Thursday's Bird Watch!

In a follow up of last week's article about the arrival of our Violet-green Swallows here at Dallas Retirement Village, with the picture of a male; this week's photo is of a female checking out the nesting box of Mary Clair Site's on her third-floor balcony of the Lodge.  This photo was taken on March 9th.  There were 6 to 8 Violet green Swallows swooping around in the air checking out the area.  Mary's nesting box was used successfully last year.  It will be interesting to see when it is decided which pair will take up residency and build a nest this year. 
 

Thursday's Bird Watch

Our Swallows are Back! They always put a smile on my face as I remember my mother's excitement at the returning swallows to the nesting box that she could see from our kitchen window. It was infectious, and I realize now, it left a lasting imprint on me. This photo is a Violet-green male perched on the third-floor rain gutter of The Lodge.  It was taken on April 1st.  They have arrived from their winter grounds as far away as Mexico. I have been keeping track of my observations here at Dallas Retirment Village through eBird.org for the past five years.  They typically arrive here around the last of March and then leave in the middle of September.  Look for them as they currently are busy swooping around chasing insects and looking for nesting sites.  
 

Thursday's Bird Watch!

Our Anna's Hummingbirds now have babies! This photo of the mother feeding a baby was taken on March 24th in the Lodge Central Courtyard here at Dallas Retirement Village. Acting on a hunch that we might have a second nest, Jeanette and I made an effort to look closer at the other trees in the Courtyard and we found a second nest, and much to our surprise this nest also had a mother feeding a baby.  In fact, both nests appear to have two babies.  I expect the babies will remain in the nest, being fed by the mothers until around the 15th of April.
 

Spring Birding

Anna's Hummingbird

Spring birding is the best! This morning the sun was out here at Dallas Retirement Village, and the birds were active. We have two hummingbird nests in the Central Courtyard, and both have babies which they are busy feeding.

White-crowned Sparrow

A male White-crowned Sparrow was singing his heart out in his best effort to attract a female

Violet-green Swallow

A pair of Violet-green Swallows were checking out possibilities for nesting sites.

Dark-eyed Junco

A Dark-eyed Junco came out of its hiding place beneath the shrubbery.

Wild Turkeys

A pair of young Wild Turkeys creped quietly into the area to look for bugs.