garden sentry

gardenbirds

dirt baths

I'm having some trouble with my sparrows. They are digging up my little pea seedlings. The dirt in this area of my garden is not as rich as other areas - actually quite dusty and dry. The sparrows love burrowing into this and then squabbling over the little depressions they make. As a result the pea sprouts are getting kicked up and scattered around. I was going to wait til the seedlings got a few inches tall to mulch, but will try mulching with hay tomorrow to see if this will protect the little pea plants.

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rock meadow bluebirds

I spent an hour at my community plot today after a long absence of at least a couple days. I was glad to see the bluebirds are still in the house on the Meadow that they have occupied for a month or so now. I think this probably means they are nesting, in spite of the swallows. I hope they will raise a big family! The photo is not the best resolution - I didn't want to go too close. That's Mr Bluebird on top. I suppose the Mrs is inside.

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Belmont Victory Garden

Rock Meadow Conservation Land, Belmont

robins nest

I found out what the robin is doing with the hay. First she goes to the dirt in my backyard and scoops up some of that with the hay, then dips it all in the pond, then goes up to a nest about 40 feet up in our neighbors big Norway maple. I know robins build lovely mud-lined nests, but I didn't realize they'd nest to high up.

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house sparrow

The sparrows have baby chicks now in the house by my vegetable gardens. I can hear their faint chirps when the parents come with food. Here's mom with a green worm.

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bird house and bluebird update

My dad helped me with putting up a bird house at my plot. Well, he actually transported it, dug the hole, and put it up for me. I can't say I did more than take the photos. Thanks Dad! Its an old chickadee house that was in my backyard with no residents for many years. I'm hoping it may find an occupant at the gardens.

Here's an update on the bluebirds nesting in Rock Meadow. My parents and I went for a walk and checked the houses where I previously saw nesting bluebirds. I had seen three pairs. (My photos are here.) But that was before the tree swallows arrived. Now we could only find one of the pairs left. Its in a house at the far end of the meadow. The swallows are very aggressive and as we watched, it they swooped and dove at the bluebirds. I wonder if the bluebirds will stay to raise a family? Doesn't really seem likely. I'll keep an eye on them. Here's an excellent article on swallow-bluebird competition, that Jim pointed out to me. I was pleased to read that, though swallows are aggressive, bluebirds are larger and stronger and are able to defend themselves. Go bluebirds!

gardenbirds

Rock Meadow Conservation Land, Belmont

bluebirds in the Meadow

I was pleased to see the bluebirds are still in the nesting box at the back of the meadow. I've seen them there since early April. A surprising thing is that there is a new nesting box that has been added very close to the occupied ones. A bluebird pair has had the front box and a swallow the back box and now a new box is added with these. I wonder why someone placed it so close???

Another good sighting is a second box with a nesting bluebird at the front far end of the Meadow. I never saw this one before. The trail runs closer to this box, so I came get a better photo.


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nesting

There's lots of nesting activity going on around my garden right now. The chickadees are busy in the house at the east side and the sparrows are in the house to the west.

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nesting time

Though I did stop my sparrows from taking dirt baths in my baby pea area, they are doing just fine. The female stayed in the sparrow house today - I could hear her chirping to the male when he brought her things. Most of the morning I worked in the garden and I could keep an eye on what was going on at the house. In this picture, it looks like he is bringing her some nesting material. Every year, a sparrow couple raises 2-4 chicks in this house next to my vegetable garden. I suspect they may have eggs in the house now. They will be very busy with food collection for the next month or so, during the incubation and rearing of the chicks. Look out garden bugs!

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fledgeling blue jay

Its a hot and humid late afternoon and this little guy has just left his nest. The water in my backyard waterfall is cool on his feet I'm sure. There is a tall fence around the yard that keeps predators out. He can rest for a bit and think about learning to fly. There are two other sibling fledglings, who are more adventuresome than this guy, and two adult blue jays also in the backyard this evening. A busy day! One of the young jays almost landed on my head in an awkward flight.

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garden wildlife

Here's who's in my garden these days. Lots of birds - mostly sparrows, cardinals, chickadees and titmice. I was surprised to spot a downy woodpecker on my big old pumpkin vine. These guys are great helpers with the insect control.

The problem critter is that cute squirrel. He's increased his digging now that its fall. He rearranges my lettuce seedlings and digs up the larger seeds and bulbs. Sometimes I cover newly planted areas (especially crocus bulbs) with chicken wire to keep him away.

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garden birds

Here's the bird bath I made with a plastic plant saucer and a rock on top to hold it in place. Pretty basic. I hope the birds enjoy it. The cute wren is in my community plot bird house. She's spending alot of time in the house, even when Skippy and I are in the garden right near by. A very sweet and quiet pair - for house wrens.

The three Baltimore orioles were making a commotion in the community gardens today. Looks like two males and a female? Or is it two females? Many orioles arrived in our area this week. Great flashes of bright orange!

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Wren house

A new wren house overlooking the vegetable garden. Maybe it'll get an occupant next spring.

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May 29, 2006: Memorial Day-3

More photos from my parents' yard. The catbird nest is in a hemlock bush right near their back door. It has 4 bright blue eggs. Mrs. Catbird didn't mind the photos and was quickly back on her nest.

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