2010 Weeks #15, 16, 17 & 18 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird trail.

Pass Christian Master Naturalist and Long Beach Mississippi Blue Bird Trail founder John Lipscomb (pictured above checking a nesting box), reported during the June 11 Trail Survey that it was extremely hot and humid during the survey walk. He commented that he couldn’t imagine being a baby bluebird inside one of those little wooden boxes during that torrid weather. Neither can I.

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #15 – June 11, 2010:

Box #1 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #2 – 5 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: – 5 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #3 – New nest; these new guys are playing house again. – Last week: 3 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest. *First babies ever to fly from this box since Trail founded in 2008. Removed next; cleaned box.

Box #4 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: – 5 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: – No activity.

Box #6 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.

Box #7 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.

Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #9 – Nest built. – Last week: Nest built.

Box #10 – Some straw in box. – Last week: Some straw in box.

Box #11 – Nest built.- Last week: Nest built.

Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #13 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.

2010 Season Totals: 36 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 9 Blue Bird babies, 23 Blue Bird eggs.
*****************************

Lots of large babies like these, flew from the nesting boxes this past week.

John reported during the June 18th Trail Survey that he was enthused with there being lots more Blue Bird babies in the nesting boxes this week; some just hatched and others almost ready to fly the nest.

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #16 – June 18, 2010:

Box #1 – 2 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #2 – 5 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: – 5 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #3 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: New nest; these new guys are playing house again.

Box #4 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: – 5 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: – No activity.

Box #6 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.

Box #7 – 3 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.

Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #9 – Removed nest, no activity. – Last week: Nest built.

Box #10 – Removed straw, no activity. – Last week: Some straw in box.

Box #11 – Nest, will remove next week if no activity. – Last week: Nest built.

Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #13 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.

2010 Season Totals: 36 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 22 Blue Bird babies, 10 blue bird eggs.

*****************************

When the babies get as large as these bobbleheads, they are ready to fly at most any time.

John reported during the June 25th Blue Bird Trail survey, that the Long Beach weather continued to be hot and humid.

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #17 – June 25, 2010:

Box #1 – 2 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 2 Blue Bird babies.

Box #2 – 4 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, 1 sterile Blue Bird egg. – Last week: – 5 Blue Bird babies.

Box #3 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #4 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: – 4 Blue Bird babies.

Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: – No activity.

Box #6 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 4 blue bird babies.

Box #7 – 3 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 3 blue bird babies.

Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird babies.

Box #9 – No activity. – Last: Removed nest, no activity.

Box #10 – Removed straw, no activity. – Last week: Some straw in box.

Box #11 – No activity, removed nest. – Last week: Nest, will remove next week if no activity.

Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird babies.

Box #13 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.

2010 Season Totals: 44 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 17 Blue Bird babies, 7 blue bird eggs (several of these will be sterile).

******************************

John reports on July 4th: “Really wet on the north end of campus. The ground is ‘sour’ (as the old timers say). It smells like the ground smelled after Katrina. Yuk! There is some discrepancy in the numbers. As I have explained before, it is sometimes hard to tell how many babies/eggs there are in a nest. For instance, last week, I counted 2 babies and 2 eggs in Box #1. This week there was nothing in the box, so I am counting that at 4 babies flown. Not really sure, but you have to make a decision. I’d rather err on the positive side.”

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #18 – July 4, 2010:

Box #1 – 4 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, removed old nest, cleaned box. – Last week: 2 Blue Bird babies.

Box #2 – No Activity. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, 1 sterile Blue Bird egg; removed nest, cleaned box.

Box #3 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #4 – 5 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, removed old nest, cleaned box. (John reports: this is another change, last week reported 4 babies, there were actually 5 eggs at the start, I just couldn’t count all the fat babies, so I thought there were only 4 of them). – Last week: – 4 Blue Bird babies.

Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: – No activity.

Box #6 – 4 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, 1 sterile egg, removed old nest, cleaned box. – Last week: 4 blue bird babies.

