Front Garden Birds

I love the picture of this robin the best, somehow it looks like the gnome has something to say to it. If I ever think of a clever caption for it I may use it on a greeting card.

There must be something shiny about the camera lens hidden inside the feeder because the birds seem very interested in it.

On the other hand, this bird couldn't care less so I'm left to wonder what's really going on.

There have also been doves, goldfinches and cardinals but there are no pictures of them because they seem to favor the other feeders and those don't have cameras in them.

The main thing for us is the enjoyment we get from watching and listening to them chatter and sing in the garden.

It can drown out the traffic at times to the point that you can almost forget you're in the middle of a city.

Birds, close up

There is a small camera built into a small bird feeder in our front yard. When the squirrel doesn't mess with it we do get some pretty interesting close up photos of the birds who visit us here.

They sure speak up when the feeder needs filling.

They are beginning to look like they've got some personality too.

We haven't seen any goldfinches, wrens or black capped chickadees lately, they may have moved on for the season but we sure enjoyed them while they were here. (especially the two batches of wren babies on the arbor and wheelchair ramp).

Bird Feeder with Painted Roses

I had a LOT of fun with this project. The theme was roses but I painted each side and section differently and tried all sorts of brush strokes to capture the look of rose petals.

The way I did the dots along the edge of the roof was the only thing about this that I hated but I figured the birds wouldn't care so I just left it that way.
 

The parts that will actually come into contact with the birds have been left unpainted for their heath and safety.

Here are a couple of combination views so you can see how different some of these designs are.

Here are a few views of it in use in the garden.

Latest Photos From the Bird Cam

We never get a full photo of the cardinal because the bird feeder that has the built in camera is a small one.

We are considering either purchasing a larger commercial unit or building something ourselves but this will need to do in the meantime.

This is been one of the best pictures so far and one of the species that we've seen the least of this season.

You have to wonder what this guy is thinking. He certainly looks like he's got something to say. Don't you?

Bird Cam Photos

The bird feeder that we bought with the built in camera is quite small so about the only nice photos we've gotten are of the chickadees.

I'm not quite sure what this was, no real way to tell except that it was larger and quite dark.

Here's the keeper of the feeder.

Believe it or not this is all we get of the cardinals.

Next season we'll be looking for a larger feeder or some way to adapt the camera so that it can get full shots of the bigger birds,

We have several species of woodpeckers that I'd love to be able to show you.

Bird Watching a New Way

I don't like taking my wheelchair outside in the winter so any way I can watch the birds from the house appeals to me.

I recently found this combination bird feeder and camera in a catalog:

We hung it with our other bird feeders because we were afraid that if we mounted it to a tree that the squirrels would get into it.

The problem with hanging it out in the open is that it is motion activated so as the wind blows it around you get a lot of photos of nothing.

Of the 120 photos it shot, these were the only good photos of birds that we got.

Obviously we'll be experimenting with other solutions to the problem and as always, I'll keep you posted.

This was our favorite this time.

Living Room Bird Watcher

I suppose I could call this post "inclined to recline" There's something wonderful about being able to watch the birds without having to do anything special except pick up a camera.

 Some photos turn out better than others depending on whether the window screen shows up or one of us decides to stand up or lean a little closer to the window.

Cardinal Close Up

Yellow Bird

 As an artist I always enjoy color so I was happy to see a bright yellow visitor in my wildflower garden today. We took this photo from our front door.

I wish I could afford a pretty feeder but the mesh bags that come filled with seed are probably cleaner and fresher for the birds anyway so I guess this is good enough for now.

Can't you take a compliment?

As I was out trimming vines and branches out of the fence line this morning a couple of people walked by and complimented me on the flowers and garden. Instead of saying "thanks", this is what popped out of my mouth "It's pretty shaggy but I'm doing the best I can".

Why can't I just own up to the fact that it's a "work in progress", a glorious mess and I love it dearly? I'm not even entirely sure what's weeds and which are flowers anymore...

I did invest in a few annuals to brighten things up and provide consistent color as the perennials aren't as showy and don't last as long. I'm enjoying all of it well aware that my health and my finances will put a sudden stop to it someday. Beauty, no matter how brief is always well worth the effort.

Here's one of the birdhouses Doug and I built and that I painted last summer and the sign that's a little reminder of what we're trying to do here. On the other side of this arbor is another birdhouse I'd painted a few years ago which has been well occupied and busy the last couple of weeks. We've really been enjoying watching them as well as the other visitors to the other 3 bird houses, 2 butterfly houses, 4 bird feeders and 2 bird baths in the front garden.

There will always be weeds and although I don't enjoy the smell, the milkweed is essential to the butterflies. I had the opportunity a year or so ago to watch a new butterfly stretch and dry it's wings before getting ready to move on. It was strangely relaxing and satisfying. The sort of thing that most people miss in the hurry of everyday life in the city.
I'm happy here and hope that I can stay but I'm also at peace with life and not going to spoil my day worrying about it.       How about you?