Friday, January 15, 2010

Bird Itch


Bluebird and House Finch

I woke up this morning and realized I have it. I've had it before, but I really thought I'd licked it. It's been known to strike people of all ages and hang on indefinitely, so it was foolish to conclude it was gone for good. When it didn't show up this fall and winter--more than fleetingly--I concluded that maybe I really would go on without it. There have been signs lately. Now,  I think it's developed into it's full-blown state!

Red-bellied Woodpecker

'What is she talking about?', you ask. 'Bird Itch! That's sounds too personal!', I hear you saying.

Cardinal (female)

Yes, it's personal. (It's not contagious, so don't be alarmed). It's actually quite satisfying, though. I'm telling you this because you might want to get it for yourself. It's free--and it's available, right now--outside your window!

Northern Flicker

I've had bird feeders and a birdbath for years but it wasn't until I really took the time to look--rather than take just an occasional glance--that I began seeing the variety of feathered friends regularly stopping by to visit. When I added a couple of sturdy, squirrel-resistant bird feeders, a heated birdbath, and some nesting boxes to my yard, things really picked up. So much so that my birthday gift two years ago was a nice SLR camera, with a good zoom lens. Last years birthday gift was an outdoor Bird-Cam, as by then, I was blogging and wanted to share my passions with others. I'm getting ready to set the camera up outside, so be on the lookout for some live video that I'll be sharing in the months ahead.

Bluejay

If you don't have Bird Itch, it's okay. If all of my neighbors had it, I probably wouldn't have as many avian visitors as I do, and I'd be forced to share. But since it's free, and available in most neighborhoods, why not see if you can get a little of it for yourself?

Cardinal (Male)

I'm glad the disappearance of my itch was only temporary, as it really is pleasant to have. Thank goodness there is no known cure for Bird Itch!

Downy Woodpecker (female) and Bluebird

--Today I am thankful that my 'itch' has come back;-)


Words and photos by Jan Huston DobleThanks For 2 Day.

29 comments:

  1. Yes, Jan, lies dormant until another outbreak!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jan, That bluebird just takes my breath away. -Jean

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan, I have always had the "bird itch" and if I ever added my costs for feed etc., I would be a higher ranked bird enthusiast. My birds are spoiled. I am concerned, however, that neighborhood cats, are doing harm to our bird population. I never see cats on leashes so I know it is not the dogs. I wish cat owners would be more mindful that cats love birds and they too have more than a "bird itch" when they are stalking looking for my favorite cardinal. P.S. I guess the catbird is immune. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's an itch that's hard to control. Your photos are so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jan, I think it's the best itch to have. I just hung a new suet feeder outside my window here and I've been waiting for days... where are they?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good to see your itch encourages photos of such wonderful birds.

    I have feeders outside the kitchen window and do occassionaly mean to take a photo but I am not so good at catching them they only stay so fleetingly and then they are no were near as colourful or as varied as yours.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful birdies!!! Check out my blog for a chance to win a new feeder!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such great photos of the birds. I love the bluebird!! I, too, havethe bird itch, always, so I truly understand.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jan, what gorgeous photos! I can't wait to see the results of the bird cam. Have seen those in the specialty stores.

    While I have the 'itch', I don't have much opportunity to satisfy it during the winter as it's dark when I leave for work and late when I get hime. I know they are out there because the bird seed keeps disappearing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jan, I've had bird 'itch' for a long time but I think it's because we just have no birds in the winter here. Some Stellars Jays and I haven't even seen any robins lately. I love your pictures - I see why they are so great now. I sure wish I could retain more about lighting and settings and all so I could get a nice SLR. Lucky the P & S digitals are getting better and better since I'll have to live with them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I once parked myself on the couch for several weeks while recovering from a surgery. I had a great view of the bird feeders out front. I was amazed and thoroughly entertained by the great variety of birds that came by. Your photos are fantastic and remind me of those days I spent scratching my bird itch!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jan, oh I love the bluebirds. I wish they would stay around here all year.I put up another bluebird box this fall so there are two now. Maybe I will get more to hang around in spring.

