Turkey Time

One of the first signs of fall is when the turkeys arrive in full force roaming our property amongst the tall grass and under the crab trees. Today,  when we drove up the hill to our house, my son spotted a gaggle of turkeys crossing the road onto our property.

These 7 birds did not look like your average turkey.  They were skinny, skinny, skinny.  I'm hoping in the months to come they fatten up and fill out like the butterballs we're use to seeing.

I wasn't quite sure just what they were after until I got a closer peek at them.  The tall grass I neglected to mow was standing tall at 12".  Seeds had been produced and the turkey's found them quite enjoyable.  Their little heads were moving so fast I'm surprised they looked up to have their photos taken.

This guy decided to hop up on the wall to really show me how fit and trim he is.  My mother told me if I were up to it I might catch one and have wild turkey for Thanksgiving.  I reminded her I could not kill and eat anything I named. The only wild turkey I'll be having is the kind you pour in your glass over ice.

Barbie

Are You My Mother ? - A Social Butterfly

Heffer was a real social butterfly.  Like kids, each bird has their own personality and Heffer sure had a big one.  The minute we walked into the potting shed he was all over us.  At some point, Heffer would perch on top of my leg when it was feeding time.  He definitely was the baby of the family and wanted to be treated like one.

Heffer was quite photogenic and became very good at striking a pose when the camera came out.

Heffer loved to snuggle on my husbands lap.  All he had to do was sit down on the floor and Heffer would make his way over to his lap.  We didn't think Heffer would ever leave the potting shed.  Much like Heff, he would fly all around, perch himself in the rafters and be very content just hanging with us. I honestly had no idea when and if he'd ever enter the woods.

Heffer was finally released.  Our family had a big play date at the ocean in the middle of August and I so wanted to see Heffer move on.  Because I grew so fond of Heffer, it probably was a good thing I didn't have to release him, nothing worse than seeing the baby of the family leave the nest.

After spending a few days at the ocean, I received a few e-mails from my gardener with updates regarding Mr. Personality.  After releasing Heffer, like I thought, he just wouldn't leave.  The stone wall around the potting shed was a favorite hangout, however, when Heffer heard the Kawasaki gardening mule fire up, he'd fly over onto it and travel around the yard with the gardener.

The mule is actually traveling up the driveway in this photo. Heffer loved riding in the middle of the steering wheel.  If he wasn't on the wheel, he'd fly onto the seat or the front basket and ride along.

Heffer learned to grab worms all on his own.  He'd hop down from the mule whenever the gardener dug up fresh dirt and dig around for worms, that's one exercise Heff never did.  Heffer was a natural and he was definitely set for his survival.

Because this crazy bird was so social, he'd fly between the gardener and a landscaping crew who was putting together a sidewalk for me.  Kurt and his man had a hard time setting stones, Heffer would constantly be rock hopping and in their way.

This behavior lasted all day but when the day came to an end and everyone went home, so did Heffer.  The woods called out to him, so he went into his natural habitat.

We often wondered if he met up with Heff and just how long they stayed around the property.  I cannot tell you what a wonderful experience it was to raise to baby birds.  God works in many ways and I'm so glad he gave us all an experience we'll never forget.

Today, outside our door, in our port-o-co, sits a new nest with 3 eggs in it on top of our ski rack.  A robin is very comfortable building so close to our door, I only wonder if Heff or Heffer was actually a female and has come home after 2 years.  Most children do return home after being away for some time, I'll just have to wait to see if the momma will take care of all three or if I'll once again have baby robins ask ......... Are You My Mother?

Barbie

Are You My Mother? - Leaving The Nest

The time came where I felt Heff was ready to leave the nest.  The family gathered together for well wishes and we grabbed Heff and headed to the woods.  We were all very excited about seeing him fly into the woods and be the bird he was meant to be.

Heff is ready and as you can see, very excited about his new venture

Heff took charge and flew from my gardeners hand onto the top of a stone wall just outside the potting shed.

