It’s been a busy year and I haven’t been taking the opportunity to introduce my readers to the baby birds growing up around us. So without further ado, meet our newest neighbors!

The tree around the corner got very loud this spring. First as the hawks courted (and mated with us watching). They called to each other while Mom incubated the eggs. Finally, we heard some new voices in the mix. Then these little two white fuzzballs made their appearance over the walls of the nest.

So I don’t have baby pics for this next species, but I do have a fun pic of Papa. The Eastern Bluebirds have definitely made our neighborhood their home. A few years ago I was excited to hear just one bird, now we heard them all over the place. One day we saw babies getting fed – the little guys flew towards us and kind of froze when they realized we were not Mom! Maybe next year I can get a good photo of the babies.

It’s not hard to photograph the baby cardinals. We usually get several families each year growing up in our backyard. You hear them before you see them. The little ones are very good at begging for their food. They keep Mom and Dad busy flying to the feeders for more seed. I make sure to put out plenty of black oil sunflower, suet, and even mealworms at this time of year.

Then Mr. Red-bellied Woodpecker flew in to see who the crazy photographer was sitting in the backyard. He said his babies had already grown up, but that I met them on our walks. They fussed incessantly as they learned to fly.

The American Beautyberry bush has put on its berries, and the Northern Mockingbird has claimed them all for himself! Except there’s just one problem – he can’t eat them all, and the other birds like them too. So when he notices that they’ve invaded his territory, he darts in and chases them away. I had to laugh when I saw this was a juvie mockingbird. They sure learn early.

Note: Baby cardinals are also fans of the beautyberries. Mom is not a fan of being chased away by a bratty little mockingbird. Much fussing ensued. The baby cardinal won the berries!

We’ll leave you with a laugh. Have you ever noticed the finials at the top of some bird feeder poles? Mine has a hummingbird on it. So the baby cardinal was begging for food, and Mom wasn’t coming fast enough to feed him, so he started biting at the finial’s beak instead! Unfortunately the metal bird didn’t respond to his pleas – but Mom finally did. It’s so hard to be a baby bird sometimes!