From Left Field

A Plan for New Weblogs

I have plans to create two new weblogs. I've installed WordPress software and am working on understanding what it does and how it does it. I suspect that I'll have something going by the end of the year. I'd like to have a weblog about books and one that gets at the myriad of topics that I am exploring in philosophy. I intend to keep this one going as well, although I've really distanced myself from the political arena. The Indians are still a love of mine, so I might get back to posting entries about them. I'm growing increasingly concerned about the fate of the earth, so the section on nature might take on a global warming slant.

Not really sure about any of this. All I know is that I'd like to have an online venue for recording my path into and around philosophy as well as a way of talking about books that I've read.

Empty Nest Syndrome

The Tree Swallows fledged yesterday and today. I miss them terribly. For the past week, not 2 minutes would go by and there not be a little one peering out of the hole. They resembled their mother when she would guard the eggs during those first weeks. If you've never seen a Tree Swallow peering from her nest box, you should--they look like orca whales! It's amazing.

The bluebird fledglings left last week and I've yet to see them. I know that Mama and Papa have them in nearby trees because they come for mealworms a lot and take them into the trees. I hope that all 5 made it this time. We've had nice weather lately, so I'm fairly optimistic that I'll be seeing 5 new bluebirds soon. I'm also optimistically awaiting the first egg to be laid in their freshly completed nest. Yes, it's true. The bluebirds have already finished a new nest in their box and all it needs now are 5 little eggs.

We were privileged enough to witness a female Pileated feeding a fledgling last week. They were both on the suet feeder's pole. The female would eat some suet and then deposit it into her fledglings mouth.

It seems that we've hit a bit of a lull with little ones. The only type of bird I've seen begging is a Grackle. I think that second nests are being built and filled right now. In 3-4 weeks, the activity should pick up again.

Bird Status

Having gone out of town a couple of weeks ago, I haven't gotten back into my posting routine yet. I do want to report that there are 5 Tree Swallow nestlings and 5 Eastern Bluebird nestlings in the boxes. It appears that the bluebirds are about 3-4 days from leaving the box. I am tacking on another 4-5 days to the swallows first flight date.

I've seen begging behavior rewarded by a Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal (the fledge was a Brown-headed Cowbird), Common Grackle, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. It seems that the world has erupted with new birds here! Not a day goes by that I don't see a little one.

I've only seen 2 fledges of the first clutch of the bluebirds. I think that 3 didn't make it, so I'm hoping that all 5 of this one are able to successfully make it through their first tough week outside the box. I have plenty of mealworms to help out.

We have had four new species in the yard lately, there was a Blue Grosbeak at the sunflower feeder and a Yellow-throated Warbler has been dining on banquet in the early evening this week. It is a beautifully colored bird and a joy to see on a now fairly regular basis. A pair of Grey Catbirds were sitting on the barbed-wire fence last week. And finally, I spied an Eastern Kingbird sitting on the garden fence last week.

Swallow Nest Contains an Egg

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.

Cleveland Wins Series Against Angels

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

A New Egg on a New Nest and Other News

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.

Another Tough Weekend for Tribe Fans

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

Cleveland 0, Minnesota 9

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

Cleveland 5, Minnesota 4

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

Cleveland 4, Minnesota 2

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

A Tough Weekend for Indians Fans

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

Kansas City 0, Cleveland 6

Friday, 29 April 2005

box score :: recap :: game log

FINALLY! I actually saw the Indians offense "of old" last night for the very first time this season. Actually, everything clicked for them last night: C.C. Sabathia pitched extremely well, the defense didn't commit an error, and the offense actually poked the ball through holes with runners on base. Could this game mark the beginning of the end for their offensive slump? They get two more games against the Royals before heading to that god-awful Metrodome.

u>where they stand
season record: 9-13 (.409)
division standing: 4th
games back: 6.5

Detroit 3, Cleveland 2

Thursday, 28 April 2005

box score :: recap :: game log

Yep, the mighty Detroit Tigres swept the Indians at the Jake. Give me a "P", give me an "A", give me a "T", give me an "H", give me an "E", give me a "T", give me an "I", give me a "C". What's it spell? PATHETIC! What's it spell? PATHETIC!! Go Tribe......

KC arrives tonight on their brooms.

where they stand
season record: 8-13 (.381)
division standing: 4th
games back: 7.5

Ivory-billed Woodpecker Found!!

This is seriously the best news I've received so far this year. It has been confirmed that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a bird declared extinct some 60 years ago, is clearly not extinct and living in Arkansas.

There are more stories out there than what I can report here. If you go to this Google news link you'll see a list of stories or you can just search on your own for "ivory-billed woodpecker".

Harder to find is the report by the woman, Mary Scott, who actually found the bird last year. This NPR article explains why they didn't release the news to the general public until now.

Detroit 10, Cleveland 3

Wednesday, 27 April 2005

box score :: recap :: game log

What the hell is wrong with this team? Why can't they hit? I understand a bad pitching outing--it happens to all good pitchers--but why can't the Indians score any runs? Seriously, what the hell is going on?

where they stand
season record: 8-12 (.400)
division standing: 4th
games back: 7.0