Bumblebee Blog

Our house is under siege from a demented tufted titmouse.

By any measure, these cute little birds are aggressive. They will swoop down and help themselves to the hair of a sleeping dog or steal threads from your laundry drying in the sun to line their nests. But this particular titmouse is attacking our house windows.

I have read the aggressive male titmouses (titmice?) will see their reflections in windows and try to battle the competition. They establish themselves at the top of the pecking order in time for mating season.

That would explain why this particular titmouse appears to be on a mission. He is trying to eliminate the enemy. But from inside the house, it appears that he is trying to get in.

Tufted Titmouse Looking In

Outside my office window and my son’s bedroom window directly upstairs, the titmouse moves back and forth. He screams “Peter, peter, peter!” Then he bashes at the window, clings to the screen and pecks at the windowpane. After that’s done, he’ll do it all again, moving from the upstairs to the downstairs.

I have tried putting out a feeder on the tree outside to distract him, but that’s not working. If he’s still at his battle plan on Saturday, when I am not in the office and won’t have to sit in the dark, I’ll close the curtains to try and eliminate the reflection he’s taken such a dislike to.

In other bird news…

For the very first time since we have been living here, I saw a group of cedar waxwings. They are very skittish. I saw the first when I was driving down the long driveway from errands. Later, when I was eating lunch, I noticed an unusual group on the patio table. Yes!

Drat-it-all. I had to actually do some work this afternoon, which prevented me from sneaking about the back yard with my camera. I hope they return tomorrow.

Robin

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Filed in: Birds

According to the bird experts, mourning doves are among the most abundant birds in the U.S. I can certainly vouch for that fact judging from the visitors at my backyard feeding station.

In fact, as part of my count for Project FeederWatch this past weekend, I counted 28 mourning doves at one time! So even though the average number of mourning doves in the FeederWatch program here in Maryland is five, they are, apparently, particularly abundant in my little part of the world.

Mourning Doves

It’s curious how their behaviors have changed since they have become accustomed to all the bird feeders. When I first started feeding and watching the birds, the mourning doves would arrive–usually in pairs–and feast on the ground below the feeders where seed would be spilled or dropped by the other birds. Over time, one of the birds became more bold and learned to land on the feeders-even the smaller feeders–to feast directly from the pickings. Then two birds, then three. After a while, all the mourning doves were eating directly from the feeders. Although they still feed from the ground when they are in large numbers, the feeders are often filled with mourning doves.

Did you know the whistling sound they make when they fly is actually from their wings?

Did you know that mourning doves are monogamous and form strong bonds as pairs? (More than you can say for many humans, eh?)

Did you know that the male mourning dove will escort his mate to potential nest sites for her to choose a location. (Real estate is, apparently, her decision.)

Did you know that more than 45 million mourning doves are killed by hunters each year, including in Wisconsin, where the mourning dove is also the official symbol of peace? (Wisconsin seems a bit confused.)

Robin

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Filed in: Birds, Project Feederwatch

That was the headline today in the Project FeederWatch e-newsletter. I feel like I am on the edge of this breaking news story!

It was just in December that I saw a gross of Evening Grosbeaks at my hopper/platform feeder.

Evening Grosbeaks at the Backyard Hopper/Platform Feeder

Project FeederWatch, which I posted about just a couple of days ago, noted that since the project began the data indicated that the Evening Grosbeak population had declined dramatically. But this year, more and more people are reporting seeing flocks of this beautiful and special bird.

I think that this finding underlines a couple of key points. First, conservation works. I will give credit to the vast movement of bird watchers who fill their feeders regularly and provide alternative housing for our avian friends. This makes a difference in their ability to find the resources they need to thrive. And second, the data points of average, ordinary people all over the U.S. helps researchers understand how our bird populations are changing. This data is another key indicator or the environmental condition and how it impacts wildlife.

Okay. Nuff of that. I also just think it’s cool that I actually SAW a bunch of Evening Grosbeaks and then read this story.

Project FeederWatch offers loads of fascinating information. For example, the top 25 birds reported at feeders in Maryland in the 2006-2007 season was:

You can find the top birds at your feeders and learn more about how they measure by visiting their data page here.

Happy bird watching!

Robin

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Filed in: Birds