Naturally
"Drumroll, please," I said just loud enough for me to hear as I walked outside. Right on cue, a woodpecker hammered on a resonant branch. Every day brings new stories to the yard. I expect to see a queen bumblebee any day. She's the only one of her colony that survives winter.
Weather has been a rollercoaster ride without enough "whee" to it. I said "whee" as I walked. I understand why dogs are so excited about going for walks. I've been watching yellow-bellied sapsuckers maniacally machine gunning sap wells into trees. The work of those industrious birds has been followed closely by yellow-rumped warblers, diminutive ruby-crowned kinglets and both downy and hairy woodpeckers who gladly plundered the avian soda fountains. Those warblers, called butterbutts because of their yellow rumps, are proficient at flycatching, snapping prey out of the air.
Fox sparrows sang a song that made me want to move north with them. A silver hawk with a white rump patch flew low over the ground. It was a male northern harrier, once called a marsh hawk.
A caller reported a cacophony of birdsong in the morning. I appreciated his call, but disagreed with it being a cacophony. I think all birdsong is lovely, but I'm a strange bird. I'll admit some vocalizations of crows, gulls and others could be called a cacophony. I heard a cacophony of the strident voices of crows and jays as they mobbed an owl. The irate birds found strength in numbers.
I read that chipmunks have cheek pouches that when filled are three times bigger than their heads. I'm not sure that's correct, but they certainly look larger than rest of the head.
Wood ducks checked out tree cavities in the backyard. The female makes a loud "oo-eek, oo-eek" when disturbed and taking flight. The male has a thin, rising and falling zeeting whistle.
Turkey vultures wobbled overhead. Charles Darwin saw a vulture from the deck of the Beagle in 1835 and called it a "disgusting bird" whose bald head was "formed to wallow in putridity." That was harsh. They are beautiful birds. If it perceives a threat, a turkey vulture may play dead or project offensive smelling vomit as a defense. Vultures can't eat and run. They might be able to carry bits of food in their bills, but their feet are useless for carrying freight. In the ancient practice of Tibetan sky burial, a human corpse is placed on a mountaintop to be eaten by birds of prey, most commonly vultures. This tradition is a sustainable burial method symbolizing the impermanence of life for Buddhists.
I'm honored by each bird that visits my yard.
Q&A
Eric Annexstad wrote, "For the third year in a row we’re having a mid-April snowstorm. Any suggestions on what to feed the poor robins? We found several that perished last year." Cut up apples, oranges or pears. Raisins are good; blueberries and other berries work. Cranberries should be excellent, but my yard robins don’t seem to enjoy them. Softened dog food kibble, crumbled suet, sunflower hearts or mealworms. The problem is that most robins aren’t feeder birds. An easy way to help robins discover the fruit is to put it in a platform feeder or on the ground near a bird bath. They don’t always make a mad rush to the food. Good luck.
Roger Batt Algona asked how to preserve a bald-faced hornet nest. It isn't necessary to treat the nest in any way. The nest will persist if it's suspended in a dry location where it won't be damaged by handling or vibration.
"How many broods does a mourning dove have each year?" They have two or three in Minnesota, with as many as five or six broods in southern areas.
"Are predators the main reasons I'm not seeing as many pheasants as I once did?" Predators don't eat habitat. Loss of habitat is the main problem and weather frequently piles on.
"Would putting the driver's license photo of my husband on the window discourage a cardinal from attacking its image?" It might slow the shadowboxing of the bird fighting with what it considers a dastardly, would-be usurper if you put it on the outside.
"What are predators of bats?" Owls, hawks, snakes, raccoons, mink, weasels, opossums, cats and humans.
"Why do turkey vultures have bald heads?" Featherless heads are easy to keep clean. Vultures tuck their heads inside carcasses to feed and this adaptation keeps heads cleaner. The bare skin may play a role in thermoregulation.
Thanks for stopping by
"Everybody's talking about people breaking into houses but there are more people in the world who want to break out of houses." — Thornton Wilder,
"Don’t count the days; make the days count." – Muhammad Ali
"Out of difficulties grow miracles." — Jean de la Bruyere
Do good.

A yellow-bellied sapsucker. Photo by Al Batt

A Canada Goose with a toothache. Photo by Al Batt

Lemon tree very pretty. Photo by Al Batt

An early spring bouquet. Photo by Al Batt