heavy snow

We use a metal toy 'slinky' to keep squirrels away from the bird feeders.  The feeder was blown off the metal pole that held it. But the slinky held on and gathered a coating of the wet heavy snow.

Slinkys have been discouraging squirrels for many years in my experience as a bird watcher.  They try to get to the feeders again and again.  But they are startled by the movement under their claws, or their feet get tangled up in the flat wire coil.

FeederWatch, Downy Woodpecker

 

FeederWatch, a citizen-science program of Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, is once again an activity for me through the cold winter months.  This small Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens comes every day to feed at the suet block hanging near the pond. Suet supplements his regular diet of insects which he searches for between folds of tree bark. His tail feathers are strong and positionable to support him on tree branches or wherever he finds food.

song sparrow feederwatch

 

Song Sparrows Melospiza melodia live year around in the area around this pond, hiding their nests in grasses, weeds, or small trees. 

Song Sparrows flit through dense, vegetation or low branches, staying low and forage secretively.  They eat insects in the summer; in winter they switch to seeds and fruit they glean from standing plants.  

They will also visit bird feeders.  I notice them especially on 'count days' for FeederWatch.

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.  

fox sparrow

A chunky long tailed Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca posed for the camera by the pond.  It is probably migrating to breeding grounds north of here, and stopped to snag some seeds or insects here.

mallards' finest feathers

 

Mallards arrived this week on the pond.  Last year, after nesting and before migrating, mallard ducks molted: each lost and replaced all of their feathers with new drab plumage. This is considered their 'basic plumage.'  In the early spring, just before breeding season, they shed some feathers and put on their handsome 'alternate plumage' to look more attractive and help attract a mate.

These two stood on the rocks to preen their feathers, close to water but not in it.  The male showed off his iridescent green head, bright yellow bill, and orange-red feet. The female revealed the white-bordered bright blue patch in her wing feathers.

geese in early Spring

 

open water

Open water around the edge of the pond.  Now we watch for the ducks and geese to arrive with Spring.

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.

crow

This American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos is hunting near the frozen pond for something to eat. 

It may be preparing to migrate . . .  or not. 

Individual crows are consistent in whether they migrate or stay in the winter. Partial migration (where only some of a species migrate) might give crows enough flexibility to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Some we see in Minnesota now may have come south for the winter from Canada. Others, who breed and nest here, may have gone to Nebraska for the winter. Crows return faithfully to the same breeding territory each year.

junco on snowy suet

Juncos arrived last week from nesting grounds north of here.  Several made their way to our feeders.  Usually, they stay in this area all winter, so it is important to locate some food sources before the snow flies.  They will live on seeds from the native plants . . .  and of course, suet.

blackbird juvenile

Red-winged Blackbirds have terrorized the pond and wetland by defending their nest area from all other birds.  Now that the young blackbirds learned to fly, the parents are teaching them to hunt on their own.  But this juvenile prefers to terrorize his dad . . .   by gaping and squawking for an easy meal. Blackbirds!!

nestbox terror

Both adult Red-wing Blackbirds have been very aggressive in this wetland area. They regard the entire pond and shoreline as "their" territory.

The male attacks or takes flight after other birds, even larger Crows. He loudly protests Starlings that feed at the shoreline.  He has chased away Chickadees, Tree Swallows, and Bluebirds that tried to nest in the boxes intended for them, just because he does not want them nearby.

The female Blackbird claimed all the seed feeders near the pond as her personal property, and persecuted all other birds who tried to feed at any of them.  When the feeder on our deck was taken away, she stood on the deck rail and demanded we put it back.

filling the larder with suet

Red-bellied Woodpecker gathering suet from the hanging feeder cage.

Red-bellied Woodpecker caching suet in a hiding place for later.

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.

autumn harvest

female Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis on birch

The winter "guild" of feeder birds is forming.  The adult birds in the wild wild woods have molted into their new feathers; their offspring juveniles have learned to fly and hunt on their own.  As the leaves change color and insects are less abundant, birds instead harvest the ripe fruits and seeds on shrubs and trees.

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.

winter starlings

These two European Starlings have been coming to the suet feeders for a week or so.  Their Latin name Sturnus vulgaris is fitting, since these non-natives are considered a vulgar nuisance when they mob lawns in big, noisy flocks.  They appear black, but up close their feathers are dazzling iridescent blue, purple, gold, and green. Fortunately, just these two so far near the wild wild woods . . .

Studies of Starlings' mob movements have found that starling flocks model a complex physical phenomenon, seldom observed in physical and biological systems, known as scale-free correlation. Read more at starling murmurations

Pileated woodpeckers

Female: red crest on back half of head

Male: red crest on entire head plus red "moustache"

Every week we see a Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus in the woods, or on the suet feeders at the edge of the woods.  Today both a male and female were searching up and down the tree trunks for insects.  Each bird is 15 to 20" long, with a wingspan of 26 to 29".  A pair may stay together year around; they'll begin excavating a nesting hole in late March.

suet breakfast

Today the male yellow-shafted Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus visited the suet block for breakfast.  It was a wet foggy winter morning; maybe he could not find enough ants, his favorite food, so suet would suffice for energy. 

Flickers often search for ants underground, hammering at the soil the way other woodpeckers drill into wood.