Bumblebee Blog

Some things, I suppose, are universal—such as unfinished garden chores.

Even here in Geneva, Switzerland, where I am on business this week, this quaint pink house across from my hotel has had bags and bags of neatly stacked mulch sitting around the garden waiting to be spread since I arrived here on Wednesday. I’m so anxious to get back into my own garden to complete the long list of springtime chores I considered sneaking out at night to spread the mulch for them. Wouldn’t it be funny if they woke up one morning and found a garden fairy had done their work for them?

Sadly, I forgot my garden gloves. Still, I’ll be checking daily until I leave to see if the gardener has gotten his or her mulch spread. And I’ll be thinking about the second truckload of mulch I still need to purchase and get down in my own garden before long.

I consoled myself in my garden-less funk this afternoon with a leisurely stroll through the Jardin Botanique—the Geneva Botanical Garden. It is clearly early spring here in this part of Switzerland. The forsythia and daffodils are just starting the bloom. The greenhouses are stuffed with hothouse plants although I could hardly linger to examine them the humidity and plant funk smell were so overpowering. My camera lens clouded up and I had to rush back into the cool air before I passed out or my camera busted.

The gardens here also had a small assortment of animals—I suppose to make up for the fact that there is no big zoo here in Geneva. I was amused, however, to see some incredibly noisy Starlings. I’ll need to ask someone if they are the same invasive birds we have problems with in the US. It seemed odd to have them prominently displayed as some rare creature.

There is also a fantastical carousel with animals that seem to have clockwork innards. I’m guessing that’s a nod to the city’s watch and clock fame, but I did have to wonder if the children don’t find the animals somewhat frightening. What do you think?

All is not gardens and strolls while I am in Switzerland. I’m actually here in Geneva for work where I visited the World Health Organization (WHO) today to facilitate a meeting. On driving to the WHO’s massive office complex, we passed an apparent long-term protester who was set up for the day with an elaborate pictorial and slogan display vilifying the WHO for ignoring the plight of millions of children irradiated during the Chernobyl meltdown. I say he was an apparent long-term protester because his display was a bit tatty, he looked tired and bored—oh, and rather than trying to get the attention of the numerous passers-by with his important message he was leaning against a tree while reading the morning paper and drinking his coffee. I suppose even protesters must ease into their work day.

I take it that the WHO and the USA are not universally adored here in Geneva. Among the various themes on “USA s*%&s” (some slogans were quite colorful and inventive!) on the local bus stop shelter was “No WHO. No Bush. No way.” And an official at WHO referred to the US as the “most wealthy and arrogant” country in the world.

Prior to my trip people warned me of two things about Geneva—1) The people are cold and somewhat rude and 2) The prices are outrageous.

Well, from my short experience thus far, I will agree with the astronomical prices. The hotel where I am staying unabashedly publishes a US equivalent of $18 for a bowl of vegetable soup. A club sandwich will set you back $28 US. If you want grilled sole delivered to your room, expect to pay $65 US. And today, at a modest roadside patisserie frequented by the locals I paid $16 US for a half portion salad topped with some cheese and sitting atop a small piece of bread. Cocktails for me and two of my clients here in the hotel came to $68. And we only had one drink each!!! Thank goodness the client picked up the dinner tab. (HAH! I would have billed it back to him anyway.)

So, people were right about the prices here in Geneva. I won’t be shopping, that’s for sure. There are no Swiss watches in my near future.

Given the local sentiments toward the US, I was a little worried that with my less-than-fluent French and what I feared was my obvious American appearance, the reputidly cold Swiss wouldn’t be nice to me. But despite the fact that I’m from the USA, where Bush “s*%cks” and our country is “arrogant,” I have to say that I find the Swiss very charming, helpful and even friendly. It’s not just the hotel where they fawn all over you (as they should for what you’re paying). I stopped at a small local grocery store on the bus route to the hotel to buy some fruit and water. And although I didn’t understand that I had to bag and sticker my fruit, the cashier was very friendly and helpful when I explained “Je ne comprend pas.” Next door at the small wine shop, the young fellow didn’t speak a word of English when I explained the type of Swiss wine I was looking for, so he happily called his brother on the telephone to translate. But before his brother could relay the message a nice man in the store smiled and asked “It’s not easy, is it?” He inquired what I was looking for and helped me make a selection. Amazing, but true, it was a nice bottle of wine for the US equivalent of $8.

