Wordful Wednesday-Canadian Geese

You can view more Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus.

These next photos were taken by my Daughter. There is a area pond that she like to go fishing at. Oh but wait, you will see there are more things than fish in the waters......

Canadian Geese

Canadian Geese live in the area near Water, grassy fields and grain fields. Their love for Manicured lawns has increased over the years for a couple reasons. The young can feed on the grass as the parent keeps an unobstructed eye on them and the surroundings. This is why in the northern states area we will see them gathering near Parks, golf courses and Airports. This action makes them sometimes called the Nuisance Geese, in some suburban areas. It also causes a hazard to the airports planes. As you will recall a flock a Canadian Geese flew into US Airways flight 1549 on January 15, 2009. Causing a complete engine failure. The plane set down in the Hudson River.

Now for you bird watchers;

Kingdom-Amimala
Phylum- Chordata
Class- Aves
Order- Anseriformes
Family- Anatidae
Species- Branta

There are 11 subspecies known. Here are seven of them.

• Atlantic Canada Goose, Branta canadensis canadensis
• Interior Canada Goose, Branta canadensis interior
• Giant Canada Goose, Branta canadensis maxima
• Moffitt's Canada Goose, Branta canadensis moffitti
• Vancouver Canada Goose, Branta canadensis fulva
• Dusky Canada Goose, Branta canadensis occidentalis
• part of "Lesser complex", Branta canadensis parvipes

The size will get small as you move northward as well as darker if you move southward.
Four of the smaller version have a new species name "The Crackling goose"

For a few years now some are not moving so much south but are staying north. It is believed that the reason is due to the Farming changing. Farms being sold and housing developments going up. This make the waste grains not as available. Therefore they stay closer to the water and marsh areas. Another cause is weather changes.
These birds can live up to about 30 years if they can stay out of the rifles aim. Most Hunting has decreased due to their migrate patterns as well as the Laws of Hunting and areas being limited. With less and less open field and woodlands, new natural protected preserves and new Gun laws it has given a protection blanket for the Canadian Geese. That is why we see more and more flocks flying through our Northern American skies.

a closer view.

Ruby Tuesday- The White Ibis

Mary over at Work of the Poet host Ruby Tuesday. Follow the link in red and look at other Rubies from around the world.

For my Ruby , I chose this one.
Taken in Florida while we were at Sea World.
He was walking around the food area. I had never seen one of these birds. Must have been used to the people for he did not run away.

Known as a White Ibis (Eudocimus Ablus),
For you bird watches here are the classifications;

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Eudocimus

The White Ibis stands about two feet tall, the legs seen here are red because it was Breeding season. Normally they would be Gray in color. He is all white with the exception of the black tips on his wings, seen when they are opened.

They are mostly found in areas of the Atlantic Coast, from Southern Virginia to Florida. Some are found in the Gulf coast near Texas. They do Migrate keeping to the southern tropical areas from Mexico to Central America.
These birds can fly up to fifteen miles per day searching for food. Eating crabs, crayfish, insects, frogs, snail, Marine worms, snakes and various fish. I would say they are not picky eaters.

Birds and Squirrels....

Oh my the garden animals have been busy. We have a Robin who decided Sunday to build a nest in a new Tree in our yard. The squirrels are trying so hard to get to the bird feeder. Our Sparrows are busy in their house. then there are the Rabbits, Chasing each other all around the yard. We saw a hummingbird Saturday so out went the feeder. Spring is in full swing and summer is around the corner.

Ruby Tuesday-Checking In Time

The weather has been gorgeous , so the birds have been visiting a lot. While working on the computer the other day I saw a big black bird checking out this bird hotel. Laughing it him cause I think he must be desperate if he thinks he can check in here.
You see every year I lease this Hotel to the sparrows. They stay all spring and summer.

The Sparrows must have been close by because shortly after the black bird left two came by. Landing on the hotel and started to work.They never left the hotel vacant, always about three around. However one guard was posted on the hotel at all times.

Then not too long afterward came the expecting Mother.
Does she look ready or what?
Of course a guard is still post.

If you have time visit my daughters new blog, she is trying to enter the bloggersworld. She has a great Ruby Tuesday post. Ramblings From Lyd, leave a comment and follow her.

See more rubies at Work of the Poet

Ruby Tuesday- Sign of Spring

See more rubies at Work of the Poet

I was doing laundry.

Looked out the window, birds everywhere....
this one seems to be saying
"I'm ready for Spring"

Bird Watching 101

This video amazed me. The birds coloring matches the tree and leaves. Watch carefully til the end.... a visitor will check their work.

Nature In My Yard

We have 2 Bird houses. Both are active. The first one was here when we moved in 9.5 years ago. Birds occupy this one all the time. It seems that different birds use it though out the Spring and Summer. Robins, Chickadees,Sparrows and Wrens are among the Nesters. The Robins start out in the house then move to another location once the birds outgrow the house. Watching them building a new nest is fun. I have never been able to catch them moving the chicks. It isn't long before another family occupies the house. A chickadee family has moved in to set up house.
This one is the home of Sparrows. The little one are now ready to began flight. The parents kicked them out and now are watching them. See the one in the picture perched on the side? It just did not want to fly. We watch it for a while and the parents were yelling at it. It just sat there. Earlier hubby found it in the shed, we kicked it out. Now it is still in the Bird house home.

Here it is on top of the house just a few minutes later. It wasn't long before it was in the house.

This is the older birdhouse. Can you see the little peeps beaks? What a riot, they made a lot of noise. These were robins, they are now in flight, out of the house.
We have a bird that visits the fountain daily. It likes to take a bath in the top under the fountain flow sprayer. I managed to take a photo, although I had to take it from behind glass. He comes back several times. I just could not get over the tenacity of that bird.


Now to the rabbits, we have quite a few. Here is one for your viewing pleasure. I enjoy watching them on the deck and in the yard. Earlier in the spring we had a family killed. Managed to safe a couple of the young babies. Released them into the Known Rabbit hole. So one of the bunnies comes up to the glass doors and look in. I think that might be the one we had to feed for a couple hours. He was so little and size of my palm. We later released him into the Rabbit Hole.We have other critters in the yard. As I catch them on camera I will post more through out the summer.