House Finch Nest and Farewell To a Tree

Looking out my front window, I used to see a tree. A little pine tree that was planted by me in a poor spot. We received a free pine tree many years ago (maybe 12-15) from TCI Cable Co. I transplanted it into a coffee can and had it on my kitchen windowsill for awhile. I finally transplanted it into a whiskey barrel in front of this window. There it stayed for the next many years. It's roots eventually busted through the bottom and this little tree thrived and became quite large. To my enjoyment, the birds came to love this tree. In the picture above, a wintering bird (House Sparrow I think) stopped by for a nibble on the pine cones.

In May of this year, this House Finch built a nest in our little tree. I wondered if this was the same House Finch that made a nest in this tree 2 years ago.

I really enjoyed watching her work on her nest for a few days from inside my window!



I decided not to invade the nest with my camera to see how many eggs were laid but after I heard nestlings, I snuck this photo from a distance with my zoom lens. Eventually the nest was empty and we had to make the tough decision to remove the tree for our landscaping project.

We had the hardest time parting with this tree, but because of the roots being in the whiskey barrel, it had a low chance of being transplanted and it was smashed up against our house. After waiting a few weeks to make sure the nest wasn't going to be re-used, we said farewell to our tree.


And a few days later, we went to the nursery, bought a new tree and planted it (further from our house this time). This Autumn Blaze Maple will turn red in the fall and it will be a joy to watch it grow. I hope the birds find some enjoyment from it, also!

Cooper's Hawk Nest was Successful!

Back in early April, I posted about a Cooper's Hawk building a nest on the greenbelt where I walk everyday. Well, turns out it was a very successful nest this year! After the nest was built there wasn't much activity so I thought it was abandoned. Then one day I walked by and saw mama hawk sitting on it so I knew there must be eggs!
I kept my eye on it and eventually I saw a little head poking up. This nest is very high but with my Sigma 50-500mm I got some decent shots!
I walked around to the other side of the nest and saw another head and even had the pleasure of seeing mama feed it!
I apparently overstayed my welcome under the nest because shortly after mama fed them she stood on the edge of the nest, looked right at me and proceeded to dive-bomb me. I kid you not, I thought she was going to hit me so I ducked. It made my heart race and I quickly made my exit. If I wasn't so busy fearing for my safety, it would've made some great photos :0)
I waited a few days before returning and to my surprise noticed there were more than two babies in the nest...
there were 4 ! In the above photo you will see 3 in the nest and one already making it's way onto a nearby branch!
On my next visit, 2 of them were on branches with 2 still in the nest.


I continue to see them near the nest on my walks...calling out to mom and dad and learning all their hunting tricks!

Birds By The Lake

Snowy Egret

Western Meadowlark

Red-winged Blackbird

American White Pelican

Mourning Dove

An appropriate bird for this post. Around the time of my last post, my pup Kayla had to have an emergency surgery to remove her spleen. Long story short, turns out she had cancer and we had to say goodbye to her on June 21...5 1/2 weeks after her surgery. Words cannot express how much I miss that girl :(
During the time of Kayla's last weeks, I continued to follow a couple of nests that I will soon be blogging about. Also I have some misc photos of the ever-present House Finches in my yard and a couple photos from our camping trip. Stay tuned while I get caught up...