Tuesday, March 26, 2013

For Da Birds, Part One

Thought for the day:  A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. [Chinese proverb]

Are you a bird-lover? They're fascinating creatures, aren't they? Just about everyone on my mother's side of the family had pet birds when I was a kid, including us. Nothing too exotic. Mostly parakeets and canaries, but we had some tiny finches, too, and thanks to my brother, who was like a bird whisperer, we also had some wild birds living at our place for a while. Even a big ol' noisy crow.

On the other hand, my husband Smarticus didn't grow up with pets, so he wasn't particularly impressed years ago when a neighbor gave me two parakeets and a big cage. Nonetheless, I loved those birds, and to me, they filled the house with happy sounds.

Anyhow, since it's been a while since I wrote about things our pets have taught me, let's talk about birds, okay? Let's see, so what have I learned from birds...?


  • They, um, poop.
  • A lot.
  • If you let them out of the cage to fly, they poop.
  • A lot.
  • For every two seeds they eat, they scatter at least ten times that many out of the cage and onto the floor.
  • If you let them out of the cage to fly, they invariably crash into something. 
  • And shed feathers.
  • And poop.
  • A lot.
  • Just because you think a bird is a male doesn't mean it won't lay eggs.
  • Birds are quite inquisitive. And smart. And beautiful
  • And maybe, just maybe, Smarticus is right. Maybe they don't belong in cages at all.
We think caged birds sing, when indeed, they cry.  [John Webster]




Like I said, they're smart... (or maybe that cat isn't.)




Growing up, my mom always claimed to feel bad when a bird would slam head-first into our living room window. If she really felt bad, though, she'd have moved the bird feeder outside.  [Rich Johnson]





How's about some interesting trivia about some of our feathered friends?



I'm sure everyone recognizes this handsome couple. Reaching heights of up to nine feet tall, not only are ostriches the largest birds, but they're also the fastest runners. Would you believe they can hustle up to an astounding 97 km/hour? So don't let their girth fool you; these critters can MOVE! Oh, and even thought the thought of it is somewhat amusing, contrary to popular belief, ostriches do NOT bury their heads in the sand.

As you can see, their eggs are kinda on the large size, too. About the size of a cantaloupe. And if you're ever thinking about hard boiling one, you'd better not be too hungry. It takes about two hours. 


At the other end of the spectrum is the hummingbird, the only bird capable of flying backwards. The bee hummingbird is the smallest of the group, and only measures about two inches. (5 cm) However, in spite of the hummingbird's skillful flying and hovering capabilities, along with the loon, swift, kingfisher, and grebe, it cannot... walk. 



Seen here is a spot-billed pelican feeding her young. Early mythology believed that when they couldn't find food, pelicans actually ripped at their own bodies, and used their own flesh and blood to feed their young... which explains why some churches later adopted the pelican as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. 



A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican.
He can take in his beak
Food enough for a week,
But I'm damned if I see how the helican.
[Dixon Lanier Merritt- 1905]


Here's a beauty for ya. Okay to look, but don't touch. The pitohui is the only known type of bird with feathers and flesh poisonous enough to kill a human. But don't worry. You aren't too likely to run into one of these fellows, because they only live in New Guinea. It's very easy to remember his name, though. It's pronounced just like the spitting sound someone might make if he were foolish enough to taste this bird:  pa-tooo-ey!






Birds are, um,  excellent parents.





And they never ever favor one baby over another.










And all in all, they can be pretty darned entertaining, too. 









                                
                                                     How entertaining, you ask? Just watch...



Okay, better, um... fly. Our cats are watching, and for some reason they're raising a real ruckus. I do believe they're... hungry. Go figure. Okay, more about da birds next time. Until then, take care of yourselves. And each other.

                                                You have to believe in happiness,
                                                 Or happiness never comes...
                                                 Ah, that's the reason a bird can sing —
                                                 On his darkest day, he believes in Spring. 
                                                      [Douglas Malloch]


[Images comes to us courtesy of Wikipedia, Icanhascheezburger, Seniorark, and Morguefiles.]





