Where's Mom?

This morning one of the baby crows did a practice flight and landed in a poplar tree near the garden.

Habitat

In this tree....

 a small finch (Common Redpoll)

In this tree....

a squirrel (Red Squirrel)

In this tree....

a nuthatch (White-breasted Nuthatch)

In this tree....

a nest for young crows

Spring is in the Air

I have seen this pair of crows many times in recent weeks.  They are always together or within sight of one another and no doubt are building a nest somewhere close by.

American Crows are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds (source: BirdWeb)

A Crow Sits in the Pouring Rain

Shh, Babies Napping

Sometimes babies need a little quiet time. The babies I observed were two young crows (siblings) perched in a Spruce tree that was swaying lightly in the breeze. They sat and sat and sat very contentedly together with not a peep between them.

I notice here that they still have some of their downy feathers.

The Clever Crow

The Crow and the Pitcher

A Crow, half dead by thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher, he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. [The Crow dropped pebble after pebble into the Pitcher until] at last, at last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life. Little by little does the trick.

Aesop's Fables

Around Home

The rain woke me

as it pelted down
onto the metal roof.
I wondered at the noise
for a brief, dazed moment
before drifting back to sleep.
Now, in the brightness
of the morning sun,
the previous night's downpour
seems more like a dream.

After the rain

Sunny Columbine flower

My shadow

Chasing butterflies

I'm going for a walk, thank you ma'am

One of the small Blue Butterflies

Adult: Wingspan 20-32 mm (3/4-1 1/4 inch)

(still trying to identify which species this is)

Baby Crows

Our little dog, Bonny, never passes up a chance to go for a walk on the trail with me, and that's what we headed out to do yesterday afternoon after my husband and I had returned home. We hadn't gone far when two crows began cawing and cawing. Both were perched in opposite trees near the path where we walked. I didn't see them, but I assumed their babies must be somewhere close by. (You might remember last Friday's post when there was such a commotion going on outside in the early morning hours, and I thought, at that time, that the babies had fledged.) I quickly took some pictures of the adult crows and was about to continue on my way when I stopped to see what Bonny was looking at down the hill. She didn't bark, and I wondered if she had seen a deer or a squirrel. What she was watching though were two baby crows sitting on a log. They didn't make a peep, but sat very quietly while the adults caused a distraction. In two minutes tops I had my pictures, and we were out of there. I wouldn't have known the baby crows were on the slope unless Bonny had seen them. "Good dog, Bonny." Once we arrived back at the house, she got one of her special treats.

No harm was done to the baby crows. Our dog didn't even get close to them, as they were on the steep hillside, and she doesn't chase wildlife anyway, unless she feels threatened. Bears are not her favourite animals, and she has met two in her lifetime so far (13 years).

Crows

6:00 a.m. - What a commotion there is in the yard so early in the morning! I looked out the window to see crows everywhere, cawing incessantly and flying from tree, to bush, to tree. (I can still hear them now as I write this more than an hour later, but the sound comes from further away. The "caws" are short: caw-caw-caw-caw and then repeated over and over.) I couldn't tell what the fuss was all about, but I think the baby crows have left the nest and are trying their wings. It's curious though. There were several crows around, not just the two parents. It was like a community of crows had gathered together, and all were watching out for the fledglings. I did a bit of reading up on them, and learned that older siblings will often help feed the crow babies and will also help feed as well as protect them after they've fledged.

Attentive

Caw, Caw, Caw, Caw

Wary

Watchful

Crows and Eagles

This took place last Sunday evening - I was at my computer when I looked out the window and noticed a crow making odd short flights in a particular part of the woods. Then I realized, "Hey, there's got to be an eagle somewhere close by." I went out, hurried down the path, and easily found the eagle by watching and listening to that crow. The eagle, on the other hand, was very quiet and didn't seem all that bothered, but eventually would grow tired of the crow's annoying close passes. The crow was relentless and didn't let up for an instant. I've seen this happen before, and it's amazing how long a crow can maintain this constant barrage.

Bald Eagle perched in the very top
of a tall spruce tree.

Crow defending its territory and its nest site.

Keeping up the harassment until the eagle finally leaves.

Carbon-neutral bird count for the month of April is on my sidebar.

Other sightings using the car plus walking -

• Belted Kingfisher (1)
  
• Gull (2)
• Hooded Merganser (2+)
• Mallard (2+)
  
• Mountain Bluebird (10+)
• Northern Flicker (4)
• Rough-legged Hawk (1+)
• Sandpiper (1)

At Home

What a gorgeous day it has been! There was a bit of a breeze blowing, but it was very warm in the sun.

I like the mornings best. The birds are active in the trees and shrubs and on the ground - twittering, peeping and singing their songs. It's a nice time to be outdoors. I took all the bird pictures between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. (please click on pictures to enlarge)

Resident Crow in spruce tree.

A very fine, intelligent bird.

So nice to have the Robin

back in the neighbourhood. Caroling.
The Dark-eyed Junco is welcome

in my garden anytime. This picture
shows some of the Junco's white outer tail
feathers. Musical trill.


White-crowned Sparrow
Those black and white stripes
really stand out. Pretty whistling notes.

This tangled looking willow is a
popular perching spot for
many of the songbirds.
It's without leaves right now, but
the birds aren't concerned.

Later, in the afternoon, I was in my garden weeding one of the raised beds when I realized my dog wasn't anywhere around. She had found the snakes on the other side of the house and was sitting at the edge of the hill just watching, fascinated by them.

These are the first garter snakes I've seen this year.

I know many people have an aversion to snakes. At one time I did too, but I've gotten used to these harmless garter snakes being here. I see them more in the spring than at any other time - they like to come out of hiding to be in the sun. I'll take more pictures and do another post entirely on the timid garter snakes.

Enjoy your weekend! I'll be out in the kitchen garden singing my own song.

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