Box #7 – 3 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, 2 sterile eggs, removed old nest, cleaned box. – Last week: 3 blue bird babies.

Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, removed nest, cleaned box. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird babies.

Box #9 – No activity. – Last: Removed nest, no activity.

Box #10 – No activity. – Last week: Removed straw, no activity.

Box #11 – No activity. – Last week: No activity, removed nest.

Box #12 – New straw. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, removed old nest, cleaned box.

Box #13 – New nest. – Last week: Some straw in box.

2010 Season Totals: 64 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 4 blue bird eggs.

2010 Week #14 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird trail.

Master Naturalist John Lipscomb reports today, June 4, 2010, from the South Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail in Long Beach, that:

“We have had lots of rain during the past several days, and the north part of the property is flooded, making it necessary for me to get my waders out to check the boxes. The birdies are making up for the late start this season, with lots of new eggs this week.”

Blue Bird pair on Box #4, during the 2009 season.

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #14 – June 4, 2010:

Box #1 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 1 Blue Bird egg.

Box #2 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: – 5 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #3 – 3 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest. *First babies ever to fly from this box since Trail founded in 2008. – Last week: 3 Blue Bird babies.

Box #4 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: – 2 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: – No activity.

Box #6 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 2 blue bird eggs.

Because of heavy rains received during the past several days on the Long Beach Blue Bird Trail, the north part of the Trail had quite a bit of water, much like it did in this 2009 file image.

Box #7 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 3 blue bird eggs.

Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: New nest built.

Box #9 – Nest built. – Last week: Nest built.

Box #10 – Some straw in box. – Last week: Some straw in box.

Box #11 – Nest built.- Last week: Nest built.

Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #13 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.

2010 Season Totals: 36 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 32 blue bird eggs.

2010 Week #13 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird trail.

From the South Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail, this week, Master Naturalist John Lipscomb reports:

A Blue Bird parent feeding babies in one of the nesting boxes on the South Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail in Long Beach, Mississippi, during the 2009 Season.

“It has gotten very hot down here. I went fishing yesterday and sweated like I was in a sauna. Mornings and evenings are still nice.

We had an 8 foot alligator in the bayou last week. Haven’t seen him in the last 5 or 6 days. Hope he has gone somewhere else.

My friend, Robbie, who has a fishing camp in Dulac, La., called me this morning. Dulac is about 17 miles south of Houma, which is south central La. They have shut all fishing down in that area. Lots of bird life (eagles, pelicans, egrets, etc.) and other wildlife (deer, turtles, gators, etc.) in this area. Not to mention, shrimp, crabs, fish, etc.

We are still allowed to fish in the Sound [The Bay of St. Louis], but not past the islands. This oil leak is scary.”

File photo 2009 Season.

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #13 – May 28, 2010:

Box #1 – 1 Blue Bird egg. – Last week: – New nest built.

Box #2 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: – 3 Blue Bird eggs.

Box #3 – 3 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: – 3 Blue Bird babies.

Box #4 – 2 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: – No activity; did see Blue Birds on the box though.

Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: – No activity.

Box #6 – 2 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies flew from the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned nesting box.

Fishing on the Bayou Portage from John’s back yard dock.

Box #7 – 3 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies flew from the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned nesting box.

Box #8 – Nest built. – Last week: New nest built.

Box #9 – Nest built. – Last week: New nest built.

Box #10 – Some straw in box. – Last week: No activity.

Box #11 – Nest built.- Last week: New nest built.

Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: New nest built.

Box #13 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.

2010 Season Totals: 33 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 17 blue bird eggs, 3 blue bird babies.

2010 Week #12 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird trail.

From the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail in Long Beach, Mississippi today, May 21, 2010, Master Naturalist and Trail Founder John Lipscomb had the following report after making today’s Trail Survey:

2009 file image.

“We now have 33 Blue Bird babies that have flown the nesting boxes. Last year at this time, there were 28 babies that had flown. Also last year this week, we had 25 eggs and 3 babies in the nesting boxes, while this year, this 12th week, we have only 3 babies and 3 eggs.

