Comments on: Beauty or What to Look for in Late May through Early June

By: Marjorie Van Tassel

Marjorie Van Tassel — Tue, 31 May 2011 02:04:49 +0000

Ahh, yes–fireflies/lightning bugs been around for a while already (just a few, but they’re here!) Bluebirds sitting on top of my wooden swing facing the field–think they’re nesting in a tree somewhere as noone including me has bluebird houses yet (I’m in middle of attaching one to pole so it’ll be up soon)…and last week I photographed a strange (to me) fly (at first wasn’t sure it was a fly, but the BUG MAN identified it as a Golden Backed Snipe Fly — and of course I photographed 2 copulating so that made it hard to get more detail. Very black lacy wings and bright gold back. They only fly in spring I was told. This was in the grass at Crooked Creek.

By: Marcy C

Marcy C — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:41:14 +0000

I had a few “lightning” bugs on May 22nd…this is much earlier than when I was little and used to run around catching them in my pjs…after I got a bath since I was out side playing ALL day….no computers, tv…..riding bikes, playing in the dirt, looking at things…guess I didn’t grow up yet…wish more kids did this and actually get outside and see some of the cool things they miss, right under their faces.

I just had a Chestnut-sided Warbler in my “creek” yesterday…first time for that…the best was the male Scarlet Tanager taking a bath…(Kate got to see it, too.) Having water around sure brings in things…even a small snapping turtle in my 10 x 12 foot water feature. It had to crawl up hill to get here…

By: Bonnie Jeanne

Bonnie Jeanne — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:31:38 +0000

We have a finch who seems to be defending his territory by fighting the finch in the car’s rearview mirrors. We put towels over the mirrors because we were afraid the poor thing would go mad.

Can’t wait for fireflies! I never saw them much until moving to Pennsylvania and now I can’t get enough of them.

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:40:40 +0000

Robin Rescue: If he is safe from predators where he is, just leave him alone & he will fly on his own. The good news is that his mother knows where he is. He will shout for her more often than he actually needs to eat.

By: Mary Ann Pike

Mary Ann Pike — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:15:46 +0000

We have a pair of Flickers nesting in a hole in one of the trees behind our house. It looked like the male was cleaning out the nesting area (he was throwing stuff out of the hole). I’m assuming they haven’t laid eggs yet since it looks like he’s cleaning, and I’ve seen both of the birds away from the nest at the same time. It’s a lot of fun to watch. The birds are so used to us being out on our deck, they don’t bother us while we watch (we have a Robin nest on the support beam under the deck…they nest there every year).

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:10:06 +0000

I found your website because I wanted to find something about “robin rescue,” which I see you did last year. I have had a young robin in my courtyard (surrounded by 5 ft. walls) who cannot fly yet. He is almost full size but with the color and feathers of an immature bird. He hops around just fine, and is very aware. His mother brings him food, but not very often. I’ve seen him try to fly, but he can’t achieve liftoff. He runs for cover when I approach. Any suggestions of how to help, or do I just let him be?