I loved your stories Nola.

A few months ago I had a little finch on my porchlight every night for 7 nights. He'd even stay there if I walked outside and talked to him. By the third day I was pretty sure he was a harbinger (messenger). To make a long story short I found out a old friend of mine had passed away. He had died the day the finch first showed up... the finch disapeared the night I stumbled upon the obituary.

We have a mockingbird that yodels, trills, squeaks, and throws himself up in the air, flapping his wings like mad and he has been doing this for three months. We call him Lonesome George, because he obviously is trying to attract a mate (with no success).
We also have a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers who spend the morning in the mesquite trees, watching me work in the garden. When I leave, they come to the watering station in the back yard and drink, then raid the sunflower seed feeder. Humans are so entertaining!

Great stories.

Monday evening, I was sitting on the porch at the new house. Called DH to quickly come out. He was sort of grumbling when he got there, but then, I showed him why I called. A blue heron had landed on the peak of the roof across the street from us. Just stood there for a few minutes. It was gorgeous. Then it walked down the back of the roof out of sight, and suddenly I realized why it had chosen that particular house--they have a fish pond out back. I do hope somehow, it missed dinner that night, but all animals have to eat, of course.

My DS was 6-7 and home from school sick in bed. We had a snow and everything was covered and freezing cold outside.

DS called me into the bedroom and told me to look out at the bird on the telephone wire. The poor thing looked like he was frozen to the wire, but apparently not because after a while as we watched, he appeared to fall to the ground.

DS asked me to go see what was wrong with the bird. So of course I bundled up, put on boots and gloves and went out on rescue. I brought the bird in and we could see that he had a grain of corn stuck in his throat. I managed to dislodge it and he was then ready to go.

I let him out the door and he flew away.

I've forgotten many of the things DS did to aggravate me, but I still remember that day when he had to know that one bird was helped. He is still like that, very caring.

Sue

Azzala,

A few million human animals can't get enough to eat - and other millions can't eat very well.

ole joyful

OJ--I do understand the food chain, and normally have no problem with that fact of nature (even when a Hawk lunches on my front lawn and leaves a mess of feathers--LOL).

However, in this particular case, the fish are beautiful pond fish in a small, man-made fish pond, so they're really captive and don't have a fighting chance if a big heron decides to hop in for a snack--I guess that's the part that made me feel a little bad. I would prefer he had headed to the stream behind the houses, or the lake at the end of the block is all.

I have a "story" going on right now. We have a rooster pheasant who is currently living in our wood box outside. He has been there all summer.First thing in the morning, when the sun comes up, he squawks. When it thunders out, he squawks! When I go outside, he comes tearing across our yard and squawks. lol! He is also looking for a mate, we think, with no success. I do put out cracked corn, so that is probably why he sticks around.

MonaRae

I absolutely love all your little stories on this post!

I (attempt) to write children's stories and some of these have really got my muse up and running! IF I decide to write anything, I'll be sure to ask permission from ya, is that okay?

Anytime ya want to start a post on one about your experiences with other animals is FINE with me...I'll print this one out for future reference and let ya all know IF I come up with a 'book'!

Thanks...nola anne

When they had the "BackYard Bird count" in the early spring, we had more different species and varieties of birds than anyone else in our area. We have different kinds of feed/feeders and fresh water out at all times. Most of our "regulars" are about half tame, and the little woodpeckers actually wait for us to come outside and then they follow us around the lot. We have a male mockingbird who comes and sits on the porch and sings to us. DH has a Jenny wren who sits in the hanging basket when he is sitting on the patio, and sings her little heart out to him! She won't do it with me, just her special boy friend!

I love sitting on my deck and enjoying the birds. We have had some very entertaining starlings. When I was younger, I never particularly cared for them - not pretty, etc - but they are such fun. They can imitate so many sounds and I have really gotten a kick out of them. Currently have a dove on a nest right above where we sit who somehow survived a terrble storm we had last week that snapped many branches off the tree. I'm looking forward to the babies. And the finches with their songs! (Sorry I'm rambling). I'm off work for the summer, but I had a cardinal buddy who I would see almost every morning as I walked into the church, and a woodpecker living there, too. Always gave me a little boost! Love your stories.