Now that I no longer have a cat, and I've rid my property of "piney" squirrels, the birds are back! I certainly enjoy watching and listening to them as they criss-cross the yard in search of food, nesting materials, mates, etc.

I have the usual robins, sparrows, "black birds", doves, etc., but I have had the pleasure of observing gold finches, cardinals, orioles, hummingbirds, towhees, and indigo buntings. I watched a pair of thrashers raise three chicks in an eye level nest. I startled a heron out of my pond--or was it the other way around? Singing wrens sound cheerful at first, but then they get annoying. And I love watching barn swallows swoop low to the ground gathering mosquitoes and gnats.

I could add many more birds to my list, but the one I haven't seen all Spring is the bluebird. I have four boxes I fruitlessly keep clean, so far, all for naught. I haven't given up hope.

And honeybees! I think I have a hive in my catalpa tree. They loved my raspberry blossoms, and now immense patches of yard clover buzz with activity. I almost hate to mow my lawn.
Just thought some of you would be interested.