And although the Swiss aren’t given to excessive smiling (and in what country can you say they are?) they do not push or shove to get on the bus or ahead of you to get a table or in line. There is no honking in traffic here in Geneva. I have seen young motorcycle men snuff out their cigarettes on the sidewalk and carefully pick them up and put them in their pockets. People politely avail themselves of the helpfully placed plastic dog poo bags posted in dispensers on the city street corners when their dogs answer the call of nature.

I did have to laugh though when I called down to the hotel front desk to inquire if I was dialing my client’s room number correctly since the call didn’t seem to be going through. He tried the number and told me that the call wasn’t completed because the line was “engaged.”

“Oh, that’s the problem!” I said.

“No, that’s the reason!” he laughed.

So, I suppose it’s all in the matter of how you interpret things, eh?

Off to plan a weekend of activities now. I’ll be thinking of all of you toiling away in your spring gardens and somewhat wishing I were doing the same! Please don’t worry about me. I will console myself with some Swiss chocolate.

(I have added a new Geneva album to my photo albums if you want to see more of my trip. I’ll be posting more as I see the sights.)

Robin

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Filed in: Birds, Gardening, Nature Places, Travel

Off to the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling!

Followed by a trip to San Francisco. It’s difficult to go right now because of all that needs to be done in the garden.

Plus, look who showed up yesterday.

Our first bluebird of the season.

And look who I saw in the back yard.

We don’t often see the foxes in the daytime. Better keep my little dogs inside.

Never a dull moment around here.

Robin

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Filed in: Birds, Nature Places, Wildlife

Lovely country location just yards from the Chesapeake Bay.

Easy dining in your own hay field. Stylish gourd-style homes. Immediate occupancy.

What do you think? Will I get any takers?

We were very fortunate to have bluebirds set up house in our first year as bird landlords. I am hoping that the rural habitat is as enticing to purple martins as it has been to the bluebirds.

If you’re familiar with the site of these gourd houses or the condo-style houses you see atop tall poles in open spaces but don’t know what they’re for, these are purple martin houses. Purple martins in the east rely almost exclusively on human-provided housing. They prefer tall nesting sites located within 100 feet of a human dwelling and at least 40 feet away from trees and other tall structures where predators can hide.

The purple martins migrate up from South America very early in the season, usually returning to their homes from previous years.

Like some of those aggravating folks who line up even before the plane arrives at Southwest Airlines, the purple martins migrate so early because of the competition for housing. The earlier the bird arrives the greater the chance of getting the location they find desirable.

New colonies like mine are usually first visited and used by birds hatched the previous year who are searching for their own homes. These “scouts” arrive four to six weeks later than the mature purple martins.

According to the scout reports from the Purple Martin Conservation Association, the adult birds are nearly here to our area of Southern Maryland. Well, my houses are ready and I’m playing the dawn song on the outdoor speakers, just in case there are some martins looking for some new digs.

So, we are now open for business. Pass the word.

Reminder: Please register you response to the survey at the top right of this page!

Robin

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Filed in: Birds, Nature Places

This is the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count…

So, naturally, I have been counting birds.

Okay, I stopped to take some photos too.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a special four-day count over President’s Day weekend. Last year more than 81,000 checklists of birds were supplied by backyard bird watchers. The Project Feederwatch program gathers data that assists scientists understand bird populations and migration patterns.

Here at Bumblebee, we seem to have an abundance of American Goldfinches this weekend. At one time I counted more than 30 at the feeders. We also had a flock of redwinged blackbirds that I’ll get to report. I estimated their numbers at 170 using a grid count method. And the overall bird visitation has been so brisk that I’ll have to head to the Wild Bird Store yet again to pick up some of my pre-ordered food.

