Back Yard Birds

 

Item #267 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzles



Hi Puzzlers,

April is such a wonderful month, the days get longer and warmer and the backyard springs to life.  We encourage the local chipmunks to take residence in our yard by feeding them.  When they see us coming with the can of seed they line up to greet us like long lost friends.  These little furry creatures even engage our dog Mario in a well-timed game of chase.  This is a very funny sight to see as the chipmunks always get the best of Mario.  The chipmunks appear to work in tandem; one gets Mario’s attention and the chase begins and just when it looks like Mario is going to catch the little guy he juts into one of his many holes.  Then across the yard at another hole, a fellow chipmunk chirps to divert Mario’s attention.  Then the chipmunk starts running across the yard knowing Mario will be in hot pursuit.  This game continues until Mario gets tuckered out.  At this point an exhausted Mario is content to lie across the deck, with his face resting in his paws, watching the birds of our backyard at their feeders.

Among Mario’s favorites are the Chickadees.  Okay, these little black, white and grey birds are just about everyone’s favorite backyard bird.  They are considered to be “the cheerful darlings” of the backyard bird feeders.  Chickadees generally feed one at a time at the feeder.  They carefully select the heaviest seed, then fly away to eat it, but, not before they have called out to their mate to announce they have found food.   How sweet is that!

Hummingbirds also rank at the top of Mario’s list.  He has learned that in order to see these little beauties he must remain very still.  Hummingbirds can reach speeds of 25-30 miles per hour and some species up to 60 miles-per-hour!   Twenty-five to thirty percent of a Hummingbirds total weight comes from their wings, which can flap up to 80 beats per second.  Ancient Spanish explorers called these tiny wonders Flying Jewels but it was the American colonist who first referred to them as Hummingbirds.

Next on our list of backyard birds is the Wild Turkey.  I know this is not the typical backyard bird but if you live in Northern New Hampshire it is.  During colonial times these amazing creatures were forced to find a new habitat due to over hunting.  Luckily the 1940’s Wild turkey reintroduction program worked so well that the turkey can now be found in 49 states.  (The only U.S. state without turkeys is Alaska.)  Benjamin Franklin so revered the turkey that it was his choice for our Nations national bird. 

So here is a toast of Cheers to the birds of the backyard for bringing us such pleasure and joy!

Happy Puzzling!