Thar Be Gold

 “Thar be gold in them thar hills!”,  So sayeth pirate legend.  Pirates plundered for gold.  The Spanish search for El Dorado, the City of Gold.  Stories abound of buried treasure.  Yet, I stand at my back window, sipping my morning coffee at daybreak, starring at my feeders.  Goldfinches swarm it. 

 

Lincoln and Chipping Sparrows and red Northern Cardinal feed below.  Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadee cling to the sunflower feeder.  Red Bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren and Orange Crowned Warbler visit the peanut feeder.  Ah, and a Pine warbler joins the ground feeding.  Thar be my gold!

Going to Carolina in my......Backyard

This female Carolina Wren entertained us a couple of days as she would visit our flower pots to remove some mulching moss to further her nest building. She would even investigate the garage if we left the door open.

This pose lasted for quite some time as there were a couple of males in the adjacent tree.

Carolina Wrens Fledged

Our Wrens have fledged their first brood of the season. We were surprised by the interest in this house this year. We had to trim the Red Oak of some limbs that were wearing against our roof. One of those limbs fell on the birdhouse and did some damage. Yet, it was the correct kind of damage, for this proud little bird and its mate worked hard to put it in shape and built the perfect nest. Two offspring sat at the opening for the good part of a day and then took their first flight. Beforehand, we were able to watch these hard working parents bring worms and insects to those hungry mouths at a very steady pace. Quite interesting was the constant calling on the part of the parents while they did the “grocery shopping”. I suppose it let the young know that the parents were still about. Equally interesting to watch was the indirect route the adults took to the house changing the pattern a little each time. Bittersweet is the successful fledge, for the house is empty now.