As we watched Heff sit and look around, I decided to give him words of encouragement to head into the woods. He acted as if he wanted out when he was in the potting shed, but when we gave in to his wishes, he would only fly back and forth from the top of the potting shed to the top of the stone wall.

Heff contemplating as to whether or not he's really ready for the big bad world

Heff finally made it to a pine tree.  He sat there for over 4 hours without moving.  Knowing he hadn't eating anything for some time, I would bring worms and berries to him and fed him in the tree.  I was driving my husband nuts with my fret and worry over this bird.  As dusk approached, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so I gently grabbed Heff and brought him back to the potting shed.

It was only a few days later when he decided he was really ready to leave the nest.  His second attempt was a huge success and after his release we no longer had to worry about him in the woods.  His take off flight was much stronger, much higher and, with all the confidence in the world, Heff flew off to take on all the challenges a bird can encounter.

Leaving Heffer behind, I wondered if he would miss his little brother and if Heffer would miss Heff not being in the potting shed with him.

After Heff flew off, each day I wondered just how close he would stick to home waiting for Heffer to join him in the woods, or if he had the mind set to get as far away as he could.  Heff was a joy to raise and yes Heff, I am your mother! I realized my job was not over, I had one more bird child to take care of for a couple more weeks.

It's been 2 years since Heff's been gone and I have to believe he's returned to his home each year, watching all of us from deep within the woods.



Barbie

Are You My Mother? - Reaching New Heights

Heff has been on the move flying all around the carriage house.  I can tell he's getting ready to "fly the coop."  The higher he can get, the better he likes it.

When entering the potting shed, I'd have to look up to find Heff, he was reaching new heights now that he could fly. I'd have to be careful where I walked, for Heffer was still hopping around on the floor and I didn't want to step on him.  Both birds knew when they heard the door open and saw me, it was feeding time. Heff would occasionally fly down to see me for his food, but he now expected me to climb up on a ladder to feed him or gently grab him and take him down to my level.

I could always count on finding Heff near a window if he wasn't perched up on a rafter.  Once he was finished with his meal, he would fly back on the window pane of the garage door.  He'd sit there for quite some time just looking outside and chirping. (You can see the garage door behind Heff in this photo.  He'd fly back and forth between the spool of plastic feed for the weed wacker and the garage door).  I often wondered what his thoughts were while he looked through the window.

Heff would hang by the window just staring outside. I new it was only a matter of days and he'd be ready to enter an entirely new world, but before I could release him I had to make sure he had no trouble flying from the window ledge up to the rafters without any mishaps. I'm sure my feelings weren't much different from a parent who wants to make sure their child is ready to go from their learners permit to a bonafide drivers license.  My other biggest concern was whether or not his instinct of eating on his own will take over after being table fed for so long.

Heff was tucked high up in the rafters in the above photo this is the ladder I'd have to climb to feed him or retrieve him. Occasionally he'd fly down to make things easier for me but not too often.

At this point, I was about ready to kick Heff out of the house.  He was definitely challenging me and letting me know he was ready for his independence.  Just like a teenager, trying to break free from their mother can be a hard task, but it comes to a point where a mom really has to do what's best for her children and at some point they have to leave the nest.




Barbie

Are You My Mother? - Worms & Berries

Both Heff and Heffer had very good appetites and wanted to eat all the time.  The local outdoor shop was amazed at the amount of worms I purchased each week.  Both birds were eating smashed blueberries and worms by the handfuls.  

At first the owner of the store thought I was purchasing the worms to fish with.  When I was back for more night crawlers and mealworms he had to ask me how the fish were biting.  I told him I wasn't fishing but feeding birds.  

Night crawlers have never bothered me, seeing my dad use to take me fishing when I was a little girl and he would have me put bait on my own hook.  So when it came time to feed the birds I had no problem picking up those slimy, wiggling, little critters.

Heff ingesting a night crawler

Heff taking the bait !!

