Spring, isn't it?

We were beginning to see signs of spring.

 People usually associate robins with spring, but actually, we have robins year round here in Kansas.  The ones we have in the winter, however, summer up in Canada while the ones we have here during spring and summer come from the south.

 The juncos, our winter birds, have not left yet.  They will shortly.

 Time to put up the purple martin house!

No, Mr. Starling, this house is not for you.

No, Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow, you are not welcome either.

We closed up the middle hole.  We had read that the purple martins are territorial and don't like their fellow martins next door.  In past years, the sparrows have nested in the middle holes.  We are hoping this year to have it ONLY for the purple martins.  

 The first Mr. and Mrs. Purple martin have arrived.  We are having to clean up the sparrows nests and hope to keep them at bay.

We will be needing a new house soon.  There are many kinds of houses!

These have dividers between the holes.

Look at this mansion!

Speaking of new houses, the area south of us will be getting some action soon.  New builds.  They were burning the hedge row that they'd cut down to get the area ready.  Mixed feelings.  The original plans had been for a pond that I could look at from my kitchen window, but now the pond has been moved to be east of the new homes.  We'll enjoy getting to know some new neighbors, but I do like to see nature.

Red wing blackbirds 

 Must have been a windy day when I took this picture.  Look at Mr. Cardinals "hair"!

 Goldfinch

 Dove

Foggy morning over the pond

What in the world? 

"Out on a limb"

 Blue-winged teal

You can't tell it from this picture unless you look closely, but this nest had blue string intertwined among the grasses.  Perhaps some Easter basket straw?  They will be the envy of the bird neighborhood!

Someone else has his eyes on the little birdies in our area!

And just when we think Spring is arriving, the temps dip in the teens and we get a little snow.

The day prior, it had been in the 70's.  That is Kansas.