Stupid Bird Tricks

We've all heard of stupid pet tricks but I don't think many people have wild birds or animals as talented as ours.  It took a lot of practice but finally this dark eyed junco was able to balance on this female cardinal's head.

Note.  Don't let your wild birds try this.  It's dangerous and a lot harder than it looks.

The Birds

I wrote about the flowers heralding the onset of an early Spring. Now it's time to write about the birds.

I waited all winter for the terrible weather to save the birds by putting out the feeder. It really never came so the couple of times that we had a little snow, I put it up. And about the time the birds would get used to it being there, so would the squirrels and every time I'd look out the window there'd be one or two dangling from the feeder. So I'd take it down. You know a person should almost trap them and relocate them. Maybe I'll write a post about that later but right now it's all about the birds.

They're all back and I have pictures of a lot of them to prove it.

Of course these guys never left.

And these guys I could live without but I guess you have to take the bad with the good.

In fact a lot of these were around all winter I guess. It's just now that we're seeing so many of them. Surely it's the amazing weather.

But the ones that really fill my heart with joy? The beautiful bluebirds.

They don't visit the feeder so I have to enjoy them from a distance but that's okay. I just love bluebirds.

And I promised to include a picture of the hyacinths in my Flower Power post so here it is. Later I'll go out and take a better one but this is all I have in my file right now.

I really need to get more pink. These are right outside our door so every time you walk in the house, the air is perfumed with their scent.

And, finally, Harry and I had a little getaway last week. We had a good time visiting the money stealers - I mean casinos - in Tunica, Mississippi. The weather was lovely and we really had a good time. Here we are near Rend Lake in Southern Illinois.

That's all for now. Later on, I really will write about what it would be like if we ever did trap and relocate squirrels.

You Capture - Black and White

Beth's You Capture subject today is Black and White. I love the subject but most of all I think I'm going to love You Capture on Monday more than anything!

I found two types of Black and White to post. One was the Black and White that I created. The hard part was choosing which ones were the best. I enlisted help from Mr. Right but realized that his favorite Black and Whites were the one that looked really old. You know like the old Black and White photos - oh but most of you don't remember those. I clearly recall when that was all you could get. lol Evidently he does too. So here some of his favorites.

And here are a few of mine.

This cross is in Effingham, IL. To get a sense of the size of it, here is a shot with the electrical poles in the foreground.

Then I explored the Black and White as in things that just are Black and White - like this junco - on foot and in flight.

And then there's the combo Black and White.

That's it for this week. Now I'm off to find something Fun to capture. I already can't wait for next week. To join in, go to Beth's I Should Be Folding Laundry and post your favorite Black and Whites.