Today we have some lovely garden birds from reader Paul Peed, whose notes are indented and whose images available at eBird and Instagram.
Some favorites from my gardens
My gardens are Audubon Native Plant gardens which beside using far less water tend to attract a variety of birds, bees, butterflies and other visitors. The most colorful of the avian visitors is the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris). Here is a male enjoying my west birdbath.
Painted Buntings have visited my gardens for 5 years running. This year they fledged 3 young. Below is the male with an immature male or female newly fledged.
Breeding populations of Painted Buntings have been affected by the illegal cage bird trade.
A Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) visiting a native Yellow Necklacepod (Sophora tomentosa) near the east birdbath.
A Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) visits my west birdbath for a thorough wash every morning and most evenings. These guys have visited for 4 years running and fledged 3 this year.
Reblogged this on The Logical Place.
Why would anyone want to cage these wonderful creatures? It’s far better to see them in the wild going about their normal routine.
Gorgeous birds. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful images of such interesting birds and some of their food sources. Still photos certainly enhance one’s ability to peruse the plumage of these hyperactive critters.
Beauties
Wonderful shots. That bunting is psychedelic!
Beautiful photos, thanks. And that bunting fellow sure knows how to use a paint brush.
Pierre Auguste Bunting
Thanks for all the kind comments,
Paul Peed
I’ve never heard of Audubon Native Plants Gardens. That is a great idea. I wish I could attract one of those buntings…beautiful birds…not to say the others aren’t striking in their own way.
We have a Native Plants organization in our area. We were able to get quite a few trees, shrubs, and flowers from them. You might have one in your area.
Hi Mark,
I really do recommend highly. I use no fertilizers, very little irrigation, and no insecticides yet the gardens are lush. This week I had Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, White-winged Doves, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, House Finches, Snakes, Armadillos, Black Vultures and more visiting my suburban garden.
While my bird seed bill is high, the native gardens give me great pleasure and really do support the local wildlife.
Wonderful shots.
Gorgeous photos of some gorgeous birds!