Anyone with a bird feeder in Ontario will no doubt be familiar with the jaunty Blue Jay. We heard and saw several this morning at a chilly Wilket Creek.
Some of our jays migrate as far south as Louisiana in winter while others stay with us all year.
When Major League Baseball awarded Toronto an expansion team in 1976, the name “blue jays” was chosen after a “name the team” contest. The first game was on April 7, 1977 at the old Exhibition Stadium. It was played in falling snow with the spectators in right field chanting “We want beer!” Eventually beer sales were allowed.
Toronto won the game 9 -5 over Chicago. I know all of this because I was there and still have the ticket stub.
Other birds from this morning:
West Don River
Some botany:
This morning’s group:
NATURE POETRY
This poem is a loving description of my grandparents and their home:
TIPTOE BACK IN MEMORY – Adele Koehnke
When I tiptoe back in memory
As quiet as a mouse
I stop, delighted, every time
When I come to grandmother’s house.
Perched on a hill,
Up a crunchy drive,
Joyous visits there
Brought me alive.
Her glockenspiel, her Innuit art
Her projects spilling all over the table,
Her blue eyes glistening,
Her pretty ears listening.
She transformed everyday life
Into a fable!
Outside I picked field asparagus,
Smiled at her rain-barrel blue,
Sniffed the thyme on her lawn,
Sometimes saw a fawn.
Her little house
Had a name,
It was Cobble Hill
Built of cobblestones from a nearby river.
In memory
The beloved blue door
Is always open.
And she welcomes me in.
Beautiful poetry! Amazing memories to cherish!
Miles, I was at the Blue Jays’ first game as well. My ticket stub is not around anymore though.
I love the poem! Also appreciate the close-up botany pictures in addition to birds to test my memory.
Thank Adele for her lovely poem. And- I enjoyed the Blue Jay’s memories
what a nice post,all of it…..have a feeder with whole peanuts and the Blue Jays go “nuts”….no pun intended….thanks Miles……Rosemarie