I noticed an unfamiliar growth on my rhubarb. Turns out, the rhubarb is BLOOMING. New to me, but evidently common on plants that have been in the ground a while, as mine have. They came from my Dad's back yard, and have been producing delicious stalks for five years. Obviously, something I will use as a subject to create some art.  And the kids devised new ways to use the giant rhubarb leaves.

feeding young Bluebirds

The video below shows the adult female Eastern Bluebird that flew into the nestbox with a worm dangling from her beak. She fed the worm to one of her four young birds, then turned up to the opening and accepted another worm from the adult male.



In this way they can feed all four of the hatchlings enough so they'll grow to nearly full size in two weeks.

Eastern Bluebird hatchlings

In the Bluebird nestbox today, four little hatchlings instead of four blue eggs! Both adults are carrying worms to feed the little ones. The female especially likes the mealworms we put out for her to help feed them all.

nesting House Wrens

A pair of House Wrens Troglodytes aedon have settled in one of our nestboxes. They have three eggs so far; typically they lay 4 to 8 in a clutch.
UPDATE: May 27 -- 7 eggs in the nest.

nesting Eastern Bluebirds

This Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis has been sitting on her 4 eggs for nine days. It is warm enough that she can spend some time above the nest, peering out her doorway watching the bugs go by. In another five days, she and her partner should have several mouths to feed.

feathered nest Tree Swallows

The Tree Swallows have 3 eggs in the nest so far. She has created a cup of grasses and lined it with feathers to protect her babies.
UPDATE: 6 eggs in the nest; she started brooding them on May 27.

Tree Swallows

Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor are building a nest in one of the nestboxes. They have been constructing the cup with grass and pine needles for a few days. Today, the female is adding feathers for the cup lining.

Goldfinches

The American Goldfinches Spinus tristis males are wearing their bright summer feathers; gorgeous and playful among the trees.

young fledgling

This young bird was perched at the edge of the woods, curious about the thistle seed feeder but uncertain about fluttering away.  We think it is a fledgling Rose Breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus.

wild plum

Under a tangle of vines, brush, and poison ivy, I found a lovely little tree.  It is a wild plum Prunus americana with white flowers.

Columbine blooms in the woods

Wild columbines Aquiligia glow as they nod in the sunny openings among the trees in the wild woods.

Jack blooms in the woods

The Arisaema triphyllum plants are blooming in the woods. Also known as Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Bog Onion, and Wake Robin.

Bloodroot blooms in the woods

The Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis flowers are open all across the shady floor of the woods.

pussywillows

Pussywillows are pumping out their catkins ---  nice nesting material for the birds that are arriving for the season.

maple trees in bloom

The maple tree Acer rubrum "Northwood" is in bloom.
They are always spectacular, especially up close!

migrants

A new flock of sparrows showed up today, gathering up all the seeds on the ground in the woods and on the woods' edge.  A closer look at their yellow lores tells us they are White-Throated Sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis.

Robin in Springtime song

The Robins Turdus migratorius are busy gathering mud and grass for their nests, and singing during their work breaks.

treetop nests

As the snow melts and wind lifts away the clutter, we can see more clearly the nests at treetop level.   Maybe old empty ones, currently cozy ones, or soon to be used?

forsythia blooms

The forsythias are in full bloom this week.

bright epaulettes on blackbirds

The Red-Winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus sings from the cattails and snatches snacks from the seed tray.

nest site selection

Bird pairs in the wild woods sing to one another as they inspect possible nest locations. We provide nest boxes, nesting tubes, and shrubs for the birds; we also put out clusters of fiber and grasses to help cushion their nests.

Springtime

The birds are leaving the winter guild and finding mates again; this pair of House Finches Haemorhous mexicanus lunched together and sunned themselves on the tray feeder.

The sounds of Spring are louder each day -- woodpeckers drumming and excavating nest cavities, cardinals singing to one another, robins warning us away from their desired nesting spots, nuthatches barking for more peanuts, and chickadees chatting.

Jays

The jays usually get the peanuts before the nuthatches or squirrels.

running creek

Above freezing, finally, and the creek is running through the wild woods. The birds prefer bathing in it rather than the heated birdbath.

dusk visitor

An opossum Didelphis virginiana came out of the wild woods at dusk to savor the leftover peanuts scattered on the patio.