It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is here and I've been publishing a number of posts in the month leading up to the "holiday." I do realize it can be a rough day for some. If that "some" includes you, dear reader, know you are not alone, so find love and joy where you can (there's a lot of it out there).

Friday's Fact: Birdie's got blue eyelids!

The entertainer Elton John sang a song in which the lyrics included, "Blue eyes. Blue eyes. Baby's got blue eyes" and — as I've mentioned over the years on social media including prior posts within this blog— I often think of those lyrics when Mourning doves visit my garden, as was the case yesterday.

Upon seeing a couple of them (who are featured in the photo-ops atop this entry),  I found myself once again putting a spin on Elton John as I sang softly to this creature, "Blue eye lids. Blue eye lids. Birdie's got blue eye lids." 

Mourning doves are so inspiring on many levels.

Sunday Brunch in my Garden

This past Monday, here in NYC, we had a nor'easter (which I wrote about in a recent post here on Blogger). Now, six days later wet, heavy snow has been falling since early morning but this did not deter avian creatures from visiting my place, as evidenced in the photos atop this entry.

Friday's Follow-Up Re A Visiting Jay

Atop this entry is a copy of a Mutts cartoon created by Patrick McDonnell. It was initially posted in celebration of the 2018 Winter Solstice and I thought of the sentiment expressed by Mooch during the nor'easter which occured in NYC this past Monday (2-1-2021).

As I said in my blog post about the event (which I published the next day) an array of bird types (including a lone American robin, several Dark-eyed juncoes, a number of House sparrows, an entourage of Mourning doves, and a lone Northern mockingbird) spent a lot of time in my garden during this storm. 

The day following the storm, which happened to be Groundhog Day, a Blue jay stopped by my place.

A Bernie Sander's Meme Featuring Cam and Mac! (Thursday's Testimony)

Does anyone happen to remember when a House sparrow alighted on Bernie Sander's campaign podium in 2016? It was adoreable. Here's the link to a recording of the incident in case you missed it and/or want to refresh your memory). My recalling that sparrow plus seeing all the Bernie Sanders mitten-memes inspired my idea to create a meme with him wearing my cardinal-themed face-mask.

STOP THE SPREAD (of lovers's quarrels)

HOUSE FINCHES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

The other day was quite cold and I noticed a male House finch puffing up as he perched on a branch within an Ailanthus tree in my courtyard. Puffing up is something birds do to keep warm as I mentioned in this past Friday's posting. 

Male House finches are red and the females have brownish tones thus they blend in with nature, which is helpful in them being able to protect a nest.

The one seen here (lower left) blends in with the branches so much that I may not have noticed her had I not wondered what the male was looking at. Their distance reminded me of the social distancing, a "task" that folks around the world have been asked to keep to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Friday's Fact: Mourning doves have their love to keep them warm!

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

It's been very cold and I've been wearing layer upon layer, but Mourning doves don't have to bundle up when the temps are so low, all they do is puff up (as evidenced by the image atop this entry which was taken in my garden the other day). Another way they may be keeping warm is by their love for their partner.

"Birds are like teenagers They don't write. They don't call." (Wednesday's Wisdom)

CARDINALS ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

CARDINALS ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

Cardinals used to visit my garden on a frequent basis but lately not so much and I was thrilled when one stopped by a few weeks ago. He is featured in the images atop this entry. I never know the reason for their absence. When I expressed this concern to a neighbor, he told me, "Birds are like teenagers They don't write. They don't call."

In the spring, becomes the geranium....

When I am in my garden on a cold January day and notice few geraniums who are poking their heads through the mulch (as that flower type is doing in the photo directly above) that was put there to protect them during a cold winter days, I think of some lines from a The Rose, a song written by Amanda McBroome. 

Her song was made popular by Bette Midler and the lyrics I'm thinking of go like this, "...just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes the rose."

In this instance, my geraniums weren't lying beneath the bitter snow (although they were doing that last month), they are lying beneath layers of mulch put in their container when iI did my annual garden winterizing ritual.

Squirrel Appreciation Day 2021

Today, January 21st, is the annual day to celebrate Squirrel Apppreciation Day. I've written about this holiday within a number of venues including entires on this blog.

These animals can provide a lot of entertainment when you observe them as I've done in both Central Park and Riverside Park over the years when I've encountered various types including Cinnamon Variant squirrels, Black squirrels and Eastern gray squirrels.

On July 8th 2020, shortly after NYC started to begin easing up on lockdown restrictions (many of which were subsequently put back in place) which had been in effect since March due  to the devastating consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, I had the chance to watch squirrels from my window for they began to visit the Ailanthus Trees in my buildings courtyard and as you might surmise from the photo-ops atop this entry, their antics gave me many reaons to smile during those isolating times.

