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 ! 
(3,750 page views) 

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

The Autumn Owl Visited

The Autumn Owl is a Great Horned Owl.
Chronicled by Deborah Moen
 Greeting Card Sold below post.

The rabbit bush turns a bright yellow, the sun shifts lower in the sky, night falls...

Paul calls me from the bedroom, "Deborah!!! Come here!" I run to the bedroom window where he is standing. He says "Can you hear that?" I held my breath... looking out into the night...then I hear hoo hoot hooo hooot coming from the elm tree in the backyard. Oh it was our friend, the Great Horned Owl ! 

Back at the turn of the millennium, when I met my husband, Paul, the owl showed up everywhere we went. Owl became our totem affirming our relationship. So when owl visits us we both smile and remember those days when we were courting. 

Owls are so wonderfully mysterious, stealth and beautiful. It feels 
personal when they have come to visit. Just let the desire of owl pass through your heart and you may have a visit in your neck of the woods. 


Thank you for visiting, Nature Loves Appreciation (2,172 page views) 
Until next time
The more you appreciate Nature or anything for that matter, the more there will be to appreciate!
Have fun !

DeborahMoonMoen
Nature Lover, Writer, Photographer, Healing Arts

Great Horned Owl Greeting Card by LittleUtahFarm
Find other Owl Cards at zazzle.com

The Dove And The Swallow

First Snow is celebrated with the
 post The Dove and The Swallow on
 www.naturelovesappreciation.blogspot.com

Tis the season !

The first snow has come today in Cedar City, Utah. It feels so good too.  The energy is buoyant full of the right ions. Not too cold either. It has warmed up to 38 degrees.


Ever since dawn the snow fell like little bits of pixie dust. Recently after lunch the snow became like big cornflakes that slanted to the east and then to the west with the changing winds.

Hail to the snow on her first flight to earth this season. Yes ! Tis the Season !


Hail to the snow.

SNOW ! Is another form of water.


Yes indeed, snow from rain that falls

               from expanding clouds

from the water's mysterious  journey from earth upward to the heavens
               from lakes, streams, oceans, creeks and puddles.

Snow !

This morning the swallows gathered on top of the rabbit bushes near the fountain as I fed my hens. It was the first snow for my young lady hens and some of the girls turned right back around and went into the coop. My two Black Jersey Giant hens however, went right out to the rabbit bushes leaving their tracks in the snow. The little swallows waited patiently for me to toss some seed.

The doves flew gracefully over to the fountain too making their whispered flight sounds. Ever hear a dove as it flew from one place to another? It is almost like they are whispering a soft but enthusiastic "weeee !"  I wonder why they make such enchanting sounds during flight. Is it "Here I come !" What do you think?

I noticed the birds did not fly away as I came close. I eagerly took this opportunity to photograph them. Here is one of my favorite clicks from today The Dove And The Swallow. This would make a great greeting card for the winter holidays. I wonder... what is Dove and Swallow conveying to each other ?

The Dove And The Swallow is offered in prints, canvas, Tshirts, tote bags and greeting cards here on fine art America. Here is the link to my website. http://deborah-moen.artistwebsites.com/featured/the-dove-and-the-swallow-deborah-moen.html

Thank you for visiting Nature Love Appreciation !
( page views 1258 )
 Until next time

We may appreciate Nature and look for all the things that are beautiful and uplifting. The more you appreciate Nature the more there is to appreciate !

Shine Your Light,
Deborah ' Moon ' Moen

Nature Lover, Writer and Photographer

Vulture's Story

Long ago the sun was much to close to the earth.




A vulture glides in the air
 www.NatureLovesAppreciation.blogspot.com

It was burning hot and the animal world got together to decide what must be done. Fox stepped up and offered to help. He took the sun in his mouth and ran as fast as he could towards heaven. The sun got so hot it burnt his mouth. To this day the Foxes on earth have black mouths. He returned unsuccessful.



Then Opossum stepped forward

Opossum volunteered and wrapped his tail around the sun and ran towards the heavens. He too found the sun was much too hot as it burnt the hair off his tail. He returned and to this day all possums do not have hair on their tails.

Vulture stepped forward

He was the most beautiful and powerful of birds. He had beautiful feathers on top of his head and so beautiful that he was envied by all. He pushed the top of his head against the burning sun and pushed the sun farther and farther up into the heavens. He could feel the feathers burning off his beautiful crown but he was so strong that he pushed the sun far away enough from the earth so the animals and the earth could live on. Vulture had sacrificed his beautiful crown feathers to save the earth and he remained bald. To this day all vultures heads are bald.

~ Native American Tale


Vulture is very misunderstood. People see vulture as ugly and mean because he eats dead animals. Vulture is an amazing bird that keeps our environment clean. His scientific name
cathartes aura means "golden purifier". He does not kill his prey. Vulture is also a beautiful graceful soaring bird who rides on the winds. Have you seen vulture teetering on the winds making use of every draft. this takes much strength and power.

Vulture teaches us to honor others for who they are and not how they appear. This is a very good lesson for us to learn. Perhaps your heart will open next time you encounter vulture and you can share this story with others.



Thank you for attending this site. We hope you enjoyed the story and come back soon. Nature Loves Appreciation. The more you appreciate, the more there is to appreciate.

To learn more about Vulture's myth and tales: http://www.angelfire.com/indie/anna_jones1/totem.html


Ted Andrews has written a beautiful book called Animal-Speak. In it he teaches about many animals and their habits and traits and how they relate to you. Do you have a special animal you see or feel close to? They can teach you about yourself. This is a great book to have. On sale in Kindle or Paperback at Amazon.com