ducklings napping

 

song sparrow

 

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia live up their binomial nomenclature 'melodia' by singing a delightful song, enthusiatically, and often.

They move along wetland edges like around the pond. I see the males occasionally, but they spend most of the time in dense, low vegetation. 

nest box Tree Swallows

Tree Swallows nest in cavities . . . old woodpecker holes in trees, or nest boxes.  They do not go far south in winter; they return to Minnesota before any other swallows.  They can eat plant foods, so they can survive before the insects come out.  In the nest box near the pond, the Tree Swallow laid one egg each day in the last six days.  She started incubating the eggs today.  They will hatch in 11 to 20 days.

And the Tree Swallow male stands by to guard the nest while the female incubates the eggs. 

ducklings, Mallard 2023

 This clutch of Mallard ducklings came to the pond a few days ago, led by their mother.

tree sparrow

American Tree Sparrows come to the feeders often in winter.  Spizelloides arborea Tree Sparrows often fluff out their feathers.  A rusty cap makes them look like chipping sparrows, who migrate south of Minnesota for winter.  These little birds come 'south' to the northern US for winter.  In spring, they breed in the far north tundra in Canada (near the tree line) building nests on the ground, often in a tussock of grass.  They sport a rusty eyeline, a brown back, and dark smudge in the center of the smooth breast.

sparrow

 Sparrows are common birds all across North America. They quietly nest in woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and open grasslands so they have seeds to eat and they can hunt insects to feed their babies.  In winter, sparrows that stay through winter eat seeds from dried plants and at bird feeders.

eagle nest, March

The eagle nest near the pond has been a quiet site while the birds wait for eggs to hatch. 

We can see a white head of the Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus sitting in the nest.  Since she is hunkered down in the 'bowl' the pair formed among the branches, the eggs (or young, if hatched) cannot be seen from the ground.

feederwatch 2021-2022

We do citizen science for Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  'FeederWatch' just started for this winter.  https://feederwatch.org/

The pond is surrounded by grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs that provide food for birds.  And we also put out seed and suet in feeders to bring the birds a little closer.  

hooded merganser ducklings

Today the Hooded Merganser female showed up on the pond with 15 ducklings.  This species nests in a cavity, probably in a tree or stump nearby. Once the eggs hatch, the ducklings follow the mother to water.   They fed for a while, then she signaled them to rest.  They followed her to shore and gathered under her wings. Well, sort of . . .  there were many of them!

They dive under water to find small fish, amphibians, clams, mud crabs, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs, and aquatic insects and other crustaceans. They also consume some aquatic plants.

mallard ducklings

 Mallard drake wants to keep an eye on his family.

dove on rock

The Mourning Doves Zenaida macroura spent winter near the pond in nearby bushes and tree cover. This one is celebrating Spring by investigating the water and rocks in the pond. 

Its bright pink-orange feet made it through another cold season by the 'wonderful net' of arteries. This adaptation interweaves blood vessels from and to the heart so birds don’t lose much heat through their feet. Read more at

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-dont-birds-get-cold-feet/

https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/why-birds-feet-dont-freeze

mourning doves

The seed feeders hang outside the deck railing. Sometimes the Mourning Doves line up on the rail, watching for their turn at the feeder. On some days they just sit here to crack and savor the seeds.  We've seen ten at a time here, waiting or enjoying the food.

water sports

Sunny and warmer, closer to normal weather today, after an early snow in October.  Several Mallards are getting ready for their travel south by feeding on the dwindling supply of plant material in the pond.  But the resident muskrats do not like to share their food supply.  We watched several encounters today between the animals.  

Chickadees at feeder over the pond

Black-capped Chickadees stay in Minnesota all winter.  They eat seeds and insects or larvae when they can find any.  They come to feeders where I offer sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and peanut chips.  This feeder hangs over the pond with an extra branch for the birds to perch on.

From November to April I watch, count, and report the birds I see as a citizen scientist.  Cornell Lab of Ornithology is replete with data and information about birds.  https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home

This pond is covered with snow, and a layer of ice under that.  The turtles are hibernating below in the mud.  The muskrats are snug in their burrows.  It looks quiet and peaceful on the pond, but there is a lot going on in all seasons.

bird feeder garden

The veggie garden has been transitioned to a feeder garden for birds and pollinators.  This year --  among the tomatoes, beans, peas, and squash -- I planted more native flowering plants.  We watched as the nesting birds nearby brought their juveniles to the feeders and taught them how to feed themselves rather than gaping and begging.  Now, with seed feeders and suet cages loaded, we'll start FeederWatch in a few weeks; we'll enjoy watching the birds that gather here and report our counts for ornithology research.

GBBC

19th annual Great Backyard Bird Count -- in the wild wild woods today, Mourning Dove, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, American Crow, Bluejay, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Junco, Northern Cardinal, European Starling, House Finch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow.  Lastly, at dusk, this Sharp-shinned Hawk came by to get his name on the list.