For Rent

FOR RENT
Brand new single family cedar home in upscale well-established and culturally diverse lakeside community.

The entrance-way over-looks the mountains, lakes, gardens and bath.

Just a short hop away is the community recreation area with splash pool, playground, hiking, swimming and fishing.

Two models to choose from. Both have open floor plans and come partially furnished.

Long term lease available to qualified applicants. Will build to suit.

There is a nearby high-quality bedding materials store - but hurry; these items are moving quickly.

Enjoy the panoramic views from the fabulous gourmet fly-in food court. Lots of variety means something for everyone.

Ground level snacks are also available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information or to request a showing, please contact Mr. Squirrel.

Pueblo Reservoir & Park

Yesterday was a calm day at the feeders. We had the usual visitors: robins, finches, chickadees and sparrows but no new sightings. We saw the Western Tanager several times in the trees - but he did not come into the yard. I think I spotted the female tanager once - but I'm not sure.

The squirrels must still be mad at us - as they kept their distance and did not even try to get to the feeders.

I saw a House Wren the other day and want to encourage them to stay so we put up the wren house we bought at "This Place is for the Birds" and Bill built two more. We mounted them near the top of our 6-foot fence on the south side of the backyard. I also put out nesting supplies - feathers, cotton, string and straw. Bill says we need to put a "For Rent" sign up and offer the first month free.

In the afternoon we went south to Pueblo to the Wild West Festival at the River Walk. It was very nice - but I was uncomfortable walking too far as I have a bum knee that has been bothering me lately. I had an MRI last night and should know on Monday if I need surgery or can fix it with physical therapy.

After a great lunch, we drove through the Pueblo Reservoir State Park. The Prairie Dogs were everywhere. They carry Bubonic Plague and have to be eradicated every now and then - but seem to be holding their own anyway.

I spotted this yellow bird in a tree, went to take a picture - and noticed this orange bird in the background.

The yellow-bellied bird appears to be a common Kingbird. We have the Western variety in Colorado, but they don't have notched tails like this one - so it looks more like the Tropical variety - or an interbreed of the two. Maybe I've just mis- identified it altogether.

The beautiful bright orange, black and white bird is a Bullock's Oriole - very similar to the Baltimore Oriole found in the east.

This morning we made our usual Saturday morning trip to Einsteins for coffee. We have a regular group we meet there - Joe & Nancy, Lucy & Mike, Tom & Valerie, Sal and others. As friends arrive - we just move more tables together until we've taken over one side of the restaurant.

It's always a great time as we visit, joke and drink lots of coffee. Some of the people we've met there have become good friends.

Squirrel 2, Bill 0

After we discovered that our friendly Mr. Squirrel had outsmarted us and jumped over the squirrel baffle, Bill moved it up over a foot. Surely this would keep the squirrel from getting to the feeders.

Confident, we headed about our business and went to see our financial adviser (DON'T ask!!). When we returned home - Mr. Squirrel was happily sitting in the feeder tray eating the seeds. After taking this picture, I chased him away with a broom.

At this point, Bill declared all-out war on the rodents - which he "lovingly" calls "sport-model rats." We, once again, moved the baffle up - this time almost to the top of the pole. The rest of the afternoon we watched Mr. Squirrel look at the pole from all angles - figuring out how to make his move.

So far, he has not made it to the feeders - or maybe I should say - we haven't caught him! I'm sure there will be continuing chapters to this story.

The Downy Woodpecker was back. He sure does like the Birdacious Bark Butter! The Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are very similar - but the Downy has a shorter bill and is about 3 inches smaller at 6 1/2 inches.

One of Bill's friends told him about a neat bird place off Palmer Park - so we went to visit.

What a neat place! The house was built in 1909 and originally had over 300 acres of surrounding farm lands.

The store had everything you can imagine having to do with birds - including dozens of blends of seeds. Since this was our first visit, they gave us 4 pounds of select seed free. We also purchased a wren house and a contraption to keep the ants from getting into the hummingbird feeder.

This is the entrance to the store.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of this beautiful tulip. Look at the colors! We will definitely go back to this place!

Dinner with Bonser

Last night we had a great visit with our friend Don. I met Don almost 20 years ago at my first ANA Summer Seminar when he was just a chubby kid working as a grader for ANACS. Don is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in the hobby - always willing to teach and help out new hobbyist.

He got his start at ANA and returns every summer to teach grading and give back to the hobby that has treated him so well over the years.

Bill made a great dinner and we talked up a storm until past our bedtime. Don lives in Florida, as does his mother - and he promised to bring her to Fort Myers for a visit so we can all go birding at the Corkscrew Sanctuary and down into the Everglades.

This Western Tanager is one of the prettiest birds we see here in Colorado - but we only have them for a few days in mid-May.

He stayed around for several minutes this morning and let me take some pictures. I was afraid he would leave the area before I got my camera back - so this was a real treat.

While I was admiring the Tanager, Mr. Squirrel came for a visit.

He likes to jump up on the flower boxes and check out the flowers.

Unfortunately, he also likes to jump up on the bird feeder. Bill caught him in the act this morning and I sat outside to see exactly how he was doing it. He just jumps! Up and over the squirrel baffle that was guaranteed to keep him down! We need to move it up the pole another foot or so as it is obviously too low.

One of our frequent visitors is this Downy Wood-pecker. He likes the Birdacious Butter that Bill smears on the Oak log at the top of the feeder.

The peanut butter mixture is also a favorite of the Northern Flickers.

I think it's interesting to see how he uses his tail to steady him on the log while he eats.

We have lots of sparrows. This one is a Chipping Sparrow - but we also have House Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows.

Other common visitors are Mourning Doves. This one was checking out the new pond.

We certainly are enjoying our backyard - but we have lots of appointments today - first with our financial advisor and then off to the doctors.

The Geeks finally came through

My camera is finally fixed! Bill and I headed to our appoint-ment with the Geeks first thing this morning to pick it up. It was like a reunion with a long lost friend.

This is the project we have spent so much time working on - the pond in our backyard. We more than doubled the size and added two water falls. The birdie food court is to the right and it attracts lots of birds.

The squirrels enjoy the droppings, and, my sister was (once again) right! One ingenious squirrel figured out how to jump from the pond up to the feeders. We will move the squirrel baffle up a bit - but I'd love to have a picture of how he did it first.