Of course, we have our usual visitors, including a particularly grouchy Carolina Chickadee. She was mighty upset when my cat, Miss P, and I wandered outside with the camera.

It was overall a good day to be outside. Tomorrow I’ll be making my own President’s Day celebration. Tune in sometime soon.

Robin

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Filed in: Birds, Project Feederwatch

Our house is under siege from a demented tufted titmouse.

By any measure, these cute little birds are aggressive. They will swoop down and help themselves to the hair of a sleeping dog or steal threads from your laundry drying in the sun to line their nests. But this particular titmouse is attacking our house windows.

I have read the aggressive male titmouses (titmice?) will see their reflections in windows and try to battle the competition. They establish themselves at the top of the pecking order in time for mating season.

That would explain why this particular titmouse appears to be on a mission. He is trying to eliminate the enemy. But from inside the house, it appears that he is trying to get in.

Tufted Titmouse Looking In

Outside my office window and my son’s bedroom window directly upstairs, the titmouse moves back and forth. He screams “Peter, peter, peter!” Then he bashes at the window, clings to the screen and pecks at the windowpane. After that’s done, he’ll do it all again, moving from the upstairs to the downstairs.

I have tried putting out a feeder on the tree outside to distract him, but that’s not working. If he’s still at his battle plan on Saturday, when I am not in the office and won’t have to sit in the dark, I’ll close the curtains to try and eliminate the reflection he’s taken such a dislike to.

In other bird news…

For the very first time since we have been living here, I saw a group of cedar waxwings. They are very skittish. I saw the first when I was driving down the long driveway from errands. Later, when I was eating lunch, I noticed an unusual group on the patio table. Yes!

Drat-it-all. I had to actually do some work this afternoon, which prevented me from sneaking about the back yard with my camera. I hope they return tomorrow.

Robin

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Filed in: Birds

According to the bird experts, mourning doves are among the most abundant birds in the U.S. I can certainly vouch for that fact judging from the visitors at my backyard feeding station.

In fact, as part of my count for Project FeederWatch this past weekend, I counted 28 mourning doves at one time! So even though the average number of mourning doves in the FeederWatch program here in Maryland is five, they are, apparently, particularly abundant in my little part of the world.

Mourning Doves

It’s curious how their behaviors have changed since they have become accustomed to all the bird feeders. When I first started feeding and watching the birds, the mourning doves would arrive–usually in pairs–and feast on the ground below the feeders where seed would be spilled or dropped by the other birds. Over time, one of the birds became more bold and learned to land on the feeders-even the smaller feeders–to feast directly from the pickings. Then two birds, then three. After a while, all the mourning doves were eating directly from the feeders. Although they still feed from the ground when they are in large numbers, the feeders are often filled with mourning doves.

Did you know the whistling sound they make when they fly is actually from their wings?

Did you know that mourning doves are monogamous and form strong bonds as pairs? (More than you can say for many humans, eh?)

Did you know that the male mourning dove will escort his mate to potential nest sites for her to choose a location. (Real estate is, apparently, her decision.)

Did you know that more than 45 million mourning doves are killed by hunters each year, including in Wisconsin, where the mourning dove is also the official symbol of peace? (Wisconsin seems a bit confused.)

Robin

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Filed in: Birds, Project Feederwatch

That was the headline today in the Project FeederWatch e-newsletter. I feel like I am on the edge of this breaking news story!

It was just in December that I saw a gross of Evening Grosbeaks at my hopper/platform feeder.

Evening Grosbeaks at the Backyard Hopper/Platform Feeder

Project FeederWatch, which I posted about just a couple of days ago, noted that since the project began the data indicated that the Evening Grosbeak population had declined dramatically. But this year, more and more people are reporting seeing flocks of this beautiful and special bird.

I think that this finding underlines a couple of key points. First, conservation works. I will give credit to the vast movement of bird watchers who fill their feeders regularly and provide alternative housing for our avian friends. This makes a difference in their ability to find the resources they need to thrive. And second, the data points of average, ordinary people all over the U.S. helps researchers understand how our bird populations are changing. This data is another key indicator or the environmental condition and how it impacts wildlife.

