Looking Ahead to Changes

Friends, I must close up shop for about ten days so will suspend posts whilst I deal with some business.  When I return to this page, I hope to have some updates on changes.  Will Junior grow up more? (shown)  Will the catbirds have migrated?  Will the Blue Jays and Grackles have found lusher pastures?  Will the young cardinals molt?  So many changes are possible in mid to late August and I cannot wait myself for what there is to see!  Stay tuned...I'll be back with that news!

Hummer Doings are Different

One of the most striking things about the current hummingbird season is the surprising amity between birds.  I am used to one particular hummingbird (usually the female!) driving off other hummingbirds from one or more feeders.  But to my surprise I am seeing none of this and in fact have seen male and female working the same feeders with no airflights at all.  These squabbles may be occurring but I do not see them.  And believe me, I have seen many of them before.  One possibility for the change is the huge increase in nectar bearing plants on the property:  maybe there is less stress over resources?  I'll have to see if this continues!

Soreheads

The seed feeders have been empty for most of a week (in an effort to discourage grackles) and it may be that my imagination is running away with me.  Case in point: the House Finches, or at least one particular male, is making more noise than usual.  The bird, when I observe, flies about the front of the house making an astonishing flapping sound.  And then it will stop, seemingly looking at me, and chirping a bit.  It's almost as if the bird is demanding that I refill.  Of course, this one is not necessarily an obnoxious sorehead.  But it is an interesting behavior I have not seen and the brain tries to explain it.  But if the bird is protesting, it won't work!  I'm not done with my purge.  So wait a few more days, finch!

Continued Interesting Behavior

For yet another year our smaller Passerines have exhibited hilarious behavior at the various nectar feeders.  That is, titmice and chickadees, especially, cling to the hanger post, invert themselves, and drink from the ant moat.  Just as if they have their own private water hole.  They do seem to prefer this to the bird bath and picked it up promptly with the return of the nectar feeders in April.  I wonder how far this behavior has spread.  When it started here a few years ago it seemed every bird adopted the stance!  So we have some proof there are very clever birds out there, and they can learn new behaviors.

Curiosities in the Snow

One of the very few (IMHO) benefits of snow is that it permits the observer to quickly size up the behavior of birds on the ground.  One can examine the tracks laid down after a day and understand where are "hot spots", what areas of ground are less interesting, and how birds move along various pathways.  I learned quite a bit yesterday about apparently fabulous places in the alley on our east side: there are two places lots of birds checked out.  In contrast, one whole section of yard was of no interest whatever.  And I can definitely see what shrubs were the best hangouts.  Such fun!  soon it will melt and I will need to be a better observer.  But now I have some useful data in doing so!

Curious Chickadee Behavior Continues

It seems past years' behavior by the Carolina Chickadees (and others) at the nectar feeder continues unabated.  Some years ago the chickadees came to the idea that the hummingbird nectar feeder's ant moat was a nifty place to catch a drink.  And they taught, by example, the others.  Now I see more chickadees than hummers there!  Quite a piece of entertaining behavior.  And harmless.  One just never knows if they caught the idea elsewhere and if it is spreading!

Clever Devils

It never ceases to amaze me how clever birds can be, or at least how well they react with their environment.  This photograph is illustrating an interesting behavior.  The Carolina Chickadee is showing great interest in the open top of this support pipe for a feeder station.  What's going on?  I watched, in real time.  It turns out that the pipe is full of water -- from a deluge last night -- and the chickadee (and a titmouse, too) used that as a water source.  They had a little well going on!  It will dry upon enough to be of no use soon, but the birds figured out that they could do this.  Always amazing!
And proof that even regular old backyard birds can be a source of endless fascination...

Sometimes Nothing Makes Sense

When I observe a new behavior, I try to explain it.  Sounds easy.  But there are times when nothing makes sense.  Here's a new one by this American Robin.  The bird was seen roosting just below the feeders.  I have never seen this behavior before.  Is the robin sick? not likely...it regularly got up and flew around.  Camping out to discourage other feeders? no..many other birds were on feeders and ignored by the robin.  Cold? Ha! ha! not at room temperature! (70F outside)  So I'm stumped.  All I can do to sate my curiosity is to watch future behavior and see if I can better understand. 

A Surprising Behavior Revealed

For many, many years I was assured that some songbirds cannot and would not deal with some types of feeders.  An example: "cardinals don't go to suet baskets".  And over time, my own experience seemed to confirm those shibboleths.  But with BirdCam as an ally, and sometimes in real time, I have seen departures from the script.  I've now seen a Northern Cardinal working a suspended suet basket, and the photography suggests quite successfully, too.  This particular feeder is in a section of the yard that could be called Cardinal Alley.  It abuts a quite tangly section.  Has a safflower seed feeder (a cardinal favorite!) and is somewhat secluded, perfect for reserved cardinals.  So just perhaps this Red One got it in his head that he'd have the suet, too.  Another surprising behavior!