96 comments:

  1. My mom taught our parakeet over 100 phrases. He flew all over the house and he did poop, but it was easy clean up. When we wanted him in his cage we hit his squeaky toy which was inside his cage, wherever he was he flew right into his cage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, you had a very smart parakeet! And your mom was some kinda patient to teach him that many phrases. I've known parakeets to say a dozen or so different things, but never that many.

      Delete
  2. Interesting post! I never realized that hummingbirds can't walk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't realize hummingbirds couldn't walk, either, until I discovered that little tidbit while doing research.

      Thanks so much for stopping by, and for signing on as a new follower. I do appreciate it. Welcome aboard!

      Delete
  3. We used to have a gardener who bred Budgies, and occasionally he would bring one or two as gifts. My mother hated them, but could never bring herself to tell him. So we always had 'unwanted' Budgies in the house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HA! That's too funny. Your mother must have been something else.

      Delete
  4. I had parakeets as a child. I remember my father taking me to pick out one from the breeder and when I picked out the pale blue one he was surprised.
    Best bird ever, Poco just liked to walk. He would climb out of his cage and walk across the floor to where he wanted to go. Brother use to sit on the floor and hit these little plastic pegs into a pegboard top box. Poco used to walk over jump up on the box walk across the pegboard and start flipping the pegs out. It was so funny to watch.
    I also had Finches, beautiful birds.

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's too funny about your parakeet liking to walk around. They really CAN be entertaining, can't they? (Although your brother might not have been terribly amused...) Yes, finches are beautiful... so tiny and colorful.

      Delete
  5. I love that final quote.
    My mum was a bird lover, she had cages, well, aviaries, lining both sides of the back yard right down to the fence where the field began. In the aviaries were budgies, lovebirds, canaries, finches, zebra finches, quail, I don't remember what else on that side, on the other side were parrots and a couple of galahs as well as a sulphur crested cockatoo, before it became illegal to keep those.
    Beyond the fence in the field were the "money" birds. Chooks, ducks, geese and turkeys, raised for the eggs and to be killed and plucked for whoever was buying them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, your mother had quite a set-up. I don't suppose you have any pictures of the aviaries to post on your blog sometime..? That would be lovely to see. It sounds like she had some real beauties. Except, um for the turkeys...

      Delete
  6. Birds are absolutely fascinating and I've had my share of the feathered friends for pets - - including parakeets, canaries, and an African Senegal parrot. I probably have as many bird stories as I do Hollywood stories, and your terrific post has resurrected lots of memories.

    Wouldn't it be fun to dye some ostrich eggs for Easter???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A parrot? Neat. I can just imagine one of them "singing" along while you played the piano.

      Oh, yeah, Better get a BIG pot, though, and LOTS of dye...

      Delete
  7. This is one of those posts where I can actually FEEL more knowledgeable at the bottom than I did at the top. I love that! Thanks, Susan!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My uncle had a budgie who loved to play cards. He would walk around the table and take cards out of peoples hands and put them on the pile in the centre of the table.
    This was a terrificly interesting post....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As much as my grandmother loved her birds, and to play Pinochle, it's a wonder she never trained any of her birds to "help" her play. That must have been really funny to see.

      Delete
  9. As a bird-lover, this has been my favorite post of yours thus far. I love spending hours and hours in the middle of nowhere birdwatching and seeing how many birds I can identify in one day. So fun! Also, this: "Just because you think a bird is a male doesn't mean it won't lay eggs" made me LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Glad you liked it, but you cracked me up. (You've already had a couple other "favorites", you know...)

      The thing about the "male" bird laying eggs is true. My brother told our grandmother her parakeet was a male, so when it later started laying eggs, my grandmother yelled at the bird... called it a "dirty sow". It was soooo funny. (I mean, my brother couldn't have been wrong!)

      Delete
  10. I wanted a bird as a pet when I was a child, but my mom -- who HAD a bird when SHE was a child -- didn't want the mess that went along with one. I didn't think that was entirely fair, although as a mom myself, I get it.

    Birds are not my favorite right now. A heron ate most of the fish out of our ornamental pond as soon as it thawed -- before we knew what was going on out there. It got all our koi and most of the largest goldfish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's never too late to get yourself a pet bird.

