Blast from the Past

While helping Dad go through the contents of his lock box, I came across an old promissory note he had signed for Debbie and me, so we could purchase our very first (used) home in the summer of 1980. Other than the color, the trailer in the pic is not much different than the one we had purchased for the sum of $6,300. Dad gave us the $2,000 down payment (he was and is such a generous person) and we made the $110 payments each month, which was not easy since our combined salaries were around $150 week.

Just one vivid memory of that trailer I can share with you is "the Spring of the Skunks." Yes, a family of skunks had torn through the insulation on the underside of the trailer and had set up house in the duct work. We could hear (and feel) them running up and down the length of the trailer just beneath our feet. Regardless of whether they had sprayed or not, skunks stink 24/7 and the odor was constant. Well, the last straw came when one of the skunks tried coming through the floor in our bedroom which had a hole in the corner covered in duct tape. His paw could be seen reaching through the bedroom floor. So I bought a steel trap and tied one end to the base of the TV antenna next to the trailer; I placed the trap itself under the trailer baited with hamburger meat. It was not long before "SNAP" and "PEEEEWWWW." The skunk was caught; it sprayed; and then ran out from under the trailer trying unsuccessfully to escape into the woods at which point I shot it. This process was repeated SEVEN TIMES before the trailer was skunk-free. Try to imagine how our trailer and everything we owned smelled! The odor permeated everything even my school books stunk. That's right, I would open my book in class and people would ask about the smell.

Ah yes, the good ole days. You can't buy memories like those. But we were happy because we didn't know any better; we just thought life was all about being poor and stinking!

Bird Flu strikes Florida Trailer Park.

Secret Hiding Places

A few days ago I went into my tool shed to retrieve some pots only to notice an unusual pattern was forming in the clump of Spanish Moss I had left in a hanging basket last fall. I had to go back in the shed today and here is what became of that clump of moss. I think these might be bluebird eggs; I haven't seen the owners on the nest yet.

Trouble Brewing in the Shrubs

Adult Sawfly
My infestation

Well if it is not the overabundance of rain, it is the insects. It is a really hard year for gardeners in my area. I don't think it will every dry out enough to plow our garden at my Dad's place. As for my little backyard garden, I have conceded the loss of my strawberries to the slugs and the fungi due to the constant rain. Now my container shrubs are under attack by what appears to be Loblolly Pine Sawfly (Neodiprion taedae) caterpillars or one of the other nearly 100 species of Sawflies.

New Blog

My bird pics have been crowding our family blog site, but I know some of you have expressed an interest in these bird pictures soooooooo . . . I have created a new blog just for my bird pictures. This new blog can be found at www.bismarckbirding.blogspot.com so feel free to view and please leave any comments or questions. Or better yet, email me your pics with any information you want to include such as where and when the pic was taken and I will post your entry along with mine. My email address is braytroy@gmail.com. I know VA and RI must have some really neat birds that I don't see down here, so be sure to email me some of your pictures.

Killdeer, the bird that named itself

Yes, the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) got its name from the sound it repeats. The two neck bands are a dead give away when it comes to recognizing an adult specimen (a juvenile only has one). I can remember these guys as a kid. I can remember that they would build their nests on the ground and if you got anywhere near these nests the birds would run off acting like they had a hurt wing in hopes of distracting you or any other predator. Killdeer are monogamous and can live to be over 10 years old. Killdeer are highly successful with a range that stretches from Alaska to Peru. These birds will eat about anything, but prefer insects and crustaceans.

The Many Faces of Brayden

While babysitting with Grandma today, Brayden treated us to a display of his many expressions. Each expression showing a different side of his personality. What a deep and complex person.

More Faces of Brayden

Kite flying

While planting roses for my mother yesterday (early mother's day gift) I noticed a raptor in the top of a large dead Sycamore at the corner of my parent's property. At first I thought it must be just another Red-shoulder or Red-tailed hawk, but its silhouette against the gray sky just didn't seem right. It was odd; something I had never seen before. It definitely had the look of a hawk, but was the size of a crow. So today I brought my camera back to mom and dad's since Gary and I had work to do in the garden (hoeing, tilling, exterminating, etc.). Now there were three of the raptors in this same tree and I took many pics. After editing the pics and doing some checking, I discovered these birds were Mississippi Kites (Ictinia mississippiensis). Doing some further investigating, I learned we are on the absolute edge of their breeding range so it maybe they are new to this area. Well, all I can say is "welcome to our neck of the woods."

Three in the Tree

They're Back!

It has been a couple of years since I have seen the Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus) at my feeder. These are some of my favorite birds. I just love the color combination in this bird. It has always amazed me how nature is so color-coordinated; unlike with me, she never has a problem with color clashes.

Another new species

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father (Mat. 10:29).

Yes, God is a birdwatcher as well. Sparrows were (and still are) very common and overlooked birds, so much so that they were a perfect illustration of how overlooked and ignored God's children can be in this world. However, if God takes note of the loss of a single sparrow, what does that say about how much He watches over and cares for us (Mat. 10:31). Here is a new species of sparrow that visited our backyard; it is a white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys).

The animals are arriving two by two

We have been experiencing one deluge after another for the past week. The lastest was this morning which sent the DeRoche Creek out of its narrow banks and over the highway at one point (see pics above). Dad's land is on the north side of this bridge and the fence is underwater. You would think with a daughter and son-in-law working as metereologists at the National Weather Service, they could do something about all this rain (like save some of it for the normally parched and steamy month August). Come on guys, help us out. . . enough is enough.

Royal Bird

Nice Pose.

Nice Pose.

He was tired of posing!

Well, we went to Caddo Valley after church today to get a sandwich and took our camera along with us. Caddo Valley (for those who don't know) is basically an exit off of I-30 rife with gas stations and fast food joints. However, this little area is always filled with a variety of birds, possibly due to its proximity to the Caddo River. Whatever the reason, in a matter of a few minutes I had snapped lots of shots of this Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), which is a flycatcher along with the barn swallow and scissortail below.

Acrobatic Birds

Although I did not get a closeup like I had hoped, these Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) put on quite an aerial show of agility and speed. These guys were constantly in the air catching bugs. Maybe in the future I will get a still, closeup, but until then these shots will have to do.

New Scissortailed flycatcher pics

Amazing tails on these birds. If you have never seen these guys in flight, you are missing a real treat. They look just like kites with their tails streaming in the wind.

The Garden is Growing.

The humming birds have been enjoying the blooming lavender. Maybe I can get a picture of them visiting these flowers, which are right below their feeders.
Debbie published the blue iris plants we have in front, but here are some yellow iris plants in the backyard. I like the blue better.

The strawberries will be ripe soon. I hope I can get to them before the rabbits.

Here is my blackberry and although I can't talk on it or get emails on it, I will be enjoying the taste of it in a few weeks (if the birds don't beat me to it).