Size of Bluebirds Birdhouse at the Backyard – Nature 31

Many ways to attract bluebirds to visit and stay a while at backyard, for me, one of methods is to design proper birdhouse.

Image 1- Blue bird and her house

Wild birds, especially songbirds like bluebird need right size which comfortable space for:

- adult birds to go and come to bring foods from outside for their new babies and mates

- proper base size to put eggs safely for incubation

- proper large size will accommodate baby birds to grow well until reach time to leave the birdhouse.

Image 2- Yellow flowers in the garden

Image 3- Nesting inside birdhouse

As you might know that there are 3 different types of bluebirds:

- Eastern bluebirds
- Western bluebirds
- and Mountain bluebirds

Based on my knowledge, our state, Louisiana has a lot of Eastern bluebird. Hence, the size of birdhouse is design for this Eastern bluebird.

Entry Hole is important part with diameter size is 3.81 cm (1,5 inches), and box size could be 12.7 x 25.4 cm (5 x 10 inches) square.

What do you think?

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The Royal Ponciana Tree in the Neighborhood – Nature 30

Royal Poinciana tree also known as Flamboyant tree. These unusual and hard to find trees in our neighborhood, here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Image 1- Flowers of Royal Ponciana Tree

I saw the yellow flowers of Royal Ponciana Tree in our neighborhood. I never seen other color yet. Yellow might favorite color for neighbors.

However, from internet searching that in addition to yellow, the colors of flowers could be:

- red
- orange
- scarlet
- or combines of red and orange.

Image 2- A Sweet cat, walking on the floor

Image 3- A harmless box turtle

Image 4- A baby Royal Ponciana Tree

The scientific name of Royal Ponciana is (Delonix regia), and origin of tree from tropical, Madagascar, Africa.

We can observe this tree in the southern states of USA. It is commonly seen growing in south Florida. We have seen in Key West area, Florida.

You might find this tree gorws in the other states include:

- Louisiana
- Texas
- Mississippi and Alabama

Have you seen beautiful flowers of Royal Ponciana Tree?

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Injured Hawk on the Street then Fly Away – Nature 29

We just found a hawk lying down on the street nearby our neighborhood. We don’t know why.

Image 1- Bird on the street

We think that there are several possibilities that why hawk is lying down on the street, some of them:

1) Hawk hits running car
2) Catching preys, then hit ground
3) Avoiding predators, then hit ground

As you might know, some predators that attacked hawk are:

- eagles
- owls and bigger hawks

Image 2- Red and Pink tulips.

Honestly, we don’t know what real causes of the hawk lying down on the roadside of our neighborhood.

Image 3- Beautiful flowers

We saw that the bird was probably injured, we then touch the hawk. After observing carefully, we thought the bird is only stunned even though it looked very weak or dead

Since its try to fly from our hand, as soon as we throw it to the air. The hawk come strong, and sure it fled away.

The bird disappeared from our eyes just in several minutes. However, we don’t know whether the bird suffered from brain injury and internal bleeding despite initially flying off.

What do you think?

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Crape Myrtle Blooming in the Summer – Nature 28

We know that many flowers blooming in the spring, but some flowers include Crape Myrtle blooming in the summer.

Image 1 – Red Crape Myrtle

Almost all houses in our neighborhood grow this kind of flower, sure with different colors.

We recognize at least four colors both in our neighborhood areas and nearby roads:

- red
- white
- purple
- pink

Image 2- Tend to pink color

Image 3- Purple color

Image 4- White of Crape Myrtle

Image 5- Crape Myrtle on the roadside

Based on internet searching, one author, John Barrat (2018: Crape myrtle trees aren’t native to the U.S., but hungry native birds still find them tasty) reported that this flower is come from Asia.

The origin of Crape myrtle from countries such as:

- China
- Korea
- and other hot temperature areas.

Since temperature of our city, Baton Rouge, LA could reach F 100 (C 38) degree, it is not surprising this flower grow very well.

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A Juvenile Woodpecker Hit a Glass Window – Nature 27

I saw birds hit my glass window several times. Many of them can fly away, but few not able to move and even dead.

