Happy Earth Day – of Hummingbirds, Swallows and Frankenboxes

I spent a glorious morning recently watching Violet Green and Tree Swallows visiting my nesting boxes. I constructed some boxes on Earth Day a few years ago with found materials and a hand saw. These “frankenboxes” reflect my carpentry skills. But in past years the swallows have chosen my frankenboxes or even nesting in the insulation under the eaves over the more professional boxes that I have purchased. Swallows, apparently, have good taste.

I am so lucky: the first hummingbird of the season (a male Rufous Hummingbird) turned up at my feeder this morning; my windows look out into the vivid emerald green of spring; my yard is filled with the sound of swallows, robins, juncos, chickadees, woodpeckers and so many other birds and spring has just started. There is simply not enough time in the day to take it all in.

The world is such a wonderful place, isn’t it? Happy Earth Day!

Early Rufous Male

Violet Green Swallows

Is this the one?

Leaving

Male Violet Green at the box

Choosing a nesting box

My first Rufous Hummingbird sighting of 2015

all photos and writing copyright J.A. Siderius, 2015. Just ask if you want to use it. Visit me at http://www.sideriusphotos.ca to see more photos.