[Magdalen] The Grackles are back, the Grackles are back...

[Grace Cangialosi]

My house finches arrived a little ahead of the goldfinches this year. At least one of the goldfinches has figured out the upside-down finch feeder--they're a little slow to catch on this year.
I learned last year that the reason they nest and lay their eggs in the summer is so that will coincide with the blooming of the thistles. Thistle seed makes up a large part of their diet.

> On Feb 26, 2017, at 11:27 AM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Our goldfinches stay year round now (they didn't when I first moved here).
> You can tell spring is coming when they boys turn bright gold, which they
> have now. The house finches haven't arrived back yet, though, nor have we
> seen any rose-breasted grosbeaks. sure signs of spring as they stop by on
> their flight northwards.
> 
> On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 10:16 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <
> magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> 
>> In a message dated 2/26/2017 9:21:59 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> gracecan at gmail.com writes:
>> 
>> There's  a single Great Blue Heron that lives on the pond next door. A few
>> weeks ago he  landed in one of my holly trees! By the time I got my camera,
>> he was  gone.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>> 
>> 
>> Though some of the Asian hollies do well here in NE Pennsylvania,
>> the American Holly trees only survive in the sheltered valleys.   There
>> are some beauties of the latter in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton down
>> in the Susquehanna Valley.  I suppose now that it is generally
>> warmer, it would be worth a try.  English Holly is simply too  tender
>> for our climate.
>> 
>> Great Blue Herons were common summer visitors to our lake in
>> the Upper Midwest, and the early riser, probably awakened by the
>> resident House Wrens, was often rewarded by seeing the herons
>> fishing just offshore in front of the cabin.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> David S.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>