Okay. Nuff of that. I also just think it’s cool that I actually SAW a bunch of Evening Grosbeaks and then read this story.

Project FeederWatch offers loads of fascinating information. For example, the top 25 birds reported at feeders in Maryland in the 2006-2007 season was:

You can find the top birds at your feeders and learn more about how they measure by visiting their data page here.

Happy bird watching!

Robin

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Filed in: Birds

I have finally found the perfect wildlife conservation project—and all I have to do is sit in my favorite chaise and count birds.

It’s for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch.

Okay, I also have to enter some data into the Project FeederWatch database, but that’s a cinch. Oh. And I have to be able to identify the birds that visit the back yard. Sometimes easy. Sometimes difficult.

Downy woodpecker

Still, it’s the perfect activity for my new slow and simple lifestyle.

If you’re interested, it’s really quite, uh, simple.

First, you choose where you’re going to count your birds. I have big picture windows that are pretty much the wall of the back of my house, so I just sit in my favorite chair. You also need to have bird feeders (hence the name FeederWatch), but you need to outline an area around the feeders that will be a part of your count territory.

Second, you choose your count days. Select two consecutive days to count for at least some portion of the day. I count for about an hour and a half at a time. After that the dogs have to go outside potty or I need a glass of tea or something (like I need to go potty because of all the tea I drank).

Bluejay - The contraption behind him is my new birdcam. Stay tuned to see if I get it working.

Record the maximum number of birds of each species that you see at ONE TIME. You don’t have to keep track of who is coming and going. You just give maximum numbers for who’s there at one time. For example, my species maximum for this morning’s 1.5 hour count was:

American tree sparrow – 2
Brown-headed cowbirds - 8
Cardinals – 2
Chickadee – 1
Dark-eyed juncos – 9
Downy woodpeckers – 1
Goldfinches – 3
Mourning doves – 15
Purple finches – 10
Red-bellied woodpeckers – 1
Red-breasted nuthatches – 3
Red-winged blackbird – 1
Tufted titmouse – 1
White-breasted nuthatch - 1

Then, you report your counts. You can do that online or by sending in paper reports.

My birdwatching station

Aside from the slow and simple nature of the activity, I have found that participating in Project FeederWatch means that I pay even more attention to my backyard visitors. For example, I noticed that not all the nuthatches that visit are red-breasted nuthatches. I discovered that some are white-breasted nuthatches. And because I was watching closely I noticed the return of the brown-headed cowbirds this morning.

I also noticed that those deer are nibbling away at the new pussywillow that I planted last spring. Stoopid deer. At least I have the deer killer.

I find counting birds for Project FeederWatch quite a fine way to spend part of a morning. I’m helping the birds. I’m learning to observe nature and identify birds. I get to swear my pajamas and drink coffee or tea while I’m doing it. And I don’t even have to work up a sweat. (That comes later—at the gym. Can’t get out of that.)

By the way, here’s my birdwatching station for Project FeederWatch.

Sweet!

Robin

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Filed in: Birds, Project Feederwatch

Call me silly or naive, but I feel honored when a special bird visits my bird feeding station. This fabulously beautiful and interesting bird is the Evening Grosbeak.

The flock is, indeed, a gross of grosbeaks–I didn’t just invent that.

Until today I had only seen a single Evening Grosbeak. That was about a year ago and I wasn’t able to snap a photo before it flitted away.

Today, I was playing hooky from work and catching up on my ironing while gazing out the back windows. (Do I know how to have a good time on a Friday or what?) From where I iron in the kitchen, I can see the bird feeding stations, which consist of two free-standing poles–one with several small feeders, including a nyger feeder for the Goldfinches, a larger hopper feeder with a platform underneath to catch stray seed and a single two-tiered feeder hanging in a tree.

I immediately noticed a flash of white on the wings of a bird flying to the hopper feeder. Since our usual bird buffet guests are Tufted Titmouses, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Goldfinches–none of which have this distinctive white shoulder patch–I was immediately captivated. I snagged my binoculars and confirmed–EUREKA! EVENING GROSBEAKS! And not one! A gross of grosbeaks!

