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.

Hawk downtown Yelm

Spotted a Hawk flying above McDonald's in downtown Yelm this past weekend. He was enjoying the wind.

100 meat eaters and Sandhill Cranes

There is a Sandhill Crane Festival in Othello, Washington in the next few days. If the flock of over "100 meat eaters" that I witnessed on abt. February 27, 2010 at 5:30PM were attempting to get to Othello, Washington in time for the festival, they were headed in the WRONG direction:

For those of you who enjoy watching very large flocks of meat eating
birds.....this would've been a treat for you. Over 100 vultures? or
Eagles? flew Southwest of North Yelm at 5:30 PM today.
They formed two circles and flew at a high altitude enjoying the air
currents, just before it starting raining at 5:40PM.

[I am oftentimes directionally challenged - Northwest
NOT Southwest.]

Noted not likely to be vultures (was told by tweet vulture exp. would be unusual)
Eagles do not flock, either.
No outstretched necks or trailing legs noted w/re: Sandhill Cranes

Very large bird much like an Eagle/Ospry/Vulture.
Flap, flap, glide, soar.
Wingtips with fingerlike projection of feathers like Eagles/Ospry/Vultures.

Rufous Hummingbird

March 22, 2010

After having my head buzzed with the "engine like" noise of a hummer's wings the day before yesterday (21 March 2010) , I have finally seen the first hummingbird of the year: Rufous. He flew out of the trees and paused at the fronds of an Ocean Spray and Evergreen tree, then flew back into the treeline. Many of the Junco's (12-15) that are usually at my feeders are now absent and for a day were replaced by Stellar's Jay and about seven Crow. Driving, I noticed an adult Bald Eagle circling near the JBLM-McChord Roy gate. It appears that many predators(Hawks and Eagles) have been enjoying the warmer weather, lately. Towards Puyallup and 1/2 way to the South Hill mall exit this weekend I spotted a Hawk, too, circling to the right of the freeway. There were many Robins (6 or 7) ground feeding with Towhee's and a Rock Pigeon yesterday afternoon.

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.