back yard | Change Is Hard

December 10, 2025
by dawnkinster 38 Comments

The one no one notices

Some birds get all the attention. You know the ones. They’ve got beautiful bright feathers and they like to show off.

*Afternoon light at the heated birdbath.*

But I’ve been watching Mrs. Cardinal as she frequents my birdfeeders. Her subtle coloring is as beautiful as the flashy feathers of her mate. She’s a quiet beauty.

*She attempts to hide during the early morning sunrise.*

For the past couple of days there have been several female cardinals at the feeders, in the branches of the protective honeysuckle bush, and hiding among the last leaves of the beech tree.

*Finding a safe place during our first real snowfall.*

I notice how beautiful she is glowing in the light. whether it’s the early morning slanted sunrise or during an afternoon snow storm. She’s modest, though, and won’t sit and pose for long.

*Too much attention and she’ll head for quieter places.*

You have to be satisfied with her brief appearances and wait, hopefull, for your next glimpse.

I noticed Mr. Cardinal watching her too. He seemed as smitten as me.

August 23, 2025
by dawnkinster 17 Comments

Baltimore orioles for a little bit longer

Every summer we are lucky enough to have orioles visit our feeder. They never stay long enough, many adults leave sometime in mid to late August which seems too early.

The juveniles stick around a couple more weeks, eating the jelly as fast as they can.

*What do you mean I have to feed myself?*

Even though the youngsters are pretty, I always miss the adults.

*You’d think the lady would put a roof over our lunch!*

But last year and this year, after quite a long break without seeing any adults, I’ve had adult males and on occassion an adult female stop by the feeder in late August!

I’m always excited when, long after I think they’re gone, they show up for a few more days.

*I need to grab a snack before those two come back!*

I guess they’re fueling up for their trip south to Florida, or Central America. That seems like such a long flight I can’t imagine.

*I thought I’d check out the finch food. Not as good as jelly.*

And it seems even harder to imagine the youngsters being successful at the trip on their own. I wonder if families reunite once everybody is down there or if once they leave they’re leaving their family forever.

I know they’re gearing up to leave me. But I bought a big jar of jelly this week, hoping they’re around long enough to finish it all.

June 20, 2025
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

Bird bath part deux

Keeping in the theme of birds enjoying a bath, one afternoon this week I noticed two orioles in the bird bath.

By the time I got my camera and returned there was one in the bath and another observing. As you can see, Daddy was busy out on the feeder stuffing his face with grape jelly.

I don’t know if these two are this year’s juveniles or last years young ones, or maybe two females just enjoying a relaxing spa day.

But it was sure was fun to watch the one in the bath splash around.

So I’ll share the rest of these without comment. Enjoy.

I have other photos of this week’s shenanigans in my back yard, but those will have to wait for another day.

Edit: I was just outside to hang the oriole feeder up after cleaning it and refilling it with grape jelly. One of the two bathers was back, standing on the railing. He (or she) started flapping it’s wings at me, supposing that maybe I had something to feed it. So I think these two really are juveniles, and not adult females. So cute!