April 18, 2008
The backyard is coming back to life quickly now that the chilly spring days have changed to warmth and sunshine. Ladybugs have begun to stir and the goldfinches are as yellow as the forsythia bush.Backyard tip of the week:
If you enjoy planting flowers and such, or if you keep a garden of your own, consider getting yourself a rain barrel. This will help to supplement your watering needs during the dry days of summer that are sure to come. A rain barrel can be simply attached to a downspout. It will catch the water runoff until full, then allow the excess to drain as normal.
Water is becoming an even more precious resource as we face the challenges associated with climate change. By using a rain barrel, you'll know you're taking a small step toward a positive change in the world. And, you'll have extra water for your flowers, thereby bringing more beauty to us all. Either way, try to celebrate Earth Day next Tuesday by finding a small step that you can take to help. Your flowers and your planet are sure to love it!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Including northern cardinals, dark-eyed juncos, Carolina wrens and American robins. Chipping sparrows, white-throated sparrows, eastern goldfinches and house finches. Red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, white and red-breasted nuthatches. The tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, blue-jays, American crows, a couple of grey squirrels and some bunnies. Also, European starlings, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, and mourning doves.
Cool sighting of the week:
The chipping sparrow has returned to the backyard! A small, but delightful little bird, the chipping sparrow is just five and a half inches long with a clear gray breast, rufous crown, whitish eyebrow, strong black eye-line and a black bill. The tiny chipping sparrow eats insects and seeds on the ground, only sometimes does it come to feeders, and it may even hawk insects in the air.
One of my favorite birds, and a sure sign that the warmer days of spring have arrived, discovering the chipping sparrows at the feeder on Monday afternoon was very cool!
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