One Tough Little Nest

I have been watching this nest since last October when Hurricane Sandy made it's way to the Northeast.  That nest swayed and bounced in the high winds.  I believed it wouldn't make it through the night.  The next morning, there it was, sitting as nice as could be.

 

In February the Northeast was hit with a blizzard, with snow totals anywhere from 2 feet to 3 feet, with accompanying high winds.  Again, the nest swayed and bounced, and again I thought it wouldn't make it.  It did, it's "roof" covered in snow, it sat as pretty as can be, glistening in the sun, with its "roof" strong and supporting the pile of snow on top.

 

In March, the Northeast was hit with a "surprise" snowfall of about 2 feet.  Yep, you guessed it, the picture at left shows that the little nest did indeed make it through that storm as well.  

 

It is truly amazing what "nature" can build, how strong its built, how it survives storm after storm. Maybe man can learn how to engineer stronger bridges, roads, houses and buildings.  I am truly amazed at the skill of the little birds that built this stronghold!

 

 

Macro Workshop

Just came back from a fabulous Macro Workshop taught by David from the South Shore Camera Club.  David showed us all the different choices of equipment a photographer can use for close-up and macro shots.  Macro lenses are the best for shooting close up, but if you are like me and you don't own a macro lens, there are close-up filters, extension tubes, and reversing rings to mount a lens backwards.  After the "classroom" portion was finished, we drove a short distance to the Bradley Estate in Canton, MA.  Gorgeous grounds and trails to walk, and to capture images.  I used close-up rings to shoot these two images. The bee was a challenge because bees just don't sit and pose for you! 

Egret Reflection

I have to admit that I stalked this egret for a week until it was within a close enough range to get a decent image.  The egrets are fascinating to watch.  They are the most patient birds when hunting for food.  They will wait and wait and wait until a small fish swims by, then with lightning speed, they dunk their heads and return with their meal.  I watched one egret that was laying its head on a branch, and thought it had taken a nap, but no, it was just waiting for the opportunity to grab lunch!

SAND IMPRESSIONS

Nature creates its own art. 

Walking along a Cape Cod beach, the tide was
ebbing and in the process formed these two perfect
impressions of trees.

What is striking about these impressions is the sense

of majesty and intricacy of the designs.  One can imagine coming upon exact replicas of these trees somewhere in the world.

THE AFTERNOON I WORKED FOR A CATBIRD & LEARNED NATURE PATIENCE

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience".

With the intention of moving an azalea bush from one garden to another, planting a butterfly bush in its place, and weeding two extremely neglected gardens, I began what I thought was a 'solitary effort'.  Pitchfork in hand, I attacked weeds that had sprouted and spread unrestrained.

Approximately 10 minutes had passed when I noticed this little gray catbird.  It seemed to be hanging around, watching what I was doing.  I stepped back from the garden, looking at the catbird with curiosity.  Seizing the opportunity, it hopped onto the overturned dirt, grabbed several bugs and worms, and then flew away.  Laughing to myself, I resumed working.  The catbird returned within minutes!  I stood back; it hopped right into the freshly turned dirt, grabbed more bugs and worms, and flew off.  This continued over and over for quite some time.

I took a break before starting to dig out the azalea bush.  What did the catbird do?  It flew up onto the handle of the pitchfork, looked at me, and chirped, as if to say, "Hey get back to work, I need more food!  There's no slacking off!"  I actually answered it, out loud, "I'm doing all the work, you're reaping all the benefits, and I need a break!"  Oh yes, I talked to the catbird quite often that afternoon, and realized I had become its employee.  This was one smart bird!

Since my new 'supervisor' didn't allow breaks, I immediately began digging up the azalea, creating quite a large pile of dirt.  The catbird stayed close, watching me with its ever vigilant black eyes.  Every time I stepped away, it hopped right onto the pile, scooped up the bugs and worms, and flew away.

Freeing the azalea I carried it to the other side of the house, and started to dig a large hole.  The catbird followed me!  I'm sure it was thinking, "Ah, a new food source!"  This little catbird was one persistent, bold and courageous bird, at one point coming within two inches of my feet.  I continued to dig.  I would step back.  It would grab food.  It would fly off.  It would return.

Having never experienced this type of interaction with a bird, I was fascinated.  I watched as it went after small bugs, watched as it deftly picked bugs right off the cement foundation of the house, and watched as it grabbed worms, maneuvering the worms with its beak into tight loops making them easier to carry back to the nest. 

The gardening I had planned to do should have taken about two hours.  It took over four.  I didn't mind.  I was delighted to become the employee of the catbird; together we worked hard so it could feed its family.  I was permitted to participate in and observe the beauty that is nature; and in the process I learned "nature patience":  I learned to slow down my 'human' pace and observe the world around me.

For more information on catbirds (Orpheus Carolinesis, Linn., dumetelle carolinesis) visit the Audubon Society's website.