Are you fascinated by birds, their ability to escape the confines of earth with flight, their marvelous color patterns and not in the least, their song?

Have you complied a life list over the years? What are your favorites among those birds you have seen and heard?

Having watched and studied birds most of my life and compiled a substantial life list from various parts of the country and beyond, I have my favorites amongst the group and they are now prominently displayed on the wall in my great room as seen on the right.

It might even be fun to include your state bird in the center of that group. I am in the process of including all the state birds in my collection. Enter the gallery by clicking on any of the images or on the gallery link above, and see what you like.

Bluebirds in our midst

October 20:  The barn and paddock as well as the garden were resplendent with bluebirds today.  I don’t know if they are passing through on their way south or will hang around for some time.  The males were uncharacteristically  chattering  as the females fed on some of the bright red seed pods hung on the asparagus “ferns” in the garden.  I put out some dried mealy worms on the platform feeder for their benefit which they love. We anxiously await the arrival of the bluebirds in the spring.  It is the male who arrives first, checks out the variety of bird houses set up in the pasture.  Then he disappears for several weeks, probably checking out other accommodations in the area.  In the interim, the tree swallows arrive and take up residence in most of the apartments, but the bluebird does return and manages to snag one of the houses for his very own.