spring birds

Our winter birds are leaving and we've noticed a return of house sparrows building their nests, robins hopping around in the lawn, and grackles clamoring in the treetops,

I was able to get pretty close to this common grackle last summer because it had flown into one of our windows and was very dazed. He flew off shortly after I took this picture:


October 2007

I was also happy to see the return of the mourning doves. I love their plaintive song and had fun watching a pair building a nest last spring. These are the fledglings that were born at our house:


July 2007