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Post by grandmasandy2 on Jun 19, 2022 0:24:21 GMT
June Birds
Yellow Canary - Sandy, IL American West Pelican - Phyl, WI Mockingbird - Lucy, NTX Violet Backed Starling- Kathie, CA Parakeet - Nancy, IL Goldfinch - Connie, WPA Sandhill Crane - Shragae, FL Indigo Bunting - Marlene, WI Wren - Diane, OK Whippoorwill - Molly, MO Jenny, CA Sue, MT
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Post by grandmasandy2 on Jun 19, 2022 0:25:32 GMT
Barn Swallow
One of our most familiar birds in rural areas and semi-open country, this swallow is often seen skimming low over fields with a flowing, graceful flight. It seems to have adopted humans as neighbors, typically placing its nest in barns or garages, or under bridges or wharves; indeed, it is now rare to find a Barn Swallow nest in a site that is not manmade. The species is also common across Europe and Asia, wintering to southern Africa and South America.
Food is mostly captured and eaten in the air. Often forages quite low over water or fields. In bad weather, may sometimes feed on the ground.
They have 4-5, sometimes 6, rarely 7. White, spotted with brown. Incubation is by both sexes (female does more), 13-17 days. Both parents feed young. One or two additional birds, the pair's offspring from previous broods, may attend the nest and sometimes feed the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 18-23 days after hatching. 1 or 2 broods per year.
They feed on a wide variety of flying insects, especially flies (including house flies and horse flies), beetles, wasps, wild bees, winged ants, and true bugs. Also eats some moths, damselflies, grasshoppers, and other insects, and a few spiders and snails. Only occasionally eats a few berries or seeds.
Courtship involves aerial chases. On perch, mated pair sit close together, touch bills, preen each other's feathers. Several pairs may nest in same immediate area, but does not form dense colonies like some swallows. Original natural sites were in sheltered crevices in cliffs or shallow caves. Sites used today are mostly in open buildings, under eaves, under bridges or docks, or similar places. Nest (built by both sexes) is a cup of mud and dried grass, lined with feathers.
Once established, pairs stay together to breed for life, but extra-pair copulation is common, making this species genetically polygamous, despite being socially monogamous.
Their lifespan is two years.
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Post by flucielucy on Jun 19, 2022 10:43:27 GMT
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Post by flucielucy on Jun 19, 2022 10:48:02 GMT
JULY
Patriotic July--Shragae, Phyl, Sandy, Kathie, Lucy July Picnics Hot Summer Days July Vacations--Nancy, Molly, Marline, Connie
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Post by flucielucy on Jun 19, 2022 11:29:11 GMT
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Post by shragae on Jun 19, 2022 13:06:02 GMT
July Heat! Hopefully not 🌀 hurricanes!
That's a beautiful bird. After all the long life spans you've been talking about lately that's a pretty short one.
Yesterday as I was walking along a small bird zoomed across my path. I gazed to my left and realized it was a beautiful red cardinal. I don't see too many of them although I have seen the occasional one in here...
We have huge storm yesterday which is great we need the rain. It also seemed to break a little bit of the heat spell as it was in the 70s after the rain passed. We're supposed to get storms again this afternoon.
Can you believe it's nearly July?
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Post by flucielucy on Jun 19, 2022 14:02:45 GMT
Church this morning then lunch. Probably only Bill since it's Father's Day.
Another rough night after about 1:45 so I am tired. Fell asleep after my last cup of coffee.
Shagrae, we need rain but not storms.
Sandy, you have done a fantastic job with June.
Kathie, I hope you got good sleep last night.
Have a great day all.
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Post by kathie3s on Jun 19, 2022 15:28:50 GMT
I did a bit better for sleep....almost 6 hrs. but still not enough especially since I've had so little for several nights. Jim up now before 8:30 and I'll be making him breakfast soon.
See you all later for tuck in.
Violet Backed Starling- Kathie
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Post by conniej on Jun 19, 2022 15:49:31 GMT
How did the shower go with the new guy Kathie, do you think he will work out? Grab some sleep when you can. Everything else will still be there. Hope all goes well for Bobbie!! I reread that sentence Kathie and if someone had not been following your posts, they would wonder wouldn't they. Hope that gave you a chuckle today!!
I'm up and dressed in a long denim skirt and a light weight sweat shirt. The wind is much better and I did get the back porch swept off. A little bit more glue taken care of about all I have left is around the outside of the railing and I need to dig out my small paint scrapper. Also have extra blades for that one. Cannot get the new big one in that area. Sun is shining but only 66°. Brr. but comfy if you have work to do outside but it is cold in the house, did close the windows last night only 55°.
