Who is getting the eggs?

I have been putting whole raw chicken eggs out in my platform feeder and they have been disappearing.  I know it is not the crows as they can not pick up an egg of that size.  It is not the squirrels because we have the platform set up so that they cannot get into the tray- although they try.  The squirrels are so much fun to watch as they shimmy up the pole only to be thwarted by the squirrel baffle attached to the pole.  I have yet to see what is carrying off the eggs.  A RAVEN perhaps- I sure hope so!  I hear raven when I am working in the yard.  There are many fences around here, therefore I cannot follow the sound to the source.  Time will tell.  If it is a raven, I will catch him at egg trolling eventually.

My crow pair appear to have a nest in the live oak tree next door.  The one crow sits as a sentinal in an adjoining oak tree.  I can watch him from my bedroom window.  He has many of the same habits as his big cousin.  The crow likes to bang on a branch with his beak and then CROW.  This bird flies into the adjoining dense oak tree periodically to deliver food.  The other garden birds have vacated the area.  My feeders are empty of visitors.  I wonder if it is because of the crow's nest nearby?  It has not deterred the blue jays however.  They come for their morning peanuts without fail.

The other evening we went to the Audubon Society meeting because the program was on "Crows and Ravens".  Right up my alley.  The speaker was very interesting, an eco psychologist.  I had never heard of this discipline.  She investigates the relationship between nature and humans.  Her talk included tales and myths surrounding ravens such as Odin's birds.  Odin, the great Norseman, had 2 ravens who traveled the world and reported back to him each day.  I would like a pair of ravens like that.  The speaker also had a lovely voice.  She sang us two songs.  One was the Power of Raven- Good Wish, a blessing.  The other was an old Scottish Song- "Two Corbies".  It was all enjoyable.  I got to show off my heavy shirt from Cabella's on which I had hand embroidered a large regal raven on the back.  All in all it was a great evening with bird loving friends.

The Crows of Maple Cottage

I have decided to call my abode Maple Cottage due to the very large red Japanese maples in the front of the house and a lovely green Japanese maple in the backyard.  Every house needs a name that evokes it's spirit.  So there it is.  A pair of crows has taken up residence at Maple Cottage.  They are in the trees in the front yard when I arise in the morning.  They are waiting for their peanut treat.  The blue jays and the crows share the peanuts that I put out every morning.  The pair of crows often alight on the platform feeder and eat the egg or seeds.  They are not big enough to pick up an egg and fly off with it like the ravens can do.  So when the egg disappeared completely, I think the raven got it.  I really HOPE the raven got it.  The platform feeder has a baffle on it so that mammals cannot get up into the tray.  So I don't think a squirrel, raccoon, possum or rat got the egg.  I have only seen squirrels around here.  We are so close to Redwood Creek that I would expect other mammals to be about the place but I have not seen any.  We have least 5 gray squirrels running around our yard and in the redwood trees.  They are very acrobatic and amusing.  I especially like it when they bang their paw up and down when they are angry- like when there is a paucity of peanuts on the ground.  Very demanding little fellows.  I just got the Ultimate Squirrel Proof Birdfeeder.  We will see if the claim is true.  The squirrels are very ingenious fellows when it comes to birdfeeders.  My last one disappeared.  They knocked it down and dragged it off somewhere.
So for now I have a pair of picky crows, high flying ravens and BAD squirrels.  Life is good in the flatlands.

WOW!!! A BIG BLACK BIRD!!!

Yesterday in the late afternoon I was sitting by the window minding my own business and knitting.  It had been raining hard all day and was overcast.  There was a break in the rain and then it happened- a BIG BLACK BIRD landed in the platform feeder!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I have had that feeder out there for months, always with an egg and black oil sunflower seeds in the tray.  This is the first time I have attracted a big black bird.  I was so excited!  After the bird flew away I went out to look- the egg was gone!  Oh happy day!  I have to say I am not sure if it was a raven.  I have some hope that it was a raven as I have noticed a pair of ravens flying over the house almost every day.  We must be on their flight pattern to various food sources.  I did not hear any vocalizations from the big black bird in the feeder tray and I could not get a good look at his beak.  I could not tell for sure if it was a raven or his cousin crow.  So I did what any sane? person would do, I ran outside and put another egg in the tray.  I sat down inside and waited.  By this time dusk was falling and the overcast sky made it very dark.  Hark- here came two big black birds who landed in the tray.  They pecked and ate the egg.  It was so dark I could not make out any features, so I am not sure if it was raven. 
I have been feeding a pair of crows with peanuts every morning.  They really like them  The blue jays always try to get the nuts before the crows can decide to come down and get one.  It is so entertaining to watch.  Those two crows know me now.  They must keep watch on the house as one or both show up when I go out to weed or take the garbage out.  It is fun to have bird friends. 
The gold finches are getting their breeding plumage.  I keep their thistle sock full and it is frequently covered with golden finches.  I wish the thistle seed wasn't so dear.  It is costing me a fortune!
So goes life on the valley floor.  It is has been too cold and rainy to walk over to the close by Alston Park.   Alston Park is a big open area with a creek, walking paths, oak trees, hills and a dog park.  The park is adjacent to vineyards.  There are ravens over there which I enjoy seeing and hearing.  This maybe the home territory for the ravens that fly over my house.  Once the weather improves I will once again take my daily walk to the park.
This evening we are going up to Mt. Veeder to visit our former next door neighbors.  I am taking a care package for my raven pair- Bold and Shy.  If it is still light I may get to see them.  I stand in the street and yell RAVENS and if they are in hearing distance, they still show up.  I miss them very much.

