Sorry for the delay. Things were / are hectic at Camp Nappy. (What else is new? :-/ ) Sadly Mr. GF died. While the chiropracter was able to help with the mis-alligned head and neck ... there was nothing to do for the brain damage he sustained. We tube fed him and kept him warm and safe to the end. An so Nature ends another life. :*( Until next time ....

I am reading The Stolen Child right now. It is very good so far. I recently read a Christopher Moore book, A Dirty Job. If you were raised a Catholic and have a good sense of humor, you just must get Lamb by the same author. You will wet your pants laughing. Also recently read Paranoia by Joseph Finder. I would highly recommend it. And a few Dean Koontz books (I never was a fan of his) that I really loved--Odd Thomas, Odd Fellow, The Watchers. And, I read my first Nora Roberts book. I alway sneered at them, thinking they were dumb romance novels. A co-worker gave me Northern Lights, which I put in a drawer at work and forgot for at least 6 months. I loved it! A mystery and romance in Alaska. I think she writes quite well. So there. I confessed my guilty pleasures. Kathy

Dearest Barry, you are free. After 363 days in captivity your interrupted life continues as it should. Wild and free. While here you blessed us with your strength to survive and overcome the many obstacles that were the result of your car accident and a tail loss. You blessed us with your beauty and your beautiful songs. You blessed us with nightcrawlers crawling outside your enclosure too. May God bless you now so you may continue your life healthy and joyous as you find a Mrs. and bless future generations with Barrylettes. Surely when you are asleep you will at times dream of Olive, the parrot. She was quite enchanted with you. And should you ever have a disagreement with your future Mrs., you can close your eyes and smile as you hear the voice of your big green girlfriend telling you: "HiiiiiIIIIIIIiiiiii Sweetheart! OoooooooOOOOOOOOooooooooo! Pretty Boy! *kisses*" ... Stay safe Barry. Please look both ways before crossing the street. Watch out for hawks and those who would do you harm. Enjoy the sunshine and your home without boundaries. God speed and thank you Barry. And so the doors to the aviary were opened this day and after several minutes Barry realized he was free to leave. He walked to the open door and looked around. He paced back and forth just inside the doorway. He started the familiar Robin chirping and 8 Robins appeared from no where running across the lawn toward the sound of Barry's voice. Barry ran down the two steps, across the patio and took flight 363 days after the accident into the air and landed in the Russian Olive Tree and began to sing. He then quickly flew back down and 4 Robins ran to greet him and they all began to chatter. Seems like he may already be familiar with them, since he had full view of the front and back garden and they could converse through the windows. Barry ran across the lawn, picking at the ground and no doubt savoring the cold dew on his feet. He may already have a girlfriend because one was following him in the grass! He is not banded or tagged in any way. We will never know which Robin is Barry. That is a secret only known to a wild bird we once met. His name was Barry.

They ARE worth it Donna! But I was so close! Loosing what I've lost this season makes me realize just how fortunate I WAS in previous seasons! About it being the same HOSP...Donna, my boxes are paired somewhere between 50-150 yards apart, and I've had HOSP show interest at more than one box at more than one pair. I wouldn't at all be surprised if it was the same HOSP. The thing that is bugging ME is that the HOSP that got past my Spooker isn't building a nest..just leaving droppings in my boxes and isn't around 95% of the time, making me worried I won't catch him soon enough. That is weird that they would only attack some and leave the others. I've had Wrens peck at 8 day old bluebird babies! Some wouldn't believe it..but seeing the bird perched atop the box soon after was all the proof I needed! Luckily all fledged. I saw the pictures over at the bluebirdnut forums. Poor things! I also have less worry for the TRES. I get MOBS of them some times! (earlier in the season mainly) I do think there may be less blues, but their territory is so much LARGER than TRES so it ends with less bluebirds. When I lost my first male Blue this year, suddenly 3-5 bluebirds started showing up! I rarely saw more than 2 before this. There are more out there...but they're strongly territorial, and despite what seems like a football field of distance between my boxes, I only get 1 pair. They (the bluebirds) have started a nest! But I've seen the male chase a Male HOSP all over the place, who has been chirping behind the boxes all day! He almost landed on the adjacent box, was fluttering near it, before the male BB picked it up instantly and chased it. I now have EIGHT HOSP fledglings in the DRST! HOW MANY ARE THERE?????? I've been catching 1-2 per day for the past 3+ days at least! I haven't caught any parents. Take that neighbor lady! lol. ~Tim~