Psaltriparus minimus--say that 10 times really fast

According to the bushtits (Psaltriparus minimus), nesting season has arrived. Within the past week, the little bushtit swarm that completely covered our suet feeder has pared to two birds.

Kenn Kaufman says that when winter bushtit flocks break up, the birds pair off to establish nesting territories but do not defend them, tolerating other bushtits even near the nest. Last year, I first noted the bushtits paired off on March 15, also observing that, four days later, three bushtits came to the suet feeder.

In the same way that family traditions provided comfort in my youth, I find peace in the consistent cycles of nature, especially the advent of spring. The first bright green sprigs of osoberry, the purple of crocuses and the songs of migration and nesting.

They're Back!

For the third year in a row, red tailed hawks are nesting in plain sight of this webcam. How convenient!

Okay, okay, the camera was installed after the hawks built their nest on the fire escape of a Portland, Oregon office building in 2007. Last year, I tuned in frequently to see how parents and eggs, then babies, were doing. This is fascinating stuff, way better than most of what's on television! I was thinking it was about time for a nest this year, and checked today to see that the birds are right on schedule. Enjoy!

From North to South and Coast to Coast

For all (three) of you who read this blog, my long silence has nothing to do with the doldrums of late winter, although that would be a good excuse. In fact, we just returned from nearly a month in Georgia and Florida.

Exploring a new area can be overwhelming. My mind attempts to assimilate all the new plants and birds into known categories. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. I pretty much gave up on plants--although I will say that I haven't seen that much mangrove since we returned from the Galapagos.

The forests of Georgia, which I have yet to see leafed out:


I tried harder with birds. Luck and patience combined to make these favorite memories:

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary outside of Naples, Florida. Painted buntings are seen throughout the day coming to this feeder. During our first wait, three raccoons scared away a lone female. Our second visit late in the day resulted in several good looks at the males.


Joe Overstreet Rd near Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, south of Orlando. This fellow's sweet song is so close in quality to our western version that it sounds like the same voice speaking different words.


Wakodahatchee Wetlands near Boca Raton--no birder's visit to Florida would be complete without a stop here. Nearby is Green Cay Wetlands, but we arrived too late in the day to see both.

Herons in several varieties, egrets galore, numerous warblers and alligators, snakes and armadillos--these are the things you can see if you drag yourself away from the Florida tourist traps.

On our final night of birding, we waited at sunset on the possibility of seeing the rare red cockaded woodpecker. Several palm warblers came to say goodbye, but no woodpeckers were in sight.