For weeks now we've had a bald-headed male cardinal come to our feeder. He looks quite funny with his black shiny head. And lately, the female cardinal who is always with him has also become bald. Does anybody know what that's about?
We've speculated that maybe they have a brood of young ones who are difficult to handle and the stress is causing their feathers to fall out...
On another note, I spent the day yesterday here with our artist friend, Doris, who works with fibers and beads (you can see her stunning work here). She and I had a great time in this creative little town and I got so inspired visiting quite a few galleries. What was most exciting to me was that as I looked at some of the other people's art, I thought that my art could fit right in. That was a nice feeling!
Today, I am busy, busy with creative projects and hope to have something else to show you soon! But in the meantime, I wish you a happy Thursday.
I read about this a while back, here is an exerpt from the article. ~
ReplyDelete"And so our mystery is solved. Seasonally, a few birds are attacked by feather mites, tiny arthropods whose feeding destroys feather shafts. Normally, the birds would divest themselves of these mites by preening, but birds cannot effectively preen their own heads. Once the mites have destroyed their food source on the birds' heads, they must either move on to a new victim or place themselves in jeopardy on another area of their host's body." -
http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/nw98/baldbi
rds.html
what a funny observation! He sure is a cutie! Keep us posted on his little hair situation!!!
ReplyDeletevicki
Historic Bluffton looks heavenly to me! I sure wish I lived closer, I would plan a weekend get away.
ReplyDeleteAh, Mr. H., thank you for solving the bald bird mystery for us! It sounds like there is hope for those two to grow feathers again... : ) Silke
ReplyDeleteHi Silke! Great photo! Love the possibility of why their losing their feathers. lol. Happy Thursday to you too! :)
ReplyDeletePoor birds. Too bad they couldn't preen each other. Your outing looked like it was a lot of fun creatively.
ReplyDeleteoh poor thing!!! I hope they aren't too stresses!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo
Happy Thursday!!!
Hugs
Diana
Silke, I am certain you are correct about the birds! My own hair just recently started growing back since my children have reached adulthood!!! What a fantastical place you visited. We have nothing like that out here...everything in the desert is new, and I am longing for old. Tucson has an area of artists...sounds like a good road trip. I took a quick peek at your friend and WOWZA!!! I am going back to look at all of art. So amazing.
ReplyDelete**happy Thursday** Deb
**gasps, out of breath from running** SILKE! There is a shop in Sedona that sells your friends work! I am ever so excited. TWO road trips! In an air conditioned car. whew. Do you make baskets at all with your incredible crochet/knitting talent? They intrigue me. **kisskiss** Deb
ReplyDeleteOMG! Can people get feather mites? My head's itching!
ReplyDeleteWe have had a few of these here over the years, but I always assumed it was due to all the chemicals used on farmlands. We did have a male cardinal with white splotched feather, and we see that in sparrows, and that has to be due to something that they are eating/exposed to.
ReplyDeleteI just want to pull my hair out to see if it will make my head feel better.....
I hate computers.....
Glad you had a fun day!
XXOO!!
Anne
Poor birdies...I guess, just like with humans, stress can make the feathers fall off of birdies. :( He is still so cute, though. Can't wait to find out what amazing creations you'll have to store for us!!! Enjoy your day! Theresa
ReplyDeleteMites...always looking for a free ride, or a free food source!! :-) Hopefully they'll be birds 'of a feather' again soon!...By the way, I checked out your friend's work. I LOVE her scarves!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good time with your friend--her quilts are wonderful! Linda R.
ReplyDeletePoor little birds. :(
ReplyDeleteWhat a awesome way to spend a day. It looks like an awesome place!
Oh poor little guy, i knew it! that was going to be my guess. what a nice guy that mr. h was to supply the article.
ReplyDeleteyou are so lucky! what a wonderful day. I think you are so humble and cute, yes! your art would fit right in. :)
xoxo
lori
silke, i second lori: you ARE humble and cute! that is the best description of you.
ReplyDeletei have a special family member here who is also a fiber artist and i can't wait to show her doris's work. just beautiful.
isn't all this art the cat's best meow? :)
xoxo
What a cute blog you have! I love your bookmarks made from your art. I started mixed media last summer and realize that some of my work would also make great bookmarks, but yours look so proessionally done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.