H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

After the incident with the Cooper’s Hawk I saw a many more birds coming for feeding, among those were the House Finch group of about 6, most of them juveniles with non breeding colors. They were around feeding at every opportunity to the feeders, there were other birds also and they have to find the right time to feed or they’d get into a fight with other species. Then while and panning back and forth getting shots I see an American Goldfinch, male, standing on the right side railing of the deck. It was a surprise for me because they seldom stop by my backyard for no longer that 2 minutes! This one did not fly away, I shot several pictures and did not fly away, just stood there. I observed through the lens carefully and checked the in camera photos and noticed that this bird was blind of the left eye and his right eye was barely open. Poor little thing is blind! Then I saw something incredible, one of the House Finches stood near him and they both were calling and waited, this H. Finch wouldn’t leave his side. After a few minutes I saw a reaction of both birds and in a flash I saw a female A. Goldfinch near the male. Only then the H.Finch left to join the others. They did not feed but instead they flew to some bushes were the male perched for about 1 hour, then I saw 2 females near him, I saw a Song Sparrow and later a C. Chickadee next to him also. For about 10 minutes there were no birds on the deck and the A. Goldfinch flew to a dish and ate some seeds alone. What a dramatic and compassionate sequence of events. I could sense a deliberate action of protection on the part of the H. Finch as well of cooperation. I could feel the solidarity of the other species to perch near the wounded bird and what it might be also coincidental to clear the deck for him to be able to eat. After he ate some seeds he flew away along with the other Goldfinches.

That night my wife Lucy slipped while entering the shower and fell. Her right leg got caught with the metal angle of the shower door and cut a 5 inch long and very deep gash to her shin. I’ll just tell you that she’s fine and she was very brave all throughout the ordeal.

Please click first image to see gallery

Text and photographs © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101