Bird Watching

[mittenmaker]

Right outside my front door.
I have been hearing the raspy squawking of Grackles constantly--they have a nest in one of our Arborvitae bushes.
Today when I went out front door to go on my walk, I startled a Grackle--it was just at my left side--I don't know who was more startled, me or the Grackle. It was either one of the parents or maybe it was this little guy.
You can see the downy fluff on the top of his little Grackly head. I just had to share this. Interesting, as Grackles are not the most loveable bird.

[zhanie]

awe how adorable1 Thank you for sharing!:)

[Shandeh]

I changed the title of your post to "Bird Watching", so we can get more bird stories here!
I just LOVE birds! Especially bluebirds. Whenever I see a bluebird flying by, I have to stop what I'm doing so I can watch it. Not a good thing when I'm driving. Ha!

I've never known about grackles before. Do they make an obnoxious noise when they sing? If so, that's probably what I've been hearing outside my house lately.

[mittenmaker]

Hi Bird lovers!
I like the idea of calling my post "Bird Watching"! At first I was like. . .was my post removed for some reason? It's all good, I'm smiling bigtime as I write this!
I didn't even know what a Grackle is, untill a couple of summers ago. I had always known them as "Blackbirds." They are black, with iridescent feathers that flash bright blue, they are so black. And yes, their voice is awful! It's very raspy--they don't sing, they make this hacky, croaky sound. And they are ornery, have a mean look on their face, probably due to the tiny white circle around their eyes. They are very good parents, though, extremely protective of their young. My husband's co-worker called them "Gackle Birds" which is funny.
The baby Grackle has flown out into the world now--we think he was reluctant to leave the nest, kind of late bloomer. I had put out a bit of water in a mason jar lid for him to drink. My husband removed our plastic owl thinking perhaps the baby was afraid of it did not want to venture out from the security of the shrubbery. The owl being gone, seemed to help the little guy gain some confidence.
I love birds, too, especially Cardinals, which seem to be quite prolific in mid-Michigan this year.
It will be fun to hear other bird stories and see photos!

[lialab]

A few years back a couple of cute turtle-dove decide to make their nest in a tree just in front of a bedroom window. So for a couple of weeks, I set up my camera and capture their day to day lives. As I watch them, I learned a lot about bird's live. I saw how they make their nest, how they cared for each other. After the eggs were laid, the male cared for the eggs during the day til sunset, the female the rest of the night. Then the eggs hatched and saw the youngs,(not so cute) The male got rid of the eggshells and both parents took care of the youngs. That was really nice and interesting to watch. After all that time, I was waiting for the chick to be old enough to leave the nest. The sad part is, one morning I heard noises but did not make a big deal out of it because I was busy , so when I went to look for them the nest was empty. What happened? I don't know, but I assume they could not fly. I never saw them again!!

[Shandeh]

A few years back a couple of cute turtle-dove decide to make their nest in a tree just in front of a bedroom window.

How cool is that?! Maybe next year, you should set a pear tree by the window, so maybe a partridge would move in.

[mittenmaker]

I love that photo of the doves, lialab! I hope the young 'uns survived. Doves are so docile, I don't see them fighting off an intruder. . .hope they will come back and nest in their old digs.

[lialab]

I love that photo of the doves, lialab! I hope the young 'uns survived. Doves are so docile, I don't see them fighting off an intruder. . .hope they will come back and nest in their old digs.

Thank's, Those birds are so cute! Every spring, while washing my windows, I look to that tree hoping to find a nest. The old nest has long gone because those birds make sloppy nest. Maybe one day I'll be able to set up my camera again and snoop on other birds

[mittenmaker]

One thing about having feathered friends making their homes near ours, it does make for more window washing

[lialab]

One thing about having feathered friends making their homes near ours, it does make for more window washing

how funny but more??? not really