A major achievement of my new Outback Garden is having Eastern Bluebirds nesting. Only once in 46 years did a bluebird visit my backyard. Since establishing the garden they have nested three consecutive years and this year produced three broods of baby chicks. I have observed the full cycle of their nesting, including nest box selection, nest building, laying and incubating the eggs, and nurturing the young chicks.

During the early Fall season, several species of migrating birds have visited my backyard.

Few birds nest in my backyard wildlife habitat, but many parents nesting within the neighborhood bring their young fledglings into my yard to nurture them.

The Bubbling Rock water feature in my Outback Garden attracts many birds wanting to cool off on hot summer days.
A pair of Northern Flickers enjoyed bathing, preening and sunning in the morning.

Spring is coming early to Huntsville, but the winter months of December and January brought a special group of migratory birds to my backyard wildlife habitat. These birds migrate from northern latitudes and remain in the Southern states until March and April.  With the warming weather our winter visitors will soon return to their northern breeding grounds. I have had several opportunities to photograph them in my backyard and on my deck.

Leucism results from a partial loss of pigmentation causing a white, pale, or patchy coloration of the feathers.  Sometimes a bird’s plumage will be totally white which if often mistaken as an albino. 

In 2015 over thirty regional and Neotropical migrating birds visited my backyard wildlife habitat during the spring and fall seasons.  Generally these birds are not attracted to feeders.  Only the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Red-breasted Nuthatches fed on sunflower seeds, and the Pine an Yellow-rumped Warblers fed on suet.  While my garden plantings and structure that provide security attracted many of the species, my water features provided the major attraction for these short term visitors and afforded me close viewing and many photo opportunities.  Focusing on their natural feeding sites such as in the tops of spring budding trees and fall berry laden trees and shrubs also provided many delightful migration bird sightings.

Alabama winter snows provide a delightful background for photographing local and winter visiting birds in my backyard.

An unusual form of the Common Grackle visited my backyard today.
First time I have seen a Grackle with a white tale.  
An example of leucism:  “an abnormal plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin, from being properly deposited on a bird’s feathers”

My backyard habitat attracts many Spring and Fall migrating birds for my viewing pleasure.

Over the last four days, flocks of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins have visited my water features including one on my deck.  On one day I counted over 400 robins in three hours. Several of the flocks had 100+ waxwings.  The flock visits occur mostly in the mornings between 7:00and 10:00 am.