My Peeps!

~ For those of you playing the home game,

this is an update to my Earth Day letter.

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The little Rusty-capped Sparrow returned last week. I'd seen him only that one time and barely caught sight of him hopping around that very same place, at the corner of the private drive and public sidewalk.

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In order to properly identify him, I grabbled the binoculars from the table next to the window. I studied his markings as he hopped down the concrete walkway; about 50 feet or so. Meandering back-n-forth, from one side of the grass-edged walk to the other, he picked at the seed blown in the debris of the season's first mowed grass. As he trailed away, I reached for my field guide to find he is a Chipping Sparrow.

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The size of the little unknown bird is what drew my attention in the first place. Smaller than the House Sparrows [especially the males] he's possibly more slight than a House Finch or a Chickadee. And the odds of seeing any two of them side by side--anytime soon--are of course, even more slight. Until next time [and bring your lover], hop on, Little Chipper, hop on!

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There's another male Cardinal in town. I've witnessed a couple territorial disputes between him and my male Between One. [See my Earth Day Letter.] Earlier this week the three of them flew up and into The Pine. They whistled and fluttered about the branches while the Doves and other guests [seemingly oblivious to the chaos] persisted below.

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As the female flew clear and settled on the feeder, her mate focused on the intruder as they flew out of the tree, circled, and landed on the newly green lawn. Though more than a foot apart throughout the conflict, they remained face to face. Rising and falling back to the ground. One would charge while the other backed away.

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During another conflict I lost sight of who was who and one male lighted on the feeder beside the female. He pecked at her three or four times-- then flew off to the neighboring tree. I'm not sure who was sitting beside her. Was it the intruder trying to weigh in or a chiding mate. In the end, peace returned and all was well with the rest of the day.

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I need to pick up more film the next time I'm out. Though I can't afford to get any pictures developed for a while, I don't want to miss getting a shot of the teeny-tiny, lime green, baby pine cones that appeared [just this week] at the base of this Spring's growth.

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Since I've been on disability for a little over a year now, I had a lot of film that I haven't been able to put to its original intended use. When I looked out one Winter afternoon and found wing tracks in the fresh-fallen snow, I pulled a roll of film from its bag in the closet and loaded my trusty Nikon. I simply couldn't let a chance like that go by, I had to capture those images. So, for the time being, pictures shot throughout the winter are locked in a zip bag marked: Winter Photos and the last three rolls [shot the last couple of weeks] are in a bag marked: Spring Photos.

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I admitted recently to a friend and feel somewhat honor-bound, yet again, to express my possible regret for not choosing a DIGITAL camera when I purchased the FILM-loving one instead a few years back. But in my defense, though I obviously have no aversion to technology, seeing as how my first DVD player is less than five years old, and I only just bought a cell phone not quite two years ago, I'm a good decade away yet from digital photography.

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Enough about me, though, time to get back to what's been happening with my peepsters.

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Moira [the female Red-winged Blackbird] finally made her way up and onto the feeder. In all fairness though, it took Winston quite a while before landed on the ground and fed among the other usual suspects. Initially he came to the feeder, took a seed, then flew away. I saw Moira for the first time on the ground. Oh, she would flutter up to the lower branches and feed on the seed [flung wildly from the above] that collects in the crooks of the pine; where the branches grow out from the trunk.

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A possible answer to, ‘Why are the males always more colorful that the females?' came to me while I sat one morning and watched Moira. Aside from the beak, the shape of the head and wing markings, female redwings look nothing like their better halves. [Pun somewhat intended!] And, in their defense, there is vast number of species where male and female birds are virtually identical, i.e., the Mourning Doves or Canada Geese [to name but a few]. But mates of the more boldly colored are more "dull," [I believe] in order to blend with their surroundings while protecting their nests. It sounds good to me anyway!

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It's not like I monitor the window 24-7, but I'd yet to see the little Goldfinch revisit the feeder. Yes, that's not to say he couldn't have while I was off doing a much-needed-somethingelse. But, I sat one day thinking, ‘where, oh where can you be?' -- and what do you know! Who just flew by?

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The next day, while viewing the goings-on, they flew by again; en route from one location [conifer] to another. "They" meaning, with the female just a wing-stroke or so behind her mate. And by "flew" I mean like little lear jets. I'm also thinking I need to go look for and take down that 'No Goldfinches Allowed' sign.

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As for the Starlings, well-- Since I made a conscious decision to stop putting out suet cakes [they're fav], they swarm and feed less often. Oh, one or another still come to pick at the seed throughout any give day, but it's a little less scrappy around the sanctuary now. And it simply makes for a more peaceful dining experience for everyone.

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I noticed a female gathering nesting material. She gathered up a few strands of last year's dried grasses and flew off to the top of an ornamental pear just across the street. Some new baby scrappers on the way!

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Lastly, and on a more anguished note, I needed to go to bank [earlier this week] to deposit a check and left late in the morning to avoid the rush hour traffic. While still on a major thoroughfare, I witnessed the hit-and-run of a Canada Goose taking flight. A car in the curb lane, well ahead of me, hit the goose just as it took off. I caught sight as it tried to ascend higher but clearly could not. Its wings curled in and flapped awkwardly back out. It dipped and banked. Slightly up, around and down behind the driver; landing clumsily in the same lane.

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The car next to me sped up and around in front of me. Swerving hard, it barely missed the frightened bird. With conviction, I veered to the right--into the curb lane--to block any other oncoming traffic. I slowed to a stop just few feet away. In my rear-view mirror I saw another car approaching. Instead of stopping, the driver chose to change lanes and went around me.

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The large bird hunkered down. Its mouth open. Tongue wavering. It then flapped its wings and rose upon unsure feet. With a few burdened steps it stumbled up and over the curb-- and settled into the grass. I sat for a moment and watched as a second goose honked in concern and waddled nearer to its mate.

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Though I feel somewhat guilty for not doing more, I offered [at very least] a watchful eye. Having spent a fair amount of time photographing Canada Geese [I do claim to be somewhat of an amateur photographer] I am quite fond of these beautiful birds and know them to be a totem in my life.

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And while we're on the subject of Canada Geese-- I'd like to help make it more clear here. This is a pet peeve of mine so bear with me!

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For those who continue to refer to them like they just flew in on holiday from Canada-- Their proper name is Canada Goose. More than one does not make them Canadians; it makes them Canada Geese. That is my public service commitment for the day. Thank you-- and a good one!

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Click here to visit my Photo Album!

For an excellent on-line Birding Source visit
All About Birds and their Bird Guide

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© 2007, L.L. Abbott ~ Pearls of Wisdom, All Rights Reserved

Use by written permission only