Birders' Nest

[Elgarian Redux]

You never know.  If a male one also managed to come over around the same time--or within the lifespan of that female....

I'm fortunate in that they like the conditions around here and I've often seen and/or heard them.  Love those bright red and gold bands on them.   

This is a sweet story (I often check out the Dodo on YT) of a bird catching a lift:

K

I am not sentimental about birds, but that video is extraordinary and gave me a catch in the throat! Thank you.

[Iota]

Chief Doggerel Monger then? I think you should be there too, now, as Chief Protocol Adviser. Just sharing the guilt around.

Oh, 'Assistant Birdwatcher Watcher' will do me just fine I think. 

[owlice]

I suddenly saw a way to closure:

The Tinkerbird's Party

By R.L. Stevenson (may he forgive us),
Owlice (Chief Photographic Officer and Ideas Manager),
Elgarian (Chief Doggerel Monger),
and Iota (Chief Protocol Adviser)



A birdie with a yellow rump
Hopped up from the hollow stump
Cocked his coal-black eye and said:

"Come now, let us all make merry!
Why not help me eat this berry?
Don't you love my stripey head?"

Flutt'ring wings, they danced and partied
Through the day till, heavy-hearted,
All the birds went home to bed.

In the morning, up jumped Tinker
(Such an enterprising thinker):
"Shall we do it all again?"

"Yes indeed!" said Mrs Bunting,
"Out of berries! Let's go hunting!"
"I'll come too!" squeaked Jenny Wren.

Big on berries, loud with laughter,
They were happy ever after.


Ta-daaaa!

Ta-daaaa indeed -- this is splendid!! Very well done, brilliant Elgarian, and kudos to you for seeing it through!!

Such delights, birds and verse, and birds in verse as well!!

Kalevala's post re: the Red-winged Blackbird brought home to my pea brain that these birds are only in North America. DOH! I see them so often and in such numbers I'd forgotten they aren't everywhere; my apologies! (I feel quite stupid now! I wish I could say it's an odd sensation, but it is far more common to me than even Red-winged Blackbirds are, alas.) 

I have already posted a pic of a female specimen; here are a few more photos to go with that one, and yes, only the male is black:



Classic over-the-shoulder Vogue shot





As the last photo suggests, these birds favor swampy/reedy areas; even small swampy/reedy areas are enough for them. The main U.S. Department of the Interior building in Washington, DC has a small man-made wet habitat area in front of it, enough to sustain a few ducks and nesting Red-winged Blackbirds. I've also seen an occasional Great Blue Heron in it, and once, a Red-tailed Hawk feeding on a Mallard (with resident Mallards looking on in, well, probably horror, and definitely anxiety, from the other side of the small space).

Red-winged Blackbirds (RWB) defend their nesting territory with vigor, as some workmen discovered one day as they left the Department of Interior; they had thought it funny when one guy some 10 or 12 paces in front of them walked too close to this small habitat and was dive-bombed by an angry blackbird. They stopped laughing when they made the same mistake and were hit repeatedly by the bird. (I worked nearby and was walking to my car to feed the meter... on the other side of the street, because I'd had my own run-in with that same bird.)

[Iota]

Wow, more images that just leap off the page, brilliant, @owlice!

Classic over-the-shoulder Vogue shot

Haha, excellent, that really made me laugh!
(Whenever I try to use a laugh emoji I get the 'Forbidden' message, so have to articulate it each time ..  )

As the last photo suggests, these birds favor swampy/reedy areas; even small swampy/reedy areas are enough for them. The main U.S. Department of the Interior building in Washington, DC has a small man-made wet habitat area in front of it, enough to sustain a few ducks and nesting Red-winged Blackbirds. I've also seen an occasional Great Blue Heron in it, and once, a Red-tailed Hawk feeding on a Mallard (with resident Mallards looking on in, well, probably horror, and definitely anxiety, from the other side of the small space).

Blimey!

A while ago I was driving in London, when on the other side of the road a raven swooped down on a pigeon that had only just (very bloodily) been run over, and was already devouring it before it had properly died. A real 'nature red in tooth and claw' moment, and for one who is not often exposed to such things, really quite shocking.

