Writing and photographs by Jaya Ramanathan
July 2025
Featured image: Painted Bunting Male Singing in Lakeline Park
Spring has left behind many birding footprints. Birds and pollinators continue nourishing in our garden. Courtships persist. Nests remind us of nester journeys. Newborns continually change their look and behavior. Habitats are dotted with birding memories.
Northern Cardinal Male feeds Female a bug (left), Black-chinned Hummingbird Female sips at Skullcap
Our garden has fully come back to life. Dense shrubs house insects, foraged on by birds. Fully blossomed Skullcap, Desert Honeysuckle, and Turk’s Cap, are sipped at by Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Juicy berries on Lantanas and Coral Honeysuckle, are ready to quench summer thirst. Blooms of American Beauty berry entice bees. Newly planted Daylily, and Viburnum, have settled in.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Female ready to hand off to Male, during their nest excavation in Elm (left), Mississippi Kite after rains
Birds taught us much about nesting. Red-bellied Woodpecker pair, took turns, with continuous handoffs, to excavate two nests, both in Elms. They dug quite deep, and every so often, they would dump out wood shavings. They abandoned the second nest – did Mississippi Kite that perched nearby, scare them off? Persisting, Male starts digging again, at first nest. Blue Jay pair built a nest from scratch, high up on Texas Persimmon, using cotton and twigs. Both brought nesting material, but female arranged it, perching atop to ensure nest is comfortable. She incubated patiently, for almost three weeks, male lovingly feeding her. Unfortunately, no young fledged – were the eggs not viable? Black-crested Titmouse pair took turns, carrying food, to young, inside Oak cavity. They call a few times, before entering the nest – so young are not startled? Their young fledged successfully.
Blue Jay Female incubates on nest (left), House Finch Papa feeds baby
Newborns flutter, gape, and call. Papa House Finch, fetches seed, discards husk, and feeds baby. Papa Northern Cardinal gives its little one a juicy worm. Bewick’s Wren family, fly from tree to tree, baby calling, fed bugs, by foraging parents. Juvenile Black-crested Titmouse, feed by themselves, explore, hang upside down, and playfully skirmish. Young thrive in parks, Cave Swallows in Raab, Eastern Bluebird in Devine Lake, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Lakeline.
Juvenile Black-crested Titmice explore patio Oak (left), Common Yellowthroat on gnarly Oak
Migration delights included a dozen Warblers, many Flycatchers, and summer arrivals. Once something yellow flew from patio to gnarly oak. I tiptoed around gnarly for a good look, and spotted Common Yellowthroat. American Redstart and Bay-breasted Warbler, visit us, enroute from South America. Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers, are Mother’s Day delights.
American Redstart Male on patio Oak (left), Eastern Bluebird Male in Berry Springs Park
Park visits were memorable. Birding with a friend, and her curious grandchildren, at Memorial and Raab Park, was rewarding. Hearing Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Raab Park, brought memories of its visit last spring, when it migrated from South America. Spotting Western Kingbird and Blue Grosbeak, in Devine Lake Park, inspire us to find other birds that breed here. Observing Eastern Bluebird and Barred Owl, in Berry Springs Park, was thrilling. Painted Bunting’s show in Lakeline Park, was the winner. First we saw a juvenile, then heard male sing, so we searched for it. After appearing briefly, it hid, enticed us by singing, so we waited. Soon it perched high, in full view, for several minutes, sang, and changed positions, showing us its multi-colored plumage.
Barred Owl in Berry Springs Park (left), Painted Bunting Male shows off its multi-color plumage in Lakeline Park
Spring brought our garden alive, taught us resilience, love, and responsibility, of nesting, delighted us with newborns, excited us with lifers and migration sights, and created beautiful memories in parks. These birding footprints make us reminisce, wonder, and reflect on the marvels of nature.
Western Kingbird in Raab Park (left), Yellow-billed Cuckoo on gnarly Oak
Credits: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Merlin Bird ID, All About Birds, and eBird.
