Thursday, June 24, 2010

Tufted Titmice Under Siege

Our Tufted Titmice went into the winter season in good shape, having had a very good brood year in 2009. But since then, it's been a rough haul for these little guys. I have suspected a Cooper's Hawk in a noticeable reduction in Titmouse visitation---grey feathers show up in clumps every so often. I am not clear why Titmice were particular victims. Are they slower? do they let their guard down more readily? For a time, I saw no birds at all. But lately this character has been in evidence and I am hopeful that the population can re-establish itself. Such is the way of Nature: populations wax and wane over time.

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