Three weeks ago we had 5 1/2" of snow, then another day of snow the next week. It has rained most of the time for about a month. The lake is up over 4 feet above normal (and what it was a month ago). The temperature has been about 10 degrees lower than normal so we have had a lot more 40s and 50s than 60s and 70s. However, it is Spring. Today is the first full day of Spring.
The weather may not show that Spring is here, but the birds don't care. They are here in numbers on and around my feeders. There have been numerous species including chipping sparrows, house finches, goldfinches, cardinals, titmice, and chickadees. Nearby are "my" pair of mockingbirds, some phoebes, a nuthatch, and about thirty yards away, a bluebird has been around now and then.
On the lake, the white pelicans are back. With them is a species of duck, but the light has been poor so I can't tell which ducks. The coots are still there as well.
I have been taking pictures, but they are more of the grab and shoot variety so the quality is not likely to be great. I will setup the tripod soon and see if I can't get some decent shots.
The mockingbirds are building a nest in the sumac tree by my yard. I see them going back and forth with twigs and grass. They have little fear of me and will land very close (4 feet away) when I put meal worms on the tray by by chair. Once, one of them landed on my knees just for a second. He landed and then tilted his head just a little as he looked at me. I'm sure some message was passed to me, but I don't know what it might by. I am working on my Spanish, but I have not attempted to learn mockingbirdese.
I will post pictures when I get a chance.
Michael is a former biologist and Texas Master Naturalist. Originally from Newsome, Texas (Between Pittsburg and Winnsboro), educated in Dallas & Garland schools, then off to the University of Texas system where he received a degree in biology and worked as a biologist with the University of Texas system. After many years away from nature and biology, he relocated to the banks of Lake O' the Pines where he has been rediscovering the joys of nature. He is somewhat surprised that he has become a birder. Most of his interest in nature was centered around reptiles. Perhaps just like birds evolved from reptiles starting in the late Jurassic, he has begun his own evolution. During his formal education, his interests in biology/nature grew to include community ecology and population studies, all with a binding of evolutionary processes. He liked birds, but they were secondary at best. All at once he finds them fascinating.
Comments