Vögel im Garten!

Tonight’s post is coming all the way from Münich, Germany, where my sis-in-law, Sabine, and nieces, Sarah (8) and Alyssa (4), have recently become bird watching enthusiasts! Yeah! I now have a direct link to European birds, and to top it off, Sabine sent me three German bird guides so I can learn the names of the European birds auf Deutsch.

Alyssa (4), Sabine, Sarah (8)

Sarah and Alyssa decided they wanted to turn their back yard into a bird sanctuary so Sabine bought some birdseed and a feeder to get them started. After almost two months of waiting patiently for the birds to arrive, Sarah decided the birds couldn’t see the feeder in their yard very well, and if she ever wanted to see any bird action out there she would have to make some improvements. So she enlisted Alyssa’s help, and together they constructed a big ring of stones on the ground to catch the eye of any bird flying by.  To make sure the birds hung around, she sprinkled birdseed inside it. She also thought the birds might be thirsty, so she added a little bowl of water, and guess what? The next day ein kleines Rotkelchen (European Robin) showed up, and soon after many other birds started visiting the bird sanctuary too.

Ein süßes Rotkelchen. These little birds always seem 

to have such a sweet expression on their faces!

This little cutie is called eine Blaumeise (Blue Tit, 

Parus caeruleus). He looks like a very colorful 

chickadee and must be fun to watch. 

A group of Grünfink (Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris) 

hanging out in the miniature Bird Stonehenge. Way to go 

Sarah and Alyssa for coming up with the design! 

I think the bright red bowl was a good eye catcher too.

Eine Amsel (Eurasian Blackbird, Turdus merula). He 

seems to be a combination of our Robin and our Blackbird.

A very cute Feldsperling (Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus). 

He is similar to the House Sparrow (Haussperling) but has 

a brown cap and black cheek spot. Both birds also go by “Spatz.”

As time goes by hopefully Sabine, Sarah and Alyssa will keep us up to date with new Deutsche Vögel. I think Sarah and Alyssa might be on their way to becoming naturalists, and Sabine admits she is now running to the window (just like the rest of us) to see which bird is at the bird feeder with camera in hand. Thanks guys for sending me the photos and the books!!!