Red-winged Blackbirds (RWB) defend their nesting territory with vigor, as some workmen discovered one day as they left the Department of Interior; they had thought it funny when one guy some 10 or 12 paces in front of them walked too close to this small habitat and was dive-bombed by an angry blackbird. They stopped laughing when they made the same mistake and were hit repeatedly by the bird. (I worked nearby and was walking to my car to feed the meter... on the other side of the street, because I'd had my own run-in with that same bird.)

Blimey again! I've noticed birds can punch well above their weight when defending their nests, I remember seeing footage of Arctic Terns (I think) seeing off a polar bear with dive-bombing tactics. Fearless and stirring stuff!

[owlice]

(Whenever I try to use a laugh emoji I get the 'Forbidden' message, so have to articulate it each time ..  )

When you click on the emoji, is it rendered as : laugh : (with the colons next to the word rather than spaces) in the draft text? Weird that you can use other emojis but not that one!

A while ago I was driving in London, when on the other side of the road a raven swooped down on a pigeon that had only just (very bloodily) been run over, and was already devouring it before it had properly died. A real 'nature red in tooth and claw' moment, and for one who is not often exposed to such things, really quite shocking.

Wow! I suppose the raven might be credited with shortening the length of the pigeon's agony, though intensifying it quite a bit for the shortened duration. (Gruesome!)

Blimey again! I've noticed birds can punch well above their weight when defending their nests, I remember seeing footage of Arctic Terns (I think) seeing off a polar bear with dive-bombing tactics. Fearless and stirring stuff!

Yes! Smaller birds also force larger birds to move away from their territory (or just in general because the larger bird is in general a danger), either alone or through mobbing (group) behavior.

Red-winged Blackbird harassing a Bald Eagle; the eagle has a fish in its talons. Right-clicking on the image should give you a larger view.

[Elgarian Redux]

Ta-daaaa indeed -- this is splendid!! Very well done, brilliant Elgarian, and kudos to you for seeing it through!!

I'm not a fan of football (i.e. soccer) at all, but sometimes football terminology is helpfully illustrative. Eg: if player A kicks the ball from the wing into the centre, to player B who is standing in front of the goal, and if B then taps the ball into the net, then B has scored the goal, but A actually made the goal possible. So the way I see it is that I tapped the ball into the net, but you set it all up with the photo and the original idea. I think we can all bask in whatever scraps of glory can be rescued from the debris.

Kalevala's post re: the Red-winged Blackbird brought home to my pea brain that these birds are only in North America. DOH! I see them so often and in such numbers I'd forgotten they aren't everywhere; my apologies! (I feel quite stupid now! I wish I could say it's an odd sensation, but it is far more common to me than even Red-winged Blackbirds are, alas.) 

I have already posted a pic of a female specimen; here are a few more photos to go with that one, and yes, only the male is black:



Classic over-the-shoulder Vogue shot

Fantastic images of a fantastic bird - one I'd never even heard of. It doesn't seem to bear any resemblance to the cheerful common British Blackbird (which, sensibly to my mind, really is completely black - or at least, the male is).

 

Red-winged Blackbirds (RWB) defend their nesting territory with vigor, as some workmen discovered one day as they left the Department of Interior; they had thought it funny when one guy some 10 or 12 paces in front of them walked too close to this small habitat and was dive-bombed by an angry blackbird. They stopped laughing when they made the same mistake and were hit repeatedly by the bird. (I worked nearby and was walking to my car to feed the meter... on the other side of the street, because I'd had my own run-in with that same bird.)

Then again, British black blackbirds seem to be gentler souls, often seen pottering in a friendly manner around gardens, or picnic tables in outdoor cafes. I suppose worms would take a dimmer view of them though.

These photos are mind-bogglingly fine, Owlice. In the top image, doesn't he look determined!

[Elgarian Redux]

A while ago I was driving in London, when on the other side of the road a raven swooped down on a pigeon that had only just (very bloodily) been run over, and was already devouring it before it had properly died. A real 'nature red in tooth and claw' moment, and for one who is not often exposed to such things, really quite shocking.

