Serving The Frugivores

According to Holiday Insights, the month of June is set aside for a few national observations: National Accordion Awareness Month, National Adopt a Cat Month, and National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month. In an effort to pay homage to the latter, I've been offering fresh blueberries to the birds that visit my urban garden in NYC.

And as you can see from the pictures posted above (which were taken in my garden), a lone American Robin and a Northern Mockingbird have been enjoying my hospitality.

However, I confess that I may be enjoying the fruits (excuse the pun) of my labor more than the birds enjoy the fruit; for seeing these birds enjoying the blueberries I've provided is entertaining as well as rewarding. The following are a few images that will give you an idea of how fulfilling it can be to offer blueberries to the avian community.

And, if truth be told, I certainly don't limit offering fresh fruit to the birds that visit me me in the month of June. In by gone years, I have served raspberries in March, which Harper, the Northern Mocking bird visiting me at the time seemed to enjoy, as evidenced in the image below.

I've also provided grapes and pomegranates during the chilly months. European starlings and Harper enjoyed them, but the photo-ops I have are not my best, so you'll have to trust me on this: birds do enjoy green grapes! As for pomegranates, they were one of Harper's favorite things to eat when he frequented my garden in February of 2015. His pleasure in indulging in this fruit type can be seen in the photos below.

I learned about Northern Mockingbirds appreciating pomegranates by reading Julie Feinstein's blog a number of years ago. However it was only today that I discovered that there is a term for animals who eat fruit: frugivore. I learned of this term from a notification in my Facebook page's newsfeed that came from The Raptor Trust. You may recall, dear reader, I got in contact with this organization when I was inquiring about the status of Super, the Northern Flicker I helped rescue this past April. As I have stated, Super had been transferred from The Wild Bird Fund to The Raptor Trust, but it turned out his injuries were too far along where any recuperation could be achieved and he was ultimately euthanized.

I have something in common with the late Super because I had an accident this past May and I sustained severe injuries. Moreover, I've just found out, via an Xray report,  that in addition to the injuries that were determined at the emergency room where I was taken after my accident, I have broken ribs! However, as painful as my injuries have been, I will survive — unlike Super! It's hard to say that if Super had been able to be Xrayed sooner (by The WBF) if he would've been able to be treated in time. 

But I can say the details of Super's plight have made me much more of the needs of birds that go far beyond providing them with fruit! In talking with Diane Soucy (of The Raptor Trust) and Rita McMahon (of The WBF), I've expressed my dream of being able to donate proceeds from my book, "Words In Our Beak" and or my bird-themed postcards should either of them meet with any success.

However I've not been able to work on subsequent volumes to my book as I'm still in severe pain! It's my hope that Diane Soucy and Rita McMahon will know I'm not blowing them off by not following up with them! I'm truly grateful to both of them for the work do they for our avian friends, and I look forward to recuperating quickly so I can contribute my endeavors to their cause!

Meanwhile I'm very grateful to be able to provide fruit for my winged friends! Seeing a baby robin in my garden, over the past few days, and, ultimately seeing him/her enjoying blueberries (all pictured below) was a blessing during this time of convalescing!

FALL 2018 ADDENDUM: 

I no longer actively produce event program covers, invitations and the types of greeting cards described here or on my website but arrangements might be able to be made under certain circumstances. My focus is on the Words In Our Beak book series, pictured below...

WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

...whose stories are told from the point of view of Cam, a female cardinal, whose photo is on the cover of each book. Words In Our Beak’s goal is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. Set in my rooftop urban garden in New York City. Words In Our Beak is directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective. The books include hundreds of images of flora and fauna, links to movies, as well as to informative narratives that have been created by the author.

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books.

Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2021:

When the third volume of the hard-cover version of Words In Our Beak was released, I withdrew from promoting my former versions of Words In Our Beak. 

The very first one is an iBook and went into Apple's book store in 2015.

This was followed by an ePub version...

... that is available on Amazon and was also published in 2015.

Subsequently, Words In Our Beak's digital versions were published as a soft-cover book (with slight variations) by MagCloud in 2017.

Its press release can be read by clicking here.  

Now with the release of BIRD TALES (which is in Apple's Bookstore and On Amazon)...

... I've been advised to make mention of my early versions of volume one of Words In Our Beak, they do vary ever so slightly in content from the hard-cover version of volume one.

As of this addendum, I do not intend to create digital or soft-cover versions of Words In Our Beak Volume Two or Words In Our Beak Volume Three.

NOVEMBER 2021 ADDENDUM 

My new book, IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS is now available in Apple's Bookstore.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS is a book with a light hearted tone and stunning photography, taking nature lovers of all ages on a delightful journey. Youngquist’s exquisite photos capture the detail and awesome wonder of various birds; assorted insects; a reptile; a fish; and an array of flowers as well as foliage; all found within New York. Youngquist’s playful writing gives insights regarding nuances found in these aspects of Mother Nature. Read IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS and add a bit of joy to your day.