While the swallows were out hunting for insects, I darted out to their nest box with ladder in hand before they could come back and dive-bomb me. I discovered one tiny egg inside. It was about half the size of a bluebird egg and a pearly white color, so I nearly missed it among the white feathers. I'm concerned that they didn't build the nest high enough. I've heard many reports of swallow fledglings dying because they can't get out of the nest box. These cases usually occur with boxes that have smooth wood. Ours does not and I believe that it is rough enough for little feet to grab and hold as they climb out. Time will tell and I just have to trust that the birds' judgement is better than mine :)
I didn't check the bluebird box today because Papa saw me out there with the ladder and squared himself against my prying fingers by stationing himself on the top of the box. Sure, he would have flown off should I have approached, but I didn't want to disturb him. Plus, it was possible that Mama was in there laying another egg and I certainly didn't want to risk interrupting that process. I'll check the box tomorrow when I hope to find 4 or 5 eggs.
There hasn't been any other interesting bird sightings over the last couple of days save for a sole turkey pecking at cracked corn we put out for the blue jays. He or she looked quite small and I hope that they are not starving out there in the hollow. I don't think that they are since they know we have food here, but perhaps their numbers are getting too large for the fields to support this early in the season.
The Tribe is starting to hit. Whatever funk they were in is starting to lift revealing a team that is ready to go on a tear. The bullpen is still maintaining a high level of performance and the starting pitching is good enough to keep them in games. With the addition of an offense, this team is poised to make a run. Get ready Tribe fans; May could shape up to be a nice ride.
Currently, they are 2 games behind Detroit and 6 games behind Minnesota. The White Sox are still dominating the division with an insane record of 25-9. This is the best in baseball. It keeps the Twins at a safe distance of 4.5 games back.
They have the day off today. Then the Indians will play 13 of the next 16 games at the Jake. The 3 away games will be against Cincinnati where I will be in attendance for two of them.
where they stand
season record: 14-19 (.424)
division standing: 4th
games back: 10.5
Well, our beloved bluebirds are at it again. They completed their nest yesterday and Mama laid her first egg of the second clutch this morning. This rapid reproduction is making my head swim! By comparison, the Tree Swallows are only about halfway done with their first nest.
As far as the little ones from the first clutch is concerned, I've still yet to see more than two at a time, so I still don't know how many of the five survived. I saw Papa ignore a feeding request from a fledge today, so he is more interested in providing for the next brood than the fledglings from the first.
We've been experiencing a heat wave with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s, so insects are plentiful. We still put out mealworms, but fewer than before. A male Downy Woodpecker collected 7-8 of them this morning, so I know that he was taking them to his little ones. Nearly all songbirds should be nesting now. Notable exceptions include American Goldfinches who wait until plants go to seed in late summer and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds who are still arriving and finding mates.
We've had several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at the feeders this past week. Yesterday we spied two males at the seed tray.
I observed two Red-headed Woodpeckers feeding from the same suet feeder last week. Despite the similar markings of the two genders, they were clearly a mating pair. Red-headed Woodpeckers are extremely territorial and so they only way they would share a feeder, let alone a square mile, is if they are of the same family.
Blue Jays have been relatively abundant which is good news. They were hit very hard by the West Nile Virus and their numbers dwindled alarmingly. I put some crushed eggshells out for them today. They seek calcium while feeding their young and it is commonly believed that they destroy and eat other birds' eggs is for this reason. In an effort to provide as much peaceful non-competition for bird reproduction and health as possible, I feel it necessary to provide this needed mineral.
Well, the Tribe just keeps on losing. They won only one game in Texas. They now sit a whopping 11.5 games behind the first place holder White Sox. Starting pitching is starting to resemble hitting which is the opposite of ideal. I know that it is still very early in the season. I'm keeping some hope that they can become the team that they deserve to be.
I'd sure like to see Wedge take them putt-putt golfing or something to relax and get their mind off baseball. I feel like they are all drowning under pressure because it is precisely in pressure situations that they fall apart. Sure, hitters can get the occasional hit or even homerun, but when they have two strikes against them and especially if runners are on base, they just crumble.
They play in Anaheim for a 3-game series starting tonight. Then they head home and have a blessed day off before hosting Toronto over the weekend.
where they stand
season record: 12-18 (.400)
division standing: 4th
games back: 11.5
Thursday, 5 May 2005
box score :: recap :: game log
C.C. Sabathia had a breakdown on the mound and as usual the offense wasn't completely ineffective. Radke did pitch a really good game--he was like a puppet master out there controlling the hitters. I'm not concerned about C.C. at all. He'll bounce back.
Off to "Texas" (where do the Rangers play anyway? Dallas?)
where they stand
season record: 11-16 (.407)
division standing: 4th
games back: 9.5
Wednesday, 4 May 2005
box score :: recap :: game log
It was an exciting ride last night. It should come as no surprise that the least likely player would hit the tie-breaking homerun. I had nearly forgotten that Josh Bard is on the roster.
Millwood looked pretty bad; I won't start worrying until this becomes more of a pattern. I would like to declare that Pronk is officially out of his slump. I'm sure that Wedgie's girls are a lot less embarrassed about naming their cat "Travis Hafner" now that he's back to normal form.
They have a chance for a sweep for the first time this season. C.C. takes the mound this afternoon. Next up: the Rangers in Texas.
where they stand
season record: 11-15 (.423)
division standing: 4th
games back: 8.5
Tuesday, 3 May 2005
box score :: recap :: game log
Despite the outcome and despite the opponent, there is very little to celebrate here. The Tribe still looks bad and really ought to have lost that game.
where they stand
season record: 10-15 (.400)
division standing: 4th
games back: 8.5
After breaking out and looking like a.) a team that could contend for the title and b.) like they ought to play on Friday, they reverted to the no offense dynamo that they've been all season. I'm relieved that today is a day off, although it worries me that I look forward to them not playing more than them playing. If they continue to play as they have throughout May, I'm going to have to bury my division title dream and revert to the fan I was last year. Which might not be the worst thing; I was happy and content to see individual improvements. The dream will die hard, but let's face it it's nearly already dead already.
For those who don't know, the Royals (worst team in the AL Central) beat them on Saturday (8-1) and Sunday (6-5).
where they stand
season record: 9-15 (.375)
division standing: 4th
games back: 8.5