Back into the blood-chilling mode of traditional folk song: 'Twa Corbies'.

[owlice]

Many find female RWBs difficult to ID; they look like so many other brownish birds! For me, the ability to ID them, after so many difficulties, snapped into place one day, and suddenly, pretty much no other bird looked like these.

If only that worked for all the LBJ sparrows... !

Here's an award-winning photo (NOT MY IMAGE!) of a Red-winged Blackbird, and hold onto your socks: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/2019-audubon-photography-awards-winners

[Iota]

When you click on the emoji, is it rendered as : laugh : (with the colons next to the word rather than spaces) in the draft text? Weird that you can use other emojis but not that one!

Yes, that's exactly how it appears, and has done since this started happening a few days ago. I've tried it each time I visited the forum and it was always that one emoji that caused the Forbidden alert, but rather spookily I just tried it again and lo and behold ...  - it's back! It's as if all it takes is quick question from owlice, and all your problems will be solved. That's quite a gift you have there, I may be back to consult you on various other issues ..      
 

Yes! Smaller birds also force larger birds to move away from their territory (or just in general because the larger bird is in general a danger), either alone or through mobbing (group) behavior.

Red-winged Blackbird harassing a Bald Eagle; the eagle has a fish in its talons. Right-clicking on the image should give you a larger view.

Nice action shot! I guess at least smaller birds have the advantage of greater mobility over larger birds in their favour? I've seen footage of such things but never in real life.
As Elgarian says, for non-worm residents, British blackbirds seems far friendlier creatures, though I know appearances can be deceiving. I remember seeing film of one robin pecking another to death in some violent dispute. That was also quite shocking, I mean, a robin of all birds! Sorry, I seem to be revisiting all my gory horror experiences of birds this afternoon, I'll cease and desist now ..

[Iota]

Many find female RWBs difficult to ID; they look like so many other brownish birds! For me, the ability to ID them, after so many difficulties, snapped into place one day, and suddenly, pretty much no other bird looked like these.

If only that worked for all the LBJ sparrows... !

Here's an award-winning photo (NOT MY IMAGE!) of a Red-winged Blackbird, and hold onto your socks: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/2019-audubon-photography-awards-winners

Ah, incredible!

[Elgarian Redux]

Many find female RWBs difficult to ID; they look like so many other brownish birds! For me, the ability to ID them, after so many difficulties, snapped into place one day, and suddenly, pretty much no other bird looked like these.

If only that worked for all the LBJ sparrows... !

Here's an award-winning photo (NOT MY IMAGE!) of a Red-winged Blackbird, and hold onto your socks: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/2019-audubon-photography-awards-winners

I had never heard of these 'smoke rings'. Astounding photo and a worthy winner! Can anyone explain the yellowish colour of the 'smoke'? If it's condensation, one would expect it to be white - is it a sunlit effect perhaps? (There is a yellowish tinge to the light elsewhere.)

[Elgarian Redux]

Sorry, I seem to be revisiting all my gory horror experiences of birds this afternoon, I'll cease and desist now ..

I've been hiding under the bed.

[Kalevala]

Yes, that's exactly how it appears, and has done since this started happening a few days ago. I've tried it each time I visited the forum and it was always that one emoji that caused the Forbidden alert, but rather spookily I just tried it again and lo and behold ...  - it's back! It's as if all it takes is quick question from owlice, and all your problems will be solved. That's quite a gift you have there, I may be back to consult you on various other issues ..      
 
Nice action shot! I guess at least smaller birds have the advantage of greater mobility over larger birds in their favour? I've seen footage of such things but never in real life.
As Elgarian says, for non-worm residents, British blackbirds seems far friendlier creatures, though I know appearances can be deceiving. I remember seeing film of one robin pecking another to death in some violent dispute. That was also quite shocking, I mean, a robin of all birds! Sorry, I seem to be revisiting all my gory horror experiences of birds this afternoon, I'll cease and desist now ..

I suspect that if you were close to a British blackbird's nest (vs. out food hunting) that you would receive a different reception.

