Mermaid & Barn Swallows

I continue here not to share my art but rather the reasons I love living where I do. They all give me such joy-the birds, critters, my own crew of rescues and of course my deepest love, the girls Cherokee and Lena. I have to admit they do all keep me away from my easel more then I care to admit. But we only live this life we were given once and I dont want to miss a thing my wee corner of the earth has blessed me with....I do still get to my paints for short bursts every day, well, almost everyday. Along with the Gypsy commish, I have also been working on an 8x10 Mermaid(my first with a Merman!) painting depicting a ballet amongst the ruins of Atlantis...this is a progress of where it is at...hope you can see where it is going...:)

Well as promised yesturday, I just snapped some pictures of our Barn Swallows. They have definetely set up residence in the barn and let us again shut them in last night. One has taken to sitting in the nest, while the other perches himself on the pile of boards we have located on a shelf above the main door. Im calling that one a 'him' but it could be the other way around..not sure with this bird who actually is the guardian of the nest. Just being stereotypical in my thinking I guess...lol Think I will go do a bit of research on these extremely handsome bird..:) The first image of the nest, her tail is slightly visible on the left front corner. As I was taking pics, she turned around and this time her tail was visible in the front right..:) He was out flying around for a while and returned..

Spring time Birds

Baby Robins!!

The last couple of weeks have had the new fledglings of spring leaving their nests. It is both an exciting time and one filled with anxiety especially with cats and dogs running around the grounds. Last week I discovered a fledgling still with pin feathers in the garden out front. He had fallen a fair distance down from his nest Mom had built high up in the antenna tower. Not sure what to do, I brought him in and made up a baby formula (one I still have on hand from my days as a Wildlife Rehabilitator) and kept him for 2 days. On day 2, I discovered a second fledgling from the same nest out front, this time with a cut on his head. In he came to join his nest mate. Now I had a decision to make. Keep the two and feed them and hope upon release they would survive, or, construct a makeshift nest and set it back in the antenna tower and hope that Mom would return. I opted for choice two and made a nest out of an old Margarine container. I pierced holes in the bottom and lined it with soft toilet paper, placed them inside and secured it snuggly in the metal pipes of the tower. I stood outside in the rain for hours about 35+ ft from the front garden and watched and waited. About 4 hours later, a Robin appeared and hoped about the garden in quisitive and cautious. In no time she was at the makeshift nest. This was mom. What a relief to see her return time and time again with food and leave with poop. I had made the right decision..:) 2 days later, one of the fledglings was standing on the side of the container now visually investigating his world. A little while later, he was back down on the ground where I had originally discovered him talking to Mom as she flew back and forth to care for the two. That night we had tremendous weather and I did carry much concern for our little fledgling but had to keep in mind this is a wild bird and not one with 'our' comforts of home so he would do just fine. The next day(Saturday), the second fledgling was sitting on the edge and by day 3 I discovered both on the ground a ways away from where they had started.

By Monday, the first fledgling was long gone into the wooded area beyond our home but the second is still around the house-on the ground.

The poor dogs cant understand why they are not freely running the acreage here the past couple of days. I cant help but wonder how I handled other years? We have had nests around the house many, MANY times and never have I fretted about the babies as much as this year. With this one baby still in the front garden, I fear for him. Has Mom abandoned him? I hear her calling as he certainly answers one particular bird but her voice is off in the location of Fledgling one Im sure. I have yet to see her return to this one. I broke down yesturday and did feed him a worm(although I will add that he was still pooping giving me indication that he is still eating. Perhaps Mom is visiting when I dont see?) and I certainly last evening contemplated if the safety of our home was in order. Right or wrong I opted to leave him where he be in the hands of Mom Robin and Mother Nature.....

Also this past week we have Barn Swallows take interest in our barn for the very first time! This has proven to be such an exciting experience to see them flying in and out and checking out an old nest that has been in the rafters of the barn since we bought here 5 years ago. A little skittish of the people, they leave when ever we are busy in there. I have also been driving my family crazy with having to make sure the doors are open early and keep things quiet at the barn..lol last evening though for the very first time, they came in and remained and allowed us to close the barn doors for the night while they roosted high up on the ceiling fans we have in there for summer circulation. Could it be they are beginning to trust us? I can only imagine what I will be like when THEIR fledglings are ready to leave the nest! Pictures to come....:)

Some of my favourite Spring Birds!

Where did the time go? I cant believe I let 4 days go without writing here...not a lot new but some. Our spring birds are starting to arrive! THAT is always a highlight here come spring. This year is the earliest I have seen them. Friday a yellow Warbler appeared, Saturday the Baltimore Orioles and yesturday I spotted the Red Breasted Grosebeak.

No hummers as of yet but I have all the feeders out just waiting for them! This is the Indigo Bunting. One of the richest of blues I have spotted in a bird. My very first glimpse of one I thought my eyes were playing a trick. Indeed one for everyone to see as it is true eye candy!

And of course, some of my winter favourites still remain with us. Being out here we have very little traffic and one of my favourite things to do is sit out with a coffee and just listen to the chorus of song each kind of bird sings. Simply one of the best things to hear!

And this pic has been posted for Melody..:) Spotted in the pond out back..