Bird Bash

December 14

With a north wind and temps holding in the 20s, a bird bash took place today, including a cardinal battling in mid-air with a house sparrow over grazing rights. Mallards in the pond were first to check out the spread after I put seed down. About a dozen waddled in, but scattered after a short time. Then the real action came -- a rush to get at the birdseed by the following crowd:

Cardinals - 4 males, 3 females

Juncos 3

Goldfinches 10

White breasted nuthatch 1

White throated sparrows 4

Song sparrow 1

Mourning doves 7

Not sure what got such a mob together – we don’t usually see so many. Maybe the ice forming on the pond and snow on 75 pct of the ground got them thinking.

A new finch feeder drew the goldfinches within three days of going up. This one is designed so that niger can only be accessed by hanging upside down. Apparently goldfinches can hang to feed, but no other finches can, so those pushy house finches can’t get in on the act. We’ll try to get a picture showing the upside down finches.

Have spotted a hawk whipping through the area three times in the past two weeks – looks like a Northern Harrier, but haven’t had a clear ID yet. I did notice the little birds are jumpier than in past years…