April 6, 2010

April Is For The Birds

I wondered if ducks were considered birds and the answer is yes. Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. So says WikiAnswers. Phillip and I were at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday and while he was feeding the geese, I couldn't keep my eyes off this Mallard. As common as they are across the country from the wetlands to the city park ponds, I'm always in awe of the male's iridescent dark green head and yellow bill, especially in the sunlight.

Last year was my first time to have a bird bath in the yard. It's an inexpensive plastic model that I bought at Stein Garden Center. The birds didn't seem to like it and I was disappointed, but this spring they've shown an interest in stopping in for a drink and an occasional bath. It looks like there's no water in the bird bath but trust me, there is. They lowered the water level with all their splashing.
This male cardinal was nestled in behind some daffodils, sitting on top of what will soon be the Black-Eyed Susans.

It pays to make the bed in the morning and while doing so, take a look out the window. You might see a wild turkey walking through the backyard. Wild turkeys are native to parts of Wisconsin and are common to abundant in the northeast part of the state. Spring is a good time to see and hear turkeys because it's their breeding season. I think this is a young male, as he was traveling alone and had a twinkle in his eye.

20 comments:

  1. I love wild turkeys....
    but cripes they are so fast that I can rarely shoot them....with my camera people...my camera :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I knew you had turkeys in your neighborhood, but that's still something that you could look out a window and see a wild turkey!

    I agree that Mallards are beautiful. I grew up on a lake that had about 50 resident mallards and it was a lot of fun to watch them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DH saw a wild turkey today.

    Your birdbath could use a dripping hose or some other water source. Bluejays are the worst at splashing out all the water.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your Bay Beach pictures remind me of a lake in a Minnesota neighborhood that our family lived in for a few months. I was so so homesick, and one of the things that helped a tiny bit was this lake within walking distance and all of the happy clatter of the ducks and geese.
    When you lived in Louisville, did you feed the ducks at Cave Hill?
    Love the new purple and yellow header!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like this post a lot! Why? Because you have BIRDS Galore here. I am such a sucker for a duck. Every spring I look forward to the ducks that come to the ponds around here. They are so entertaining. I really am a bird nerd now. I am so glad that you had birds come to your bird bath. A bear tipped mine over and broke it so I am wary of putting another one up. Silly bear. Silly me for thinking a ceramic bird bath was a good idea.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Glad you're back in blogland and with such a great post. Although I was so taken with the header photo of the crocuses I almost couldn't tear my eyes away. Just beautiful. Thanks for sharing your Spring beauty. (Love the mallard -- I never get tired of seeing them either -- and the turkey really does have a gleam in his eye!

    ReplyDelete
  7. We see wild turkeys by the edge of the road occasionally ... they are a most amusing looking bird. That's a great shot of the duck up close.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like mallards too, I saw one yesterday, we don't get a lot of them. And birds...I have no luck with them. It doesn't mater if its bird baths, bird feeders, bird suot...they just don't come. And I would love it if they did.
    By the way, I always refer to the differnt states as "under BC, or under ontario, etc......so for Phillip to say we are the country on top of him makes perfect sense to me!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great photos, Donna! I love the mallards, too; their green heads look like the color of a rich jewel. I have an inexpensive birdbath much like yours; I bought it after the blue ceramic one I had been wanting for so long was knocked over and broken by some unknown wandering animal. I'm not sure how much the birds like mine either, but I figure if they get thirsty enough, they will find it. I had some Canada geese wander into our yard for a little visit yesterday, but we've yet to have a wild turkey drop by!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You captured the birds beautifully! I wish I could get that close to one ...

    Have a lovely week.
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

    ReplyDelete
  11. I hope those are your crocus in the header because that means spring has finally arrived. Yippee for all of us! Don't worry, the poppy I photographed was purchased in bloom, so I think it's a bit ahead of the game. I'm so glad you didn't get any snow in March. Now cross your fingers for April!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That is a beautiful bird bath, Donna. I am planning to get one for our backyard next Spring. How nice to see a wild turkey at the backyard.The picture reminds me of my Dad back in the Philippines.He raised few turkeys and sell them. But not anymore now. Very nice pictures of the duck. Mallards are beautiful. I love the colours.

    The kids are having 2 weeks holiday until April 19. Dorothy is not into blogging this time. She is busy with her farm in Facebook :) and taking care her horses in Horseland.She has few pictures to post in her blog but cannot get a chance yet:) She says Hello to you.

    Thanks for the visit and have a nice day always

    ReplyDelete
  13. Glad to see you posting. Great birds! I saw a wild turkey on my way to teach a class a few weeks ago.
    I bought a hummingbird feeder yesterday to encourage the hummers. I had one pop by late in the season last year. Must have liked my flowers. I'd never had one here. Now I want to encourage them. Fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow. That wild turkey is pretty cool. We've got Sandhill Cranes around here, waking us all up at dawn. You'd think, in an urban area, they could be a little more discreet with their mating calls ha-ha.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Those Robins seem to love their baths. They are the ones that empty mine too. How neat that you see wild Turkeys there. Do they put up their tail feathers when they see females? The only turkeys I've seen look a bit different, more round and with tail feathers.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, you must get even more birdbaths! I now have three and all three are used. One of them is even used by the lizards as well (it's near the rock wall, that's why). Those robins tend to always empty the baths with all their splashing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great mallard picture, Donna. It's wonderful to hear the birds singing in the early morning now that spring is here!

    ReplyDelete
  18. That is a gorgeous duck, Donna!!! The irredescence is so purdy...like you said, along with that yellow beak is just so pretty! I have some ducks over in the parking lot at my grocery store and also around my sons complex...I need to get some close ups if I can for ya! There are several types, and I really like one that is brown that you would think would be a wood duck just from the look of him. LOL! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I agree Donna, the males always catch my attention with their dark green heads and although very common they never fail to draw attention.

    How interesting it is to see a turkey walking through the yard.

    I once saw a pheasant striding through my yard..It was a wonderful surprise to behold.. because I live in an Urban area where it is not usually a common thing to witness.

    ReplyDelete
  20. How wonderful your birds are. Thanks for sharing them with me.

    Love the red Cardinal.
    Hugs D.

    ReplyDelete

For you to take the time to leave a comment means a lot to me. You make my heart happy.