Recent visitors

Varied Thrush are visiting along with Chickadees and Oregon Junco's. Nearly one week before the snow came there were flocks and flocks of Gulls moving West of North Yelm. The Gull flock held about 50+ in each days passing West where one flock a day were spotted for 4 days.

Chestnut Backed Chickadee

I have seen the evicted Chestnut Backed Chickadee a few times since the Violet Green Swallows took over their nest and young. The chickadee has flown in near his former nesting site, fed at the feeder and quickly flew away. I am not certain what happened to the baby chickadees. This article cites Chestnut Backed Chickadee nests have been raided or predated by squirrels, House Sparrows, House Wrens, and Bewick's Wrens (observed). The nest box itself was built to exclude predators of Violet Green Swallows NOT predators of Chestnut Backed Chickadees. I suppose then that Violet Green Swallows are higher on the food chain than Chickadees. Smaller chickadee nests have the least chance of survival. I heard only 3 or 4 young in the Chickadee nest.

This site seems to have a little information on predators.

"# Chickadee: pretty much everybody kicks them out, including bumblebees, although occasionally they win against bluebirds. Mountain Chickadees may lose out to House Wrens and Violet-green Swallows. Eastern bluebirds have been known to remove chickadee nestlings from a box. (BNA). Other birds will lay their own eggs on top of or alongside chickadee eggs (see photo above.) Note: A 1 1/8" hole restrictor can be placed on a box that has at least one chickadee egg in it to protect their nest from being overtaken by larger competitors. If their nest is taken over, try moving it to a paired box (5-20 feet away) with the entrance hole facing the opposite direction (but away from prevailing winds.) Will not returned to a failed nest site to try again."

There is also a page on Violet Green Swallows.

One day the chickadees were feeding their young and the next day a couple of Violet Green Swallows were flying in nesting material. Did not see the chickadees leaving the nest nor did I see the Violet Green Swallows removing the old chickadee nest.

Yardbird appetites

A Towhee that hides along the brushline and hops in and out of leaf clutter was seen bathing last week in my birdbath. This Towhee is quite shy and will flutter down from the bath and away into the brush to hide if you even attempt to get within 20 feet of him.

I have to refill my sunflower seeds daily for the three bird feeders in my yard. It seems that the pair of Pine Siskin, Chestnut-back Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Junco's are feasting more regularly then I first thought. The decreased Junco population this spring (down from the winter count of 12 to 14) has not really affected the rate at which I have to replace seed. I have been replacing seed more NOW than during the winter. The appearance of a pair of Pine Siskin, who regularly sit for great lengths of time, may be the culprits.

Do two Pine Siskin eat more than twelve Junco? My unscientific study indicates, YES. I would like more information on bird appetites during the Spring to either confirm or dispel my newfound theory..... lol

Mr. Ed Newbold kindly sent me a free birdhouse for having entered into his Yard Bird Race in 2009. I was very excited to pick this up from the Post Office this weekend. A treat!

I have had a few woodpecker visits to the 1/2 eaten suet feeder. I've set out a new suet feeder that the Chickadees seem to enjoy. The suet seems more enjoyable on colder mornings and afternoons.

Eagles dominate Crows infiltrate

For the past two sunny afternoons, an Eagle has been circling just above tree top level. Three Canada Geese flew over the tree tops yesterday evening at dusk in the direction of the pond. My normal bunch of 12-15 Juncos have been absent. Visits to the feeder are primarily from a pair of Pine Siskin and a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatch and a Chestnut backed chickadee or two. I have heard Towhees and Stellar Jay in the back brush and have seen at least one of the pair of Varied Thrush. Junco's are largely absent at the feeders and have taken to flitting in the lower branches of evergreen trees. The Stellar Jay annoy my puppy as do the squirrels here in the green belt. Puppy would love to chase them away! I wonder if the absence of Junco's has anything to do with the increased number of crows in the area? Are the Junco's nesting now? Or have they moved? I have noticed quite a few more bugs in the afternoon.

We have had quite a bit of heli traffic in the past month, too. This week I noticed that a group of 6 or 7 crows perched in various tree top locations across approx. 2 acres, call to each other using three caws each and in turn each will respond with three caws. Once, a crow called six or seven caws in quick succession where all seven simultaneously flew away from the direction of an approaching helicopter. I believe that crows are very intelligent. Some say that they can even recognize human faces.

One night, just at dark, there was a bird that flew right by me. It was small in size with pointed wing tips. I wonder if it was a nighthawk.