Studied Indifference

Today saw some entertaining interaction with a particular male American Goldfinch. Up until now, anyone getting within twenty feet of the frontyard feeder could guarantee 100% bird dispersal. Today, this male finch showed me a new personality. It dealt with my getting the newspaper off the driveway. It dealt with my banging around the garage. And more amazingly, I drove right past the bird (car within three feet, mind you) and he sat there, impassive and unmoving. Perhaps he has gotten the idea that the local humanoids are no threat and that they don't have intentions of distrupting breadkfast-lunch-dinner-whatever. Our last look of the day: perched at the feeder, ignoring me and presumably the rain as well. He did fly off eventually. I am curious to see if he continues his studied indifference and if it rubs off on the other birds.