Lots Of New Young'uns At The Feeder This Year
One benefit of maintaining bird feeders all year round, is that many of our feathered friends decide to take up residence in the immediate neighbourhood. Our yard has become quite active this spring and it is interesting to watch they cycle of life unfold. We have watched as our friends engage in the spring courtship dance as new moms and dads get together. Then there is the time of gathering all manner of different nesting material as they busy themselves preparing to receive this years brood.
Then for a time things go particularly quiet with much less visible activity, I presume this is when momma is sitting on her eggs waiting for the blessed event. Then there is a sudden flurry of activity as mom or dad or both begin making their trips to the feeder, filling their beaks and heading back home where they have many mouths to feed.
The final act of this little drama is when mom and dad introduce their kids to the source of that food they have been bringing to them in the nest this past while. Once the kids figure out they can now fend for themselves, I presume they are unceremoniously booted out the nest and so the cycle begins afresh.
This year we have been able to identify the following new broods right in our own backyard:
- House Sparrow
- White Crowned Sparrow
- Purple Finch
- Towhee
- Bushtit
- Wren
- Chick-a-dee
- Starling
- Brewers Black Bird
- Robins
- Hummingbird (both Rufous and Anna's)
Not sure of the birds that frequent our house (I know one was a hummingbird) but sometimes when life feels too hectic or stressed, these little guys really make you feel at peace with the world, even if you just watch them for a few minutes. We are fortunate to live in such a place!
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