But, the good news is that we have five new nests that have been built since last week’s Survey on Friday, May 14. These new nests should help bring our egg counts up.

It was very hot and muggy on the Trail today. I saw a dead Blue Bird male today in the vicinity of Box #8. Not sure what killed him. Possibly the stormy weather we had earlier this week.”

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #12 – May 21, 2010:

Box #1 – New nest built. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies flew the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned nesting box.
Box #2 – 3 Blue Bird eggs. – Last week: Straw in the box; new nest under construction.
Box #3 – 3 Blue Bird babies. – Last week: 2 blue bird babies in box and 1 egg – first babies ever in this box.
Box #4 – No activity; did see Blue Birds on the box though. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies flew the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned nesting box.
Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.

2009 file image.
Box #6 – 5 blue bird babies flew from the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned nesting box. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #7 – 5 blue bird babies flew from the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned nesting box. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #8 – New nest built. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies flew from the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned box.
Box #9 – New nest built. – Last week: No activity.
Box #10 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #11 – New nest built. – Last week: No activity.

The adult Blue Birds were very busy building five new nests in the boxes along the Trail during the past week. 2009 file image.

Box #12 – New nest built. – Last week: 4 blue bird babies flew from the next, change from 3 blue bird babies, 1 egg in box.
Box #13 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.

2010 Season Totals: 33 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 3 blue bird eggs, 3 blue bird babies, 5 new Blue Bird nests built this week.

2010 Week #11 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird trail.

Master Naturalist John checking a Blue Bird Trail nesting box during the 2009 Season.

Master Naturalist John reports that he had quite a morning taking the Blue Bird Trail Survey on Friday, May 14, 2010, “I saw a Blue Grosbeak in the back field. Some actually stay and summer here, and I guess this is one of them. There are Dew berries everywhere! It took a lot longer to check the nesting boxes because I was bent over half the time munching dew berries. Tasty!”

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #11 – May 14, 2010:

Box #1 – 5 blue bird babies flew the nest. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #2 – Straw in the box; new nest under construction. – Last week: 4 blue bird babies flew the nest, 1 sterile egg left, removed next, cleaned box.
Box #3 – 2 blue bird babies in box and 1 egg – first babies ever in this box. – Last week: 3 blue bird eggs.
Box #4 – 5 blue bird babies flew the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned box. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.

Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #6 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #7 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #8 – 5 blue bird babies flew from the nest. Removed old nest, cleaned box. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #9 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #10 – No activity. – Last week: No activity, removed moss from box.
Box #11 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #12 – 4 blue bird babies flew from the next, change from 3 blue bird babies, 1 egg in box. – Last week: 3 blue bird babies, 1 egg.
Box #13 – No activity. – Last week: No activity, removed nest.

2010 Season Totals: 23 blue bird babies have flown the nest so far; currently in nesting boxes: 1 blue bird egg, 12 blue bird babies.

2010 Weeks #8, 9 & 10 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird trail.

Besides viewing all of the spring activity along the Long Beach Blue Bird trail, John has also been observing other winged activity moving through his back yard. He reported in an email on April 19, 2010, “We have lots of migratories on the Coast now. I have seen indigo buntings, a painted bunting, an orchard oriole and flocks of cedar waxwings. I have 4 baby blue birds in the nesting box on the bayou behind my house.”

This beautiful male blue bird was photographed feeding his babies at nesting box #7 during the 2009 season.

During the Blue Bird Trail Survey of Friday, April 23, John reported, “It was warm and muggy our there while walking the trail. I even walked up on a red tailed hawk in the back of the property, by the canal. He made a lot of racket flying out of the tree he was in, when he left, and I was able to watch him for a 1/4 of a mile during his flight.”

