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The birds are getting increasingly quiet. Babies are leaving the nest, and the mamas and daddies are moving on with feeding them—and starting to think about migrating. I’ve had to say goodbye to most of my purple martins. A few stragglers return every day or two to say their final goodbye until next March.
I was cleaning the pool Saturday morning, Aug. 16, when three appeared to visit with me. So, I’m sure most are gone by this Monday morning. It’s quiet by the pool now—no martins, and the grandkids are back in school. Leaves an empty spot in my heart. Time goes by entirely too fast.
I have one last clutch of robins and bluebirds on the verge of flying. They’ve been hot this past week with the high temperatures.
My rescue and adopted hens keep me busy, following their daily pattern of laying. They are so funny—we enjoy their antics. Duane has been repairing the square baler and had it parked by the shop. Of course, there’s hay in the rolling chamber, and LaBelle—my adopted hen from my nephew Mark Owen—found that nice, neat little place and decided it was her nest. She had been laying there for several days. Lucky I found them before they got baled!
One hen lays her eggs by the basement patio behind my cardinal vine. Another lays behind the shovels in the shop, and one lays under Duane’s big table saw. It’s always fun to check and see if they’ve found their spot.
They keep my garden weeded for me and sometimes find a low-hanging green tomato. I’ve stopped giving them table scraps and switched to a mix of steel-cut oats, flaxseed, ground corn and layer mash. No more messy bottoms, and I’ve seen an increase in good egg production. Who would have thought?
It’s amazing the entertainment you can get from all my feathered friends.
The yard and trails have been keeping us busy. Russ has been here a few days each week this summer, and he loves to mow and sweep. He does such a neat job.
We received 10.5 inches of rain in July and 1.9 inches so far in August.
Fall is just around the corner. Stay cool.
Until next time, good birdwatching.
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