We live in a suburb of Toronto on a 1/4 acre. This is our first year observing the birds so I can't identify all of them yet, but so far the ones we can identify are cardinals, mourning doves, robins, chickadees, sparrows, woodpeckers, finches, grackles, starlings, plus one tiny owl last Halloween. More exciting for me has been the family of raccoons who nest in our silver maple. The tree is right beside the patio where I sit on warm nights. Last summer, Mama raccoon was so used to me sitting there that she didn't mind my observing her leading her four babies down the tree, one at a time, about five feet away from me! One of her daughters stayed with her this year and they spent some time wintering in my garage (I made a bed for them). Here's a pic of last year's baby... There seems to be a wildlife freeway through our yard. In addition to the raccoons, we get visits from opossum and skunk who walk by the patio on a regular basis. Can't wait to see them again this year!

Well, like Lisa and Kendra said, it's neither of those birds if it's made of twigs. Sounds like a pesky House Wren to me too. They will fill up every box you have with twigs. Go and check any other boxes. The Chickadees use a thick layer of green moss covered by soft fibers. Bluebirds use mostly pine straw. I have included pics of both that I took in my yard. Carolina Chickadee Nest Eastern Bluebird Nest

Howdy, Folks. I've heard if one hangs a dead crow on a fence near their garden it will keep other crows away. My next door neighbor has had to replant corn three times. Each time it breaks ground crows pull the plant. Yesterday he shot one and hung it on the fence. I've not talked to him and yet don't know the effectivness . This morning I had my coffee and a bagel on the back porch. I kept looking at the dead crow and thought of Poe's, The Raven (remember? Nevermore, Lenore?). When I came to the computer I was inspired. ODE TO A CROW, by Gene My head is low, My feet are high, Different from yesterday - I soared through the sky! A garden I spotted, Oh, I filled with glee, Morsels of young corn just waited for me. On a fence here am I hanging, Corn sprouts were good, but gun went banging! - - - - - - - - - - - I have four coffees (1/2 pound package deal) from Caribou: Caribou blend, Sumatra, French Roast, and Columbia. I'm using the Caribou blend. I didn't want to grind it myself. I told them I wanted it ground for the paper filter type of maker. It came ground very, very thin. I thought it should have been lightly coarse. Am I wrong? That coffee is okay but for my taste buds no much more than less expensive stuff. Gurley, you caught me, didn't you. Yes, I live at Candler. I've never thought alias' were very good anyway. If someone wants to find you bad enough they will. But, it is often recommended by those in the know, isn't it. Thanks for the continuing information, Eloise. It has encouraged me to start doing something. I'm 73, windowed, with three children. I'd like to have things more organized when I move on. I have updated my will in a simplistic fashion for the present. I've found the local N.C. probate office accepts an informal will if signed and no witnesses. There were changes I wanted to make to the old one and that was convenient for the time being. I'm preparing two file folders. One has original documents and the other copies. The other will be furnished a daugher whose named Executor (they don't use Executrix any more). Some of my things require explanation such as an insurance policy which has a face value higher than actual value. I need to include a letter explaining I borrowed some money on the policy years ago and just have never paid it back. Otherwise I think it would be confusing to them. I plan to pay it back if and when I sell a lot. It is dry in WNC! I'm sure it is elsewhere, too. I'm mowing every couple of weeks rather than weekly. It sure makes one think about global warming. But, I have seen it this way even with ground cracking only for the rain to begin and come almost daily until Fall gets here. I still drive the Miata maybe once a week. It's still fun. It came with a supposedly cancelled XM radio. I generally don't try to listen to music because of noise, it being a convertible. I was at a stop light and began messing with the radio. I got an XM channel with 30's and 40's music. It was good listening. I heard later XM has sample days trying to get new subscribers. I wish everyone well. I'm sorry the topic has slowed so much. Maybe it's because of warmer weather and longer days. Maybe it will pick up come cold weather. Sorry about saying those words. Regards, Gene

Misty, if you've never seen it, check out the PBS video, A Murder of Crows. It's about the intelligence of blackbirds, and it's pretty amazing! I've seen it on TV a couple times. http://video.pbs.org/video/1621910826/ I’m not a big fan of blackbirds! It’s not because I don’t like them “as birds,” it’s because they EAT all the seed I put out for the “little birds,” and I can’t afford to feed the BIG birds! I’ve developed a Blackbird Dispersal System so I can scare them away without hurting them, but they are VERY smart, and they keep coming back several times each time they show up—until they realize that the “scarer” is going to “appear” every time they come—and then they—all of them, at the feeders AND in the trees—go away and usually don’t come back for a day or two—to try again! There have been some VERY cool “animal” shows on PBS lately! The “animal homes” series that’s on right now is amazing! Also linked on that page. And if you click “see all” there are many more possibilities, including Leave it to Beavers, which was just on (TV) last week, and it’s absolutely incredible to see in such detail “what they do” and HOW they do it—and how good, and necessary, they are for the environment! If you have time, I highly recommend it! (Full episodes of “animal homes” are available on the “see all” page!) Easy enough to link things now, so here IS the “see all” page!!! http://video.pbs.org/program/nature/episodes/ Gotta go! P.S. Zach, I never managed to get back here to post, but I LOVE all the pics you posted. Thanks for posting them. I didn’t have a “very successful” bird count this year! Very few birds, and not much besides the normal “regulars” I have. Definitely no “murder” of robins this year! Misty I love your “icicle bluebird pic!” Feel very sorry for the bluebird—but love the pic! P.P.S. Since I already have WebAlbums up, here’s a pic (not very close up!) of a Golden Eagle on the Ute Mountain Tribal Park last spring! This is the only Golden I’ve ever seen! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lKmHq6gaCDC_S3BtFXaMIQPPcO__tq0XI6jlKd1A8Lg?feat=directlink