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #8 – Apr. 23, 2010:

Box #1 – 5 blue bird eggs. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.
Box #2 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 3 blue bird babies.
Box #3 – 1 blue bird egg. – Last week: Nest built.
Box #4 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.
Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #6 – 5 blue bird eggs. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.
Box #7 – 5 blue bird eggs. – Last week: 5 eggs.
Box #8 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.
Box #9 – No activity. – Last week: Grass in box.
Box #10 – Moss in nesting box. – Last week: Partially covered moss nest.
Box #11 – No activity. – Last week: Straw in box.
Box #12 – 4 eggs. – Last week: 4 eggs.
Box #13 – Nest built. – Last week: Nest built.

Totals: 20 blue bird eggs, 15 blue bird babies.
******************************
John reports that it was warm and muggy on the Trail during the Survey. Also windy, and he adds, “Let’s hope and pray for the smallest of problems with the oil spill.”

Amen, to that prayer!

John has lots of big fellows like this in the nesting boxes this week, ready to fly.

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #9 – Apr. 30, 2010:

Box #1 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.
Box #2 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #3 – 3 blue bird eggs. – Last week: 1 blue bird egg.
Box #4 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #6 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird eggs.
Box #7 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 eggs.
Box #8 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #9 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #10 – Moss in box, saw male blue bird in nearby tree. – Last week: Moss in nesting box.
Box #11 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #12 – 3 blue bird babies, 1 egg. – Last week: 4 babies.
Box #13 – Nest has been in box 4 weeks. – Last week: Nest built.

Totals: 4 blue bird eggs, 33 blue bird babies.
*****************************
In Week #10 Survey, John noted that 4 babies had flown the nest, leaving one sterile egg remaining. Last week, he thought there were 5 babies in the nest. But when they are that big, you can’t always see all 5, and low and behold, there was only 4 babies, sitting on that one sterile egg. John reminds us that the proof, is when they fly. More babies will fly during this coming week.

Here are the Blue Bird Trail Survey results for Week #10 – May 6, 2010:

Box #1 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #2 – 4 blue bird babies flew the nest, 1 sterile egg left, removed next, cleaned box. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #3 – 3 blue bird eggs. – Last week: 3 blue bird eggs.
Box #4 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #6 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #7 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #8 – 5 blue bird babies. – Last week: 5 blue bird babies.
Box #9 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #10 – No activity, removed moss from box. – Last week: Moss in box, saw male blue bird in nearby tree.
Box #11 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #12 – 3 blue bird babies, 1 egg. – Last week: 3 blue bird babies, 1 egg.
Box #13 – No activity, removed box. – Last week: Nest has been in box 4 weeks.

Totals: 4 blue bird babies flew the nest, 1 sterile blue bird egg, 4 blue bird eggs, 28 blue bird babies.

2010 Weeks #6 & 7 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird trail.

Weeks 6 and 7 Blue Bird Trail results are in, and Master Naturalist John Lipscomb reports today, “Hi Blue Bird fans! Things have really started happening, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail in Long Beach!”

John enthusiastically reports today, “This beautiful weather has got things happening. We even have a nest in Box #3; and this box has never produced eggs before.” He added, “The female was in the box and a male was on top of the box, when I approached the box today. Keep your fingers crossed!”

Today’s positive results echoed what John observed during his Survey last Friday, April 9: “Finally we are starting to see eggs, and we could have some babies by next week. I walked up on several moms sitting on eggs this morning.

He also observed, “It was a beautiful day to walk the Trail, with bright sunshine, flowers blooming, birds chirping……a good day to be alive.”

Following are Week #6 (April 9, 2010) Survey results:

Box #1 – 4 eggs.
Box #2 – 5 eggs.
Box #3 – grass in box.
Box #4 – 5 eggs.
Box #5 – No activity.
Box #6 – 1 egg.
Box #7 – Nest built.
Box #8 – 6 eggs.
Box #9 – Grass in box.
Box #10 – Grass in box.
Box #11 – Straw in box.
Box #12 – 1 egg.
Box #13 – Nest built.

