For the Birds: Babies to the left of me, babies to the right... TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 By Christine Southwick Babies to the left of me—Babies to the right of me-Babies over my head! Finally, a sunny weekend allowed me to see the following baby birds: A newly fledged Spotted Towhee in its dark camouflage; A juvie Oregon Junco wearing its striped suit; A fledgling Song Sparrow learning to bathe (and still begging for food); Three, hours-old, fledgling Black-capped Chickadees, wings a-flittering were squeaking for food. These came this morning from the nest box in my blue spruce. Both parents are yard-residents. I know this because they were both color-banded in my yard for a local study being done by the Puget Sound Bird Observatory. A little group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees, probably as young as the Black-capped Chickadees, were also fluttering their wings, and begging. These were being fed suet by one dutiful parent who was color-banded. One of my banded Red-breasted Nuthatches was feeding suet to two freshly fledged babies. Suet is such a quick source of healthy protein, and makes the job of feeding a brood much easier for the parents. And a Bewick’s Wren has built a second nest. The first one was in a nest box — this one is on an under-eave wall-divider near the nest box. The jury is still out as to whether this is for a second brood, or is a replacement brood. I can’t check the nest box until she is done with this nesting. What joy making my yard a “Certified Wildlife Habitat” has brought me! By supplying the four essentials: food; water; space; and a place to raise young; and by not poisoning the bugs they eat; I have created an oasis that is beneficial to wildlife and uplifting me. I may not be able to save all the birds in the world, but I can make a difference in my part of the world. I choose to do so—will you join me? Christine Southwick is a Board member of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She has completed the 40-hour class to become a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:04:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015