Heffer making it up on the ladder and ready for a meal

Heffer making it to the second step

The most difficult task for me was to keep the worms on the paper plate.  I'd no sooner put 5 or 6 worms on the plate and they would immediately start crawling off.  The other important part of the feeding process was to wash and prepare the food first.  The night crawlers would come in chinese take out boxes buried in very dark, black soil. The worms would be covered with a very heavy dirt so I'd have to rinse them off in the sink. That in itself was a challenge for once the worms were clean, they were hard to hang onto and occasionally they'd slip from my fingers and head for the drain! 

Heff and Heffer had no trouble at all grabbing the crawlers, they actually have little tiny teeth lining the top and bottom of their beaks.  Once they grabbed on to the worm, he wasn't going anywhere but down the throat.

These birds are definitely no longer vegetarieans

Birds are much like kids.  Once they got a taste of the night crawlers and mealworms, they no longer wanted the berries.  I'd try everything to get them to ingest one or two berries at each sitting, and as far as my two boys, I still can't get them to eat all the fruits and vegetables. Trying to feed teenage boys is definitely for the birds!

Barbie

When The Moon Hits Your Eye

Like a big pizza pie

The Super Moon

Coming home from the movies with my son this evening, the moon was big, it was bright and yes, he told me "Mom, it's the super Moon."  I couldn't wait to get home, get out my camera and tripod and start to shoot.

Scientists know it as the "perigee moon."  The term comes from the elliptical path the Moon follows around the Earth and reaches perigee, which is the point closest to the Earth's center during the orbit.

I call it magnificent.  There's just no other word to describe it.







Barbie

Are You My Mother? - On The Move

Heff and Heffer are certainly getting around in the potting shed.  Heff is able to jump, hop and fly up on objects that are a couple feet from the ground.  Heffer on the other hand needs exactly that, a helping hand.  He'll watch Heff and try to do as he does, however, he is not succeeding at these knew motor skills just yet.  As you can see, he keeps an eye on Heff and wants to be near him as much as possible, so, I need to assist him and place him close to Heff.

Heffer keeping a close eye on Heff

Heff perching on a bucket thinking how he's going to fly up to the counter

Heff enjoying some gardening boots. One of his favorite places to be.

Not only was visiting and feeding time an adventure for me, but also for Heff and Heffer.  Each time I'd enter the potting shed, I could hear the chirps of each bird, but locating them was another task all unto itself.  Because they were constantly on the move, it felt more like a game of Hide n Seek each time I entered the shed.  They could be anywhere.  In the photos below, you can see all the little places they would be tucked away in.  

Heff finding a somewhat soft place to settle into with Heffer close by.  Although, I don't see how sunflowers wrapped in plastic can be that soft.

Perched under an ice cream parlor chair.  

Heff takes time to fertilize the soil inside a pot.  Always trying to help out whenever he can.

Heffer  hiding and yes, he needed help in getting out.  This nest was definitely too big for him.

Barbie

Good Morning Key West

I've been traveling to Key West since 1984 and have never had to set an alarm clock.  The wonderful Roosters that roam the streets will wake you at the crack of dawn, each morning, without fail.

I have just arrived home from a wonderful vacation with my husband and friends and want to share my photos of these amazing birds, in all their splendor.  

Key West is split as to whether the birds should stay or the birds should go. They were brought in by early pioneers and Cuban cockfighters and are part of the island's charm. The big debate about these birds is whether they cause a health risk.

Just like anything else, there are those who love them and those who hate them. If you've been out drinking all night and want to sleep in, well ........ good luck.  These guys will make sure you won't miss the sunrise.  Some residents would like to catch them and cook them.  Other's will tell you, "if you don't like them, then leave, they were here first."

I find them all quite amusing and beautiful, but then again, I don't take up residency for very long.  All I know is, these birds have the run of the place and really know how to strut their stuff.  They certainly put on a good show.