Total: 21 eggs in the nesting boxes.

Following are Week #7 (April 16, 2010) Survey results:

Box #1 – 5 eggs. – Last week: 4 eggs.
Box #2 – 3 babies, 2 eggs. Last week: 5 eggs.
Box #3 – Nest built. – Last week: grass in box.
Box #4 – 5 eggs. – Last week: 5 eggs.
Box #5 – No activity. – Last week: No activity.
Box #6 – 5 eggs. – Last week: 1 egg.
Box #7 – 5 eggs. – Last week: Nest built.
Box #8 – 5 eggs. – Last week: 5 eggs.
Box #9 – Grass in box; no change. – Last week: Grass in box.
Box #10 – Partially covered moss nest. – Last week: Grass in box.
Box #11 – Straw in box; no change. – Last week: Straw in box.
Box #12 – 4 eggs. – Last week: 1 egg.
Box #13 – Nest built. – Last week: Nest built.

Totals: 31 eggs, 3 babies.

2010 Week #5 – Along the South Mississippi Blue Bird Trail

It’s Week #5 already in the 2010 Survey along the South Mississippi Blue Bird Trail, in Long Beach.

Blue Bird juveniles from the 2009 hatch.

Long Beach Blue Bird Trail Founder, John Lipscomb, Pass Christian, reports that Blue Bird activity in the nesting boxes along the trail, remains slow, way behind last year.

John reported right after the Friday, April 2 Survey, there were only 4 eggs so far in the 13 nesting boxes, although he did record 7 additional completed nests in the boxes during the survey. He advises that last year at this time in the season, there were already 22 birds hatched and 9 eggs in the nests.

John commented a couple of days after the Friday survey, “I am expecting the activity to heat up this week, as there are lots of nests now, and the weather is warmer.”

He added, “I saw an alligator last weekend, in the bayou right behind my home, so the temps are getting right.”

Trail nesting box results during the April 2 survey, included:
Nesting Box #1 – Nest built.
Nesting Box #2 – 4 Blue Bird eggs.
Nesting Box #3 – No activity.
Nesting Box #4 – Nest built.
Nesting Box #5 – No activity.
Nesting Box #6 – Nest built.
Nesting Box #7 – Nest built.
Nesting Box #7 – Nest built.
Nesting Box #9 – Some grass in box.
Nesting Box #10 – Twigs in box.
Nesting Box #11 – No activity.
Nesting Box #12 – Nest built.
Nesting Box #13 – Nest built.

Have a great week!

2010 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Nesting Season Starts

With March 2010 now here and in full swing, it is time to start checking on Blue Bird nesting boxes on the Blue Bird Trail on the campus of the South Mississippi Regional Center in Long Beach, Mississippi.

SMRC Blue Bird Trail founder Master Naturalist John Lipscomb launched the 2010 Blue Bird observation and reporting season last Friday, March 5, 2010 with his first checks of the Trail nesting boxes.

John had the following results to report for this first check: “We are off to a slow start this season, due to the cold, wet windy weather here on the Gulf Coast. We have a few pieces of grass and twigs in boxes 1, 4, 6 and 8. Just as comparison, last year at this time, we had 4 nests built and straw in another box. Nest building will get better once we get some warmer weather.”

Following is a quick summary of activity on the Blue Bird Trail during the 2009 Season:
86 eggs laid: 9 were sterile, 5 lost to predators. 67 babies total flew from the nests.

During the 2008 Season, 45 babies flew from the nesting boxes.

Have a good week!

Willie B. Cobbins: 1917 – 2010. Gone Home To Be With Norman

Reese called me last night to let me know:

“Grandma has gone home.”

Willie B. Cobbins, age 92.

On Sept. 8, 2008, he made a previous call, to let me know that his beloved Grandfather, and my longtime Carroll County, Mississippi friend, Norman Cobbins, Sr., had passed at the age of 102, leaving his bride of almost 72 years, Willie B., behind.

