Digital binoculars for bird watching etc.

Digital binoculars are new to me, but I am sure that others have used them for years. 

Anytime there is a person with creativity there will always be someone that will invent their own hacks.
Internet sites are also showing ways to DIY and create your own digital binocular. You can check these out on the internet.

There are numerous companies selling digital binoculars from $39.99 to thousands of dollars depending on how much you want to spend. I would love to hear from someone that has used or does use this type of camera to take pictures.

Also..what is the difference between these and a digital camera with a nice lens??

Anyway..we keep moving on with new technology..whats next??

Can't wait to see!!

WHITE HEADED ROBIN IN PA.

This morning I was having coffee and looked out my window and saw something I have never seen before. Couldn't believe it. And after 3 hours of waiting until he was close enough again I got a picture. Not the best quality picture but a picture anyway.

     A white headed Robin WOW! 
Let me know if you have seen one.
Click on the pictures to enlarge them.



Male bluebirds are house hunting!

Male bluebirds are house hunting!

females are soon to follow to ok the selections.

This morning these two were in our backyard fighting over this way wrong apartment.

Hopefully everyone has or will soon be cleaning out the boxes. Bluebirds will not build a nest when there is already nesting material in the box. These will find a smaller more suitable home for the breeding season. :)

Bluebirds..Check out the website www.carlislecountryliving.com for more tidbits.

Bluebirds Bluebirds are a favorite Pennsylvanian bird and a great addition to the backyard garden.  These colorful birds’ are surprisingly easy to attract.  To encourage bluebirds - just give them water, food and a place to nest. Food Bluebirds’ diet consists of approximately 75% insects and the rest is composed of seeds and berries. Meal worms are a favorite snack of bluebirds. Live or freeze dried mealworms may be fed in an open feeder or a closed feeder. Closed feeders prevent other larger birds from enjoying the mealworms, but the clear sides still allow the bluebirds to be seen. Bluebirds may be trained to come to a mealworm feeder immediately whenever mealworms are fed. Water Bluebirds enjoy water and will use bird baths for both drinking and bathing.   (Stop in and see the picture of bluebirds using a birdbath). Bluebird boxes Bluebird boxes are the most important element to attracting bluebirds.  The dimensions of the house should be approximately 5-6” wide and 5-6” depth and 10” high with the entrance hole 1.5” diameter. There is no perch required as this will attract other birds that will compete for housing such as wrens and sparrows. The house should be easy to clean and located 4-6’ off the ground. Pipe is the preferred fence post as this will help keep predators from raiding the box.  Bluebird boxes should be located in open areas such as pasturelands and the edges of fields away from pesticide applications and people interference. The hole should be placed away from westerly winds. Since bluebirds do not always migrate, houses should be kept up all season as bluebirds may use houses during the winter to roost. Bluebirds are territorial during mating season, so it is recommended to keep bluebird boxes 100 feet apart. If there is a problem with competing birds, the houses may be placed as close as 25 feet apart. Bluebirds nests are cup shaped and consists of mostly fine grasses with occasional pine needles. After taking 1-2 weeks to construct a nest, bluebirds will lay 4-6 light blue (or white) eggs. The eggs will hatch in two weeks, and the bluebirds will leave the nest after another 2-3 weeks. After the baby birds leave the box, it is recommended to clean out the nesting material. Many times the bluebirds will raise a second brood and build another nest on top of the old nest, leaving baby bluebirds closer to the top making the birds a casualty of predators or falling out the nest.

Noah the Dove A love story for Valentines Day!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEvCVaG6734

Sorry it didn't come up the last time.

Noah the Pigeon...a love story for valentines day...

Noah the Pigeon

This one makes you wonder who are the smart ones. How we treat the weakest among us, is how we will be judged ~ Mehmet Oz, M.D. Noah the Dove These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned. Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well. Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that is in the rehab centre. Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in -- even sleeping in front of the door to the cage. Then, suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage.  But when Noah moved a bit from the front of the cage, to everyone's surprise...there was the tiny bunny....under Noah's wing...sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a featherbed, no doubt to snuggling up with its littermates! Now, they are all together and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he carefully extends his wings out to surround them and then they snuggle. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak!  It is beautiful and amazing to see... This is what God does with us when we need the warmth and love He offers. He gathers us under His loving wings to a warm cradle of protection. All we need do in return is give Him the thanks and praise for being with us. Update on Noah the pigeon:We are Bob and Georganne Lenham of Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas, home of Noah the Pigeon. After finding many posts online featuring Noah and the bunnies and reading about the many lives he has touched (his story has been forwarded around the world) we thought we'd post a follow-up and a few new photos. We knew there was something special about Noah the moment we saw him. Although the bunnies seem to be his favorite, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch... Noah's first litter of bunnies, almost raised and  ready for release. Photo © Bob Lenham Now, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the ranch.... How wonderful it is to have a full-time soft-feathered nurturer here at the rescue ranch! He cuddles with all the babies as they snuggle under his warm feathers....and he "coos" as if singing them to sleep with a lullaby. Noah is truly, truly a God-send

Ready to plant?? The famous groundhog says Early Spring!!! YEAH!!

