Birdies, birdies, everywhere

They have been amazing.

The house wren is still working on things. They circle around the nesting box, proclaiming territory from the lilac bush that is nearly ready to blossom.

We have phoebe, whose eggs hatched Tuesday: 🐣Phoebe.

great crested flycatcher

I was looking out a window, and spotted this bird.

Great Crested flycatcher

Wood duck box #1 is cleared out (May 27th – jump for freedom). Box #2 should hatch today, leaving tomorrow. Wood duck box #3 ducklings leave today. (More on that later!)
Here is box #3 yesterday. Once momma flushed from the nest, our morning ritual, I cleared out.
duck eggs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The hummingbirds continue to visit the feeder and the flowers.

The female merganser: as I approached the frog pond, she was circling.

Merganser from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The flicker is attending to business in her nest. I have no idea her stage of nesting. Read more here:

• 🐦FLICKERS

Flicker from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We have two female turkeys wandering around during the day. They eat bugs, bless their hearts!

Turkey basting: that's what I called it. She rolled around in the dirt, kicking up soil, having a blast.
They do this, says Standford U, to maintain the oil in the feathers. (Bathing and Dusting: "Excess plumage lipids, including preen oil, are absorbed by the dust and expelled along with dry skin and other debris.")

Turkey basting from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Flycatcher, mallards, barred owl

More birds. This was a Great Crested Flycatcher I found in the forest. When I went back to the house, there was one on the branch out the front window!


 

The insect-eating birds are back. I've spotted red-eyed vireo, scarlet tanager, as well as American redstart (witchety-witchety-witchety)! These are file photos, as our trees don't have this many leaves, yet. The bugs are merciless, as well. Mosquitoes and blackflies.

There are about 4 male mallards hanging about on the frog pond, while momma wood duck sits on the nest.


In the meantime, I was on the back deck, doing some painting. I first heard a chick complain, then I heard the female 'solicitation call.' It's just a communication technique they use. I find to uses it to reassure her chicks. I haven't seen the male at all. I'm so disappointed.

Can you see her?!
She had an itch, then hesitated to see if she spied something or not. Then, back to itching.
She's been on the branch, just outside the nest when I was out at 5:45 this morning, calling to the chicks to, 'For pete's sake leave the nest!' I think...


In the front yard, Maggie Magnolia just bloomed! FINALLY!

Great Crested Flycatcher

Don't you love birds?I'm so happy our Phoebe's 5 eggs have hatched.

 I am learning many new ones, not previously seen. You don't need to know much to appreciate them, whether familiar or unique.

While I grew up in Toronto, I was familiar with many typical city birds, like the one-legged crow that often visited my elementary school: Cottingham Public school, in Toronto.

Our Muskoka home had some wonderful birds: heron, hawks, hummers, turkey vultures, geese, ducks, and wild turkeys. I even made a video of a hawk eating a robin!

Now, living in the middle of the swamp, I've learned some new birds. Hermit Thrush, Red-eyed vireo, Indigo bunting... This is my full list!

This bird is a Great Crested Flycatcher. I photographed it atop a wetland dead tree, as well as in the Catulpa tree, which is merrily beginning to put forth leaves. In the second photo it is nest-building.