Surely ours isn't the only small city that can support a shop strictly for bird watchers -- or a column in the local paper all about birds. But we do indeed have such a store,
Jay's Bird Barn, over by the north Safeway; furthermore, the proprietor, Eric Moore, writes a weekly article for the
Courier. But I shouldn't be surprised. I've been collecting pictures of bird feeders and bird houses and bird baths all over the area. There are ever so many. In fact, a US Fish & Wildlife Service survey revealed that over 50 million Americans spend some time watching wild birds. No reason that Prescottonians should be any different.
Many people buy
bird houses for their yards; some even build them, tho I've never before seen such an extravaganza as this homemade residence on sale at Batterman's. I wonder if a bird ever alighted on the structure; my suspicion is that the architect probably kept thinking of new improvements to add and just never got around to mounting it. Besides, I doubt if any birds would bother to unhook those latches.
On the other hand, here are a couple of handmade homes situated high enough that they just might entice a small bird couple.
This bird abode was too far away for me to decide whether it was homemade or store-bought. Also I'm not sure whether it is really suitable for live-in birds or is merely yard decor, like far too many of the houses that I've seen.
Most often, the cute would-be nests are located within arm's reach; if I were a self-respecting bird, I'd stick to the trees for safety's sake.
I wonder if the apartment building above has ever had tenants. The unit below may have -- it was very high up on a pole.
Again, I suspect that some feeders are decorative rather than utilitarian.
But, again, locate the house (above) or feeder (below) high enough and customers should show up. Note that there are ropes so that the little nesting box may be cleaned out periodically. As for the feeder below, I walk under it every so often; it's so high up that a ladder is in order.
Some straight-forward feeding stations (above, below).
Of course, in our dry climate, water is a necessity for the birds, tho I don't see nearly as many bird baths. Probably because it's a lot more work to keep them filled -- and clean.
Then there is the cat problem....
Linkage: There's this big picture of me over at Pictures and More plus a song about Never Been to Prescott; what can I say, Steve, except thank you!
Guess that phrase above is nowhere as lyrics. Besides, der Bingle is long gone. However, this was my wonderful surprise today when I went shopping for deli meats and cheese to feed the Sson and family who arrive from Louisiana any moment now. It's a colony of swallows who've moved into the twin peaks at the front of the Safeway building on Willow Creek Road. Directly overhead, BTW; those nests are snuggled way up against the ceiling at the point where it meets the wall. Guaranteed to produce a crick in one's neck after a short photo shoot.
See that little guy to the left (above)? He/she is working on another nest (below, right). Amazing that the swallows can produce enough spit to hold all those little mud balls in place.
I lucked out, catching this image of a swallow about to land. At first I wondered that the great big corporation was allowing a handful of wild critters to make homes in the overhead nooks and crannies, then realized that Jay's Bird Barn is practically cheek by jowel to Safeway. I'm sure Erik is encouraging the manager to let the birds nest. In fact, the company deserves a big loud thank-you from us all!
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