N'tl Bird Day 2021 has come and gone! However, one can continue to celebrate! (Tuesday's Truths WK 201)

MALE HOUSE FINCHES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

This two hundred and one segement of Tuesday's Truths is to alert you to the fact that National Bird Day has come and gone for the year 2021. It was celebrated three weeks ago on 1-5. Information re this holiday can be found in a number of places on the web including a page for National Day. 

In bygone years, I've published posts about this occasion as I certainly appreciate any occasion that aims to raise awareness about members of the animal kingdom and I don’t think it needs to be limited to one day.

But this segement is also designed to let you know that if you missed this year’s National Bird Day, just make it a point to do something that will benefit our feathered friends, such as making sure any bird feeder you have is clean as well as replenished. 

They will truly appreciate your efforts as evidenced by this male house finch (in the photograph directly above) who is enjoying a snack from a feeder in my garden.

Another thing you can do is to make sure your bird bath is clean and if winter temperatures are prevailing, make sure the water isn't frozen.

“A new day. A blue jay. A new beginning...."

Blue jays visit my garden frequently and the other day was no exception. My latest visitor can be seen in the image atop this entry as well as in the ones directly below.

Upon my seeing this creature, I thought of some lines from a poem by Eleanor Farjeon which go like this, “A new day. A blue jay. A new beginning...."

You may recognize her name as she wrote the hymn, "Morning Has Broken," which is usually associated with Cat Stevens whose recording of it popularized the song.

This bird type, which sometimes gets a bad rap, has influenced me from an early age when I drew (albeit not very well) the creature's picture.

Taking a Cue From Mourning Doves

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

The other evening after the sun went down, I noticed at least seven mourning doves sitting in my rooftop garden. Due to their coloring and the darkness of the sky, they nearly blended in with the blacktop surface; so it was hard to observe their behavior and impossible (given the constraints of my camera equipment) to photograph them.

Valentine's Day Is One Week Away!

Valentine's Day is one week from now! The vintage valentine card seen in the first image is a nice reminder of the importance of the paper card.

Consider sending your "song of love" to your valentine by using my song-bird themed cards.

Tuesday's Truths Week 162: We go out on a limb for those we love...

Cardinal Love 3

According to a web-page for The Phrase Finder (TPF), the meaning of the phrase "Go out on a limb," is "to put oneself in an isolated position in one's support of someone or something... the limb being talked about here is the branch of a tree and 'out on a limb' is an allusion to climbing trees and going just a bit further than is comfortable...."

Spouses Day 2020

Cardinal Love 2

Spouse's Day is celebrated on January 26, 2020 (today). It is a day to enjoy and appreciate your better half.

Northern cardinals (known as Mac and Cam) seem to show how much they care for their spouse by feeding each other. This can as seen in the image directly above which has been rendered on to a greeting card and is available via my shop that's located on Fine Art America's site.

Listen Up! (Wednesday's Wisdom)

Cardinal Love 1

With the Valentine's Day holiday approaching in twenty-three days, it's the perfect opportunity to begin (if you don't already) to keep in mind, "Understanding your partner requires the capacity to listen. Really listen. Couples are advised to hear each other’s complaints without feeling attacked, and as great as this sounds, it’s often unrealistic."

"Dinner for Two": Mating House Finches's Image is a Perfect Valentine's Day Greeting (Saturday's Suggestion)

CHECK THIS OUT ON FINE ART AMERICA

The colors of  the female house finch are muted giving them a protective camouflage.

Deep red coloring in the males of this bird type indicates they are healthy and might make good partners and fathers to their children.

Perhaps this is what is on the mind of the female house finch featured in my image (Dinner for Two) during her dinner date.

Pics of Mourning Doves Make Great Valentine's Day Greetings (Thursday's Testimony)

The other day I noticed a Mourning Dove in my rooftop garden who was holding up his wing (as seen in the photograph atop this post) in such a manner that I suspect might've been as an act to attract a mate.

WW* Pics of Jays Make Great Valentine's Day Greetings (*Wednesday's Wisdom)

CHECK THIS OUT ON FINE ART AMERICA

CHECK THIS OUT ON FINE ART AMERICA

According to a number of sources, including one related to the symbolism and meaning of certain birds, "Jays mate for life, giving them the symbolism and meaning of faithfulness and accord."

Because of this undisputed fact of their faithfulness, images of Blue Jays rendered on to cards make a perfect Valentine's Day card for the one near and dear to you.