Round Lake Nature Notes: Out and About: In My Garden

One of my favorite summer pastimes is hanging out in my garden, binoculars and camera in hand, seeing what birds, butterflies, and critters are visiting or making the garden their home. There has been a record number of bird families this season using the garden to feed their young, splash and drink in the bird baths and fountain, and nest in the porch rafters, pine tree and nestbox. Mourning Doves chose to make a nest in the porch rafters for the second summer in a row. Last year their flimsy nest fell off the rafters with an egg inside. This year they were successful and had one baby. After about two weeks the juvenile stepped out of the nest. A photo is included of parent and child. However, a day or so later the parents were not right near the nest. A Blue Jay flew in at high speed screaming and went right at the juvenile. I jumped up from my porch chair to see birds flying, the nest falling, and no sight of the young dove. I searched the ground and vegetation but no bird. The parents came back to the rafters where the nest had been for three days in a row cooing and looking. It was heartbreaking. After a couple of weeks they made a nest in the pine tree. High winds and torrential rain destroyed the nest. These dove parents have had such a difficult time.

House Wrens have been much more successful in their nesting efforts. They raised one brood in my neighbor's nestbox and soon started another nest inside my nestbox. They currently have a second brood born which should fledge next week. Currently, both wren parents are busy feeding the babies insects throughout the day. They are not afraid to scold and go after birds, squirrels, and cats that get too close to the nest.

Rabbits have been around on a regular basis and one is very fond of violet leaves so I call her Violet. My young friends Colin and Keegan brought me a tree frog to live in the garden. They said it looked like a rock so we named it Rocky. It disappeared up the maple tree. Monarchs have been in the garden daily, sometimes three at a time. They have laid lots of eggs on the milkweed and take nectar from the flowers. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been zipping around sipping at the sugar water feeders, trumpet vine, New York Ironweed and Phlox.I am always sad to see the hummers leave. The males go before the females by the end of August.

Hoping everyone is enjoying their gardens, summer activities, and getting out and about to see some cool things. My latest fascination is bog plants. I've added a photo of a small bog island at an Adirondack pond. Sundews and Pitchers, and Sphagnum... Oh My!!!