Jeannie's Travel Addiction

You gotta love the feeding frenzy of mother birds feeding their demanding, ever hungry babies. These Eurasian sparrows are decedents of their ancestors that were brought to St. Louis, Missouri from Germany. Twenty of these birds were released in Lafayette park in south St. Louis in April 1870. Other European birds were also released but only the Eurasian sparrows successfully established a breeding population. They can be found in some areas of St. Louis, along the Illinois River in parts of Illinois and along the Mississippi River to southern Iowa. I have been lucky enough to have a handful of Eurasian Sparrows in my back yard, in south St Louis county, for the last 8 years. Year after year, they regularly raise their many families in my bluebird nest boxes, come to my feeders and drink from my bird bath. Just a reminder – you can always click on an individual photo for an enlargement. (You may have noticed the extra brace on the nest box door – these birds will literally stuff that box with so much nesting material that the door will bulge open.!! Also, sorry for the annoying shepherds hook in every photo – poor placement on my part)

( Pic and quote borrowed from the internet)

Thank you! I hope you enjoyed!!

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.

( John Burroughs)

“Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing” by Dr. Wayne Dyer

Tiger Swallowtail butterflies enjoy the nectar from my zinnias.

November 1, 2020

Just sharing some  shots of nature in action as summer is slipping away and  the days shorten and grow cooler.  

One day, from my kitchen window, I noticed my zinnia plant was moving.  Using  binoculars, I discovered a  Goldfinch  eating  the seeds from my zinnias ! I had no idea!!

Zinnias are beautiful flowers that are easy to grow from seed.   They grow abundantly  so they can  provide food for wildlife and also easy to cut and bring  cheerful  color  to my kitchen table. 

With summer, comes baby birds.  These  young sparrows still have remnants of their  yellow  gape flange,  which is the colorful and  fleshy area at the corner of the mouth.  If you can still see the flange, you know the bird is a young one.  

This cardinal is a juvenile and still has not developed her full color.  But still such  a beauty!

The Hibiscus plant is great for showy blooms in the summer.  The blooms  come in many colors.  But beware – squirrels like to eat  the buds and will rob you of the beautiful flowers.  I sprinkle pepper on the leaves and that does the trick !!!

Sometimes you might see a bald cardinal.  Though not  beautiful at the moment, it is probably no need for concern.  Molting, where the bird loses its feathers but evidentially grows new, is generally thought to be what is happening.  

An Endless Summer  Hydrangea  was added  to my garden this year.  It is known for plentiful and long lasting blooms.  Depending on the soil the blooms can be pink or blue.   I love all stages of the flower , from when the petals are just peaking out to full bloom. 

Sometimes my fluky photos turn out to be very interesting.  This is a purple finch that I just happened to catch in  take off.

More