[obol] Speaking of Yard Birds (slightly long)

[karen]

For the first time this year, I noticed that parent birds were bringing
their just-fledged youngsters to the feeding area outside my window.

The SPOTTED TOWHEES brought a juvenile so young and not 'correctly' colored
that I wouldn't have known who it was, except for that scratching and the
parents there.

The first youngster brought to the feeding area was a STELLER'S JAY. It
spent the next three or four days whining in the rhododendrons, flying from
one bush to the next. One afternoon I found it face down on the ground,
wings spread out, not moving. ! I started over to see and it shot up and
flew hysterically around for a while. This one is really fun.

The BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs actually spent time teaching. After sitting on
the rhoddie branch next to the youngster, the parent would fly up to the
feeder, grab a seed, turn around and proceed to eat the seed in front of the
begging youngster. Then the parent would fly down next to the juvie and
repeat the process.

The AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES did no teaching (that I noticed) but brought
several juvies to the rhoddie and proceeded to eat while the kids darted at
the feeder and puzzled about how it worked.

The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES did not appear to bring any young ones to the
feeder, although they use it daily. I did have a just-fledged nuthatch fly
into my kitchen this summer. I caught it, and put it outside. It seemed too
young to be on its own.

It's great out here. The Osprey was the best. We had an Osprey lurking in a
tall Cedar next to the pond for several days, and would occasionally get
glimpses of it diving into the pond. On a walk one day, it flew right over
my head and lost a feather which floated down to my waiting hand.

Karen Sharples
Brush Prairie, WA