I unfortunately started out the new year with a respiratory bug but have pretty much gotten over it now. The first part of the week I really felt terrible but have been taking vitamin C and Echinacea and did a heavy wrap up to sweat out the bug.Over the past couple of days I have been noticing quite an influx of Pine Warblers. Being stuck in the house I decided to make up a large batch of homemade suet. The birds really prefer it over the store bought and with cold weather coming next week, it seemed like an ideal indoor project.
Today while I was doing some work out in the yard (cleaning out bluebird boxes), I counted five Pine Warblers in the yard at one time. With grey skies rolling back in today, they are certainly like a little spot of sunshine.The Bluebirds have really been flocking to the homemade suet. They would not feed in the caged suet feeder so I finally hung one of the free hanging access feeders back up. It has been a battle with the squirrels but I think the new baffle I added today will help to keep them away.
4 comments:
Hey, Paula! Glad you are getting over the bug. I started with a sore throat on New Years eve. Yesterday, I didn't feel too bad - today I have a full-fledged cold. *sigh* Zinc, Vit. C & honey and lemon tea will hopefully move it out of my system.
I love those warblers. We are getting goldfinches here. Not much else. Oh, the bluebirds do come in and out too. Nothing like past years.
Hey Gladys, Yeah, that is how mine started too. Seems like that bug is really making the rounds. At least it is not the flu but it still sort of saps your get up and go. Hope you recover quickly. Don't forget to clean out your Bluebird houses as they will start scoping out nesting places in Feb.
Thanks for the advice on the Bluebird house. I have noticed that they come in and check the house but it is usually a group of them. They fight and knock each other to the ground. That seems odd behavior for this time of year, doesn't it?
Gladys, not really that odd of behavior. If they are sizing up a new mate, the "courtship", selection and bonding period usually happens about now. Lots of E. Bluebirds have a large family unit made up of previous year offspring. It could be just run of the mill family type squabbles.
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