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Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Nature Notes: Hot Hot Hot

The heat is a factor for all living things in my neck of the woods (central NC) with record breaking highs.
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I believe it was our gracious nature notes host who gave me the tip last summer about adding ice cubes to the bird baths so I didn't have to change out the water as frequently during the hot days.
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The birds and I would like to thank her for that good advise.
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I still put in clean water at least once, usually twice a day but the ice cools it down during the hot part of the day and isn't as wasteful. I use the old bird water for plants but even so adding ice makes more sense during the heat of the day.
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The first four shots are of the same rufous-sided towhee who was bath hopping between the two deck baths.
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Something likes to eat the petals on the echinacea (coneflower).
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The shots of my coneflowers above were taken sometime last week before the heat cooked them as shown in the next shot.
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The bluejay below was hiding in a tree waiting for me to go inside before using the front yard bird bath.
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Today I got some shots of the bluejays using the deck bird baths.
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Although my deck bird baths are just old planter saucers, the birds like them and I'm able to have more than if I just had my concrete bird bath which is in the front yard.
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The birds don't care if it's an official bird bath or not. It's easier to photograph the deck bird baths because I do that through a glass door.
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To give you an idea of what the heat is doing to my plants, below is a shot of one of my hydrangeas.
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I thought the mourning doves looked like a couple of love doves.
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But it was too hot for all that togetherness.
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A catbird was enjoying bath hopping.
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He started in the larger deck bath.
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At first I thought he saw me and was getting out to fly away.
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As it turned out he just wanted to check out the other bird bath.
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He moved suddenly and his head almost got outside the photo frame.
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Below is another shot of heat damage. My poor lilies got fried before they even bloomed.
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The American Robin was primping and preening.
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Her breast feathers match the bath.
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There are a lot of juvenile cardinals.
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I enjoy seeing the immature birds this time of the year.
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There is something very endearing to me about young of all species.
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It's interesting how beaks on the cardinals are a different color when they are young.
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The next two cardinals are transitional or adult.
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I like how soft the feathers on the next one look.
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For those in the U.S. I hope you have a happy Independence Day. For those in Canada I hope you had a Happy Canada Day. Click for the home of Nature Notes.

10 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Carver, I always enjoy seeing your birds at the bath. My favorite is the silly catbird. Great series of photos.

Libby said...

I LOVE seeing the bird bath photos! The second to the last one where the bird is staring at us is classic! I love the blue jay too!

The ice cubes are SUCH a good idea!

Leora said...

So nice of you to add ice. They must appreciate the extra touch of coolness.

I like seeing the young cardinals.

My daughter noticed chomps taken out of rudbeckia, sort of looks the way your echinacea does. I told her it was deer (we get those wandering by and gobbling bits of gardens when people aren't about).

SandyCarlson said...

The heat has been crazy. It's been like a blast furnace around here. I sure am glad you take caer of the birds the way you do.

Cezar and Léia said...

Lucky birds!They are happily enjoying the water!
Léia

Rambling Woods said...

I thought of you..my sister is outside of Richmond and she is struggling to clean up the property damage and to keep the horses cool. I don't think it was me who gave you the ice idea, but it is a good one.. I am so sorry that your yard is suffering as I am sure you are too..Michelle

Judy said...

I could use a dunk...Happy 4th to you, hope you had a wonderful day.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

That towhee is just too cute moving from one cool bathtub to the other...and loving every minute of it, just like all your birds. Ice is a good idea as are the plant saucers (I will tell my Colorado kids).....The young birds are just adorable.

Crafty Green Poet said...

that rufous sided towhee is such a handsome bird. it's raining so much here, water is the one thing our birds are definitely getting enough of!

Pat said...

I love seeing the birds enjoying the water! The ice is a great suggestion.