[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ontinuing from where we left off in early January …
Some rather close-up marvels of nature burst with details with a pair of binoculars. It’s been awhile since I recommended the Pentax 6.5 x 21 Papilio binocs. Ohhhhhh, the close-up magnification of the ice flowers on Frost Weed! And, they’re marvelous for insects, songbirds, and (especially) hummingbirds. About $125, several sellers offer them on Amazon.
With my dad’s first look through my 6.5 x 21 Papilio’s years ago, he dropped them to his lap with mouth gaped open and breath taken away. It was as if looking through lens with a pricetacular price.
When Roger (and Jackie) Green introduced me to the Hummzinger sugar water feeders by Aspect (with lifetime guarantee) years ago, I wanted to view the attracted hummingbirds at a distance of about 8-feet. After research and a wait, my new binocs filled the bill.
Roger sent a stunning photo of a Rufous Hummingbird that’s spending the winter near his Hummzinger feeder. Roger’s nice camera shows clearly the hummingbird’s bill. With my binocs, frequently I see their tongue.
Ohhhhh, friends. Please consider keeping your hummingbird feeders clean and freshened year round. Even if you do not see the wintering Rufous Hummingbird, it’s possible they make visits in the early morning. Too, it may take a few years before they find your feeder.
Boil four parts water and one part (or a little more) sugar. Add no food coloring. Keep feeders clean, tossing the old sugar water and cleaning the feeders with 10% bleach water solution or clear water.
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PAWS animal shelter out on CR 150, east of I-35, near Kyle’s water treatment facility, frequently needs bleach. There’s a discount store right across the street. Bleach can be left at PAW’s gazebo when they’re closed.
Close to sundown on Sunday, through our office window, RonTom and I saw a Screech Owl sitting on the ledge of our “OwlShack”, 12-feet above our driveway on a tree trunk. Walking sideways towards him (with no eye contact with the owl), and clicking iPhone photos over my shoulder along the way from our front porch, he did not drop down into the box. See owlshack.com
Often I distribute bluebird nestboxes from my front porch. As a volunteer nestbox distributor for Texas Bluebird Society, I give a free nestbox with a $15 new membership in the organization and sell bluebird nestboxes for $17, including sales tax.
Bluebirds are checking out nestboxes as potential nesting sites. Early in the week, we saw bluebirds on three of our quite-a-few nestboxes. And, birds galore are bathing in our big boulder birdbath and eating seeds and homemade “suet” (oatmeal, cornmeal, lard, and more).
Laura Craig sent word that she’s finally seeing more birds, after quite a drought. But, she’s seeing far fewer than before.
Here within is the value of reporting daily sightings (even just of the birds you can identity) to www.ebird.org. Scientists can tract changes in bird populations as 100,000s participate.
Send tidbits. There within I find words to stitch together this column. [email protected] or 512 268 5678. Thanks! Love, Pauline
