Western King Birds and The Apple Tree Surprise

Western King Bird

I do so love the twitter and chirps of the early summer. The  morning songs consist of sparrows, house finches, friendly robins, cooing doves, bright yellow orioles, starlings, a few roosters, hens, ducks, turkeys from down the road, ravens, and the western king bird. My, I do have quite a variety !




We had so many birds in the backyard and I was looking for some nests up in the big apple tree but could not see them for the leaves and the abundance of apples growing on the branches.



I noticed yesterday morning there were 2 western king birds up on the wires and they seemed upset when I came outdoors. I just chalked it up to their personality. I took some photos of them and thought it a good time to take a video of  them so others could see and here what they sounded like. I used the branch that was hanging low from the weight of the apples to support my camera. It was the perfect level. I took the video and walked around the hanging branch and my eyes zoomed in on a nest with 2 babies inside ! Whoa ! I must have been 1 foot from the nest as I took the video. Watch video so you can see and hear what the the adult birds sound like. It is 33 seconds.








Finding the nest gave me such a child-like magical feeling. I love it when these experiences happen.



Can you imagine finding a nest at eye level? 



 I carefully stepped up to take a photo. Look close in the center you can see their little black eyes.

Baby western king birds in the nest, Iron County, Utah

I made sure to walk wide around the branch and the parents seemed to trust me after awhile. I felt they could sense I meant no harm. So I scooted a bit closer. and Click* 

Two baby western king birds.

Oh they are so cute ! And they have their feathers and I think they will leave the nest soon. Precious little things. I am so glad I was able to see them before they left the nest. What a blessing to behold.

 By Deborah Moon Moen

Thank you for visiting Nature Loves Appreciation ! 
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Until next time remember,
The more you appreciate Nature, the more Nature experiences will come to you. That is because Nature Loves Appreciation !

My Earth Name

Dance of Life Celebration "Toasting the New Moon "

My love and appreciation of nature inspired me to create a class called "Dance of Life" We sat under the giant Mulberry tree in my back yard and I taught about universal principles and the hula under the moon and stars. I created activities that taught us about nature and life. It was in that class of nature lovers that we all agreed to find our earth name. 

Kumu Hula ( teachers of Hawaiian Dance) always name their students. But we agreed we would allow the Earth to teach us our earth name.



On another trip to the Sierras, I saw my first mama bear and her two cubs. On the way home I saw a powerful image on the face of a mountain. The late spring revealed dark wet fields of melted ice and white slivers and fields of remaining snow on the face mountain. I saw an image that spoke to me and cause my heart to beat like a drum. I saw a native god holding a white ball of snow like a moon over its head. It reminded me of a thunder bird. I drew it as we drove home.  I felt it was a sign showing me my name.

Highway 395 in California I saw an image painted with snow on the mountain side.

The following year I passed that mountain again and though the patterns of snow were different. That memory of the snowy "thunderbird"  image and the feeling of intrigue was still fresh and new. 

Coming home from the Sierras, we passed through the old ghost towns of Red Mountain, Johannesburg, and Randsburg.  We spotted an abandoned building. The name of it was very tribal and had a strange familiarity to it.  We stopped to peer into the windows and walk around. I could see that someone at one time had a beautiful creative dream at one time. But now the windows were broken, supply shelves fallen over and dust blanketed the inside. The Tribal Art shop was called, Moon Dreaming Thunder.

Randsburg, Johannesburg and Red Mountain area.
Tribal Art-Moon Dreaming Thunder

It was on that trip home I shouted "MOON DREAMING THUNDER!!! This is what the earth was teaching me!".

This was such a romantic adventure I was having with the earth. I was happy to share with my class how I discovered the name. We danced in a circle around and around under the moon that evening. They all called me Moon Dreaming Thunder or MDT for short. Such a magical experience. Soon my students discovered their earth names too.

This is the image I saw in the snow patch on the face of the mountain in the Sierra Nevada.


Now I use "Moon" in my name to celebrate my earth name.

Deborah 'Moon' Moen

Thank you for visiting, Nature Loves Appreciation
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Until next time, 

Do you want to find your Earth Name? If you say "yes" then it is already born all you must do is be open to discover it. It will be a strong feeling in your solar plexus or heart and not necessarily how I found mine. You will have your own experience, perfect for you. The universe knows you and will guide you to it. Just relax and enjoy the journey.


I have a shop on ZazzleThis Greeting Card is my creation in my store Simple Spark

Wild -Self Shamanic Greeting Card
by SimpleSpark