Nesting, songs, and spring critters

 This is a sure sign of spring. TWO nests: 1) The robin is out at the front. On the beam. 2) The phoebe is refurbishing the old nest from last year. It is located on the shelf I repurposed for them.

Outdoor decor

I was thinking of getting an arbour. There are two places for it. 

The purpose is to have something to dissuade the deer from eating my asiatic lilies. It worked well having a fence last year, but it sure wasn't sturdy. They just ambled right up the sidewalk.  

Any thoughts, creative gardeners?

The flicker is busy finding bugs. I'm not sure where they are nesting, maybe in the old, dead elm tree. This photo I took with the zoom lens on, through the window. It's trickier than it looks! I liked the look on her face! We've a kestrel nesting not far away, and they have to be vigilant.

The daffodils are just beginning to bloom.

The periwinkle is in bloom. 

The birdbath and goldfish pond are ready for summer. It's too cold for fishies, but it will warm up soon!

I used BIRDnet to figure out what was singing around the frog pond. 

I think this is a photo of a house finch, but you get the idea, and can hear his song. 

purple finch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Our COVID cases have not disappeared. We have to be careful. Many are still masking here.

Reader question

Barbara had a good question. "How do you count the frogs?" There are strict protocols, as it is a scientific study. We have training modules. The strategy is to listen to the frogs, and determine the calling level. There is a section of the form where you give a number for call codes.

Call Codes: 0 - No frogs heard; 1- Calls not overlapping and # of calling frogs can be accurately counted; 2- Some calls overlapping but the number of calling frogs can be reliably counted; 3 - Full chorus with continuous overlapping calls indistinguishable from one another.

There are more pieces of information and codes for various data. We use the Beaufort Wind Scale (0 - 4). This is a screen capture of part of the survey sheet.

Birds galore!

🌨We are still in the midst of a storm, with 19mm rain that fell first in in a warm front (5 C.), and perhaps 20cm snow following that. The cold front is in (–12 C.) and I wonder if the snow sticks to it. I've a bit of shovelling to do and I will measure it later. The wind is still blowing, whipping the snow around. I'm going to enjoy my coffee! 

The weather outside is frightful this morning. Check out this great video taken by @alexander_behne this AM on Wellington St., Ottawa. #ottnews #FreedomConvoy2022 pic.twitter.com/SxcLpxzCWI

— Stephen Hoff (@NewsHoff) February 18, 2022

Ottawa has finally seen some police action, as well as snow. Two of the ring leaders were arrested last night, more followed, after police cordoned off the downtown area. They had police come in from other forces, there are 100 checkpoints, and you need a darn good reason to go in there. Financial accounts are frozen, which is the result of the Emergencies Act. The end is in sight.

🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫

This is a PD Day for the girls, a sleep in and no school, as well as it being Family Day on Monday. The kids will have fun on a 4-day weekend!

🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

The birds were busy in the sunshine. Enjoy!

The finch is very careful to look around, so is the chickadee. 

Lots of action!

Bark butter, and other chores

 Are you tired of my wee goldfinches? I'm not. We're still in chaos here in Ontario. Six of our automotive plants are shut due to the occupiers. It is defeating. They have gathered at the borders, Sarnia, Windsor/Detroit, shutting down the supply chain.

Our premier, who is the one with the authority to bring in SWAT teams (the feds do not), has been silent. He is up for re-election June 2nd. No one is happy with him digging in his heels. The crazy people, who don't listen to scientists, and entertain conspiracy theories, are getting air time. They aren't even making logical sense. OK, back to nature, and my goldfinches. 

I keep watching them for signs of their spring/summer colours. Below: now and Aug., 2015.

This is a photo fail! It wouldn't look at me! American tree sparrow. I kept waiting with baited breath!

The male house finches have arrived. I thought they might be purple finches.

Things have been treacherous here indoors. I had a bit of an argument with a sardine can. Nurse JB fetched a bandage, and went to buy more finger bandages later on. It's like a thick paper cut. Yowzers. 

Sewing a hem on my pants, after months of having it on the To Do list, I was making progress. Sadly, the pins were on the arm of my chair. They began to slip, and I caught them, and caught a needle in my thumb. My nurse wasn't home, but the finger bandages came in handy.

The front walk was slippy, I chucked some sunflower seeds on it. The birds eat the seeds, leave the hulls, and a little bit of traction. The freeze and thaw is difficult on walking. We're at 2 C., this a.m., with maybe rain and/or snow ahead. 

Cinnamon had gone back to bed, and didn't even venture outdoors. Clever lad!

I learned a word, or maybe I'd forgotten it: pareidolia. Where you perceive a face in objects. What better than a pansy face? It's a bright spot of colour for us. I'm happy visiting my blogger friends with lots of greenery and many colours, far to the south. We are getting there!

I made bark butter for my Fat Head, inserting it in the holes. This is great stuff. There are lots of recipes, a small batch recipe, or another. Cornmeal, lard, flour and peanut butter. I put it up at 4:30 Wednesday afternoon. We'll see what happens today. I may have to move it away from the underhang. Those raccoons will be awake soon. It's a dreadful photo, but you get the picture. I'll do more when the sun rises.

Robins and other birdies 🐦

I'm back to bird watching. There are hints of spring. The goldfinches are showing a tinge of yellow. Their antics are fun. I put the zoom lens on the tripod, and set it up in the bay window. Nice, warm bird watching! I prefocused and just have to push the button. 

I love capturing them on the fly. There are several who photobomb, as well! Can you spot them?

 

The birdbath is popular! Our robin (I think there is only one) is a heavy drinker! The mourning doves watch it carefully.

The mourning doves had a debate:

            "What do you think, dear? Should we join them in the tree?"

        "They look pretty cozy!"

        "Well, I'm going!"

        "OK, see you soon. I'm still thirsty!"

Thirst satisfied, off it went to join its partner. 

The mourning doves have it right. Snuggle in the shelter of the evergreens.

🐦Robins

I don't know if it is a him or her, but the robin has been visiting daily. It's fun to see. It's overwintered, and it isn't a sign of spring, to be honest. The flock of starlings I spotted were hopeful.

 

For more critters, visit: Saturday's Critters # 425. Thanks to Eileen for hosting us in one big critter family!