Ash Trees, Aphids, and Songbirds

In May when the weather turns cold, wet, and gray, and the big ash tree in the backyard starts to drip sap and aphids – the migrating songbirds arrive. What a feat of planning the seasons are – to have even the tiniest bugs ready for the thousands of nest- building birds to feast on – to have the nectar-rich flowers beginning to bloom just as the hummingbirds arrive from their wintering in Peru. I thank God and his various committees for this beautiful earth they have provided for us.

Here are the birds we have in our yard this very day:

MacGillivray’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
Western Tanager
Lazuli Bunting
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Black chinned Hummingbird
Gray flycatcher
Mourning Dove
House sparrow
House Finch
Robin
Mallard Duck