This is an iPhone photo from my window.
The male Goldfinches are wearing their bright yellow feathers for the mating season.
Read more about my breeding male goldfinches, the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington HERE. The photo of this breeding male above is from this link. The females don't wear these lovely yellow spring feathers but they get to choose the handsomest mate wearing them.
Missy is coming this morning to spend the night and it's a lovely Good Friday. See you later. xo
12 comments:
My tiny Southern rural town, still uses its original storm drainage, ca. 1880'ish. Not rocket science, it's an open 'ditch' dug to proper depth with sides the proper mathematical slope, all covered in Tara Turf (clover/sorrel/etc). These drainage ditches line 1 side of the road, buried at each driveway.
For years my speed walking, daily, includes passing this important duty drainage.
Our city always strapped for cash. Mowing, or weedeating, roadsides/ditches is done at bare minimum/necessity.
A good news/bad news situation.
Not affording current standards of mowing/weedeating, has kept the ditches functional for major water runoff, and attracting BIRDS.
I ache for the goldfinches. Our drainage ditches, with their 'Tara Turf', aka taller mixed grasses/weeds, are prime pollinator habitat.
Myriad smaller birds are drawn to the food in our drainage ditches.
Speed limit is 35mph on our city roads. Most cars exceed this greatly.
Birds, coming to land, or taking off, from the drainage ditches, are killed by speeding cars. Most often, Gold Finches, even Blue Birds. If their bodies land in the road, I push them into the drainage ditch to give their bodies the honor of a full life cycle. Vultures, ants, coons, possums, etc.....
It never gets easier dealing with this.
I doubt most of those killing cars even know a bird was killed.....
With each, the Bible gives hard solace:
"And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fear; Though by the path He leadeth, still one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.Nov 17, 2021
His Eye Is On The Sparrow — Matthew 6:25-27 "
NEW POST FRIDAY MORINING; Photos of my YELLOW Goldfinches.
Isn't it amazing how they turn to that bright, bright yellow? Such a color!!
Bless you for sharing this! x
Tara Dillard -- You can see so much when you walk or power walk and I understand why it's upsetting to see birds hit by cars. Thank you for the inspirational verse about the Sparrow. I have Tara Turf at my house too. If it's green, I like it. Happy Easter. xo, Rosemary
Kay G. -- Yes. You know Spring has arrived when you see the wild canaries, right? I love my Goldfinches and I'm glad you like them too. Happy Easter. xo, Rosemary
Tara's story makes me feel so sad. I so love the wildlife we have. I'll have to try the Tara Turf. I'm looking for a good ground cover for what used to be my front lawn. I love the idea of a pollinator habitat.
Your goldfinches are so pretty! I enjoyed reading more about them in the link you provided. It surprised me to learn that they are strict vegetarians. I figured all birds ate insects, worms, etc. Also made me smile to read that the cowbird gets nowhere with these finches!
I hadn't realised that goldfinches change colour to attract a mate. Thank you for posting.
I was touched by Tara's quote from the Bible. It reminded me of a little poem by Lord Hailsham called 'A Sparrow's Flight':
Father, before this sparrow's earthly flight
Ends in the darkness of a winter's night
Father, without whose word no sparrow falls,
Hear this, Thy weary sparrow when he calls.
Mercy, not justice, is his contrite prayer.
Cancel his guilt and drive away despair;
Speak but the word, and make his spirit whole,
Cleanse the dark places of his heart and soul,
Speak but the word, and set his spirit free;
Mercy, not justice, still his constant plea.
So shall Thy sparrow, crumpled wings restored.
Soar like a lark, and glorify his Lord.
Pam -- I had to look up the cowbird story and it's fascinating.
https://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/american-goldfinch
Mother Nature works in mysterious ways, doesn't she.
xo, Rosemry
Lisa D. -- Tara Dillard is famous for her Tara Turf. If you were to convert your front yard to be pollinator friendly you should start with clover. Happy Easter. xo, Rosemary
Tasha T -- Thank you for posting A Sparrow's Flight. It fits in perfectly with Tara's Bible verse. Have a Happy Easter. xo, Rosemary
Tasha T. many thanks in posting the poem, had not read it before.
Lisa D. did your front lawn go from sun to shade? Help it along to Tara Turf. Notice what's growing wild in similar sun/shade in your area/range/zone. Buy seeds of what you discover, and add to the basic list with bulbs, perennials, whatever is tough, mostly native, proven across a century at least.
Tara Turf can be scruffy or formal. Leave it be, or mow paths into it. The scent is delightful, beauty a given, AND WILDLIFE/insects too.
Garden & Be Well !!
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