Backyard Gossip
The activity of birds in my backyard has increased considerably the past few days, I’ve seen more Northern Cardinals both male and female flying around and chasing each others most likely they are mates. Mourning Doves, they never left my place and they reproduce easily so I see more each day!. They pass their time ‘jumping’ each other. The Brown-headed Cowbirds are always numerous, they like to travel in flocks, drop in and my feeders become an “All you can eat” restaurant same with Red-winged Blackbirds, they get to the feeders, chase away the rest of birds and toss their heads side to side and spread all the seeds so they can pick only the ones they like, Song Sparrows just applaud that move because the seeds will fall to the deck floor and they love to eat there. Field Sparrows opt for that move too away from the bullies. This morning I saw a bunch of Common Grackles first time this season so it’s going to get even more interesting at chow time. What a mess!
Northern Mockingbirds are the first birds that go to the feeders in the morning. When I finish the refilling of seeds, as soon as I turn my back I just turn my head and I assure you that i’ll see a N. Mockingbird already by the saucer. Sporadically he’ll get to the saucer and get a piece of peanut and leave. Even when there’re more than one Mockingbird they proceed the same way. They prefer to eat invertebrates more than seeds.
I have a family of Eastern Bluebirds now nesting in a bird house but I hardly see them. They very seldom come near the other birds. I have another bird house occupied by Carolina Chickadees and them I see daily, other Chickadees are nesting on trees. I do not disturb them ever.
American Goldfinches only stop-by eat and take off after a while, same with House Finches, Carolina Wrens, White-throated Sparrows, Indigo Buntings. European Starlings I usually see them after any rainfall, they pull worms out of the lawn. American Crows I hear them and see them once in a while walking the grounds picking insects. A Cooper’s Hawk is visiting my backyard more often now. When I see him perched on the deck railing as soon as I grab the camera he flies away. There’s another way that I know he’s been hanging out on the deck he loves to leave his large poop as…I guess his signature or perhaps a gift for me! Yuk! 😦
So, that about the summary of what’s going on these days in my backyard. I believe that I will do some outdoors work tomorrow afternoon if it doesn’t rain of course!
Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
What an exciting time you are having, I love it.
Thank you Susan! I am! 🙂
An enjoyable post, H.J.
Thank you Bob! 🙂
Love the shots, all beautiful. Thanks for the graphic description of Cooper’s poop, I’ll have to start watching for that in my yard.
Thanks Lisa! 🙂
Can we expect a Cooper’s poop story soon, H.J? 😀
Isn’t it wonderful to have so much activity in your yard? Although for me it makes it hard to get anything done because I just want to sit and watch out the window!
Don’t think that I spend all my time watching the birds. The most time would be 2 hours per day. The best times are right after I refill the feeders, that’s when every bird and their friends show up! Then a second refill after my late lunch and only if I see something exceptional through the window of my office. That’s all! 🙂
You have mighty self-control then! I have a hard time dragging myself away from the play of activity going on. I’ve got feeders out my front window and then also a thistle sack and a bird house (with wrens nesting) out my kitchen window. I’m always afraid I might miss something spectacular if I look away. LOL Judging from the beauty of your photographs, I would have a hard time pulling myself away from the view in your yard! But I know, work and responsibility need to be seen to! 🙂
There’s nothing that can miss, if you were destined to see it you’d have seen it. You can’t get anxious and do a god job. Just relax a do a great job with what you get!
🙂
A great post and really good shots. I’m afraid the more birds you get, the more mess to clear up! Like children!
The longer time into the season means that more birds are coming back from their migration, a bit larger birds. They do not fit in the feeders perches and they try to hang on first but it’s hard fro them to eat. So they hit the feeder purposely to spill the seeds to the ground or floor and they eat there more comfortably! Smart Eh? 🙂
The rooks in my garden do the same thing to the sunflower seed feeder. One rook swings on the feeder while the rest sit on the ground waiting for the food to fall to the ground