      Herons are gorgeous, but I can see as how they aren't at the top of your list of favorite birds right now. (He thought you were running a smorgasbord just for him!)

      Delete
  11. I do love birds--I had parakeets as pets when I was a kid. They are noisy little suckers, and they DO poop a lot. Which is probably why I don't have them as pets anymore. *grin*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But just think of the things you could teach them to SAY... (hehe)

      Delete
  12. We had parakeets also when I grew up. My mom thought it was wrong that Clancy I, Clancy II, and Clancy III had to be caged and let them fly around the house for about an hour every day. Yes, they do poop often. My sister and I were poop control and one of our chores was bird clean up. I loved those birds but can admit now that I was not too upset when one flew out an open window.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of COURSE you had parakeets when you were growing up... we obviously led very parallel lives. Only it was my father who insisted on letting the birds fly around the house... and then cussed them for pooping and shedding feathers.

      Delete
  13. Oooh and aaah. You were so right. I LOVED this post. In one of our homes we frequently saw flocks of wild budgies - joy and bliss.
    The video was great. Earlier today I was sent this bird (and cat) video which you might also enjoy. http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=35264

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. (More to come on Friday.)

      I love videos showing inter-species friendships like that. Thanks so much for the URL. We people could learn a thing or two from the animal kingdom.

      Delete
  14. Birds are fascinating, but can be so erratic. Nothing worse than a mockingbird yammering at anyone sitting on a patio. I've always had a soft spot for robins - surely a sign of spring. Don't see as many in TX for some reason. They are everywhere in PA, where I grew up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe it's too darned HOT in Texas for the robins. We still see quite a lot of them here in Georgia year-round. Yeah, mockingbirds can be annoying, but blue jays can be even worse. They'll actually go after you if you happen to venture anywhere near their nests. And Heaven help you if they build their nest near the door to your house. Going in and going out gets to be quite an adventure.

      Delete
  15. I love birds!!! Thanks for all the photos.

    Years ago we had a very arrogant parakeet. When our Lab was a puppy and learning to stay (she was a field Lab and very stubborn), we tied her leash to a stay. The parakeet would fly down and march back and forth in front of the dog--just two or three inches from the dog's farthest reach. The dog would go wild with barking, scratching and straining at the leash, and the bird would march up and down as if the dog wasn't there and its claws weren't inches from the bird's feathers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That story about your parakeet and the Lab is hysterical. I can just picture it. You should have taken a video and sent it to "Funniest Home Videos"... your kids' college accounts would have gotten quite a boost.

      Delete
  16. Such a fun post! I had no idea there were poisonous birds--fascinating! We grew up with parrots and emus, which made for lots of entertainment. Some of which, I'll admit, wasn't too fun (ever try catching an escaped emu? They run far too fast, too!). I miss the sounds they make!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HA! No, I can't say that I've ever had to chase an emu. If they run anywhere near as fast as an ostrich, I don't think I want to, either. (Might have to learn how to throw a rope, and lasso 'em!)

      Delete
  17. Hahaha! I love that owl picture!

    I always wanted a pair of love birds. I did once raise a wild bird which we called Captain. It had broken a wing and myself and a friend, found it by the roadside. After weeks of looking after him and once his wing had mended, we were ready to finally set him free, only to find the next morning, that he had gotten his neck stuck between the bars of the bird cage and broken its windpipe whilst trying to free itself...

    And with that very happy ending, it only remains for me to say, a wonderfully enjoyable and informative post as always. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That owl picture cracks me up, too.

      Yowza. Way to hit me with a happy ending, kiddo. Oh well. At least the little guy got "free", huh?

