Five little birds in a vineyard nest

Look who is hiding in the vineyard: 

Five little baby birds.  Mummy has found a pretty shady spot but with temps in the 80's they were getting a little toasty.

I don't know what type of birds they are as I haven't seen a parent go in. John just saw the nest as he was wandering the vineyard.

Can you see how they carefully poop over the edge of the nest so as not to make a mess where they are sitting.  A "lovely" edging of poop all around the nest! Mummy is training them well.

Aren't they just the sweetest!  Makes me want to be a birdy mum!

8 years at Birdland

Today is our 8th anniversary of moving to Glen Ellen, Northern California. We moved here 03/03/03. 

We love it! And we love sharing it with all the birds.  Here are a few photos of the birds at Birdland:

A bird's perspective on recycling - Friday's facts, fascinations and foklore

I saw a perfect example of recycling today - by nature itself.  (Unfortunately I was watching through glass doors so the photos aren't that clear but here is a glance at how non-humans also participate in recycling.)

The scene is outside my office.....We have a little table and on it I have a collection of last year's nests that I took from the vines, trees, birdhouses etc....

Along comes a pair of house finches.  The male lands on the table and the female is out of view of the camera but she is on the floor.  Here is how the conversation went:

Mommy bird and her babes

I saw the swallows investigating their usual nest building site yesterday, above the window in our office....thinking ahead...planning their time for babes....

So it inspired me to make a little mommy (mummy) bird with her wings outstretched, looking after her babies.  Two little babes are tucked in her wings, keeping warm and safe.

Talk about sculpting small things....those little babes are very tiny birds!!!