So, if you're headed to Key West anytime soon, you'll need not have to pack an alarm clock.  These bad boys will make sure your butt is out of bed so you get to see what the early mornings have to offer.

I happen to love them and can't even imagine Key West without them!




Barbie

Are You My Mother? - Babies Day Out

Heff and Heffer were growing by the minute.  They have been so active in the new crib I figured it was time to get them out in the grass to see what they would do.  Their feathers were coming in very nicely and I wanted to see if they'd spread their wings a bit more and try to flap around in the grass.

Heff & Heffer cuddle in the grass

As you can see the little tuffs of chick fuzz are slowly leaving their bodies and feathers are becoming more pronounced. Both Heff and Heffer are working very hard at pulling out the fuzz and grooming themselves.  The video shows just how hard birds work at keeping a good physical appearance.

Heff is ready for the next bug that flies by:: they are always hungry

It was so exciting to see the two babies notice small bugs flying around and trying to eat them.  They didn't move their bodies much, their eyes were constantly roving and their little mouths were like elevator doors, opening and closing constantly. Much like teenagers, they wanted to eat all the time!

Heffer feeling a bit special

It was quite incredible to be able to get examine the birds up close.  We were able to see just how their feathers grew.  On the wing of each bird their feathers grow out of a hollow tube (picture a drinking straw with paintbrush bristles coming out the end) and these overlap each other and they truly are downy soft.

Barbie

Are You My Mother? - A New Crib

Heff and Heffer soon outgrew the Hefty Trash Bag box.  Each day I could see tremendous progress in their growth and I knew a larger abode was needed for the two of them.  They no longer needed the heat light so it was time to get them out in the fresh air during the daylight hours.

Their nest was transferred to a larger box where they could step out of it, hop around and spread their wings. During the day I placed the box on our screened in porch where it was easier for me to tend to them and they could get plenty of sunshine along with fresh air.  

At this point, Heff was more ambitious than Heffer.  Heff was stronger and a bit more advanced, hopping out of the nest more often doing his own thing.  Each time Heffer went to leave the nest, he would topple over or get caught in the twigs, making it difficult for him to adventure out and about. (Heffer is closest to the nest and you can see where he just doesn't have the hopping thing down quite yet)

Heff and Heffer loving their new crib ~ especially the paper towels!

The paper towels came in real handy.  Like babies, each time these birds ate, they'd poop!  Clean up was a breeze and it was quite often.  Bounty paper towels really are the, "quicker picker upper." The nest was becoming a mud base for them to hang out on and I'm sure it was quite uncomfortable.  Like every other mother, I often thought if I make their living conditions to comfortable for them, these boys will never want to leave home !!

The video below shows Heff preening and cleaning.  They both have chick fuzz and what I found was this.  After awhile, their instincts take over where they pull out all their little fuzzy feathers so their adult feathers can come in.  They perform this task over many times during the day.

Barbie

Are You My Mother? - Then There Was Two

Heffer joins the nest

It wasn't long after, a few days to be exact, Heff's sibling was found on the ground after a very hard night of rain.  For some reason, momma Robin did not want these two little guys.  I wasn't sure if this little guy was going to make it.  Once he was placed in the nest with Heff, along with the warm heat light and feed good food, he came around.  Smaller and more fragile than Heff, he slept more and wasn't quite as active.

We decided to name him Heffer, knowing he wouldn't be as big as Heff, he needed a big name! 

Heff and Heffer snuggle in the warmth of their nest. 

In nature, survival of the fittest is the rule of thumb.  Below is momma Robins favorite.  This bird was why Heff and Heffer were kicked out.  You can see the difference in size between the three birds.  She obviously couldn't feed all three or just decided she only wanted to take care of one.  After baby number 3 was found on the ground, under the tree, she hopped off into the woods and I never saw her again.

Heff and Heffers BIG sister.  I named her, Miss Piggy!

Barbie

Are You My Mother?

