My first baby towhees showed up on the 19th. None were begging any more and were doing quite well in foraging around the yard. The fun has been watching them trying to figure out what the bird bath is about. This morning one was splashing gleefully in the fresh water. Another (sibling perhaps?) stood just outside the bath (on the ground) and watched and waited its turn. It soon entered the water (all shallow end for these little guys) and stood there up to its thighs. It turned about two or three times and dipped its head once but did not get into full fledged bathing mode. The other towhee that had just vacated to bath looked at the other as if to say "Hey! Bathe or get out of the tub!" The now drying towhee lunged at the wading chap forcing it to leave off its foot soaking. The outside towhee then got into the bath and splashed around as if trying to show the other how it's done. The wader never did return to the bath, guess its foot soak was finished.
By mid-morning more water had to be added to the bath.

Meanwhile the hummer childred are chasing each other around the yard, each fiercely protecting its flower patch. The fuschia bush and Maltese Cross flowers are in full bloom and the chases and fights out there are constantly drawing my attention away from my work here at home.

Mary Hrudkaj
Belfair/Tahuya
hrudkajm at hotmail.com


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