Monday, July 10, 2017

Adoptive moms

We have several varieties of day lilies. I think I like this one the best
our pond is filling up from all the rain
hibiscus is finally flowering more regularly
something bit Maya. If the swelling and redness goes beyond the black dots, she is to return to the ER
having fun on her frog at her pool

Some baby birds appear larger than their parents due to their fluffy feathers. Still a mother sparrow was feeding an insistent baby that was twice her size this morning. Cowbirds, the worst mom of the animal kingdom. They lay their eggs in others' nest and the newborn cowbird grabs all the food starving its nest mates. According to the bird lady of the bird walk I took a few weeks ago, if a song sparrow detects a larger than usual egg in its nest, it moves on and starts over. But we have house sparrows and chipping sparrows at our feeder who do not discriminate. We have an over population of house sparrows as it is who are responsible for declining bluebird numbers.

On the walk, I mumbled something about disliking cowbirds. A man nearby said he was glad to hear me say that. He had made a similar comment in front of another birder once who attacked him for having favorites. I wonder if she is just as excited to see a grackle (too common) versus a red headed woodpecker (rare in these parts but the mom on the farm has them).

I started my bike ride yesterday heading west with a giant full moon front and center.  Still annoyed about my favorite loop being closed off. I headed north to the rail-trail near Josh's house. We had used it on the very first Michigander in 1992 when he was just 10. Sadly, I don't think it is maintained much as sections of it are very bumpy. Also every half mile, I have to slow down as I cross an intersection which breaks my rhythm and makes me miss the 10 miles of no slowing down at all of my previous path. Then it headed due east right into the sun. Blinded, I turned around. But a deer hopped in front of me as well as a small coyote. For the first 10 days of July, I rode almost 150 miles so I think I am ready for next week's ride.

I've been having a bit of a pity party. Texts unreturned, wah, wah. No phone calls, wah-wah. No grandbabies this weekend, wah-wah. This will pass.

And to cheer me up, we watched 'The Keepers" or 2/7 of it. OMG, the Church can hold such evil.

6 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

That is a big and nasty bite. I do hope it stays behind the lines...

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I hope you do well on your bike race. You certainly put in the work.

I had never seen a bluebird until about five years ago. It is not that we don't have them; a friend nearby has them every spring. We put out two houses and placed them according to instructions. The first year -nothing. The second year one, then two came by. The male was first, then his lady. They checked out the houses and choose the one they liked. They started making a nest, and I was hopeful. By the fourth day, they had moved out. I guess they did not like the paparazzi (me) taking all those pictures.

Kranhu said...

The Keepers, so disturbing. It was painful to watch. How do people survive such horrible abuse? And then the coverup---kris

Sue in Italia/In the Land Of Cancer said...

On the extensive grounds of my workplace, they put up bluebird boxes so I got to see bluebirds regularly. Still don't have any in my yard. I put up a worm feeder for them but the chickadees cleaned me out quickly. In January (winter!) a small flock of males flew close to me as I ran about a mile away from our house. And I had seen another flock late fall 2 miles away in the other direction.

We watched another 2 episodes of the Keepers last night. Yep, very disturbing.

Teri Bernstein said...

spider bite? all better?

Sue in Italia/In the Land Of Cancer said...

They were worried about MRSA. The redness never spread beyond the circle. It stopped feeling hot and painful so Maya is now fine.

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