      Delete
  18. I worked for about three years as a naturalist in a state park known for its birds. The Colorado Bird Observatory was headquartered there, and it was fascinating to get to work with them. We used to catch migratory songbirds in netting and tag them for study. To hold such a tiny, fluttering creature in your hand was amazing. And, yeah, birds do poop a lot. My feeder is a mess! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ye the cat loves birds
    Except or their turds
    Right on a nice clean car
    You'd think they'd aim elsewhere like a drunk at a bar
    And the ones with their head in the ground
    Are fun to be found
    For when they pull their head out of it
    The cat has no need to dig a hole and gave just plank down and have a ummm you know

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We once had a cat who loved the birds;
      It had nothing to do with their feathers or turds.
      He thought birds simply couldn't be beat
      For carrying home to drop at our feet.

      Delete
  20. This post is for the birds and I absolutely enjoyed it thoroughly! Great pics too:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HA! Yep, definitely for the birds. Glad you enjoyed it.

      Delete
  21. I never used to think much about birds until my son became interested in them. So this year, instead of just looking forward to the peepers heralding the arrival of spring I was also looking forward to the red-winged blackbirds coming back to claim territory. They have such a pretty song :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it fun to re-experience things through the eyes of children? Their sense of wonder is contagious.

      Delete
  22. This is a really cool post. I love birds, and I learned a lot here. The video is awesome. If that rooster lived at my house, he would have been dinner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't that video fun? I know what ya mean about that rooster, though. Can you imagine hearing that every morning? I like the one with the ducklings, too. (Ya know, "All We Are is Ducks in the Wind"...)

      Delete
  23. No, I don't remember seeing that movie. So you could've totally made up a name for it, and I would never have been the wiser. I DO, however, remember seeing "The Birdman of Alcatraz"... (Just a "few" years ago.)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I do love birds but my interest is now limited to nature. They make too big a mess for me to want to own one at this point in my life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I have to admit, it's easier to enjoy them when you aren't the one responsible for cleaning up after them. (Hmmm, kinda like grandchildren...)

      Delete
  25. I didn't know that about the pelican, Sus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cool. Pretty interesting, huh?

      I'm so glad you left a comment today... to remind me to comment on YOUR post. It was late when I read it the other night, so I opted to come back later to comment. NOW is later. (No, um, I didn't forget! Of course not...)

      Delete
  26. Birdie num-nums is my favourite expression and I adore birdies. Even if they do poop a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birdie num-nums, huh? Cute. (Even if it DOES sound like you're talking about a "snack"...)

      Delete
  27. We had a science teacher in high school who had a duck. And, no, this isn't a joke about them going to a bar. The duck had ducklings, and when they were old enough, they followed the teacher around the school on the sidewalks. Maybe they thought he was Daddy Duck.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one of the neat things about birds... especially geese and ducks. It's a process called "imprinting". When a duckling hatches, it will imprint... or form an immediate attachment... to the first large moving object it sees. Usually, that'll be the mama, which is all well and good. Mama waddles off, and her babies follow her. But ducklings can also imprint with a human or other critter. Like a dog. Pretty funny to see it. (as you already know)

      Delete
  28. So cool! I never knew that about pelicans and Christ. Birds are very Spring-ish. Beest has been spending her days in the window, watching. I could watch that pigeon spin right round to Dead or Alive for a long time. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our cats love to watch the birds (and squirrels) out the windows, too. Maybe we should put in bird feeders to enhance their viewing pleasure.

      Isn't that pigeon funny? (But the music should've been, "I'm So Dizzy.")

      Delete
  29. It's the movie "The Big Year." Susan - you MUST see it!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I grew up on a farm and we always had chickens. I learned fairly soon that chickens just love to eat up your spit when you spit on the dirt ground. So I would walk around the yard, spitting on the ground. I gained a lot of chicken friends that way...many ended up following me around whenever I went outside. One day, a chicken tried to follow me to school. I had a tough time sending her back home.

    That's the only bird story I have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh - forgot to say, I absolutely love the video!

      Delete
    2. I never heard of that before, but it is too funny! Just think, you could've been like another Mary and her little lamb... only it was a little chicken!

      I'm glad you liked the video.

      Delete
  31. I don't think I'd ever want to keep birds as pets, but I do love seeing them out in the wild. Hummingbirds visit our feeder hanging over the deck, and I love to see eagles soaring in the sky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hummingbirds are one of my favorite birds to watch. They're so tiny, they almost don't look real.