Of course, I was torn between watching before they flew away and running for my camera. You can tell that I took the gamble and scrambled for the camera with the long lens. Then I had to scramble for the tripod because the long lens is, well, long. It is quite heavy and needs the tripod for stabilization. I crossed my fingers and tippy toed just outside the back door and banged off a few shots.

Just then, the workmen who were to install a new front door system arrived. Why is it that these guys never arrive on time unless you’re taking photos of Evening Grosbeaks or have just stepped out of the shower?

Well, of course, they all flew away. There was no hope of their returning with all the commotion of door removal and installation. Still, I feel honored that they visited and will be looking outside hopefully for days to come.

Here in Maryland the Evening Grosbeak is only a winter visitor. Although a type of finch, the Evening Grosbeak is more along the size of a Robin. The males have a brilliant yellow color, even in winter, while the females are more drab. The wings have back tips and a white band that is very noticeable when they are moving about.

An Evening Grosbeak has a distinctive and facile method of eating sunflower seeds, dexterously manipulating it with his cone-shaped bill. They are prodigious eaters and can wipe out a feeder given the opportunity. They also are known for eating large quantities of salt and fine salty gravel from roadways.

I’ll be peering out the windows again tomorrow. There is an ice storm headed our way, but I am prepared. I stocked up at K-Mart yesterday on flashlight batteries, candles, camp stove fuel and even a coffee percolator. (Gotta have that java!) Since we lose water as well as power when the electricity goes out, I’ll be filling our bathtubs with water once the storm moves in. I’ll also be up early tomorrow morning to bake bread, a cake and make soup that can be easily heated on a camp stove.

My husband and son find my storm preparations amusing. The people at K-Mart looked at me yesterday like I was some sort of survivalist out for my annual survival gear shopping spree.

Oh well. I am naive about birds and amusing about my storm preparations. At least I’m not totally dull.

Robin

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Filed in: Birds

I first noticed something was afoot when I was doing my morning walk. The crows were in an uproar!

We have several pairs of crows that live in the trees near our hay field. Despite their negative reputation, I adore crows. I enjoy the way they call back and forth from the treetops as if they’re having a conversation. And they aren’t frightened when I walk by–they just keep up their dialogue.

Crows are quite smart and can mimic the sounds of other birds and even humans. Although they may chase small animals, it’s all just part of their crow-minded entertainment.

“Hoho! Isn’t it fun to terrify the Papillons!”

Crows can live to be 20 years old. They often re-use their nests each year. And crows that aren’t mated pitch in to help raise the other young birds. They also will collect anything they find that is bright and shiny. Who wouldn’t love a bird who appreciates glittery finery!?!

So this morning, the crows were having a fit.

The woods were FILLED with a humongous pack of birds singing their heads off. I couldn’t see the bird pack, but I could certainly hear them. And the crows apparently were having quite a conversation about how to handle the situation.

I couldn’t identify the mystery bird sounds because they were all chattering at once. But while I was gazing out the window and munching on my icky, puny, sad salad lunch, I saw what I believe was the cause of the ruckus. Hundreds and hundreds of Red-Winged Blackbirds!

The male Red-Winged Blackbird is very distinctive–a jet black with a red epaulette on his wings. The females are more drab brown, but with distinctive streaks on their undersides.

The bird books all say that the Red-Winged Blackbird is a common bird in Maryland and Delaware. Well, I don’t care what the books say, we don’t really see much of them except in the winter. And when they do arrive, I usually only catch a glimpse of one or two.

My Stan Tekiela book on the Birds of Maryland & Delaware, which is practically worn to shreds from being frantically thumbed through, says that up to thousands of these birds will gather in fields like ours.

Well, today was a stellar bird day because, as you can see, there were hundreds. This photo only shows a small part of the field that they covered.

Of course, you can count on a Papillon to keep things exciting, so Sarah chased them into the trees.

They gave her what-for.

Too bad I actually have a job and can’t keep looking out the window. A bunch of Robins have finally arrived en masse today too.

Robin

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Filed in: Birds