The Wordsmith's Forge

Today is sunny and mild.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/24/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/24/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/24/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Birds are more afraid of women than men. Scientists have no idea why

Scientists have uncovered a strange pattern in urban bird behavior: Across five European countries and 37 species, birds consistently fled sooner when approached by women than men. Researchers have no clear explanation for the difference, raising intriguing questions about how birds recognize and respond to humans.


I instantly want to test this with queer people, crossdressers, other genders, etc.

Bobwhite quail reveal new clues about how birds survive winter

Wild animals are generally expected to choose habitats that give them the best chance of survival, and wildlife managers often work from that assumption.

Bobwhite quail in Indiana only half lived up to it. The birds bedded down in grasslands and recently cleared ground, and those choices made no measurable difference to their survival. The ones that slept beside thick brush came through the winter in far greater numbers.


We have bobwhite quail here. I'd been hearing them for years but thought it was some other bird with a similar call, because I didn't think the habitat was attractive to quail. One day I actually saw one. Since then, I've been exploring what the attraction factors could be. One is food. They eat insects, seeds, and fruits -- all of which I have -- and hackberry is a favorite, one of my dominant canopy trees. Apparently another is shelter, because my yard has wooded and brushy areas along with mowed lawn and the prairie garden. It is surrounded by monocrop fields. So yeah, I have a remnant population of bobwhite quail that I often hear but have only seen once.

Today is sunny and mild.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/20/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/20/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I saw two squirrels running around the trees over the house yard.

I am done for the night.

Today is sunny and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/18/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/18/26 -- From the bathroom window, I saw a female cardinal foraging seeds from the field weeds. Free bird food, and less weed seeds to sprout in spring! :D

EDIT 10/18/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/18/26 -- I gathered seeds including almost a pint bag of northern sea oats, about half a bag of cup plant, a decent handful of zinnias, a smaller amount of sunflower seeds, and just a few cypress vine seeds.

I heard a woodpecker drumming but didn't see it. However, while searching overhead, I spotted at least one and possibly two nuthatches on a pine tree. :D I haven't seen those in my yard for a few years.

EDIT 10/18/26 -- I gathered seeds including a pint of Shithouse Marigolds, a much smaller amount of short yellow and orange marigolds, some purple morning glories, and just a few sunflower seeds.

I heard a great horned owl calling. :D

I've seen a lot of bumblebees on flowers today, multiple monarch butterflies, some tiny moths, and other small pollinators. I've only seen honeybees at the watering spots though; they're not very active today. The goldenrod in the prairie garden is going to seed, a haze of silver-gold fluff. The tops of the sunchokes are dead, which means the tubers should have formed. Marigolds and zinnias are still blooming vigorously. Morning glory is slowing down.

EDIT 10/18/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Today is cloudy and chilly. It rained a little yesterday.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/16/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/16/26 -- I planted 2 'Harvest of Memories' yellow irises by the barrel garden.

EDIT 10/16/26 -- I planted 2 'War Chief' red irises by the barrel garden.

I spotted a toad on the patio and moved it to the log garden.

EDIT 10/16/26 -- I went out to put topsoil on the recently planted irises, but only finished one before it started to rain.

EDIT 10/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

As it is getting dark, and also still drizzling, I am done for the night.

Today is cloudy and mild.  It drizzled a bit this morning.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/14/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/14/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I heard a bluejay screaming but didn't see it.

I am done for the night.
 

Today is partly sunny and already quite warm.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/12/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/12/26 -- I watered the new picnic table and telephone pole garden.

It got up to 89°F today. In October. That is not normal. >_<

EDIT 10/12/26 -- I watered the barrel garden and purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 10/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/12/26 -- I watered the maple garden, old picnic table, and house yard plants.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Today is cloudy and mild.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

Fall has arrived! Some leaves are turning color on hackberry and walnut, slowly drifting to the ground.

EDIT 10/10/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/10/26 -- We went to the Apple Festival in Greenup. I saw a flock of 8 vultures circling overhead, moving from one thermal to another, sometimes quite close. :D

EDIT 10/10/26 -- I watered the new picnic table garden.

I did a bit of work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Today is mostly sunny and warm.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I started working on an outdoor repair project.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I did more work on the outdoor repair project.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I did more work on the outdoor repair project.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I finished the outdoor repair project.

I heard a bluejay screaming but didn't see it.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 10/8/26 -- I did more work around the patio.





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