This Week in Our Backyard Sanctuary

 We have been working to create an environment that will encourage our bird friends to stop for a visit, sit a spell,sip a bit of water or simply cool off with a refreshing bath. More than twenty have enjoyed our hospitality this week. It has been so exciting that we have found it difficult to leave our porch and camera. 
The Carolina Wren has been singing from a tree top.  The Gray Catbird can be heard in the woods or seen at the water enjoying his bath.  The Northern Cardinals fly through on a regular basis.  The American Goldfinch and the Pine Siskin are constantly eating or visiting the water. The Chipping Sparrows cover the ground areas where we have placed seed for them.  The Blue Jays love this ground feeding also.  The Hermit Thrush rarely misses his a.m. or p.m.bath.  The Pileated Woodpecker visits a nearby Oak.  The Red-bellied Woodpecker has discovered the peanut butter suet.  The Black and White Warbler travels up and down a tree, much like the Nuthatch.  He also stops for a quick drink of water.  Yesterday the White-eyed Vireo sat in a Yaupon Holly for a few seconds. Today a pair of Vireos were heard singing near the water.  The Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee visit regularly during the day.  We enjoyed a multitude of Cedar Wax-wings in the yard today. A Robin or two still visit as well as one Mockingbird and one Brown-headed Cowbird. It has been an amazing week ! We are Blessed!

The Invasion Of the American Robins

My new "birding" slogan, be careful what you wish for, you may not love it! I had been seeing many Robins in the ditches and on the grass at the entrance of our neighborhood. I shared this with my husband and made a comment, it went like this," I do not understand why we do not have any Robins in our yard".  Well!!!! I am here to tell you they(Robins in huge numbers) have been here for days. They have put their "poop" droppings everywhere.  We are afraid to leave our car outside in the driveway. They are beautiful but my cleaning out water baths several times a day is just not fun.  Our water fall is going to need major cleaning and the stains will not go away.  I love birds and am now just praying the Robins will decide to move on..... We have other adorable small birds as well as the Cedar wax-wings that would love to bathe in our water .  No chance of this happening as long as our hundreds of Robins are in the yard. We truly hear them sitting in every tree and you know they are "staging" to move in. Crazy, Crazy!  Blessings to all!