      And just wait until you see what an eagle does on my blog post on Friday!

      Delete
  32. I have always thought it curious that birds sort through so many seeds to eat one. I used to think that they were searching for a particular kind of seed but the finches did it with millet where every seed was exactly like the next one. I use to raise zebra finches. Made them a big cage that they could fly in. They were really neat, with their own personalities and woody woodpecker call. Finally got too messy and I gave them away. Sometimes I miss them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it something the way they are with seed? Talk about picky! (And messy!)

      But if you miss having a bird, maybe you should consider getting another one to keep you company. Not quite as cuddly as a dog, but at least you don't have to take them out for a walk...

      Delete
  33. I find hummingbirds to be utterly fascinating and could probably watch one for an hour without getting bored.

    That video was pretty funny. I'd seen that footage of the ducks getting blown all over town by the wind before and it never fails to make me laugh. (Remember, no ducks were actually harmed in the filming of that video!)

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me, too. Some friends have a hummingbird feeder right beside their porch, and the birds aren't at all shy about coming around when we're out there. Fascinating little critters.

      Yep, all they are is ducks in the wind...

      Delete
    2. Ha! GREAT one!

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  34. I thought I'd like a bird so hubby gave me a cockatiel, Syd. Syd pooped, scattered seed, and hollered 'kitty, kitty, kitty' then
    sniggered when the cat came running. Cocatiels are sposed to live a long, long time. Syd died rather prematurely at the age of ten. I shed some tears, buried poor birdie, prayed...then did a little happy dance when I realized I was finally free of bird poop. The best birds live in trees!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is hysterical! An amateur radio friend of ours had a cockatiel, too, and after Bill died, my hubby and I helped his widow by cleaning out his radio room ad selling the stuff for her. Lord have mercy, there was bird seed and poop EVERYWHERE in there. What a mess. Trust me, Peg didn't waste any time finding a new home for that messy bird.

      Delete
  35. Every fifteen minutes you say? I also didn't know that Hummingbirds couldn't walk. Lots of interesting facts with great photos. Sorry I haven't visited in a while, but the boys were in town, and when they left I had to get ready for the holiday. I've also been trying to get organized for A to Z. Wish I was better at multi-tasking like you! Glad to see you brought Kermit over!

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good to hear from you again. I hope you had a super visit with the boys. Me? Good at multi-tasking? You must have me confused with somebody else...

      Delete
  36. I can well believe that pooping stat. We used to have a tree outside our back door where the pigeons liked to sit. It became impossible to step outside without sliding in the stuff. As we couldn't get rid of all the pigeons, the tree had to go!

    We've never had birds as all my life I've been a cat owner and, unlike in that video, I know that the cat would eat the bird.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your experience with the pigeons reminds me of what happened to some friends of ours. When they retired, they bought a beautiful big home on the lake. A lake which Canadian geese particularly enjoyed. At first, our friends and their neighbors were up in arms when the local authorities dared to call the geese a "nuisance", but they soon changed their tune after having to put up with the slippery mounds of goose poop all over their yards, their docks, and their boats. Funny, but all of a sudden, they weren't oohing and ahing over the "beautiful" geese any more...

      Delete
  37. What fun. I loved the trivia and the humor and the pictures. Your blog is always such a treat to visit. I need to make time to visit more often.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! So sweet of you to say! Well, the door is always open and the teapot's on the stove, so stop in any time...

      Delete
  38. Fascinating post. When I was growing up, it was so hot in our part of California, the pyracantha berries would ferment on the bushes. The blue jays (which as you mention, can be very testy) were all over those berries. The fruit made them high, and they'd stumble across the front lawn until the cat picked them off. The cat—a mouser who was allowed to roam the property—thought he was some kind of great hunter. If it hadn't been so tragic for the birdies, it would have been funny.

    These days, our cats are indoor-only, and no risk to wild life.

