July 17, 2009 - 1
Its been confirmed, the chickadees that are living in the pump are working on their second brood for the season and as near as I can tell the chicks are about to fledge. Quite a lot of raspy chirping has been heard coming from the pump in the past week and the chickadees have been seen going to and fro with food in their mouths. Usually it's the male that is spotted and he's a hard little worker. Not only does he find and bring food to his chicks all day long, day after day, but he's often seen taking debris with him when he leaves the pump. Meanwhile, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer. Sunrise occurred in the backyard this morning at 5:44, sunset will arrive at 8:32 this evening. Losing 10 minutes this week, we've got 14 hours, 48 minutes of sunlight today!Backyard Tip of the week:
Keep an eye on your backyard this time of year to see what new life is popping up. You may find a particularly lovely flower that you've never seen before. Perhaps you'll spot a young blue-jay still wearing new feathers and begging for food from its mother. Maybe you'll see a bunny or two eating clover from your lawn. Take an early morning walk around your backyard someday soon and you may even find a spider web all covered in dew and looking very cool. Try it, you're sure to love it!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Including blue-jays, northern cardinals, brown creepers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, song sparrows, tree sparrows, American robins, Carolina wrens and Carolina chickadees. Catbirds, bluebirds, mockingbirds, house finches, goldfinches. The elusive hairy woodpecker, also red-bellied and downy woodpeckers. Northern flickers, white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, mourning doves, crows, starlings, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, grey squirrels, red squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, bunnies, a few white-tailed deer, a yard full of fireflies and a red-tailed hawk!
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