A few birdhouses are next, once I determine the best fit for my yard. These plants not only look great in my yard but provide shelter and food for birds, bees and butterflies. Bird baths and feeders were easy to add and cleaning them weekly keeps visitors happy and healthy. Adding in native plants like American Beautyberry, Barbados Cherry and Turk’s Cap were next. And while many critters can’t easily avail themselves of my yard, that’s not the case for birds. Since my hawk visitors have departed, I’ve taken steps to make my backyard more ‘bird friendly’ in hopes of inviting more avian friends in.

Like so many of you, I’m fascinated by our native wildlife. Cooper’s Hawks perched on fence in Panther Creek Cooper’s Hawks enjoying the birdbath. So, who were these unexpected backyard visitors? A couple of juvenile Cooper’s Hawks. Until the next day when they returned for another bath. And stayed for an entire week!

Finally they did take flight and I assumed that would be the last we’d see of them. It is a birdbath after all. I snapped off as many photos as I could before they hurried on their way. But after 10 minutes, cat and human noses remained pressed to the window, soaking up the scene. One sunny morning last month, the most unusual visitors appeared at my birdbath.