Painted buntings appeared at our house on April 22nd, in all their splendor and glory, just outside our breakfast window on our stack-of-boulders birdbath.

Now, we see the indigo, scarlet, and chartreuse males and olive females every day.

They’re in the vicinity by the hundreds now, nesting on the undeveloped (at the moment) former Nancy Ranch just west of Mountain City, where Clark Wilson wants to develop a 2,200 home community named Anthem. Now, I’m guessing “painted buntings by the hundreds” since we will see the beauties a dozen at a time, and it stands to reason they are not all visiting our yard and not all at once.

For birds nesting in our yard in nestboxes, I can tell you exactly how many. Providing a nestbox not only provides the satisfaction of providing nesting habitat for cavity-nesting birds; it also offers joy jolting peeks into the nesting process. Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s “NestWatch” (www.NestWatch.org) initiative suggests opening a nestbox about twice each week to observe.

Our ash-throated flycatcher nestlings, in a Texas Bluebird Society nestbox, hatched about a week ago from purple-streaked cream-colored eggs. We see flitting glimpses of the parents’ rust-colored wings and tails.

I visit about twice a week and record observations at www.NestWatch.org.

Interested? I distribute Texas Bluebird Society’s “bluebird” nestbox (well-suited for a variety of small native cavity-nesting birds).  It’s $17, including sales tax, or free with a $15 Texas Bluebird Society membership.

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MountainCity.NextDoor.com reached 75 registrants in Mountain City recently, with 324 nearby neighbors. The categories include classifieds, crime and safety, free items, general, lost and found, and recommendations.

I went there when I found myself without a voice. Neighbors provided recommendations for two local after hours clinics. Surely we need more clinics. I waited for three hours on Sunday morning and took a break in order to attend church. When I did get in after church, the advice included advice similar to home remedies provided through NestDoor.com by Marjie Kelley: Home remedies: gargle with salt water; hot tea with honey (and maybe a shot of something alcoholic?); and, my personal favorite, a cup of hot Tang. So, lots of fluids.

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Let your voice be heard on anything that matters with City government by speaking during Citizens Comment at any council meeting. Next up:  Monday, May 11, 7 p.m.  The agenda will be posted this weekend.

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Last week, two residents contacted me to find out the status of their undelivered directory.  They should all be delivered now. 

If your directory has not been delivered or if you have a tidbit, please contact me. I have nothing to do with directory delivery, but I have easy access to the right channels (which are found in the directory). Readers are the channel through which tidbits flow.  Ptom5678@gmail.com (subject: tidbit) or 512 268 5678. 

Thanks! Love, Pauline