When I am in the swimming pool at our “farm”, I often watch the birds nesting in a small birdhouse attach to a nearby pasture’s fence. There are several of these wooden houses throughout the property, as well as on a neighboring fence — all attached at roughly 3’ high.
I have finally identified the birds — they are black-capped vireos, an endangered species that likes to build nests in bushes about 3’ above the ground. One reason they are endangered is that cowbirds lay eggs in vireo’s nests. Their young hatches first and the young vireos cannot compete for food and soon die. So these wooden houses were apparently placed around to protect them.
My source also said the wee birds hang upside down from twigs for a moment before hopping to the next branch. Now that I’d like to see!
This is my oldest, original Pocket Palette, filled with muted autumn colors. Its metal is magnetic, allowing me to use a bit of a business card magnet to hold an additional mixing pan to the side. The pan and magnet easily fit into the same cloth bag that holds the palette.
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