2009 has seen some very unexpected developments at my hummingbird dish feeder at the main feeder station. I encountered, um, Hummadees (Chickadees drinking at the feeder), and then HummingWrens (Carolina Wrens that were probing the feeder ports with their narrow bills). Now I apparently have a HummingHatch---in the person of this Brown Headed Nuthatch. The conclusion is that birds observe one another and that some of them are seeing the behavior initially developed by the Chickadees and trying it themselves. Perhaps these small passerines are developing a taste for nectar. Or perhaps they are probing for the flies that become trapped inside the feeder. I would have missed this had I not had the BirdCam running. It goes to show that you can continue to be surprised by your backyard birds.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
A Singular Epidemic
2009 has seen some very unexpected developments at my hummingbird dish feeder at the main feeder station. I encountered, um, Hummadees (Chickadees drinking at the feeder), and then HummingWrens (Carolina Wrens that were probing the feeder ports with their narrow bills). Now I apparently have a HummingHatch---in the person of this Brown Headed Nuthatch. The conclusion is that birds observe one another and that some of them are seeing the behavior initially developed by the Chickadees and trying it themselves. Perhaps these small passerines are developing a taste for nectar. Or perhaps they are probing for the flies that become trapped inside the feeder. I would have missed this had I not had the BirdCam running. It goes to show that you can continue to be surprised by your backyard birds.
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