SPRING IS HERE

 


Trees are budding. I saw two Hummers today so we cleaned the feeders.

Mulberry trees are one of the favorites among a lot of different birds. We have close to 10 on our NWF CERTIFIED HABITAT

Backyard Habitat Attracts National Recognition(Repost)

A Tomball homeowner with a talent for landscaping and love for wildlife has earned national and statewide recognition for his one acre home site that attracts a variety of birds,butterflies and other animals while helping to protect the local environment.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and announces that the property of Jesse C Smith Jr. located in Tomball, Texas is now recognized as an official Certified Wildlife Habitat site. This achievement contributes to the organization's goal of certifying 100,000 sites by the end of 2007. The property now attracts a variety of birds and butterflies on their annual migration. The use of many different bird feeders, fruit bearing trees,and watering stations allows Smith to observe many species of butterflies, hummingbirds,hawks,owls and other birds. One pair of Red Tailed hawks have taken up permanent residence for over 10 years, raising their young each year.
Habitat restoration is critical in urban and suburban settings where commercial and residential development encroaches on natural wildlife areas. In addition to providing for wildlife, a certified habitat conserves our natural resources by reducing or eliminating the need for fertilizer,pesticides, and the burning of fossil fuels used in mowing. More information about gardening for wildlife is available at www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife or at 800-822-9919.

01/26/2008 The recent cold fronts have brought a hugh migration to the feeders. I have three grain feeders, one large and two small. The small ones are lasting about three hours. My yard is covered with birds.

11-15-2011- We have been named a Texas Wildscapes by Texas Parks and Wildlife

NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat/Tomball, TX

NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat, a photo by Jesse C Smith Jr on Flickr.

Feeding the birds and animals.

Robins Passing Through

Robins Passing Through
Originally uploaded by Jesse C Smith Jr

Join the National Wildlife Certified Habitat Program.

www.NWF.org

Whooping Crane Killed

This is a great bird blog. Jesse Smith

Whooping Crane Killed

via About.com Birding / Wild Birds 

The only female whooping crane to have successfully hatched and raise a wild chick in the nine years of Operation Migration has been shot and killed during the annual ultralight migration, according to the St. Petersburg Times. The 7-year-old bird's body was found in Indiana on December 1, and a $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to conviction of the individual(s) responsible. The penalty for the crime could include as much as a $25,000 fine and up to six months in prison.

The chick hatched from the killed bird is doing well as part of the annual migration. It is the only wild chick to hatch and survive in the wild in more than a century in eastern North America. Because whooping cranes are so critically endangered, chicks are normally raised in captivity before joining the flock.

Operation migration has been plagued by other difficulties this year, including poor weather, flight accidents and vandalism. For more information on the program, including how you can help, visit OperationMigration.org.

Whooping Crane
Photo © Lisa Lenscap

Melissa's Birding / Wild Birds Blog

Great Bird Blog To Join

Bird of the Week: Northern Mockingbird

Thursday June 11, 2009

Perhaps a more appropriate name for this week’s featured bird, the northern mockingbird, would be the northern mimicbird, since its wide vocal repertoire can include songs from more than 50 other bird species. Mockingbirds have even been known to mimic music, machinery and human whistling, and each individual bird’s range of vocalizations is related to its age and experiences. With such a capacity for learning and memory, there is nothing to mock about the mockingbird!

GREAT Bird Site to Join

	Birding / Wild Birds

The following article from About.com was forwarded to you by jesse .

http://birding.about.com/b/2009/05/19/dont-mock-the-mockingbird.htm?r=et

Jesse's personal message:

Great site to subscribe to to learn about birds.

This request to subscribe came from IP address 166.128.197.66.

PHOTO: OSPREY ON WEST MT HOUSTON

I watched this osprey work this small creek as I did my PI job.

See all my photos on flickr.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOTO Hawk in downtown Houston

Hawk in downtown Houston
Originally uploaded by Jesse C Smith Jr

Scott street and I 45 has to be one of the roughest area's in all of Houston. I took this photo as I was doing a PI job. This hawk came by and set next to my truck daily. No matter where I worked I could find beauty. See all my photos at flickr.