😄It happened gradually, over 2 or 3 years. It's a long story, but the short answer is there is almost always food on my back porch.

I've never heard that before. Out on the water, I usually see mixed groups. I'll have to pay closer attention and see if I can pick up on any tension between them.

Thanks Cory! They really are sweet birds. Of course, this family knows me, but even the ones out on the river seem to react favorably to calm, soothing speech tones. (sorry for the delay)

Thanks Cory. It was a good day for bird sighting.

She was cool about the pictures, but now she's telling me it's time to move along.

Poor thing: those are louse flies, blood sucking parasites that are fairly common for eagles, vultures, and osprey.

I hadn't thought of that. I had to put a rubber snake in a spot similar to what you described because the babies kept falling to their death.

Thanks Amanda! They don't make it easy. They nest on tiny islands in the middle of a river. I took it from a kayak, with one leg wrapped around an overturned tree

A lot of rat snakes live on the property, and they're great climbers. I've surrounded the shrub with chicken wire.