Sunday, May 04, 2008

They're ba-a-a-a-ck

For the first time in 3 years or more, a pair of bluebirds appeared in the yard this past week looking for a nesting place. I called Roy to see them and we hurriedly went out and put up the bluebird house we used in previous years. Within a half hour or less they were checking out the house. An aggressive robin made a valiant effort to chas them away (I never saw an aggressive robin before!) but they persevered and have been carefully surveying the neighborhood to make sure it's safe before building the nest inside. Today they seemed comfortable enough to begin and have been diligently scurrying back and forth with twigs. They build beautifully constructed nests with no leaves or other unrelated materials, just twigs. I do hope that no predators discover them now that they've decided to stay.

12 comments:

Spinneretta said...

Oh how lovely. I love Bluebirds :)
In England, all our robins are aggressive little things... they'll even attack a red rag on a stick *grin*.
Over here our robins are so...well... UNaggressive, so I'm guessing yours has a nest nearby ;)

Sandy said...

How wonderful I Adore bluebirds and have a pain in the neighborhood - Your lucky to have them nesting too!beautiful sketch!

Lynn said...

You're so fortunate to have bluebirds nesting in your yard. Great sketch! Hope you get a chance to sketch the baby birds, too.

Anita Davies said...

How lovely!
I too have heard that Robins can be agressive but enjoy the fact that we have always had one around the garden and this year he seemed to have brought his lady friend along.

Jenifleur-de-lis said...

So lucky to have Bluebirds! Isn't springtime great? I love waking up to birds singing. It's fun sketching birds too -- nicely done -- very charming!

Luba said...

Very nice. When I look at the bird, I think either you have a fantastic visual memory or that bird sat still for a very long time. Great image!

MaryO said...

LOL! Luba, the little male was very cooperative and came to perch on our deck railing many times during the day for up to 2 or 3 minutes at a time, so I had lots of opportunities to observe him. I had to check a book I have to get the end of his tail right, though.

Linda Fleming said...

How lucky you are to have bluebirds nesting in your yard. Aren't they lovely? They love meal bugs and you can buy them at bird feeding stores like Wild Birds Unlimited. Enjoy your bliebirds!

Love your bluebird painting- what an amazing journal you are creating.

Shashi Nayagam said...

Your paintings are a treat for the eyes Mary.

Yvette said...

What wonderful paintings and drawings you have made. They are beautiful!
We have a pair of bluebirds that visit each spring and we have had several cardinals.
Your flowers are gorgeous.
What a peacful stroll I had through your blog today! It is everything spring should be :o)

Nita Butler said...

MaryO I like all your drawings and the blubird one is righ up my alley. I can set on the deck for hours just looking and waiting for birds to appear. We have a pair of cardnials that hang out often and some little bitty yellow birds that always travel in pairs.

Thanks for sharing your art! It is wonderful!

love,
nita

Anonymous said...

Lucky you to have Bluebirds move in, they are so pretty! As for Robins they are our state bird so we have plenty of those. Love your bluebird sketch!