Spring is Here!!!
Spring is Here!!!
I love Spring in the South. Cool to cold mornings and beautiful sun-drenched afternoons. Wait! You say Spring isn’t here. Well, I have a few friends who will beg to differ. Let me give you some evidence. If you are hoping for some Biblical truth out of this let me frontload it for you: “For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.” Romans 1:20
Last year I discovered a pair of Song Sparrows nesting in a huge Holly bush behind Hollis Hand Elementary. I discovered them because the male was singing the boundaries of his territory throughout the day. What did it sound like? Click the words in blue to hear the Song Sparrow.
I have the Peterson’s Eastern Birds Field Guide on my iPhone and it has the songs for all the birds. I used it call (harass) the male one day for the entertainment of my 1st grade class. Only once, because it is harassment. Want to see a picture of him?
I still see and hear him this year, but now he has competition. The car rider line at Hollis Hand is my duty again this year. At the beginning of the car-rider line (down the hill from the territory of the 1st Song Sparrow) is another Holly bush. This last Tuesday there was a male Song Sparrow singing from the top of it. The original that I discovered last year could be heard answering this one from behind us up the hill. What do I think? I think like father like son. This male did not fly to far from his parents nest to set up his territory. Territorial behavior by birds is a sure sign of Spring. One more piece of evidence that continues outside my office window as I type this.
Last year I watched a pair of Eastern Phoebes build a nest on top of the downspout for my gutters. Guess what?
They are slowly building their nest back. What are they using you might ask. I haven't cleaned out the front rain gutters of my house, so they are using the mud, leaf litter and debris in my gutter to build their nest. That is the female on the nest. If you look closely there is a faint white line on her breast. Once she lays eggs it will be very clearly define as a brood patch. A brood patch is an area of feathers that part and allow the mother bird to press her skin directly against the eggs. Want to hear an Eastern Phoebe? Did you click the blue words in that last sentence. Here is a better photo of our male Eastern Phoebe.
I would say that Spring is knocking at the door. As I type our Carolina Wren is in the Boxwood gathering sticks for his nest. We have several familes of wrens around our six acres. Carolina wren? They have multiple songs. Song 1 Song 2 Song 3
Don't you just love winter in the South. Just about the time you think winter will keep going, Spring is in your face. Love my birds. It is easy to photograph them when they sit outside your window. Picture of a Carolina Wren?
He's a little busy, so it is difficult to get a clear photograph.
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