Birds in the Yard

This year, I went to lengths to pamper our blueberry bushes by pruning, weeding, feeding, and mulching. They responded with loads of promising blueberries, and we were drooling with anticipation. Then the birds started picking at them, so we covered them with netting. This did little good, as they found ways under the netting or just picked through the holes. Since a few birds were getting caught under the netting, we took it off.

 A Red-breasted Sapsucker hopping on the netting, piercing the berries and drinking their juice (photographed through the bathroom window).  The biggest problem birds are the robins, followed by the Steller's Jays. After taking down the netting I hung up flashy cd's, which did no good at all.  It looks like I'll be lucky to get a total of one cup of berries for the season.

On the pump house, we have had two successful swallow families. This is the Tree Swallow family house. On the wall is a bee house for native bees.  It is full of various small bees coming and going.

There are at least 3 baby swallows in the nest.  Here, they are looking for a parent's return.

Here is dad.  We saw him remove a poop sac - good dad!

Mom bringing food to the little ones. They fledged yesterday, and now the nest is empty.  About 5 feet away is another birdhouse that had a successful family of Violet-green Swallows. We have enjoyed their spring arrival, and all the swooping they do above the yard catching insects.