Yesterday was a gorgeous, sunny, spring day here. It was the first top-down day of 2007 and I enjoyed every last minute of it. (Right up until I tried to comb my hair before bed and realized that longer hair gets really tangled, even with a hat, when the top is down.) But happy, sunny days aside, what has full alerted me to the presence of spring are the birds.
The robins have been back, in force, around the Sleepy home for about a week (maybe two) that I've noticed them. And while I know robins are, for some, the best sign of spring. For me it's the cardinals. We have two cardinal couples who visit our feeder and they are a joy to behold. There's a smaller couple, who I think are actually younger as the male hasn't quite grown completely into his finery. And then the other couple, the male of which is the most stunning cardinal I've had the privilege to witness. He's a bold, unmistakeable cardinal red and his presence on the deck sends all but the nuthatches off to the eaves of the roof next door until he's finished. The nuthatches are fearless.
Even without the cardinals back in town, I would have noticed spring simply because the burn rate on the birdseed has about quintupled. Now if I can just get Tim to quit calling the mourning doves "pidgeons" I'll be a happy girl.
17 hours ago
We seem to have more jays, crows and (alas) cowbirds this year than previously. Also various kinds of flicker.
ReplyDeleteStill haven't seen the robin flocks, although we spent so much time in the yard over the weekend that we probably frightened them off.
For me, the true sign of spring is the return of the wrens. And for summer, it's the bluebirds.
I just put a new feeder out this weekend (right outside our front door) and am like a child watching to see how long it will take the birds to find it. I'll let you know when they do. So far, my burn rate is zero! Maybe the dogs sleeping on the stoop have something to do with it? But isn't Spring glorious?!
ReplyDeleteWe are getting Autumn leaves and while that in itself is exciting - I'm sad to see summer go...
ReplyDeleteGwynne, the dogs out on the deck don't seem to bother the birds anymore but it did take them a while to warm up to the fact that the pups weren't going to hurt them or bug them in anyway.
ReplyDeleteRachel - gosh, I love fall. :) But I'm ready for spring, so I'm glad you're starting to get the fun fall colors and not me. Still, it's funky to realize that I actually kinda "know" someone who's in the other hemisphere.