Sublime Ramblings

A special delivery came today. What could it be?

Special Delivery

The new bistro set is here! Our other chairs and table were about 10 years old. We were having trouble finding good replacement cushions, but the big problem was the chairs were at railing height. It doesn’t sound like a big problem but if you wanted to see something in the street or yard, you either had to stand up or scootch down and look through the balusters. And a huge problem: I couldn’t see the birds at the feeders!

So we decided on a balcony-height set. It will take some getting used to, because of all the drawbacks of the old set there was one plus: We felt kind of hidden on the front porch. Now we’re kind of “on display” at this height. Oh well, it’s pretty, clean-looking, and opens up the porch.

I also painted the porch floor a couple of weeks ago. It used to be (was supposed to be!) terra cotta but turned out to be a very pink salmon. I can’t believe that we lived with that color for years. Now it’s a soft sage.

It’s a lovely litle spot to watch the bird feeders again….

New Bistro Set

…due to the cherry-red mouth. It supposedly serves as better target for the mother bringing food to the brood. Also, it was the first to hatch. Both of these traits enables it to have a better chance of survival. There’s a good possiblilty that the baby house finches won’t make it, but what am I to do? I’ll leave it to God. (Forgive the blurry pictures, I was standing on my tiptoes and I had to make a quick shot as Mother was scolding me from the tree.)

Cowbird Hatchling in the House Finch Nest

Cherry Red Mouth of Cowbird Hatchling

I captured this pair of goldfinches today and they are in their breeding colors so we should be seeing babies in a few weeks! I love to see these little guys in the yard and not just because they are the state bird. They are colorful, boisterous and just liven up the landscape! They have been trying to fly into the picture window all morning but they are smarter than most birds; they know something’s there and don’t crash into the glass, they just flutter up to it, hover a little and then fly back to the tree. Sweet birds!!

Male Goldfinch

Female Goldfinch

After a little research I’ve discovered that the squatter egg may be that of a brown-headed cowbird. The females are about the same size and look quite similar (if you don’t look too closely) so I may have had female cowbirds in the yard and didn’t even know it. Last summer I thought I saw a male cowbird but didn’t think they were city dwellers so I convinced myself it was a non-breeding starling or grackle.

If that egg is from the cowbird the house finch chicks won’t survive. If it’s a house sparrow, they will. I’ve read about “addling” the parasite egg but I can’t bring myself to do that. Prayers for my little house finches.

House Finch Compared to Cowbird

We’ve had a lot of goldfinches at the feeder this spring but they startle easily so it’s hard to get a picture. I sat patiently on my front porch this morning, camera at the ready, and finally got what I wanted. Isn’t he splendid? This is our state bird, by the way.

Goldfinch

I checked the nest the moment I got up this morning and saw only one left to leave. I snapped a quick photo and I’m glad I did because I came back 10 minutes later and he was gone! I’m happy that all four babies made it and the trees sure do sound richer and more alive but I think I’m experiencing ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’. So I cleaned up the mess–for now, and we’re back to normal–for now. They’ll be back to lay another clutch in about a month.

Last Housefinch to Leave

Empty Nest

Back to Normal