Actually you can hardly see the colors on a barn swallow, they really aren't that pretty. Usually just drab and dirty looking That was the prettiest picture though!! they flit so fast and swoop. don't see too many in my neighborhood but then there are no working barns. My friend that has horses has a lot of them. really do stick to the barns mostly. Not interested in bird feeders. Little kids are a bit afraid of them because of the swooping down.
Boy, our cardinals are big!! the babies don't have the bright red color yet. they are living in all the shrub along the twp ditch behind my house. they do come to the feeder and love to see them. Did see a baby yesterday that was showing a bit of dull red. He will be beautiful soon.
I was a Daddy's girl. He was very strict with me and I tried to keep to his rules. I both loved him and also respected him and sometimes even was afraid of him. Always wanted to please him and sometimes I fell short. the 3 brothers kind of got away with more. He felt girls needed to be protected and boys needed to learn on their own and sometimes I did rebel. Got grounded a lot in teenage years. But we got through them and we became very close when I was an adult. Still respected him and yep still wanted to please him .
Miss him a lot and think of him often. He died too young but then I would never have been ready to have him go. I don't resemble him except for my nose and eyes. { my Mom's family all had large nose and brown eyes.} Dad and I had the hazel eyes and more green than brown.
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Post by conniej on Jun 19, 2022 15:56:19 GMT
TO ALL THE DAD'S IN YOUR FAMILY ![](https://static.toiimg.com/photo/msid-83664004/83664004.jpg?1367781)
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Post by diane on Jun 19, 2022 16:18:31 GMT
Good morning!
Happy Father's Day! Today I am remembering my father. He served in the Navy during WWII, so he was away for the first three years of my life, but when he came home, he was always a very good father. He died at 67, after having a major heart attack at 47. He remained strong as long as he could. I still miss him.
Prayers for all families everywhere. Time to give the office to DH. Diane
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Post by flucielucy on Jun 19, 2022 19:15:44 GMT
Connie, I never saw barn swallows that pretty but that was what I found when I googled.
Diane, my dad was 60. He had just turned 60 a couple weeks before he passed. He had lung issues, but not cancer. He had very bad arthritis and was too stubborn to use a cane. He was a farmer until he was no longer able to farm then they moved to town.
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Post by Mollyann on Jun 19, 2022 23:03:24 GMT
Hello, friends!
What wonderful tributes to your fathers! Like most of you, I was a daddy's girl. Daddy was larger than life -- 6'4" -- and definitely a force with which to be reckoned. He was a farmer, then was appointed postmaster. When he retired, he bought used farm equipment and farmed Mom's family farm. I loved him, and he took care of Mom and me, always. He was 92 when he passed away in 2017.
We attended worship, then had lunch with DD's family at Long Horn Steakhouse. Home for the rest of the day with Guy stewing about his upcoming trip.
Thank you, Sandy, for the information about barn swallows. They are really good nest-builders. Those I've seen around central Missouri are a copper color.
No news! See you tomorrow! ~~Molly
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Post by flucielucy on Jun 20, 2022 0:16:54 GMT
Good Night All.
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Post by kathie3s on Jun 20, 2022 4:19:08 GMT
Connie: The shower for Jim should be tomorrow. Richard is on vacation with his wife for 2 weeks but he is vacationing about 20 mins. from here so he's going to come tomorrow and will call me first. I'll let you know how it goes but so far Jim is not impressed with him at all but he wouldn't be impressed with anyone since in his words he can still do everything himself.....Everytime I do anything for him I remind him that he said that.
I am overworked as usual today but even had a nap so my total was over 7 hrs. which is great for me. My legs are sooo sore and I'm still watering lawns and doing wash today. I just moved the 2nd from the last load into the dryer.
I was a daddy's girl too but as I grew up I realized my dad was alcoholic. That is why I hardly ever drink anything with alcohol. When I took my lie detector test to work as a police dispatcher the man asked when I had my last drink and I went blank....It was in March that I took the test. I finally figured it out and said "July 4th"....and his head went back and he laughed soooo loud. That was the end of my test.
Tucking you all in now in our blankets --- SKY BLUE BLANKETS WITH THE LEAFY SECTION OF A MAPLE TREE IN THE MIDDLE COVERED IN BIRDS. WE ARE ALL HERE!.....SWEET DREAMS!
Violet Backed Starling- Kathie
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