Thursday, July 30, 2009

Berries and Birds Part Two











I cannot figure out what these two little birds are... I think a female and fledgling common yellow-throat. I often see them together while in the garden and photographing so they become part of the log for each day. They have no wing bars... maybe a vireo... they have a yellow throat and a bit on the breast... would love to know what you think. I am pretty sure the younger one of these is the one in the last post hanging onto the net... though it was not under it... the mature female in one of the photos here is picking off aphids from some plant. The birds are constantly cleaning the shrubs and fruit trees too.

I just wanted to add to the previous post ... a few more words regarding the blueberries and birds. In all we have around fifty fruiting high bush blueberries. There are also more than twenty carpets of low bush blueberries. I have chosen about five high bushes to cover with nets, though the birds may sneak in and get trapped for a few minutes, they are not hurt and do find their way out again. I had for years just left all of the bushes uncovered and made an attempt to get down often to pick, but the birds were many and took aplenty leaving me very little to harvest. When I approach the covered bushes usually early am, I discover sometimes a bird or two frightened by my presence under the netting. They panic for a moment or two and then find their way out or I pull up the nets. They fly up into a nearby tree usually and watch as I uncover and pick the berries. I often see them then fly into other non covered bushes to find some fruit. All of my bird photos are taken in my gardens. Over the years I have worked the land and planted in a way to attract wildlife. I value and treasure the beauty and true joy they add to my life. I see my gardens and land as a farm and a habitat for all the variety of wildlife here. There are tons of raspberries growing where they will so the birds enjoy those as well... I do not cover any other fruit except the above mentioned. The Viburnums (third photo above) are also ripening into juicy fruit that attract especially the cedar waxwings and catbirds. I still cannot quite accept the quiet since all the birds have fledged... even the Indigo bunting sings less these days.
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