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| We have studied Robins in the past. |
This week’s Outdoor Hour Challenge was to do a robin nature study…but where were the robins? Just a few weeks ago we counted six for our Project FeederWatch count. We saw forty-two during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year in February. This week….zero. We have been vigilant about looking but they are gone from our neighborhood now. So what to do?
We were out looking for any birds this morning and we were surprised to see that our neighbor’s trees were full of Cedar Waxwings! We have learned that they visit us on their way south and then again northwards. The interesting thing, according to our family’s records, we usually see the big flock come through during the GBCC in February. We did not see them this year at all until now. What does that mean? Not sure but it will be interesting to see what happens next year.
Would you like to see our Cedar Waxwings?
They filled three trees and were munching on the “nuts” from the pistache tree that have lasted all winter…just waiting for them to come and polish them off before the next growing season. What a wonderful provider they have!
Yes, we had very gray skies this morning but it wasn’t very cold. They sat resting and eating for quite some time and I was able to get up close to take a few colorful photos of them as they sat in the tree. Don’t you just love their yellow-tipped tails? I could really hear them making their very unique buzzing sound. Do you want to hear? Here is a link to AllAboutBirds and you can click over and hear what I heard…click the “high pitched hissy whistle” and that is exactly it.
Then in a blink of an eye, they were off again. I was amazed at just how fast they flew away in a flock. What a great experience we had this morning! I am forever grateful for the Outdoor Hour Challenges. I know that if I had not started this adventure with all of you that I would have missed out on so many deeply memorable times with my family.
It spurs me on to get outside and this month I have enjoyed joining in with Debi at Go Explore Nature and her #GetOutside project…a photo scavenger hunt. This simple project has already brought such joy to our family. It has encouraged us to think about how we can incorporate outdoor time each day in the month of April. I hope you will consider jumping in with us and take a few minutes to read more about the way it works on her blog. You can see all my entries in my Flickr Set: April GetOutside Project.
Another great week of nature study with my teenage sons.
Don’t forget to share your April Outdoor Hour Challenge blog entries with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival.You can submit entries directly to me if needed: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com
Just wanted to let you know that we have many robins this spring. It has been a lot of fun to watch them in the garden with the chickadees and finches this spring.
We are in the front range area of Colorado.
We have also had our regular huge flock of Robins. I will never forget the first time I saw a flock of Robins. Now we know to watch for it. We are in the Seattle area. Your waxwings are gorgeous! I love your blog. Thank you for sharing.
I watched them hop around in the trees this morning. I think We might look out the window at them, maybe it won’t scare them off. I’d LOVE to see a tree full of Cedar Waxwings. There is a yard south of us that has a huge batch in their tree every year. They also have a blueberry farm. They’s love to give me the WaxWings! Ha!
Thank you so much for mentioning the photo scavenger hunt. I’m touched to read how it has affected you & your family. That’s what it’s all about! Spending just a few minutes outside every day connecting with each other & the world around you have have a powerful impact. 🙂
There is so much to be happy about in what you share here. Your robin journal entry – your cedar waxwings! And your wonderful collage. Thanks for the reminder about the photo challenge. We started early on then forgot.
Our robins are still showing up – on cue this week for the OHC 🙂