    ReplyDelete
  13. As always, great pictures!! I love watching the birds. That last one with the bluebird on wing is great!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful pictures! I've just been thinking this week that I need to figure out how to zoom with my camera so I can take some bird pics. Yours sure inspire me!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bird itch is contagious, Jan--I caught it when I first started blogging. Now, birdseed and suet cakes are regulars on my grocery list. What a great gift the birdcam was! I've seen them in the stores before and thought how great they would be to get some really good close-ups. Your photos are fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  16. What beautiful pictures. I am so glad I found your blog. Look forward to reading it in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Jan... don't know if I've been "itching" (ha), but I surely have enjoyed the birds again this year. The colder temps and snowfalls have really brought them around - they're hungrier than ever. Which reminds me that I must head outdoors to replenish the food supply! Happy Watching! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Jan. I have "bird itch" too! Although I didn't know what it was called before reading your post. :-)

    You have a great assortment of bird visitors (I think I've said that to you before?) My favorite shot has to be the bluebird tho. It's fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Jan, thank you for the lovely gifts and card which I received with my gardening by letter package. I am paying a short visit to everyone to say Hi, you have a fabulous array of birds visiting your garden, none of ours are as coloufull.Thanks for sharing such great photos

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Jan! I heard about your accident while moving! Hope you heal quickly! I love these pics of birds. The last one with the blue bird in mid-flight is my favorite!

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a lovely assortment of birds you have. I have to tramp on trails to find so many, but we do have our few steady customers at the feeders.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lovely to see all your birds! I have just started to have an interesting in birds and in two weeks time I have seen 4 new species for me since I started to look for them.

    MB

    ReplyDelete
  23. What great photos~ I love birds too. I don't have a fast enough camera to capture pictures like your.
    Well done~

    Blessings,
    Georgiann

    ReplyDelete
  24. so I LOVE that first picture you have posted of the blue bird and house finch.. so pretty and the birds are GORGEOUS! i wish we had some cool birds like those over here in CA.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nicely said. I can't wait for the bird influx in the springtime, but I did see a bluebird on the deck this morning. Not only is this very early, confirming that they can overwinter, but we never had them come up to the house before. Great fun!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hello Jan,

    I am very familiar with the 'bird itch' and I also am pleased that there is no known cure.

    I have just returned from a couple of very pleasant hours bird watching, and the sight of our feathered wildlife going about their business in their natural environment is so rewarding.

    I also have a couple of bird baths set up in my garden, and I am always delighted by the visitors that use them.

    I'm glad I found your blog, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a beautiful and inspiring blog you have here Jan!:)

    The photos are just gorgeous! :)

    Thank you for taking the time recently to visit my blog, and for your lovely comment :)

    I love watching birds as well, we have many around here, plus I have my pet ones.

    We have cats but when they go outside, they have an outside enclosure they go into. That way they can watch all the birds, but can't get to them ! :)

    Take care
    Jules :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Fantastic photos Jan!

    I'm looking forward to seeing your bird cam 'captures!'

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great photos! And you get bluebirds at your suet feeder???? I see bluebirds in the yard, but don't recall ever seeing one at a feeder - thought I had to put out mealworms and I'm just not prepared to do that (LOL).