K

[owlice]

I had never heard of these 'smoke rings'. Astounding photo and a worthy winner! Can anyone explain the yellowish colour of the 'smoke'? If it's condensation, one would expect it to be white - is it a sunlit effect perhaps? (There is a yellowish tinge to the light elsewhere.)

Yes, the yellowish color is from sunlight. This was taken shortly after sunrise, so the sun is very low in the sky.

Huntley Meadows is a great birding spot, and some areas of the park are fabulous for feeding mosquitoes (if one is into that sort of thing).

[Kalevala]

Yes, the yellowish color is from sunlight. This was taken shortly after sunrise, so the sun is very low in the sky.

Huntley Meadows is a great birding spot, and some areas of the park are fabulous for feeding mosquitoes (if one is into that sort of thing).

Better for them to be eaten vs. being eaten by them.

K

[Iota]

I've been hiding under the bed.

Very wise. Foolishly I had neglected to have a bed near enough on both occasions and was unable to take evasive action.

I suspect that if you were close to a British blackbird's nest (vs. out food hunting) that you would receive a different reception.

K

That may well be, I have none of the extensive knowledge of owlice and Elgarian. Though my neighbour did once have a blackbird nesting in her fairly small back patio and I can't remember her ever saying she had been warned off by the bird. But once she saw the nest with the eggs in, she stopped going into the patio until they'd hatched and flown off, to avoid scaring the blackbird, so perhaps she avoided any aggressive behaviour that way.

[Kalevala]

I checked into the two red-tailed hawk chicks at Cornell (who had been doing well) and found out that some observant BOGs (Birders on the Ground) had noticed some abnormal behavior from O1.  After consulting with one of the wildlife vets there, they decided to (if they could safely) capture the hawk and bring it in.  It turns out that it was/is very sick.  This was on the sixth.  Fingers crossed for the young hawk.

K

[Elgarian Redux]

I seem to be revisiting all my gory horror experiences of birds this afternoon, I'll cease and desist now ..

A second response to this comment. A couple of years ago I looked out of the kitchen window and saw a sparrowhawk at the end of the garden. Camera - click, click click. And then I saw why she was there, and realised the pigeon population had just decreased by one. I don't know how to respond to this sort of thing. This is what sparrowhawks do; this is how they live; and when you see one in flight and marvel, it's worth remembering that it's 'the moment, not the bird, divine'.

May I tell a story? Back in 2000 I was involved in an international academic conference, and an American fellow scholar and friend, Jim, was staying with us. I was presenting my paper on the first day, and I woke early - partly through nervousness, partly through excitement, and partly because the sun was shining brilliantly through the curtains. It was only about 5am, but I got up and went down to walk by the river in the morning sunshine. Utterly fabulous.

Later we had breakfast in the garden, and I told Jim about my walk by the river. 'It seemed like Paradise,' I said. 'Perhaps it really is,' he said, 'if only we could see it clearly.'

It was so tempting, there among the cereal packets, wanting so much to see the world at its best, all shining and full of promise on that special day, that I nearly agreed. 'No', I said. 'You only have to look under the nearest stone to see that it isn't Paradise.'

I've never sorted out this seeming paradox: the natural world is so full of rewards, spiritual nourishment, and sensual delight, that it's easy to blind oneself to the dark side. @Kalevala is right about the blackbird: he's not as harmless as he might seem. Neither are we, alas.

[Elgarian Redux]

I have none of the extensive knowledge of owlice and Elgarian.

I can't let you carry on believing that! You almost certainly have as much knowledge as I have, or more. I'm very much a casual Sunday birder, and the knowledge I once had, 50 years ago, is all but rusted up. Owlice is the expert here!

[owlice]

I can't let you carry on believing that! You almost certainly have as much knowledge as I have, or more. I'm very much a Sunday birder, and the knowledge I once had, 50 years ago, is all but rusted up. Owlice is the expert here!

hahahahaha, I am definitely not an expert! I've seen a lot of birds and photographed some of them, true, but expert I am not. I am indebted to expert guides, naturalist friends, and technologies such as Merlin and iNaturalist for finding and IDing much of the wildlife I've been able to see, from mating ostriches to tiny birds in tiny nests.

American Redstart, Michigan