    When we moved to Georgia, I saw my first cardinal ever. The red was such a beautiful contrast against the green of the hedge, it took my breath away. Someone tried to ruin the experience by telling me cardinals were a harbinger of death. Given the number of cardinals, a lot of people are keeling over in Metro Atlanta. :)

    ~VR Barkowski

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Woo boy, nothing like drunken birds, eh? Have you ever seen the movie, "Animals are People, Too"? It shows African animals... elephants, giraffes, chimps, etc... getting bombed out of their minds on fermented fruit... and then the hangover aftermath. Hilarious! (But no cats ate any of THEM.)

      Yeah, our cats stay in the house, too. I didn't realize there weren't any cardinals in California. Phooey on whoever told you they were a harbinger of death. Cardinals are in our yard all the time... and we've lived in Atlanta since 1971... and we're still kicking. (Just not quite as high...)

      Delete
  39. Funny you should post something about birds, I just found out very recently my mom-in-law hates parakeets. One guess as to what I am going to buy the minute I find out she is coming to visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Um, a strawberry shortcake?

      HA! You wouldn't do that, now would you? If you do, I reckon that'd make you a "dirty bird". (If you're serious, though, you could always put the cage in the guest room...)

      Delete
  40. My cats love birds. My mom is afraid of them, so we never had them as pets. My cats would like me to get some... I loved all you learned from your parakeets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MOST cats, um, "love" birds. But most of them aren't exactly "hospitable" with them. It's more a case of inviting them to a meal... and surprise! they're the main course. Our cats will just have to be satisfied watching the birds out the window

      Delete
  41. Loved all your photos. So beautiful, thanks for sharing!

    Nas

    ReplyDelete
  42. Awesome post! A friend of mine once had a couple of cockatiels - great birds, but they DID poop a lot!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Wow, a PAIR of cockatiels... as if ONE doesn't make a big enough mess. But they really are neat birds, mess and all.

      Thank you so much for stopping by and for signing on as a new follower. I do appreciate it, and will be happy to return the favor. Welcome aboard!

      Delete
  43. I'm always trying to make freinds with the crows that live in our neighborhood, but their a flighty bunch.
    ha.
    Joke:
    Jo: Ya have five crows sittin' on a fence. Ya shoot your shotgun at one and get 'im. How many crows do ya have left?

    Shmo: Four?

    Jo: Do ya really think them crows is still sittin' on the fence after that?

    (Too much public radio.)
    ~Just Jill

    ReplyDelete
  44. fun post! I love all the pictures and the little commentaries you have here :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! So many terrific people leave comments here. (Like you!)

      Delete
  45. What a fun (and informative post)! Hmm, think I'll cancel my airline tickets to New Guinea, just in case one of those birdies decides to poop on my head! Speaking of which, we had parakeets when we were kids. Yep, they poop and scatter seeds-- a lot!

    Happy Easter to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, go ahead and go to New Guinea. Their poop isn't toxic. (But just in case, wear a hat!)

      And a very Happy Easter to you, too!

      Delete
  46. What a great post! Good timing: My son just discovered a nesting owl with owelets yesterday. We got a photo of her: she is living in the sign for a Chinese restaurant. Just hanging out there, blinking at everyone.

    I love birds, but I don't know nearly as much about them as you do. They sound a bit like hamsters as pets, but even messier and longer-lived!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'll have to pop over to your blog and see if you posted a picture of the owls. (How cute!)

      Nah, I really don't know that much about birds. I'm just curious about them, and love to find weird tidbits about all kinds of stuff. Yeah, birds may be messier and live longer than hamsters, but hamsters are furry little Houdinis! The ones we had could get out of just about ANY habitat. (Nothing like waking up in the middle of the night and hearing one of them scritching and scratching around in the bedroom.)

      Delete
  47. Hi Susan .. love these - our wild birds are singing much more now - more light and perhaps slightly warmer!

    I had canaries for a short time - I don't think they lasted long ... and we had chickens for food!

    Love the photos though and descriptions .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It doesn't matter about the snow and cold temperatures you've had recently; those birds still know it's springtime. Can't fool them! Here's to all the warmth and sunshine your heart desires, and to a very happy Easter.

      Delete
  48. That's a huge egg.

    I love birds. I had parakeets as a kid, but I wouldn't have birds now. It makes me sad when they're in cages.

    ReplyDelete