Signs of Spring

This weekend was great for birdwatching. April and October are really cool because the migration is occuring. What this means is that birds who nest north of here (Juncos, Redpolls and Pine Siskins) are still lingering here because this is 'warm' to them (Ohio is one of the places they winter over), but also, birds who winter south of here and nest here are returning. So in April in Ocotober there is quite a bit of overlap. A week or two ago, we saw the returning Red-Winged Blackbirds. This weekend I saw my first cowbirds of the season. Here's a list of the birds I saw yesterday:

White Breasted Nuthatch

Black Capped Chickadee

Northern Cardinal

Downy Woodpecker

Brown Headed Cowbird

Red Winged Blackbird

Song Sparrow

Common Redpoll

House Finch

Mourning Dove

American Robin

Dark Eyed Junco

Hmmm, I think there were 13, something's missing. Anyway other things I thought were cool were that the birds are behaving as they do in the mating season. For example, the Cardinals do something very sweet when courting. The male will fly to the feeder and select a seed, then join his mate on a treebranch and feed her. I observe this a lot this time of year. Also, when their babies arrive, they will bring them to the feeder, the babies will sit and scream, and both the parents will put seeds in their mouths.

The Common Redpoll is common, but not around here. There are winters where you don't see them in Ohio. This year is the first time I've positively identified them. That is known as an accidental sighting. (I've heard that this is true this year for the Pine Siskins and also the Evening Grossbeaks - I've seen the former at a local park, but never the latter).

I noticed the Nuthatches feeding together which I don't see very often at other times of year, and the Chickadees are being a little aggressive (I'm assuming that the males don't get along this time of year). Chickadees are normally very friendly gregarious brids.

A racoon came and stole my suet on Saturday night (I was complacent about removing all temptation as I should do every night). He also 'closed' my squirel-proof feeder by unhooking one of the springs. I was lucky though, I found the suet feeder in the woods so my net loss was <50>

Birds I haven't seen in my yard recently include Goldfinches, Rose Breasted Grossbeaks, (AAAHA, Tufted Titmouse is the 13th bird!) ,White Throated Sparrows, House Sparrows, House Wrens, Indigo Buntings, Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, and Baltimore Orioles. Those last three I believe are known to be sort of late comers. They also head south earlier than many others. When they arrive, we'll know winter is really over!