Click on an image to enlarge; click on back arrow to return to blog.It is appropriate on this day before the anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s The Origin of Species to have something to say about birds and especially finches. On November 24, 1859 this amazing work was published and now, more than 150 years later, the robust concepts described remain entirely relevant. Darwin had it SO right.
Some frosty days are here in Glen Head, trees have shed their leaves, and I have filled my bird feeders. One general feeder is hanging just outside a window in Bernice’s study where she can watch the varied throng of feeding birds from her computer desk. Because she needs to keep her legs elevated her stays at her desktop computer are limited but the feeder is also visible from her study couch. One photo shows three goldfinches in their winter attire when it is difficult to distinguish the sexes. The males have long replaced their resplendent gold plumage they wear during the spring courting season to entice and woo females who are quite content to wear the same outfit throughout the year. Darwin discoursed quite correctly on such sexual displays and their significance in the mating game. Besides the goldfinches, house finches are frequent visitors to the feeder. Finches have strong beaks and will sit on the feeder perch a lengthy time and crack open the sunflower seeds in one swift motion after another too rapid for me to perceive. House finches with the male displaying a rosy breast are not native to our shores but were brought from Europe to be caged and have owners delight in their melodic chirpings. A few years ago an eye disease decimated the house finch numbers but they seem to have recovered now.
Another photo shows an acrobatic nuthatch clinging to the bottom of the feeder as prelude to his mounting one of the perches to feed. This is a hyperactive bird, moving in swift motions, and often seen moving down a branch upside down. I am always entertained by their little dances between getting single seeds. They seem to have the idea that this show is their payment for the offerings of the feeder.
In 1953 Mindy, Bernice’s older sister, gave us a Retina IIa camera that we used to takes family pictures and multitudes of travel photos well in to eighties. This was a fine film camera that produced pictures on colored, transparent slides that we viewed with a screen and projector. In the past few years I have scanned many of these slides into my computer and Harvey now has the little camera as part of his collection of interesting curiosities. Through our VISA card we have a rewards program, which we used for air travel but that activity has been shelved for a time, so when a camera purchase was offered I got a new Nikon Coolpix camera. The camera is a marvel and I am only now learning the simplest things it can do. These pictures are my first efforts to capture movement through panes of glass.
In contrast to the finches who stand at a perch for prolonged periods and feed, there are others who must visit the feeder only momentarily. The most common of these opportunistic visitors is the black-capped chickadee that flies to and from the feeder in an undulating, dolphin-like flight and grabs a single sunflower seed. Its beak lacks the strength of the finch so it retreats to a nearby branch and holds the seed with one foot while it pecks repeatedly until it cracks the husk and can devour the inner seed. It then rushes back for the next seed. I presume there is enough energy in each seed to make this feeding procedure payoff. Another bird practicing the same routine is the Tufted Titmouse, which sports a notable head crest and appears to have large wide open eyes. Cardinals occasionally visit but their larger size and the fact that they are generally ground feeders crimps their feeding efforts. None of the birds is especially neat in its feeding habits so there are dribs of seed that are scattered on the ground beneath the feeder where yet other birds and squirrels gather to do the cleanup. Keeping squirrels from a feeder is always a challenge and this feeder has an overhead umbrella-like shield that is very effective.
Downstairs, in my study I can look out at a specialized woodpecker feeder that is mounted from one of the 4x4 posts supporting our deck. We have had this feeder; a gift from Harvey, for many years and it caters to a distinct clientele able to get at the food. The feeder has two planks of simulated wood with an outer bark that provides a familiar foothold for the woodpeckers and sandwiched between is suet laced with a variety of seeds favored by the feeders. Woodpeckers have long beaks and longer tongues and are able to delve into the opening and get the food not accessible to other feeders. Other birds and squirrels do make unsuccessful assaults attracted by the aroma of good food. The most common woodpeckers are the pictured Downey woodpeckers. The male is distinguished by the small red patch on the back of his head. I have seen a pair of Downeys on the feeder and watched the male take piece of food and offer it to the female. Even though she is also feeding, she accepts his food gift. On occasion, more than one pair attempt to feed and there is a vigorous flutter of wings until one pair establishes dominance at the feeder and the other sulks in nearby trees until the feeder is available. More rarely, there are larger woodpeckers, notably the Red Headed and the Hairy woodpeckers.
There are two pest birds I do not welcome. One is the aggressive English sparrow that usually arrives in a flock, pushes what I consider the more deserving birds from the feeder, and can rapidly empty the feeder. This sparrow is another intruder brought from England in the 19th century to satisfy Shakespeare lovers who sought to recreate his world. Another pest, are the large, black crow-like birds which, I believe, should get their meals elsewhere.
Tomorrow we are leaving for Harvey and Sandy’s for the holiday. All four sons will be there as well daughter-in-laws, granddaughters, and other family and friends..
A very happy Thanksgiving to all,
Merwin
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