Agreed Perry. It's interesting watching the birds fly in for a quick inspection and then dart away and return. The chickadees seem to fly in from all sides. They're a treat to watch.
Yes, there is always the inspection first before returning. I have seen cardinals waiting minutes before returning. I wonder what is going through their avian minds.
A lovely trio. Someone called White-breasted Nuthatches "Upside-down Charlies" because of how they walk down trees, and I can't stop using it. They, like Downy Woodpeckers, seem to have a expression on their faces. Theirs feels judgmental; Downys seem like they are ready to pick a fight (and I've seen them charge much bigger birds, to get at those seeds.)
Agreed, Thomas. I like that gravity-defying manner of White-breasted Nuthatches, especially when they will circle a tree limb or branch while walking down headfirst. :)
Agreed Scot! Their curiosity makes them such an interesting little bird. I like how other birds like the nuthatches and Northern Cardinals seem to follow chickadees. They must learn quickly that the chickadees seem so good at finding food.
Wonderful post, Neil! No staffing reductions from the tax department for this Bird Crew! I really enjoyed the playfulness of the language here, too, starting with the sijo and building through the photos.
Lovely! Sadly, I found a young native quail with severe neurological damage who was dragging her leg near to where a deeply misguided pest control company – Arizona Pest Control unlawfully placed deadly difethialone anticoagulant poison rodenticide traps (Figure 4) in our 90-acre wildlife corridor without authorization or permission. I tried to feed and hydrate her and made a vegetative nest to prop her up as she was not able to stand or sit properly. I then turned her over to Arizona Bird Rescue. Their veterinarians could not save her…
I contacted USDA about the numerous poison rodent traps in our wildlife corridor and were told to contact the Arizona Department of Agriculture, which is supposedly “the pesticide regulatory agency in Arizona”. *Both Arizona Department of Agriculture and EPA would not address the improper and illegal placement of deadly difethialone rodenticide traps in our wildlife corridor by the pest control company, Arizona Pest Control and the residents who do not want rodenticides in their backyard to possibly poison their children, pets and wildlife. All of these traps were placed unlawfully in our wildlife corridor and not in the private property of residents with whom the pest control company has contracts endangering children, pets and wildlife.
Thank you for sharing that, Amy. That is too bad about the quail but good of you to do your best to help them out. Hopefully the state and/or federal government can get involved by bringing charges against those companies that illegally place traps with toxins on public lands.
Dear Neil, Thank you for your kind message. The wildlife corridor is within a common area near to the most biodiverse national forest in the country - Coronado National Forest named after a conquistador who abused First Nations Peoples of Turtle Island. We brought out Arizona Department of Agriculture “inspectors” because of the numerous poison rodent traps and insect traps in our wildlife corridor, and they were not helpful. They failed to document the traps that we did encounter together and did not conduct a thorough inspection. I contacted Governor Hobbs, who is an environmental attorney and opened casework with senators and congressional representatives as I reached out to numerous agencies for assistance to no avail… Arizona Department of Agriculture and EPA stated, “The label is law” and the pest control company followed the label!” I reported Arizona Pest Control to the Better Business Bureau and this corporation threatened to sue me. Truth begets justice. California prohibits the use of deadly difethialone rodenticide as stated on the label.
Makes me smile too. Seeing kindness in action on a cold winter day warms this old man's heart.
Agreed Michael - they're a gentle nudge for me to pay attention to the present moment. For me that reminder is worth my weight in gold.
Mindfulness becomes the default and with us at all times. Then it is time to return to the forest and feed the birds.
It appears that they approve of the seed tax.
Agreed Aria! The bird crew made short work of those seeds!
I love to see the avian gathering; the birds know how to do it in style.
Agreed Perry. It's interesting watching the birds fly in for a quick inspection and then dart away and return. The chickadees seem to fly in from all sides. They're a treat to watch.
Yes, there is always the inspection first before returning. I have seen cardinals waiting minutes before returning. I wonder what is going through their avian minds.
"...to pay the seed tax." What a generous idea. I love your phrasing, Neil. Thank you for expressing such a big idea with words and photographs.
at your feet, Katharine🌱💙
Thanks Katharine and it's always a treat to see the bird crew show up. Always makes me smile.