I can do nothing for helping dead birds. Just feel very sad.

Image 1- A Juvenile Woodpecker can’t fly

Couple weeks ago, A juvenile woodpecker hit a glass window, and unfortunately couldn’t fly away.

I tried to call several numbers, but got nowhere

After thinking a while, then I called Veterinary school at my city, Baton Rouge, LA. The school then ask me to bring the bird to them in the afternoon.

I drop the bird off at 4.00 pm, and the veterinarian there to help the injured Juvenile Woodpecker.

Image 2- Flowers and grass in the garden

I was so thankful, because the bird could be saved, and I feel that I have blessing for the day.

Image 3- Flowers under trees, birds love this place

However, as I said that few birds are “not able to move and even dead.” As far as I remember they are including:

- humming bird
- cardinal
- warbler
- brown creeper

As many people said that birds hit the window glass because they see reflections of:

- vegetation or plants as potential of their foods resources.
- their own, and think that outsiders

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Giant Hibiscus Flowers are Found in Walking Trails – Nature 26

We are in the second week of June. Slowly the temperature is getting higher and hotter, so we decide to take morning walk a little early.

We left home about 7.00 am this morning.

Image 1- Red of a giant Hibiscus flower

The sky was clear, but some part of walking trails a little bit wet, so we walked around the roses garden.

There were beautiful giant flowers welcomes us in the corner of walking trails. Their colors are so attractive in:

- red
- pink
- white
- orange and yellow

Image 2- Contracted flower

Image 3- Rotten flower buds

Image 4- Giant Hibiscus flowers

When we walked closer to the flowers, I can see the petals of flowers are so big.

The tree is small and not that high, but the size of flowers is fantastic. Diameter of a flower can reach 10 to 12 inches (25 to 31 cm). I think the flowers are quite big (giant) compared to “normal” Hibiscus ones.

I believe they are hibiscus family with very big flowers, so call them the giant hibiscus.

From Google, some sites called them Hibiscus evening rose.

What do you think about those flowers?

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Diet of Rose breasted grosbeak in Nature – Nature 25

We have talk about very rare visiting of Rose breasted grosbeak in our neighborhood:

- Rose breasted grosbeak Comes to Our Neighborhood – Nature 23

Image 1- Rose breasted grosbeak sitting on feeder.

As you might know that Rose breasted grosbeak has “quite big size of beak” compared to other birds with similar size. Hence, the birds have ability to consume larger food items.

Wild Bird Unlimited (2022) reported that more than 50% of Rose breasted grosbeak come from larger insects such as:

- crickets
- grasshoppers
- and other insects

Image 2- Pink Caladium in the pot

Image 3- Sunflower at the neighbor garden

Image 4- Rose breasted grosbeak at a neighbor’s feeder

Sure, in backyard of our neighborhood, this “big beak” bird love to eat seed, any kind of seeds.

In nature, in addition to insects, the bird consumes fruit and seed. The favorite seeds are:

- sunflower
- safflower seeds
- weed seeds and peanuts.

Have you ever feed Rose breasted grosbeak in your yards? What kind of food do you provide the bird?

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Blue Mirror Flowers Blooming Twice in a Season – Nature 24

I just know, plenty flowers blooming more than one in a season. One of them is Delphiniums, also called as Blue Mirror.

The scientific name is a Delphinium elatum, perennial flower.

Image 1- Blue Mirror is blooming.

Blue Mirror always get first blooming in early summer, and blooming again in late summer or early fall.

The color quite beautiful; violet – blue. Flowers could reach 10 inches (25 cm). Look sweet in the garden.

Europe is origin of flowers. They commonly found from southern parts of Europe to Siberia.

Image 2- Some blooming, others not yet

Image 3- Love to see flowers blooming

In addition to Blue Mirror, other flowers which blooming twice a year are many, here some of them:

- Russian Sage, Ice plant
- Salvia, Yarrow
- Beebalm, Echinacea
- Astible, Icelandic poppies and etc

Finally, all flowers genus Delphinium are poisonous both to human and animals. All parts of flowers are poison, include seed. Toxicity may lead to bloat, respiratory failure and even to death.

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