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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Eastern Phoebe in a moss lined nest; Clarke County, Georgia. Sunday, 3:49 PM - Although it is the Barn Swallows that are busy about the posts on my neighbors’ front porches, it is an Eastern Phoebe that has once again attempted a nest on our front patio. Two years ago, the nest was destroyed before completion. Last year, the attempt appeared to be successful but was blown down by strong winds several weeks later, leaving unhatched eggs to perish under the overturned nest on the ground. This year’s nest seems of fine construction, neatly padded with fresh green moss, and has so far withstood one very windy day. The Phoebe sits on her nest quite a bit. Perhaps the eggs are already there. She cocks her head as I come out the front door, and usually takes flight quite quickly. Last Saturday, while doing yardwork, I set up my ladder next to the juniper tree to get a higher angle photo into her nest. Each time I climbed the ladder, she would fly off, and all I got was a poor shot with flash. Today I used a longer lens to stay out of her flight zone. I managed a little more naturally lighted photo. Athens, Georgia  Update: By the week of April 17, three hatchlings were sticking their heads up out of the nest. A little later, they were too big to fit in the nest together and sat a few days on the ledge. They finally fledged on April 28 and left the comforts of our front porch!  April 22, 2017, 8:44 AM.  April 27, 2017, 6:18 PM.  Three exposure HDR photograph of the historic Walton County Courthouse in Monroe, Georgia. Thursday, April 6, 2017; 7:35 AM. Thursday, 7:35 AM - After severe storms went through Walton County (literally and figuratively), a beautiful sun still rose this morning. I owe my thanks to our Creator who “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” And I owe many thanks to the Walton County Gov’t family who took in this “yankee outsider” and gave me the opportunity to head up Animal Control. Chairman Kevin Little and the other Commissioners have always supported animal control, and me personally, and have treated me more than fairly. I am privileged to work with such gentlemen on the BOC. I am also thankful for all of the employees in every department who band together and make Walton such a great place to work. For my coworkers with me in the animal control trenches each day; for the 911 dispatchers who listen for our safety; the courts, judges and attorneys who fairly enforce our cases; the Deputies and Police that have our backs; the elections officials; the Fire and EMS workers who treat the victims of our dog bite cases; the Facilities employees who built and maintain our beautiful shelter; our Finance heroes who steward our needs and salaries; the HR staff that ensure our great benefits; the IT Dept. who make our adoption website possible; Recycling for the newspapers for cat cages; Parks and Rec; the Zoning folks that check on the excessive animal complaints; Public Works and Traffic engineering; Water and anyone else I may have missed. Thanks all! 
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Ring-necked ducks visit a small pond in Walton County, Georgia. Tuesday, 3:45 PM - Two female Ring-necked ducks made a surprise appearance on the pond. They weren’t here yesterday, and were gone the following day. They kept their distance, so I had an opportunity to try out the 1.4x teleconverter with the Sigma 600mm lens. I found that autofocus was virtually unreliable with the teleconverter. I’m not sure if it was the lack of contrast from the bright sun on water, or some other issue.
Walton County, Georgia 
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalm 84:3 "Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God."  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. Sunday, 7:30 AM – On an early morning walk around the block, I found the Red-shouldered Hawk sitting once again on the same fence on Hummingbird Trail that I saw at this same time last weekend. It must be a habit of his to hunt from this perch. Back home enjoying a cup of coffee on the back patio, the Cowbirds again made a showing. This time a larger group of both males and females visited the backyard feeder and perched side by side on the swingset. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds are busy throughout the backyard. A bright colored male sat high in the persimmon tree, which just today began to bud. He then flew to, and entered, the small birdhouse on the post near the fire pit. Perhaps this would be their choice for this year’s nest box? Nope. For he emerged with a beak-full of nesting material. But to which box would he carry it?  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. Later in the afternoon, the more drably colored female made several staging runs from the Persimmon to the Crepe Myrtle, not far from where I sat. When she gained the confidence, she proceeded to the triple birdhouses over the turtle pond. Which would be her choice? Door #1, door #2, or door #3? She entered the house on the right. Throughout the course of the afternoon she made runs from the backyard, to the Persimmon, to the Crepe Myrtle, to the top of the three houses. Each time cautiously peering about before entering the right hand house. It seems the right hand house is her choice. Or is it? Best-Ever Backyard Birding Tips writes, “Sometimes the birds will spend a lot of time at one box and seem like they’re going to use it, but then they move on to a different one. Even their removing old nest materials from a box doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the one they intend to use. You’ll only know a pair has chosen a box for sure when they begin carrying nest material into the box, not out of it.” So we will wait and see... Athens, Georgia  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.  Male Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. I want to thank Lee's Birdwatching Adventures for guest posting this blog! Lee's website is about birding from a Christian perspective and has years of articles and content from Lee and other creationists and birders.  William Wise's Creation Speaks is a Biblical teaching ministry that uses nature writing and photography to glorify our Creator and teach the truth of creation. -- “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9 Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, birdhouse nest box, garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. April 2, 2017. Thank God it’s Saturday. Finally, an opportunity for some backyard birding! Lighting the propane heater, I prepared my spot on the patio for a morning of relaxation: binoculars, camera, coffee, eBird app, notebook and pen, fill the feeders. I can relax in this beautiful scene my heavenly Father has prepared for me… and also meditate upon the future home He is preparing for me! After noting the different bird species in the flurry of activity at the freshly filled feeders, my eyes were drawn to the pair of Eastern Bluebirds. The male and female repeatedly crisscrossed the yard, alighting here and there upon the nest boxes, spending a moment in thought, and then moving to the next. Although it is still only February, they are preparing for spring. Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, birdhouse nest box, garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. April 2, 2017. When my family moved into our current home in Georgia, after we were comfortably settled, it was time to prepare a backyard bird sanctuary. In addition to the small pond, feeders, fruiting shrubs and honeysuckle vines, I wanted to prepare a home for the Bluebirds and built three nest boxes. To my surprise, the very first season, the bluebirds began preparing a home for their young and have had two clutches per season every year!
And since He so graciously has been preparing a home, we should be preparing our hearts! Luke 12:43-47 “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing... And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.”
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 All content is ©williamwisephoto.com. Please don't steal images. My images are available at dreamstime.com. Stock sales go into the shelter photography program.
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In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
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Donations help support the animal shelter adoption photography equipment and adoption website hosting and domain fees. Thanks for your support!
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