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Post Topics

17 year Cicadas...Enough Already! 2011 Official Post 2012 4th of July collage 5-lined skink A Certain Kind of Light A Cozy Fire A Dusting of Snow A Family Meal A Hawkish Tale A Little Bit of Winter A Visit From Miss Glad on Blooming Friday A Visit With The Queen A Warm Cup of Tea Acorns African Violets African Violets:Kitty Style Agastache Allium Am I too late for GBBD Amaryllis Amazing Zinnias American Beautyberry American Hazelnut American Lady American Robin Anemone Anenome Anglewings Anise Hyssop Another Birthday aphids April 2010 April blooms Arbor Day Are Words Really Necessary? Artemesia Asarum Asclepias Asiatic lilies Aster Aster Yellows Audubon-at-Home August 2009 GBBD August 2013 Autumn Autumn Reflections Awards Awesome Azaleas Azalea on Ice;Picture This Photo Contest;Winter's Beauty Azaleas Azealea Back Yard Backyard Bird Series backyard birds Backyard Makeover Bald Eagles Balloon Flower Bee Collage Bee-Balm Bees Bees Busily Buzzing on Blooms Before and After Being Settled berries Big Eyes Bird Collage Bird Conversations Bird Itch Birdfeeding Birds Birds Before Blooms Birthday Books Black Swallowtail Black Swallowtail Butterflies Black Swallowtail butterfly cats Blackeyed Susan Bleeding Heart Blog Anniversary Blogger blogging blogging friends Blogiversary Blooming Friday Blotanical Blotanical awards Blotanical's 2009 Best Virginia Award Blue Blooms Bluebeard Bluebird Bluebird Fledglings Bluebird in Snow Botanical Interests Boulder Bouquet of the Month:April 2010 Bouquet of the Month:March 2010 Bright Flowers broad-winged damselfly Brown Creeper Brunnera Buddleia Bugbane Bulbs BulbsSproutinginPot Bumblebees Butterflies BUTTERFLIES LIVE Butterfly on Salvia Butterfly weed Calorie-Free Candy Camera-less in April Can You Guess What This Is? Can You Please Identify Me Can't Get Enough Cosmos Cancer Experience Cardinal Cardinal (Female) Cardinal (Male) Cardinal Flower Carolina Wren Carolyn's Shade Gardens Carpenter Bees Carpet Rose Caryopteris Caryopteris x clandonensis Catmint Cedar Waxwing CedarWaxwing celandine poppy Celebrate Your Freedom Cercis canadensis Certified Wildlife Sanctuary Chelone Cherry Blossoms Chickadee Chris McLaughlin Christmas Fern Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Cicada's Ahead of Schedule Cicada's May 2009 Cicadas May 2013 Cinquefoil Clematis CobraHead Collage Collages Columbine Common Buckeye Common Whitetail dragonfly Composter Coneflower Containers Cooper's Hawk Coral Red Honeysuckle Coreopsis Corona Corydalis Cosmos Covered Hellebore Plants Cozy and Warm Cranberrybush Vibernum Crepe Myrtle Crested Iris Crocus Crocus 'Romance' Crow Cut Flowers From My Garden Cutleaved Coneflower Daffodil Daffodils dainty blue flowers Dayflower Daylilies December 2010 December Birds Deer Poop Desert Island Plant Challenge Desperate for Color on Bloom Day Devastation in the Garden Devotion Dicentra Digitalis purpurea Does This Outfit Make Me Look Fat? Dogs Dragonflies Dragonfly or Damselfly Dried Blooms ducklings Dutchman's Breeches Dwarf Nandina Dwarf Sumac e-Bird e.e.cummings e.e.cummings:i thank You God for most this amazing Earth Day Eastern Bluebird Eastern Comma butterfly Eastern Redbud Eastern Tiger Swallowtail eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Ebony Jewelwing Echinacea Elderberry Emily Dickinson End of the Line Epimedium Euphorbia Evening Primrose facebook Faith Fall Color Project Feasting on Seeds Feb 2010 GBBD Feb 2010 monster storm Feeling Blue Feeling Blue? Finch Fire Pink First Day of April First Snow First Snowfall Project Fiskars Flame Azalea Flat Tire Basket Flick'r photo large