There is a new kid in town,
a Red-bellied Woodpecker that I have not seen before. I named him Wally, short for Walnut. He has the best eyebrows!
I feel anticipation
on this Sunday night. The Goldfinches are almost fully transitioned, the Grackles come in full mud-geear and Dr. Clara is nearing the end of her incubation schedule. I might be off but I feel like this week, we might see the first Orioles and Hummingbirds. And for sure the Bluebird babies will hatch! Come good into Monday.
I feel a bit like this MoDo today.
The weekend is here, the weather was nice all day but cooled in the evening, and everything is kind of calming down. We had rain last night, and all of a sudden, there are buds all over the place! Dr. Clara sits on her eggs and I cleared my work schedule a bit because today I got my first COVID vaccine dose and I wanted to make sure I have the time to relax and let my body do what it has to do. I hope you all have a pleasant start into the weekend. People are starting to report Hummers in Michigan!
These are strange times,
when bird migration is underway but you can’t see results yet, the weather is spring-like but also still full of frosty surprises, and we are kind of in an in-between. However, there is also a lot of love in the air! House Finches, like many other birds, strengthen their bond during mating season by feeding each other. It is adorable to watch. Come good into Friday!
Red-winged Blackbirds
have quite the variety when it comes to their plumage and colors. Epaulet intensity and overall feather patterns are depending on their gender as well as their age, and I guess the individual bird too. This speckled specimen is a young adult male. He still shows some of the beautiful baby pattern but is growing into the black, glossy plumage of the adult males. Just what the goofball in the gif is showing off.
Another round of Who's that girl?
Around this time of the year, many people start seeing this kind of bird and wonder what it is. It was certainly one of my “struggle birds” in the beginning, too. However, it is fairly easy - this is a female Brownheaded Cowbird. In size, they are between a Robin and a Cardinal, and they have a soft trilling call. Cowbirds are known and often disliked for their breeding behavior. They are so-called brood parasites, meaning that they lay their eggs into other birds’ nests and let them raise their babies. This is not out of malice. They used to follow cattle around and never stayed anywhere long enough to build nests. This way of breeding ensured their survival as a species. Nowadays, there is less cattle roaming around and humans have taken over lots of habitat. The birds are still the same, and so we might witness one of nature’s oddities in the summer when for example tiny Chipping Sparrows feed one of their own babies but also a ginormous Cowbird baby. The human birdwatcher might feel bad and think about interfering, but remember that Cowbirds are native to the US and protected by law. Read up before you act.
I haven't posted
Blue Jays a lot recently, but they also have made themselves a bit rare lately. Maybe the winter crowd has moved on and the summer crowd has not arrived yet. (Yes, I read that also Blue Jays sort of migrate.) It might of course also be that they are just a bit shy now because there are other large and cheeky birds here as well.
The Grackles
are filling the air with their calls that sound like broken metal toys, and whenever they see another Grack, they turn into the most elegantly shaped birds, only to then mush up into a big puff. This morning, I saw one carrying some dry grass around, so I think they also might be getting ready to nest.
Spring rain
and mild temperatures have started to wake up the garden. Everywhere you look, tiny soft green is finding its way to the surface, and the air is full of promise. I have started some of my veggie seeds and was daring enough to put radish and beet seeds into the ground (while crossing my fingers for no more deep frost). The Robins are enjoying that the ground is more workable for worms, and they are looking for nest sites. In between, they never say no to a good bath. And then proudly come to see if there are any snacks.
The days are getting longer,
the grass is slowly getting greener, but things are off to a slow start with spring still. It feels like Goldfinches, Grackles and Doves are domainating the yard. But today, I had a Titmouse! And Mandrake, the Bluebird, came to the feeder too. He is guarding Dr. Clara in the box and occasionally bringing her snacks. Have a good Easter Sunday!
Migration time is always interesting
because you never know what might visit. Earlier, the sun was out for just a bit, and I got a surprise visitor in this Purple-winged Blackbird. This is a lifer for me and they usually do not roam around here. The storms must have brought some migrating birds off-course. He’s a stunner, and I hope he stays for a bit.
It's 50 shades of Peep season.
The Goldfinches are molting (changing into their summer feathers), and have the most adorable, hilarious and dramatic looks. They are also more aggressive than any other bird right now. Which is funny, considering that they will nest the latest. Maybe the sunlight fuels them up, it kind of has a similar effect on me too. 🌞
Woodpeckers.
Different species and size, same pose. The large one is a Red-bellied Woodpecker (recognizable as a male by his all-red head cap) and a male Downy Woodpecker (recognizable by the red spot on his head). Have a great Thursday!
The Robins have returned,
there are several around, and some of them have figured out that there are mealworms in the feeders sometimes. Which is great because it allows to study their interesting features. The “mustache” is not really that, it’s something called rictal bristles. Nobody is really sure what they are for, but they seem to have some kind of sensory function.
Starry Sky Grack
has also returned. I love seeing the speckles on his neck. There is even a second one with a different pattern this year. As far as I know this is some form of mild leucism and not harmful.
Dr. Clara and Mandrake
are in the yard every day. He is sitting on the nestbox, defending it against anybody who comes near while she still tends to the nest. The nest looks basically done, so I am expecting her to start laying eggs any time now. I am glad she took her time but there can still be frost and snow.
Mr. Handsome
was taking a break from singing his heart out to have lunch for one in the yard.
With the arrival
of the first migratory birds, tensions are also on the rise. The Robin has discovered the mealworms, and will fiercely defend his right to eat.
These birds
have a case of the Mondays 😆. But temperatures are rising, and it feels really nice to open the windows and be outside. Here’s to a good week!
