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Finch Nest Update
Unfortunately, this post does not have a happy ending. Since the House Finch eggs hatched on June 24-28, 2025 I was periodically observing them with a stick mirror. On July 3 I caught my first glimpse of a baby chick from the ground without the mirror. There was one little beak visible at the front Continue reading
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The Swallow Nest Has Been Reoccupied By Finches
In March 2025, a pair of Barn Swallows built a nest high in our front porch. Four eggs were laid and the parents were taking good care of them. Not long afterwards, something attacked the nest and stole the eggs, and the swallows abandoned the nest. That story is told here. What was left of Continue reading
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Trauma At The Barn Swallow Nest
There has been some traumatic event at the barn swallow nest, which now appears to be abandoned. Here’s where I wish I had installed a camera to watch it so I’d have more information. As it is, I can only look at the evidence and deduce a hypothesis. Here’s a timeline: In the last part Continue reading
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Barn Swallows Have Eggs
After several days of work building their nest, our Barn Swallow porch lodgers settled into a routine where the female was spending most of her time on the nest. So of course I was suspicious that there were eggs. Being a curious person, I invested in a mirror on a telescoping handle in order to Continue reading
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A Breakfast View Of The Front Garden
A few cold nights sent me to the east-facing front porch for breakfast where it’s sunnier in the mornings. So while I was there I took a few photos. I was supervised by our resident Barn Swallows. The female got the cozy nest, the male got to sit outside. They seem fairly accustomed to us Continue reading
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Barn Swallows In The Porch
We have new residents in the front porch — Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica). At the beginning of March 2025, a single swallow began to spend nights in the front porch perched on a high ledge. A few days later there were two, occupying opposite ledges, and a few days after that they decided to share Continue reading
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Signs Of Spring
Spring is my favorite time of year. Almost on a daily basis I can see new life forming, either for the first time or emerging from its winter rest. This year, just when we thought we were finished with freezing nights, we had another round in February. So a few things that had already sprouted Continue reading
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Mockingbirds Are Fierce Nest-Defenders
In a new housing development with no mature trees, there is not much opportunity here for birds to build nests yet. However, I’ve spotted one that is about half-way up a neighbor’s 12-foot oak tree. I can see the nest from our back patio. Here’s a close-up of the photo above, where you can see Continue reading
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Wasps Have A Place In The Garden, Too
Wasps are like volunteer pest control officers for your garden, and they also serve as pollinators. Usually if you don’t mess with them, they won’t mess with you. As far as I know, I don’t react badly to wasp stings, so as much as possible I let them do their thing in my garden. They Continue reading
About Me
Nature Lover.
Inquisitive Observer.
Student Gardener.
I invite you to join me on my journey to convert my sterile (from a nature point of view) new house lot to a healthy and diverse ecosystem, as I make discoveries, mistakes, and hopefully progress. I am not an expert or professional. The project started in February 2023 and the location is Seguin, Texas, USA.
Rewilding My Lot 