Well, the almanac was way off. Hope this large rodent knows what is going to happen because I am ready to plant seed. How about you??

I know these little guys are a pain to a lot of bird lovers who find they can't keep them out of their feeders. Do we really think that we can ever stop them? I think they are so much more clever than we think!!

     What ways have you found to keep these guys out of bird feeders??
      Besides doing something to end their lives...Oh and you have to admit the little tufts of hair on their ears are funny and kind of cute???

Twin baby moose in sprinkler

Say Ahhh to **STRAWBERRIES**!!

Every year we have a CITRUS SALE at the store.

This year we have in addition to great oranges, grapefruit, etc...

Strawberries!!

YUM!!

There are tons of wonderful recipes with strawberries in them

I wanted to share one that my family LOVES!!

STRAWBERRY PIE

1 1/2 Cups Water

3/4 Cup Sugar

2 Tbsp. Corn Starch

1 Large Box Reg. Strawberry Jello

1 pre-baked Pie Shell

3 Cups Strawberries...Sliced or whole..

(we like sliced..holds more jello syrup :)

Bake pie shell at 350 degrees until lightly browned.

Set aside to cool

Meanwhile...

Cook first 3 ingredients together until boiling.

Take off heat and add Jello. Stir until totally combined.

Pour over strawberries coating all berries.

Chill until set and really cold!

Serve with whipped cream or Ice cream..

Please let me know if you love it...or ?????

                     To download this order form go to the website

                                                       http://www.carlislecountryliving.com/ 

                or come to the store and say "HI" have a cup of coffee, and pick up an order form :)))

                

Talk to you soon,

Debb

Check out info. on choosing the dog bed of yours and your buddy dreams

 /www.agway.com/know_how/pets/dog/choosing_a_bed_for_your_dog.html

Bird baths work any time of the Year..Bluebirds and Starlings.

      This picture was shared by a customer at the store..I love that the bird bath is heated and never would ever be as lucky to see this many bluebirds at my heated birdbath.
     
            Does anyone have any pictures of bluebirds or other birds at the birdbath?? 

         This was actually a cold day...even though the grass is green, not winter, but when the nets were on the ponds..so cold anyway.  The Starlings were taking a bath at our pond ....
        This answers the old question .."Do bird droppings hurt pond fish?"  I can say that none of our fish ever had a problem from birds..We also have a stream way that Duff puts rocks in at various angles so the birds can take a bath in shallow slow moving water.,So rethink letting the birds take a bath with the koi..

   Please send us any birdbath pics from your yard.  We love pictures and would love suggestions that we can pass on to everyone.  Thanks Deb

Christmas past

     I was at the store today and things are moving along in the packing dept. Christmas clearance is still there but will soon be a thing of the past.

     Looks like all the veggie seeds are in..Are you planting your seeds yet??? I think it is always fun to plan for spring, especially when it is 20 degrees outside and we are all looking out the windows wishing we could just have a day in the 40's. What are you planning to put in your garden this year? I alway do tomatoes, love salsa. I think i had the largest tomatoe plants ever last year..at least 5 foot tall and trailing everywhere!!
Would love to do peas and potatoes so I could have those wonderful dinners that my mom always made. Just peas and potatoes that all you needed..YUMMMM!!!
 I know alot of people have really gotten into gardening again. That is such a great way to have control of what is on the vegetable...so much healthier.

I would love to hear your ideas on container gardening and gardening in general. What goes together and what not to plant in a container..also recipes...LOVE RECIPES..everyone has so many great family recipes to pass along. If you think of any maybe we can pass them along at the store with your permission.

Well, have a great monday and talk to you tomorrow...Debb
    

2 videos explaining bird migration...

I always wondered about migrating birds and how they know where and why. Hopefully you have too and will have interest in these two videos.  Have a great day and get ready for spring and the arrival of bluebirds. Their are also more video clips to the left of this screen showing bluebird housing etc.