birds — Page 66

Four Little Babies

May 26, 2011 at 2:49 pm by Claudia

There are four babies. This is Dad and two of the babies – the youngest is on the left.

You can clearly see the difference in birth order. There’s most likely a two to three day age difference. So we have the baby looking very much like the photos I showed you the other day. And then we have the oldest, who has developed feathers all over his body and who is now experimenting with his wings.

This guy worries me. He’s constantly trying to lift his body higher in the nest with a little flap of his wings. Yes, Mama, keep an eye on him.

A few minutes ago, Mama was standing on the railing, sending out some sort of alarm call. She’s calmed down now. You understand, of course, that if I could, I would camp out on the balcony and protect these babies. I’ve already racked my brain for something soft to put on the deck below the nest so that if one falls, he’ll be cushioned.

Am I crazy?

Don’t answer that.

I see why the littlest birdies can stretch their necks so far. They have to be able to get their parents’ attention.

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I am reading around blogland about a problem leaving comments. I haven’t run into that as of yet. I did have that problem a few years ago with Typepad blogs. One suggestion is to try another browser. Sometimes that can make a big difference. Also, clear your browsing history and cache. Then reload the browser. Maybe this will help.

Embroidery & Birdies

May 24, 2011 at 10:56 am by Claudia

Have you read about this project? Artist Jillian Tamaki has designed 3 different covers for a new series called Penguin Threads. These are embroidered. Oh. my. goodness.

I haven’t shown it here but the other design is for Black Beauty. Obviously, the editions that we buy will not be embroidered (can you imagine how much they would cost?) but they will have some sort of sculptural. raised effect. To read more about these gorgeous designs, visit Jillian Tamaki’s site. They will be available in October. I’m buying all 3.

Birdie update:

Mom was moving – trying to get those worms into hungry little babies. This morning I was wishing I had a video camera. I watched her give a worm to each baby. When one worm fell into the nest, she retrieved it and remembered exactly which baby hadn’t been fed. Then, and this is slightly weird, she or Dad (not sure which) fished something blob-like and white from the nest. It was rather large. Was it a baby that didn’t make it? I couldn’t tell because it happened so quickly and I was on the phone with Don giving him the play-by-play.

Or was it poop? Didn’t look like it, but what do I know?

I’ve got the best seat in the house.

Edited to add: The white blob is indeed poop. Baby robins produce fecal matter in a mucus-like sac that the mother or father immediately takes away from the nest. Amazing. The mucus wall is strong enough that the parent can hold it in its beak. Babies do this until they leave the nest, then they no longer have need of the fecal sac.

Fuzzy Little Babies & a Question

May 22, 2011 at 9:08 pm by Claudia

I can’t help it. The best show ever is taking place outside my door. I was gone most of today and couldn’t wait to get back and see the babies. But first I had to go to a store and buy a coffee maker. The one supplied by the theater (only 3 weeks old) died this morning. Really. When I realized this in the early am hours, I blindly drove to the gas station. There’s nowhere else to go in this small town on a Sunday morning. Truly terrible coffee. I love dark roasts and this stuff was very weak and bland. I wasn’t about to wake up on my day off tomorrow and drink more of that stuff.

Here are the little birdie updates (there are 3 babies.) If you’re not a fan of baby birds, you may want to move on to another blog.

These were taken as the sky darkened and big rain clouds threatened.

At this point, the tornado siren went off and suddenly we were under a tornado warning. But I kept snapping away.

Scary. Mama Robin had her beak open. She was stressed, too.

Sometime she sits on the babies and I see a beak – these little ones are lively.

The sun came out briefly and I tried again. But I think Mama had had enough.

If looks could kill. Okay, I’ll stop for the night.

I’m trying to record as much of this as possible. I might never have such a wonderful opportunity again!

Oh, I’ve been meaning to post this and keep forgetting to. You know how I feel about giveaways that make you jump through hoops, right? I really don’t think one should have to do anything other than leave a comment. Anything else is annoying and merely a way to add followers, etc. I saw something the other day that made me laugh out loud. (The name of the blog is not important.) After leaving a comment, you could gain more chances by doing the following:

1. Subscribe to the blog by email.
2. Follow (the blog) on Twitter.
3. Become a Follower.
4. Tweet about the giveaway. You could do it once a day.
5. Add a button.
6. Follow on Networked Blogs.
7. Follow the blog on Blogfrog.
8. Vote for the blog for some sort of best blog contest. You could do it once a day.

Is it just me or is this ridiculous? Now, to be fair, it was clear that this blogger was trying to earn money from blogging. But, come on. When I see something like this, I quickly move on. And I never visit that blog again.

Really missing my doggies today. I love you Scout and Riley.

Day off Monday. On the docket? Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Target. And maybe a movie.

Four Little Babies

Embroidery & Birdies

Fuzzy Little Babies & a Question

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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