Now, Willie, just a few days short of her 93rd birthday, has gone on to join him, on the other side, in heaven.

She will be dearly missed by her loving family and friends.

Sincerest sympathies go out to Willie’s children and their families and may God be with you and provide you with peace and understanding at this sad time.

Willie was born Feb. 2, 1917, the second eldest daughter and one of nine children born to John Henry “Papa” Nalls and Viola “Nuke” Smith Nalls.

Norman and Willie in front of their old family home, Jan. 16, 2004.

On Nov. 26, 1936, in the home of her parents, in southern Carroll County, Mississippi, she married her soul mate, Norman Cobbins, Sr. , son of Lee Cobbins and Martha Hobbs Cobbins, with whom she would spend almost 72 years with, as husband and wife.

When she was born, Willie’s parents gave her the name of Willie B., but she never knew what the B. in her name stood for.

All her life, Willie was devoted to Norman and her family. She leaves behind 10 loving children, including: John, James “Bobby”, Sallie, Joe Nathan, Eugene “Gene”, Norman, Jr., DeWitt, Viola, Vernice and Lee Faye, and their spouses, and many, many grandchildren, neighbors and friends.

Up until a year or so, Willie enjoyed excellent health during her life, while she was raising her children, and after they left the family home to make lives and families of their own.

It was a blessing that she could remain in her own home during all of her life, especially during her final years with Norman, before he passed, and since then. Her children have seen that she never spent a night alone during these final years; someone was always there with her in her home at night, in case she needed anything at all.

For many years, every evening, one or more of her nearby sons or grandchildren would stop “up home” to check on Norman and Willie, to make sure they were OK, and to say goodnight, before going home to their own families. Plainly, her children and grandchildren adored them.

Until the last couple of years, Willie’s mind has always been as sharp as a tack. Her memory was incredible.

Her quick wit, her sense of humor and her laugh were just a few of the personality characteristics that made her so wonderful.

Also incredible, was Willie’s cooking! Her fried chicken, her biscuits and her bread pudding were amazing, as anyone who has ever tried them will tell you.

Pat and I had the pleasure of spending a week with her and Norman, several years ago during April, and had the privilege of visiting with them about their life together and their family, and Willie could recite grandchildren and great grandchildrens’ names with ease, as if they all lived in the same house with them.

Norman and Willie, with your author, in 2002.

As I related in my post honoring Norman at the time of his passing, I first met Willie and Norman one New Years Eve, around 1987, at a “Watch Service” at their church, New Zion Baptist Church, which is located about two miles from their home.

The Watch Service was where those attending would watch the old year go out, and the new year come in.

The service was organized and directed by Deacons of the church, normally the minister wasn’t even in attendance, and featured personal witnessing by all who wished to, thanking God for all the blessings that he had sent their way during the year, and asking Him for more of the same in the new year. All present were also asked to included the person witnessing, in their prayers.

Once all had witnessed who wished to, various gospel singing groups, some accompanied by instruments, would perform musical numbers, until just after midnight, when all would join hands, and pray together for the coming year. Then everyone would shake hands with each other, hug, introduce themselves to anyone they did not know, and then everyone would leave and go home.

In Norman and Willie’s church, he was basically the respected Patriarch of the church, and five of his sons who lived nearby, Bobbie, Norman Jr., Dewitt, Vernus (Reese’s father), and Lee Faye, were among the Deacons of the church. All of these sons, except Bobbie, were members of a popular gospel singing group known as The Cobbins Family Singers.

At the Annual Watch service at their church, the Cobbins boys were always the anchor group to perform last, to lead up to midnight, and the final group prayer. When they performed, with Lee playing the keyboard, that church ROCKED!

During the Service, if they were attending, and normally they were, Norman would sit up in the left front pews with the other Deacons, in a place of honor, while Willie would generally sit up in the right front pews. We visitors normally sat somewhere in one of the back pews, except one time when Norman insisted that I sit next to him in the left front.

