H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

At this point of the season most of the nests in my area are sitting empty after the fledging period, regardless of what species they are.

Great part of my frequent backyard avian guests are by now juveniles,  just fledged and with great impetus, all what’s new for them as flying independently, getting food for themselves and being feisty among other things. I see more activity at the feeders also more competition.They feel like winners!

To start, the size of each bird species has a lot to do with the fights that break out by the feeders. Of course, the larger and stronger birds are the most likely to get the best of the deal, but only in certain occasions. There are feeders that can not accommodate large birds such Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles or Blue Jays. This doesn’t mean that they don’t eat.

Blackbirds are smart birds too, they purposely spill seed on the ground with their bills before they start eating. This way most of the smaller birds will immediately  leave the feeder and eat from the fallen seeds. Then the blackbirds can eat uninterrupted. Smart move!

Grackles have very long legs and with these they can’t perch on feeders. No problem, they fly over the feeder and push open the cover and spill most of the content to the ground. Problem solved!

I see more problems at the feeders when they have consumed great part of the seeds and the melee ensues for the remaining seeds!

This morning I went to the store to purchase more seeds because I was running out already! These birds are voracious and this time of the year and the days are long we get sunshine up to 8:00 pm. thus bids keep active until the sun is down. The late comers are the ones that do the clean up. They eat every little bit from the floor, ground, deck, patio. Neat eh?

Here are some of the new generation of birds from my backyard. Enjoy!

Juvenile male Red-winged Blackbird

Juvenile female Red-winged Blackbird

Juvenile Northern Mockingbird

Juvenile Mourning Dove

Juvenile female Northern Cardinal

Juvenile male Northern Cardinal

Juvenile (no tail) Song Sparrow

Juvenile European Starling

Juvenile female House Finch

Juvenile male House Finch

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101