Nesting

With all of the wonderful , mostly soaking rain we have had lately, the garden has been exploding with color. I am so grateful for the rain but have to remind myself that we no longer lve in the Pacific Northwest!!! Yesterday between showerrs and downpours, we did see peeks of the sun. As I was filling a bird feeder, a movement out in the yard caught my eye. Then I saw a flash of color and realized that the movement was coming from the area near the bird house at the edge of the property. Three years ago when we first moved here , we mounted a Blue Bird house on a tree. We have had tenants- house wrens, but tenants non the less. Well ,this year it seems that a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRD signed the lease before the wrens could get their act together!!! I am so excited!! The nest building has begun!!!!
These are just the first pictures that you will see , as I rushed to get my camera. I intend to get better shots from a closer range! The tree backs up on our property line and the neighbors have a large field behind us that is usually planted as a garden, perfect habitat for Blue Birds as they eat insects, primarily.

The intensity of the Blue of the male birds pluummage is quite startling- the color almost glows!!

then last nightas I was out with the dogs I noticed a big marmalade cat sitting on the cross piece of the gate!!! Well, I made sure tht the cat knew that he was not welcome and now I am determined to find a way to keep him away from that nest box. I have found several things that will act as deterants , along with the dogs. Apparently cats do not like citrus peelings- must be the oils and I am going to tack lemon peels up on the gate and along the fence. i don't dislike cats but when they use our yard as a killing field I get quite upset! Why is it that poeples cats are free to wander and use neighbors gardens as litter boxes and feeding grounds? Dogs do not have these priveledges!!

You can expect lots of Blue Bird Updates and now I have some more photos of garden activities to share with you!

I am absolutely thrilled that this Cardenal Kiss came out so well!! Actually he is feeding her shelled seed!!! AWWWWWWWWWW!!!

I love this one as I managed somehow to capture him on his back!!!!

And then he seemed to look at me to say, "Are you watching me?!?!?!"

Now I would like to wish all of the mother's out there, be you mother's of children, pets, plants, or if you are mothering along wonderful works of art or good works for others in your life- A very Happy Mother's Day!! Just think where this world would be without us!!!! We all rock!!!!!