H.J. Ruiz – Avian101 – Page 701 – "My Backyard Visitors" – All about birds

Flowers and Birds – Short Story

The red rose asked the scarlet azalea planted nearby _ “Why the cardinal and scarlet tanager being the same color as we, are able to fly? _ Up to the clouds if they want! But we can not fly.”

The scarlet azalea pondered for a few seconds and answered _ “Must be because we have roots that won’t allow us to fly”

The red rose turned to a yellow iris and asked _ “Why the yellow warbler being the same color as you are, can fly and get any food it wishes to eat?_ and you can not!”

The yellow iris thought about it for a second and answered _ “Must be because we have our food already in the soil under us.”

The red rose looks up to the sunflower and asked _ “What do you think my tall friend? Is it because the birds are more important than us?”

The sunflower looks around calmly, then with clear voice said _ “We all are important in our own ways and we all share the responsibility for Nature, regardless of what color we are. You share the nectar you produce, I provide my seeds, you give your beauty to the world and others give their fruits. It is a chain where all links are basically important in order to be successful. We should use what Nature has given us and be constructive not the opposite and thus we will thrive!”

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# 8 Wipes its bill!

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birds, nature, photography, photos of birds, Tufted Titmouse

Family

While I’m shooting photographs of birds in my backyard I’m at the same time observing the action happening of the scene through the zoom lens_ I want to know what is going on. I don’t limit myself to just get some shots and find out later what was happening there.

When you see a couple of House Finch flying in company their three fledglings and land near the bird feeders. It’s the beginning of a sweet and tender scene that you won’t forget. The three little birds wait for their parents to take turns and transfer food into their bills. They are doing motions typical of immature birds, such as rapidly trembling and shaking their wings, opening their bills, all indications of hunger and impatiently demanding for food.

Each of the parents proceeded to give more food to their chicks and tried to satisfy their appetite.

Later on, I observed another amazing action. One of the parents is feeding itself with seeds while one of the fledglings is watching and asking for more food. The parent refused to give it more! After a few minutes of the same, the little bird walks to the seed saucer on the deck and imitates the parent. The little bird just learned how to feed itself!

I find this natural behavior or instinct very interesting!