bird friendly

I heard it raining last night (during the night) & got up several times just to make sure I wasn't imagining or dreaming it.  Those of you also in a drought will understand that behavior!  This morning, I took my laptop out to the patio & sat with my bare toes dipped in a puddle of leftover rain water.  The cooler air felt so refreshing ~ it seemed everything else in the garden was responding to it too.

The birds were especially active.  Not that they aren't when it's 100 degrees but (call me crazy) they seem more energized at 70??  As I sat splashing my toes and watching them flit about, I wondered how they came to discover my little garden.  Maybe it's not so hard from up above to see a bird friendly garden??

I'm sure they don't judge by all the cute little bird knick-knacks hanging about ~ like the weathervane:

and scrolly bird stake stuck in the 'Jacob Cline' monarda blooms:

It's more the kind of cover I offer them along with water:

and food. 

The only foods I normally feed during the summer months are sugar water & grape jelly ~ both intended for Bullock's orioles and/or hummingbirds. 

Sitting quietly as I was, I had the privilege of witnessing a male Bullock's oriole feeding a fledgling some of the grape jelly from the feeder:

It's one of those scenes that make all the efforts in the garden worth while. 

The baby initially dropped the jelly, & like any patient father, the male bent to retrieve it & carefully put it back in the babies mouth:

I could have watched them all morning.  I'm always in awe of how quickly birds learn & the thought that this baby oriole will hopefully make its way back to my garden (& grape jelly feeder) next summer warms my heart.

So then bird feeders must be another clue (from overhead) of a bird friendly garden?

One day last week, in the near 100 degree heat, I worked hard at repairing the antique birdfeeder (the raccoons broke last winter) & now, it's back in its rightfully place in the garden:

The blue jays will be happy to find their morning peanuts there when they return from wherever they've been nesting and I am happy to see it back on its post again. 

Whatever I've done to bring the birds here, I hope I can keep it up.  They are such an integral part of the garden, I can't imagine gardening without them.

P.S.  Not a bird, but someone else who loves the garden ~ my other "baby" who has been recovering this week after an emergency stay at the 24 hour vet hospital:

He seems to be almost 100% & that, along with the rain showers & bird songs, make me a happy gardener.

 

Comments

[sweetbay]

So glad for you that you got some rain! And that your baby is feeling better.

Great captures of the orioles. They are gorgeous.

What is the vine with the purple flowers?

[Dana]

Wow - how amazing to get to watch the orioles! Great photos as always. And so happy to see Butter looking well - he's such a beautiful boy! I'm thankful for all the rain we are finally getting and I know you are too. Hope we can get together soon now that Butter is getting back to normal.

[Joy]

Kathleen girl !
My goodness what happened to your little furry baby ?
We love watching the birds too .. just quietly sitting on the deck watching their antics sway from funny to intelligent .. they can be quite amazing !
Yes .. the passion flower is not a hardy one and I have posted pictures a while back .. I will send you some .. it has twined up a large obelisk I have in a large pot .. so far so good!
This heat and drought is horrible though .. we hope for a good drenching rain but only a few light showers have happened .. we can always keep wishing though ? LOL
Joy
PS Beautiful pictures !

[Janet, The Queen of Seaford]

Know you enjoyed the rain. We don't have that oriole here, what a pretty bird. I love watching the birds a lot too. Right now there is a hummingbird sitting, guarding the feeders....claiming them as his own!

[Victoria]

Oh gosh, we hear about orioles around here but I have yet to see one although we do keep a feeder.
That pup, precious.