No rain, no bugs, no birds---and very few bluebonnets.
Well, that's an extreme view, we have had some rain, although very little, there are some bugs but not many.
And birds, where are they?
The phoebes that once hung around all year are gone, the bluebirds, none seen. Purple martins, forget them as it's now too late for them to appear at the nest box.
The barn swallows are making a stab at refurbishing their nest in the breezeway; the test will be if they stay for the summer. So far, Ma and Pa barn swallow are sticking it out with this dry weather and have hatched their four eggs in the nest in the breezeway. What a hoot they are in their effort to constantly provide bugs for these four hungry mouths.
This photo taken on May 26th shows the four nestlings nearly ready for their first dive out of the nest. The parents alternately provide a bug or two and then just swoop by the nest as if to say, "this is how to do it". We have had some rain, but before the rain this week, it appeared the parents were flying some distance away, perhaps to the stock tank to find the bugs to bring back to the nest.
Our great State bird, the barnyard dog of the bird world, the mockingbird, has not been seen but once some days ago, and not recently.
Dee, the one with the ability to hear high frequencies, claims she has heard a Golden Cheeked Warbler, but since these birds are so reclusive, we have yet to see one this year.
Many don't think about this, but most birds feed their hatchlings bugs, even though these same birds will be seed eaters when they mature. After the young seed-eating birds fledge, the seed-eating birds change from a bug diet to a seed diet. That point underscores the importance of conditions and habitats for wildlife.
Every year we keep a close eye out for the Painted Bunting, which usually appears around now. A few of our friends tell us that April 15th is always the target date for the bunting to appear and we are on the lookout. One of our neighbors claims that an Indigo Bunting has arrived at their place. That's good news. In the past, we have found that water in the birdbath is important to all birds, especially the Painted Bunting.
This week may bring some rain. Let's hope it does.
Please take note of this reminder to avoid mowing the roadside right now as the antelope horn milkweeds are up and about to bloom. It's one of our best butterfly flowers, so we need to take care and let them bloom and go to seed. This year is one of our best crops of milkweed in several years.
Meanwhile, readers are asked to check in on this blog post and let us know your success with attracting birds this year.