Heff

I'm sure most of you have heard of Dr. Seuss and his book Are You My Mother and if you haven't read it, it's the story of a little bird that falls out of a tree and searches tirelessly for his mother, asking every living being along the way if they are his mother.

This is the true life story of just that bird.

Dialing the clock back a couple of years, a baby Robin fell from his nest that was snuggled in a Japanese Maple that stands nest to our Port-a-co.  We had a terrible rain storm the night before and I thought for sure he fell from the nest from strong winds.  I placed the little guy back in the nest, only to find him again, sometime later, back on the ground.  I soon realized this was no accident.  Momma Robin kicked him out.

I was bound and determined this little guy was not going to perish under my watch.  With birds making nests and leaving them behind, once the the little ones have grown and left the nest, I take them and display them in my potting shed.  I found a nice sized nest for this baby, placed it in an empty Hefty Trash Bag box and called it home for our new family member.

Heff at about 1 week old

Never raising a Robin before, I went on line to see just what to do.  I soon found what to feed him, how often to feed him, what kind of water he needed and the temperature of his little abode.  My gardener brought a special light for me to use, she took it from her son which was being used for his lizard.

We decided to name the bird, Heff.  Seeing he was being housed in the Hefty Trash box we thought that most appropriate.  When the birds are quite small worms are too heavy for their stomachs so I decided to pulverize some of Train's dog food (Train is my English Springer Spaniel), mix it with smashed up blueberries and sugar water.  I had to figure out how to dispense the food so my gardener cut the end of a straw in the shape of a beak. The food has to be placed halfway down the birds throat so I needed something that would hold the food in place while we fed him.  It worked perfectly.

Raising a bird is much like a baby.  Heff needed to be fed every hour on the hour, until it grew dark.  Each time he ate, he pooped, which needed to be taken out of the nest.  The nest has to be clean at all times.  You also have to make sure he stays hydrated with the temperature being 90+ degrees in his nesting area.  An eye dropper works very well to dispense water to him.

Heff being fed pulverized dog food, smashed blueberries mixed with sugar water

You will see during the course of this adventure how fast they grow.  I can only hope I will get the opportunity to raise more birds in my lifetime.  I found the entire experience totally fascinating, a joy, and my entire family got to see up close and personal the changes that take place as a baby Robin turns into an adult in a matter of a couple months.

I'm excited to share this past experience with you and hope you enjoy your time with Heff as much as I did.




Barbie

I Hear You Knocking

              but you can't come in

Saturday morning while I was having my coffee, I saw this bird fly up into the tree tops.  I knew it wasn't a crow, it was too graceful. I soon saw he was wearing a magnificent red hat and new I had a Pileated Woodpecker in my tree.  He was approximately 100 yards from the house and about 50' up in the tree.  I ran for my camera.

I was able to capture him sitting, preening, eating and just hanging out.  What a beauty.  Adults are 16 to 19 inches long and their wings measure 8 to 10 inches.  The bill on these birds range from 1.6 to 2.4 inches.  The males have a white line down the sides of the throat (this is obviously a male) and they show white on their wings when in flight.

When they drum the trees, it is a very, very loud sound.  I still don't know how these birds do not get a headache from the way they drum the trees.  I love to hear the sound, how fast they beat the trees and how often they dig for those bugs.

The woods are such a lovely place to live, not only the sights of so much wildlife around me but the sounds that are produced when you least expect it.  I'll definitely be watching and listening for his mate.






Barbie

A Ducky Day

On my way home from the office, the sun was shining, the temperature was hovering around 47 degrees, Jimmy Buffet was blaring on the radio and I had the feeling Spring was at my front door knocking to see if I could come out and play.

For 22 years I have been driving along the Schroon River watching the ducks waddle around, swim, splash, eat, land and take off.  I decided, on such a beautiful day, to stop and capture their little habitat on the banks of the Schroon River.  I hope you think they are as beautiful as I do~

Resting on the banks of the Schroon River

Mr. Mallard posing so beautifully

The coloring and feathers are just beautiful 

Barbie