The Birds and The Bees

(This entry is a first.  Don and Michele are contributing in a joint, if disjointed, effort.)

Our name is Beesley, so you should get the Bees part...it is our nick-name.  The bird part of the title comes from our feeding and nurturing birds year 'round.

This time of year (spring) is especially interesting for us in Michigan.  The winter birds, as in juncos, head north of here, and the summer birds, as in orioles, grosbeaks, rufus towhees, robins, grackles, red-winged blackbirds and others return to share the mild weather with us.  The humming birds, which we call hummers, are the very best guests, because they claim their territory at our hummingbird feeders and entertain us until fall.

Today, at breakfast, Michele gave a low, warning whisper, "Look."

I knew there was something special that could be easily spooked.  It was a pileated woodpecker!  They drop in about once a year to land on our upper deck.  They look longingly at the suet and sometimes figure out how to place their crow-sized bodies on the little hanging suet-cages.  Today's specimen couldn't work it out, but it was a privilege to observe the odd physical makeup of the bird that Woody Woodpecker was based on.

We've also interacted with a determined, if demented, pair of robins.  They are set upon making a nest in inappropriate areas.  The first nest was on a trellis that supports a clematis vine.  They made a nest, then abandoned it.  The second attempt was on a stored set of garden stakes, made to house a glass candle holder for outdoor candlelight,  that were over-wintering on our tiny front porch.  The third nest-attempt was on our front porch light...the light that is motion sensitive, and which would eventually set a nest on fire!

I built a tidy robin-shelf and hung it under our eaves, hoping that the tiched birds will use it.  They haven't.  Last night I wove grapevines around the shelf to make it more natural.  We'll see if the birds and I have the same perspective.

This is really a beautiful nest, but not such a good site!  It was built in a day, as Michele was keeping track of the Robins.  They were constantly in the yard on the lawn.  Last year they built one just on the other side of the vine, but inside of the tangle of interwoven vines.  They laid eggs, had babies, and then one day the babies were gone.  The chicks were too young to be on their own.  And this nest is even more exposed.  No eggs in this nest.

The garden candle holders. It was full of nesting material, but Michele cleaned it out, after I discouraged the Robins from further building, by placing it in one of the front gardens.

This is our front porch light, another very inappropriate place for a nest, not big enough, too exposed and too flammable.  We quickly removed the material, discouraging their efforts, and preventing them from wasting their efforts.  The newlyweds need to concentrate on using their energies wisely. 

The angle is a little off as Michele took the picture and she is short.  But here is the Robin's ledge we provided...decorated for them, even!  So far, no takers.  Michele has seen the birds at some cedars to the left of the house, so they may have already chosen their own more appropriate nesting spot, in a tree!  Kids!

Our Baltimore Oriole, on his favorite food, oranges.  He hasn't brought the Mrs. around yet. 

This female Grosbeak is on the hanger for suet, off our upper deck.  She is looking at me, (Michele), but the sun makes her look like she is looking out.  Then she doesn't really look like a grosbeak!  You have to know that their beaks are large, and at the correct angle you would see that.  You cannot, here.

Mrs. Grosbeak's guy, Mr. Grosbeak.  We are seeing them now everyday, sometimes two females and two males together.  The males are very handsome, and both sexes are the most gentle birds in the gardens.  Not one of my best shots, but I take the photos from inside the house, and try not to spook them. 

Someday we'll reveal the paintball gun deterent for unwanted species.  It is harmless, effective and fun.