "the day of herons" actually.  After my first green, there were blue, tri-colored,  juveniles, and small blues.  The green heron however is acutely aware of its resources. It is one of the only birds that use tools to fish.  Because of their mad skill...

  The Goldfinch, even though common to my area,  never ceases to bring a burst of happiness when flying to visit the feeder.  These are one of the only species of common backyard birds that are increasing in number over the past50 years.  Goldfinch thrives in environments modified by humans, like parks and neighborhoods.  The Lesser Goldfinch is very popular in my area and they have the name "lesser" because they are actually "lesser" in appearance but can hold their own for sure.  The yellow is like a sunburst and when there is a flock of them at a birdfeeder the sparkle of the yellow flitting around is like a ball of sunshine that is constantly moving, glittering yellow that you can't take your eye off of. If the Goldfinch thrives in areas modified by humans it begs the question do we, humans, thrive in the areas we modify?  I have 2 daughters who would rather sleep in a forest than inside a house.  They love freshwater rivers and climbing rocks...

Week 4:  Mourning Dove I spotted a brood of doves sitting high on some power lines as I rounded my street for my Monday morning walk.  Not sure what I was seeing at first, I kept going and a little lady rustled around in a nearby tree as I was making the turn off my street.  " Pick me" she communicated. After investigation, it became apparent, that both the power line birds and the female rustler were Mourning Doves.  I had never realized that these doves have a blue, almost turquoise ring around their eyes that is breathtaking. Many people are soothed by the 'mourning call' doves make.  This call is the male wooing his mate.  The sound is described as peaceful and a bit melancholy by many backyard bird watchers.  Why is the sound of "mourning" peaceful? Is it because we all have something to mourn about in one way or another? Whether a past sadness,  a regret, a future worry, or a state of discontentment,  The dove sings what we are feeling ...