New Crow Friends

My new crow friends, a nice black pair, come every morning and sit on the telephone wire.  The wire is just about even with the railing of the second floor of this home.  They have become very brave.  I put the food bits on the railing and then they hop right over to check out the days offerings.  I wonder why these crows are so friendly and fearless.  The crows around my home in Napa are very fearful.  It takes alot of checking out and peering and poking around before a Napa crow will come down and get a peanut from my driveway.  Something  in Napa must have scared them.  I saw a program on crows recently that showed that crows recognize faces.  In fact the next generation will recognize a mean face if it was recognized by the parents.  That is really fascinating.  Do humans do that??? 
We are here in Shell Beach for a few more days.  So I will enjoy the friendly crows and clean out the refrigerator at the same time.  They have liked left over chicken, pretzels, pecans and croutons.  Perhaps in time the Napa crows will get to know me and not be afraid.  I am also hoping that the Napa raven remembers me.  The raven came to my redwood tree twice before I left for Shell Beach.  Wouldn't you know that the raven would show up just as I was leaving for vacation????  I will get right back on the egg in the platform feeder patrol as soon as I return to Napa.  It has been a lovely sojourn here on the Central Coast of California.  A little of everything, sunny days, rainy days, very high surf, shopping, dining by the ocean and visits from friends.  All in all, everything a vacation should be.

Wild Weather and Ruffled Crows

The weather has turned wild at Shell Beach, snow is expected in the surrounding high areas and the crows are ruffled.  I have been feeding a pair of crows each day about 10:00 AM each day.  They were right on time this morning.  It is funny how they can tell time- do they have a pocket watch?? I looked out and they were hanging on the telephone wires and their feathers were blowing every which way.  It is really blowing hard out there.  I have to be careful when I feed the crows as there are many ravenous seagulls about.  They will fly down and steal the food away from the crows just like that.  This morning the gulls were not around so I put two pieces of meat out for the crows.  The brave one came right down to the railing and got a piece.  Then the shy one came down and got the other piece of meat.   Right after that the seagulls showed up so I could not feed the crows anymore food.  However- I do believe they will be back tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM unless it is raining very hard.

Birds in Shell Beach

Since the weather in Napa was dreary and too much like winter, we decided to rent Casa Serena in Shell Beach, CA once again for a month.  The only downside to this trip was the fact that Raven had started to come around for peanuts and a look at us at our Napa home.  But Raven never forgets a favorite food so I believe he will be back when we return home and the peanuts appear once again!
Shell Beach is a lovely little village on the Central Coast of California near Pismo Beach- a varied mix of beach bungalows and mansions.  There is a very Tudor style mansion near our abode that hangs over the sea and the daffodils are blooming all around the house.  It looks likea  manor house in England.   No one is ever home.  It is lovely to have such a place but a shame not to have time to visit it.  Ah well- I peer in the gates every evening as we walk the 2 blocks to watch the sunsets with the neighbors and their dogs.  The house has several follies in the yard- a windmill, a tower for Rapunzle, and an oriental tea house- quite the place. 

Every evening I go down to where the rocks are exposed at the edge of the Pacific ocean.  I am looking for black oyster catchers.  I think these are the cutest birds with their bright red bills.  They hunt and peck on the rocks looking for sea worms and other tasty things to eat.  They are usually found in pairs and make alot of noise if disturbed.  They walk around the seagulls that are sitting on the rocks as they peck along.  They are black like ravens so maybe that is why I like them.
Most evenings we have a pair of peregrine falcons that come and perch on two century plants that are across the street from Casa Serena.  There are many song birds around here so I think the falcons come to look for a before bed snack.  I have never seen peregrine falcons up close, so this is special.  I have my spotting scope trained on them in the evenings.
Another bird is found here that I have  not seen before- a ring neck white dove.  I looked in my bird book and it says located around Los Angeles.  We are a couple hundred miles north from there, so maybe their range is expanding.
We have been putting nuts, cheerios, and bread crumbs out on the deck railing that is in the front of the house and faces the ocean.  Yesterday a very curious crow came and sat on the telephone wire that is close to the deck railing.  He scooted along the wire so that he could get a good look at Chuck and at the food. Chuck talked to him and crow was taking it all in.  Another crow came to join the first one.  The second one was brave and went over to the rail and got some food.  The first one was very shy and the second very bold- seems that is the way with birds and humans.
Last night it was somewhat stormy and a pair of black crowned night herons came and sat in a tree across from our balcony.  They were quite beautiful and I love the little white feather that extends from their head down their back.  I think they were there for protection from the wind.
Today is a lovely day so out we go to walk the dunes. I am sure I will see some sea birds that are new to me.  Life is wonderful with so many of nature's wonders to observe.

A Raven in the Redwood Tree

This morning Chuck saw a raven sitting in the top of the redwood tree in the front yard. This is FIRST time we have seen a raven come down near our house!  Yippee!  There is hope.  I had put out some peanuts this morning for the blue jays.  Perhaps the raven saw the nuts in the driveway.  I immediately ran out and put a fresh egg in the platform feeder and some more peanuts too.  On Friday I am going up to Mt. Veeder to visit the ravens up there.  I have been storing up chicken parts in the freezer, so I have treats to take with me.  I will throw in some peanuts as well.  Ravens really like peanuts.  It is so funny to watch the jays inspect the peanuts.  They do just what the ravens do.  They pick up each one and shake it, then they pick the one that they like best.  Can't be too picky when it comes to peanuts.