sizes Floral Collages Focal Black and White photo Foliage-Followup Forsythia Fourth of July Foxglove Foxy in November Free Will Friends Fritillaria Frozen Blooms Galanthus Garden Garden Blessings Garden Blogger Bloom Day:November 2008 Garden Blogger Muse Day November 2009 Garden Blogger Muse Day:December 2008 Garden Blogger's Bloom Day:January 2009 Garden Bloggers Garden Bloggers Bloom Day Garden Bloggers Muse Day Garden Bloggers Muse Day (April 2009) Garden Bloggers Operation Christmas Child Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day Garden Bloggers' Muse Day: June 2009 Garden Books Garden Give Away Garden Give Aways Garden Give-Aways Garden Product Give Away Gardening Gone Wild photography contest Gardening Nude Gardening-by-Letter project GardenShoesOnline Garter Snake Ingests Toad GBBD Febrary 2009 GBBD July 2009 GBBD June 2010 GBBD March 09 GBBD:December 2008 GBMD May 2009 GBMD:January 2009 Geese in a Row--and Ducks too Giant Hyssop Give-Away Winner Gladiola Gloves Go Native Goblins and Pumpkins and Snakes oh my God in the Garden Golden Groundsel Goldenglow Goldenrod Goldfinch Goodbye March Graham Rice Gramma's Afghan Grapes Grasshopper Grateful Great Backyard Bird Count Great House Plant Census of 2010 Green and Gold Green Cure fungicide Hairy Woodpecker Happy Father's Day Haven Brand Manure Tea Hawk hawks Heated Birdbath Heather Heliopsis Heliotrope Hellebore Hellebore Collage HelleboreHover Hellebores Hellebores Book Give-Away Helleborus Helleborus niger Help Identify Animal Tracks Henry David Thoreau: Hepatica Heron Heuchera High School Orchestra Concert Highbush Blueberry Hip Mountain Mama Holiday Stress Holiday stress: How Much is Self-Imposed Holly Honored and Humbled Hornworms House Finch Hummingbird Clearwing Hyacinth Hyacinths Hylotelephium I Am Truly Thankful! I'm a bit Bee-hind Iberis Ice on Stream Ice Storm Ilex Impatiens Indentifying Butterflies Iris Iris reticulata It's Here Its Grown On Me Jacob's Ladder January 2010 snow January 2011 January 2013 Japanese Anemone Joe Pye Weed John Keats July garden 2010 Junco June 19th 2009 Just Be Gardens Kerria Kerria-Japanese Rose Keter Dynamic Composter Kombi Ladybird Johnson Lake Anna Lake Anna June 2009 Lake Vacation Lamium Lantana Late to the Party Again lavender Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Leyland Cypress Liatris Life Experiences Light Lilac Bush Limestone Liriope Liverwort Lobelia Lonicera sempervirens Luna the Greyhound Lungwort Lyme Disease Lyme Disease has gone to my Head Macro in a Mason Jar Mallard ducks March Birthday Bloggers March GBBD mention master gardener May 2010 May Apple Meaning Memorial Day 2010 Memories Mertensia Mid Summer's Eve Mid-June Blooms MidMarch Blooms and Foliage Milkweed Miniature Dachshund mishmash wednesday Mistflower Mites Monarchs Monarchs and Milkweed Monarda Monkshood Monthly Garden Bouquet Moon More April Bouquets Morning Light Mountain Laurel Mourning Doves MuhlyGrass Mums Muscari Muscle My Cat Smokie My Daughter My Dog James My Family My FIRST Enlarged Photo My Husband My Mother My Son My Yard Mystery Tracks Nandina Nandina berries National Cherry Blossom Festival Native Ginger Native Honeysuckle native plants Natural Habitat Nepata New York Fern Non-Natives Northern Flicker Not The Best Notecards November 2009 GBBD Now that's an 'ice picture Obedient Plant Oct 2008 GBBD Almost Ready Oct 2009 October 2009GBBD Of Gloves and Shovels Oh Say Can You See Okay so who or what is eating my plants Oliver Herford:I Heard a Bird Sing Operation Christmas Child Pain Management Techniques Pansies Pansy paperwhites Pay It Forward Project Pay-It-Forward gift-giving exchange Peanut Feeder