An Only Occasional Visitor

It is safe to say that my most occasional periodic visitor is the Red Winged Blackbird. I first photographed one at a sunflower seed feeder once in early January 2007, once in June 2008, and three days this January on my safflower seed tube. There are wetlands and several small ponds within a mile of the house, and I have heard Blackbird song while walking through the neighborhood, so their presence in these suburban parts is not a surprise. What brings them to my feeders only on odd occasions is more of a mystery. My theory behind the most recent visits is that a significant snowfall on 1/20 drove the Blackbirds to find alternative food sources, and my feeders were attractive enough for four days of even as the snow melted. Whether or not they come to my home, it is good to know they’re around.