| Birdies and birdhouses, ponds and birdbaths, | | | | as long as I don't move too quickly. Mom and dad are |
| birdfeeders and BEARS! Here we go again. It seems | | | | always close and are usually sitting on the birdbath or |
| just yesterday the bears were waking up and | | | | the plum tree while the kids eat. They seem to have |
| hunting for birdfeeders filled with their favorite | | | | moved from the little birdhouse they started out in |
| BearFood. Suddenly here it is time for them to start | | | | to a larger one in the back yard. |
| stocking up for the long winter slumber. I have | | | | I haven't had as many migratory birds as usual at the |
| actually figured out the formula though, I simply | | | | bird feeders, but that might be because of a change |
| make sure there is no food left in the feeders after | | | | in the bird seed mixture. I still can't find the one I |
| dark. This has worked fabulously!! | | | | used to get so now I am making my own by adding |
| I must admit that other than a little general | | | | dried berries and cherries to the seed mix. The |
| maintenance consisting of cleaning the birdbath | | | | grosbeaks came back but didn't move in close so I |
| fountain and the pond, and making sure that the | | | | don't get to watch their goofiness at the birdfeeders |
| birdfeeders and birdhouses are in good repair, I have | | | | or the birdbath this season. I miss those noisy guys a |
| neglected my garden. My neighbor laughed at me | | | | lot. I do see the female that hatched here last year |
| yesterday when I told him I was "spring" cleaning. | | | | occasionally though so she might be staying close by. |
| "Yeah in time for winter" he said. We both cringed. | | | | Although this series is usually about birdies I want to |
| Winter can come very early here and we are | | | | add a few thoughts about the bears this season. If |
| enjoying the lengthy warm spell even if we have had | | | | you live in bear country remember "a fed bear is a |
| no rain at all. | | | | dead bear" and "garbage kills bears". Make sure you |
| The chickadee babies are having the best time at the | | | | don't feed them at either your trash or your |
| new bird feeder (courtesy of the bears). You can tell | | | | birdfeeders, this acclimates them to humans and |
| they are the babies because they all have "bad hair" | | | | makes them more apt to break into houses seeking |
| days. For some reason the babies can't seem to | | | | groceries. Empty your birdfeeders at night or bring |
| control their feathers so they go all this way and | | | | them inside. Moth balls make a great critter deterrent |
| that. They have a ton of fun zipping past me so | | | | put them in old socks and tie to the lid of your trash |
| close I think they will run me over, but they don't. | | | | cans. You will never have another dog, raccoon, |
| They will sit quietly on the birdfeeder and watch me | | | | coyote or bear spread the garbage around the yard. |