I had been invited to attend the Service by a friend there, during my annual post-Christmas Mission delivery trip to north central Mississippi, which I had been making for many years previous to that. Since that first time, I was privileged to attend 7 or 8 other Watch Services there, bringing along my fellow Wisconsin Mission volunteers, for this unique experience.

During that first Watch Service, I video taped the whole thing. After the final group prayer, when I was able to meet Norman and Willie for the first time, when I mentioned that I had video taped the service, Norman asked in he might have a copy of it. I promised him that I would get one to him on my next mission trip down to his community.

The following February, when I was down in his community on a planning trip for a planned Spring Break trip a month later, when I would bring down a group of college student volunteers on a week-long work trip, I stopped over to Norman and Willie’s home, for the first time, to deliver a set of duplicate tapes of the New Years Eve Watch Service.

Old Family home of Norman Sr. and Willie Cobbins.

When I drove into their driveway, and up to their family home nestled among several Walnut, Cedar and Magnolia trees, Norman and Will were sitting out on their screened front porch, on a swinging love seat, swinging and talking.

I got out of my car, walked up to their door, and introduced myself, telling them I was one of the Wisconsin visitors who attended their Watch Service the previous New Years Eve. Norman said hello, and said that he remembered me. They invited me into the porch, and had me sit on a chair near them.

We talked for a few minutes, and then I pulled the two VHS tapes out of the paper bag I was holding and gave them to Norman, saying, as promised, here was a set of tapes for them from the Watch Service, and that I hoped that they would enjoy watching them.

Norman’s reaction was one of surprise, and then he said one of his favorite sayings that I loved about him: “Whatch you say?” He was rather flabbergasted that I would remember the tapes, and even more flabbergasted that I would follow through and provide him with a set.

He and Willie most gracious and appreciative of receiving the tapes, and thanked me over and over for bringing them to them.

I finally said my Goodbyes and drove away, thinking to myself that I had just met two of the most beautiful souls on this earth, veritably “the salt of the earth,” as the old saying goes.

The next trip down, I stopped over to say hello to them again, and there started a loving friendship that has stretched over the many years since.

The following year, one of their sons, Lee, gave them his old ranch home and had it moved to that location, just a short walking distance from their original family home, where they raised their ten living children. Graciously, after they moved into the old house, they consented to allow we Wisconsin mission volunteers to use it for storage and for lodging for our work groups, for many years to come.

As time passed from that first meeting at their Watch Service, I was privileged to come to know and love all of their ten children and their spouse, and many of their grandchildren, including our Reese, who came to make several trips to our home in Wisconsin and came to become a brother to my two sons and my daughter, and another son to my wife and I.

Reese Cobbins, grandson of Norman Sr. and Willie Cobbins.

When my oldest son was married, he asked Reese to be in his wedding. My daughter asked Reese also, but Reese had car trouble en route and never made it to the wedding.

My wife and I also made several personal trips down to visit and stay with Norman and Willie over the years, usually in the spring for 3-4 days or so, and would often often act as advocates in their behalf with local governmental agencies over issues they were having with these agencies.

Over the years since our friendship began, while in Mississippi working on homes or delivering shared clothing and so many other things, literally hundreds of Wisconsin missions volunteers, came to stay in Norman and Willie’s old family home, and came to know and love Norman and Willie, too.

Willie was devoted to her family and to others, and was always attempting to reach out to others in her own special ways.

To all who ever stopped to see her, she ALWAYS asked them if they were hungry and if she could cook them something to eat. If it was around bed time, she would always offer to make up a pallet or two, so you could stay and get some rest if you wanted to.

Her home and her heart were always open to you.

Willie was an amazing woman, wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend, who will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

May God grant you peace and some rest, Willie, and please give Norman a hug from me, will you?

See you both, down the road some day, on the other side.

I love you, Willie. We all love you!
*****************************

-Cards may be sent to the family of Willie Cobbins at: Willie B. Cobbins Family, c/o Reese Cobbins, 2083 CR165, Coila, MS 38923.