Peonies by Mary Oliver Peony Perennials Perennials in my garden Perovskia Personal Poetry Personal Poetry: Petunia Phlox Phlox paniculata photo contest Photography Contests phytoplasma Pieris Pieris Japonica Pileated Woodpecker Pine Siskin Pink Azalea Pink Peony Planting Natives Plants on Ice Poetry Pollinators Polymonium Pond Critters Poppy Potentilla Potomac River Pretty Pink Peony Has Popped Prize Winners Product Reviews Project FeederWatch Pulmonaria Pumpkin Carving Purple Coneflower Purpose Questionmark butterfly radishes Rain Rain Barrel Rainbarrel Rainbow Project Rainy Days Raspberry and Lemon Sherbet Reasons I Garden red admiral Red Winged Blackbird Red-Bellied Woodpecker Red-Spotted Purple Red-winged Blackbird Redbud Relaxing Remember Renee's Garden Revised GBBD February 15 Richmond VA Robert Frost Robin Robin'sNestingPlace Rock Soapwort Rock Solid RockSoapwort Roly-Poly Squirrel Rose hips Roses Roses with Thorns Rosy Maple Moth Rudbeckia Rudbeckia lanciniata Russian Sage S.A.D. Salvia Salvia greggi Samuel Taylor Coleridge:The Nightengale Sanguinaria Scilla Seagulls Seasonal Affective Disorder Security Blanket Sedum Sedum Autumn Joy Seed Planting Experiment Seed Starter System Seed-Planting Experiment#1 Seed-Planting Experiment#2 Seed-Planting Experiment#2 (cont.) Seeds Sense of Humor September blooms September Blooms:A Series of Surprises September Surprises #3 Serviceberry Shades of Blue Shady Gardener:Gladsome Be? sharing Sharp-shinned Hawk Shawna Coronado Shirl's Garden Watch Siberion Buglose Skink Slaty Skimmer dragonfly Snake Snake skin Snow Snow in Spring Snowdrop Anenome Snowdrops Snowstorm Solomon's Seal Sounds of the Birds Speedwell Spicebush Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly cats spicebush swallowtail caterpillar Spider Webs Spiderwort sprained ankle Spring Buds and Bulbs Spring Has Sprung Spurge Squirrel Squirrels stainless steel water bottle Standard Poodle Starling Steam on Fence Strawberries Succulents Summer Flowers SunRays Sunrise Sustainable Living project Swallowtail Butterflies Sweaters Hoods and Coats Sweet Allysum Sweet William Teacup and Teapot Tete-a-Tete Thank You to Phillip Thanksgiving The Best Christmas Gifts The Complete Idiot's Guide to Composting The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hellebores The GGW photo contest I 'almost' entered on time The Multi-Hued Greens of Spring The Ocean The Seed Keeper Company The Sun Shines at Night The Thrush This Ain't No April Fools Joke This aMayzing Day Thyme Tiarella Titmouse Toad Lily Tools Toulouse goose Tradescantia Tree Sparrow Trees Trillium Trout Lily Tufted Titmouse Tulips Tulips in Spring Tulips on Thursday Turtle Crossing turtle garden Turtlehead TX-Bluebonnet Umbrella VA Gardener Magazine Valentine's Display variegated foliage Verbena Veronica Vinca Violas Virginia Bluebells Virginia Gardener Magazine Wake Robin Walt Whitman:Miracles Washington DC Water Fountain Water Garden Waterfall/Stream WBBS Wednesday Words Weeping Willow West County Gardener What Are You Waiting For What d'ya think Janet What's Happening? What's New in November White Embden geese White Peony White-Breasted Nuthatch Wild Geranium Wild Ginger Wildflower Wednesday Wildflowers Will the Real Turtle Please Come Out William Wordsworth William Wordsworth:The Daffodil's Willow Leaved Sunflower Window; Death; Personal Photography Winter I Am So Over You Winter is for the Birds Winter Light Winter Solstice winter storm slide-show Winter Walk-Off 2014 Winterberry Witch Hazel Woodfern Woodland Pinkroot Woodpecker WORDLESS Friday Wordless Wednesday: Wren X-Rated Yellow but not Mellow Yesterday and Today Zinnia Zinnia Bud (Plan B)