Report from the Back Yard
A summer Saturday is a great time to watch the backyard birds, especially the clowns we have around here. While the jelly and orange feeder is primarily intended for the orioles (of which we have plenty!), the catbirds also enjoy snacking there, and sometimes seem to think we've provided them with their own private jelly buffet.
Case in point is the youngster below, who spent his time flitting from the top of the trellis to the feeder and back, announcing each short trip with a mewing call. Every time he took a bit from the feeder, he'd call with his mouth full, sounding for all the world like a muffled cat, but he was clearly pleased with his ability to fend for himself.
I could hardly keep from laughing.
We also have a bumper crop of bee balm this year; I'm not sure why. The last few years we've had a few stems which the hummingbirds loved, but this year for some reason, the monarda has grown wild, and we suddenly have several dozen plants in the back garden and the hummers are having a field day with them.
But we're also still filling both feeders on a regular basis, which suggests that the hummingbird population around here is, well, humming right along.
I guess that's about it from the back yard.
See you by those crazy feeders,
Mrs. CapeCodAlan
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory: Inside Birding
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory: All About Birding
