My husband, Joe, or the Pied Piper as I call him now, had been working hard over the past year or two to keep the bluebirds that come into our area. He orders worms from a place in New York so he can feed them a couple of times a week. The birds have to make a go of it on their own but Joe subsidizes their food intake. During the past couple of years Joe will whistle and the bluebirds have gotten to know his whistle. Now when he whistles all 12 of the bluebirds come flying into the trees in our backyard. Joe places worms around the base of the bird bath and then comes into the house. As soon as he closes the door the birds coming flying in to eat. He usually feeds them while we are having lunch in the sun room so we can watch them eat as we eat. They are so beautiful to watch. This is a photo taken this past summer.
It is hard to purchase a gift for Joe. He is not a wanter. He is happy with what he has and if he really wants something he’s likely to buy it on his own. So, what do you buy the guy who wants nothing and needs nothing? Well, while I was playing online I found a place that sells this tiny little camera that can be mounted inside a birdhouse. My dad’s wife builds birdhouses and we are lucky enough to have some in our backyard. I gave Joe the camera as a gift. He was a little skeptical but decided to give it a try. Last year we got to watch momma bluebird through two batches of babies. The camera displays in black and white and we had the feed come through to our big screen TV. Joe would whistle, put some worms out around the base of the birdbath, and run in the house so we could watch on our TV as the mother fed her babies. Absolutely amazing. It was awesome to watch the mother care for her little ones and then see them fledge.
OK, present day. With all the snow we had in February …….where will the bluebirds find food? Well, the Pied Piper came to their rescue. Joe did not know where else to put the worms as there was 40 plus inches of snow so he put them on the back doorstep. Right outside our back door. Check this out.
Even if our dogs are in the yard the birds are so hungry they still come in to eat. Not in a million years would I have thought those birds would come into the yard with the dogs inches away from them. I guess they know our dogs are as friendly as Joe.
This guy sometimes comes into the backyard also. And when he does the bluebirds are no where to be found, which is a good thing. I have loved hawks for as long as I remember. Could be from some reading I did as a child and the spiritual meaning the hawks have for the native American Indians. I have talked to Mr. Hawk and asked him to please leave the yard so the bluebirds can eat and he flies away. I know you think I am weird. I already knew that.
Hawks need a drink and a bath too.
