At least FIVE different Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks had visited my window sill feeder over the past three days. Two females were feeding together on Friday, occasionally interrupted by a pugnacious male, and the same pattern played out yesterday. Only this afternoon (Sunday), watching the feeder from the outside, did I realise there were three different males! Unlike the females, the males didn't seem willing to share the feeder, and each waited for his turn as though there was a pecking order.
What a last hurrah for my humble little feeder, right before I finally move out of my apartment! I doubt I'll be allowed one at my new place. While only three years old, this window sill feeder has brought me so much memories and stirred so much emotions: - The excitement of having my very first visitor, a blue jay. - The sense of "achievement" at having more and more visiting species. - Being amused by juncos scolding anyone remotely nearby, and by nuthatches clinging upside down on the window mesh. - Annoyance at seeing poop; I like my feeder fastidiously clean so that meant immediate chores. - The sinking feeling when witnessing the all-too-often mourning dove fights; I thought doves were peaceful. - The horror of seeing dried blood on the feeder one winter morning, probably from a particularly vicious fight. - Sense of poetic justice when a mourning dove finally fended off the perpetual feeder bully, a female red-bellied woodpecker. - Guilt at shooing off the squirming mass of mourning doves (you'll be surprised how many of them can pack on a window sill) on harsh winter mornings, so that the small ones can grab a few much-needed seeds before the doves return. - The surprise at seeing a stray redpoll, just days after I saw my first-ever redpolls at Mount Pleasant. - The joy of watching courtship feeding, and later parents feeding juveniles, right on my window sill! I'll miss you, my neighbourhood feathered ones. Wee Hao, Cornell North Campus, Ithaca -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