Seed tax is such an excellent idea we should all implement
Agreed James and thanks!
What choice will you make indeed. Good choice, chronicling the peace.
Thanks Marc and I like how you put that as chronicling the peace.
Well said, Marc!
A lovely trio. Someone called White-breasted Nuthatches "Upside-down Charlies" because of how they walk down trees, and I can't stop using it. They, like Downy Woodpeckers, seem to have a expression on their faces. Theirs feels judgmental; Downys seem like they are ready to pick a fight (and I've seen them charge much bigger birds, to get at those seeds.)
Agreed, Thomas. I like that gravity-defying manner of White-breasted Nuthatches, especially when they will circle a tree limb or branch while walking down headfirst. :)
I love how unbothered Chickadees are, after a disturbance, they are always the first to come check things out!
Agreed Scot! Their curiosity makes them such an interesting little bird. I like how other birds like the nuthatches and Northern Cardinals seem to follow chickadees. They must learn quickly that the chickadees seem so good at finding food.
...and your posts always make me smile. Thank you, Neil. Such lovely photos. And the wonderful (as always) last line of your poem.
Thanks Jeanne and much appreciated!
Wonderful post, Neil! No staffing reductions from the tax department for this Bird Crew! I really enjoyed the playfulness of the language here, too, starting with the sijo and building through the photos.
Thanks Heidi and very much appreciated!
after my heart... they wait, they pop in, they pop out. Making room for everybody!
Thanks Peter ad well-said!
Beautiful photos Neil! They made my day. I am happy to share that the neighborhood birds finally found my bird feeder and I having some visitors.
Thanks Pamela! That's great to hear the birds found your bird feeder!
It’s been wonderful to see them again. I think I saw a wren today. I hope it comes back.
One of my fav poems so far. Just fantastic and I love the tax collectors
Thanks Nathaniel and very much appreciated. The tax collectors always make me smile, haha.
Lovely! Sadly, I found a young native quail with severe neurological damage who was dragging her leg near to where a deeply misguided pest control company – Arizona Pest Control unlawfully placed deadly difethialone anticoagulant poison rodenticide traps (Figure 4) in our 90-acre wildlife corridor without authorization or permission. I tried to feed and hydrate her and made a vegetative nest to prop her up as she was not able to stand or sit properly. I then turned her over to Arizona Bird Rescue. Their veterinarians could not save her…
I contacted USDA about the numerous poison rodent traps in our wildlife corridor and were told to contact the Arizona Department of Agriculture, which is supposedly “the pesticide regulatory agency in Arizona”. *Both Arizona Department of Agriculture and EPA would not address the improper and illegal placement of deadly difethialone rodenticide traps in our wildlife corridor by the pest control company, Arizona Pest Control and the residents who do not want rodenticides in their backyard to possibly poison their children, pets and wildlife. All of these traps were placed unlawfully in our wildlife corridor and not in the private property of residents with whom the pest control company has contracts endangering children, pets and wildlife.
Thank you for sharing that, Amy. That is too bad about the quail but good of you to do your best to help them out. Hopefully the state and/or federal government can get involved by bringing charges against those companies that illegally place traps with toxins on public lands.
Dear Neil, Thank you for your kind message. The wildlife corridor is within a common area near to the most biodiverse national forest in the country - Coronado National Forest named after a conquistador who abused First Nations Peoples of Turtle Island. We brought out Arizona Department of Agriculture “inspectors” because of the numerous poison rodent traps and insect traps in our wildlife corridor, and they were not helpful. They failed to document the traps that we did encounter together and did not conduct a thorough inspection. I contacted Governor Hobbs, who is an environmental attorney and opened casework with senators and congressional representatives as I reached out to numerous agencies for assistance to no avail… Arizona Department of Agriculture and EPA stated, “The label is law” and the pest control company followed the label!” I reported Arizona Pest Control to the Better Business Bureau and this corporation threatened to sue me. Truth begets justice. California prohibits the use of deadly difethialone rodenticide as stated on the label.
Lovely account! 🙏
Thanks David and much appreciated!