Lillian Q. Stokes's Blog, page 7

Bluebird of Happiness has arrived!!

 

I am happy because Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird are now nesting in a birdhouse I proved about 20 ft. from my condo. The wooden bluebird house, of the right dimensions and constructions for bluebirds (and no House Sparrows allowed), is on a pole with a predator guard. Build it and they will come, maintain it and they will thrive.

Choose happy!

Orioles Are Arriving Soon!

eBird map showing location of Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles are migrating and beginning to enter MA. I can't wait until they show up at my feeders. Put our orange for them when they first arrive and they will come to them especially if the weather is cool and there is not a lot of other food available. Once the trees leaf out and there are lots of caterpillars, they will consume them and may not come to oranges as frequently.


 

Northern Parulas Migrating Now!

 

Migrating now, just seen in eastern MA. Warbler mania is beginning.

Purple Finches Coming Through!

 

Hello PUFI!! This female/imm.male Purple Finch stopped by yesterday, jockeying for space at the feeder with the "going for the gold" American Goldfinches who are getting feisty as they molt into their yellow breeding plumage. First-year male Purple Finches look streaky brown like females so they cannot reliably be distinguished in the field. Tell these Purple Finches from female House Finches by their white eyebrow. Hope she/he reaches the breeding area and successfully produces more PUFIs. PUFI is the bander's four-letter code for PUrple FInch.

What Birds Are Singing Now?

 

Who is singing now? Just a sampling of the birds singing here in MA now (yes, female cardinals sing, as do many female birds). Snow on the ground does not stop them. Their hormones triggered by day length, are their directing force to herald a new season of reproduction.