My take on the common House Sparrow

Recently I questioned the disappearance of my Downys and after two weeks they have shown themselves again... thankfully.

Now, another question of "where are they now?" is where are all the Sparrows?

For many backyard birders, they would say this is a blessing to NOT have such commoners around as there can be many of them cleaning out your feeders daily. For me, I don't mind. A Sparrow adds life to the backyard and a sound-track. Multiply that by 30 or so and things get pretty busy as this also tends to help attract other species of birds to the property.

I truly believe it was the activity of the Sparrows at the feeders two summers ago that led Misfit to this yard. Misfit is the Budgie we caught out back and who now lives inside with us.

Going through my records for Project Feeder Watch, I see that I haven't had any major Sparrow activity since early December.

These days/weeks I can count from 0 to 6 at the most and more often than not it is 0.

So, is there bird feeder competition in the neighborhood? From what my ears tell me... no. I remember 3 summers ago somebody 4 houses over put up a bird feeder and it was much closer to the home of the pair of Cardinals who normally visited me... so I wasn't happy when they were over there much more than here. I knew before I saw the feeder because of all the songs and squawks in "the other yard".

Is it the pigeon remains still at the back yet to be cleaned up? Feathers and bits and pieces still on the ground. I also know there is the skeleton of a European Starling still laid out on the top of the rain barrel. Does that pose as a warning to the other birds? You know, "Hey, there's a dead one... danger!" I am waiting two more weeks until the yard waste pick-up starts before I get cleaning. Anyways, I don't think it is that either because other birds still come and go.

Recently a person for the Toronto Star made comments on the disappearance of Blue Jays and Cardinals in the downtown core. He was unhappy that the colorful birds are seldom seen downtown nowadays. He referred to the Sparrows and others as like the brown sludge and slush on the roadways and sidewalks... very unappealing.

I've always found Sparrows to be quite entertaining in the downtown area. They are much more people friendly. While they normally won't land on your hand as a Black Capped Chickadee might, they sure know where food sources are and stick pretty close by. I remember Angie and I sitting outside a Pizza Pizza and the Sparrows sat on top of the table next to us waiting for crust/crumb hand-outs. We'd toss tiny bits to them and they'd fly off someplace to eat it, returning moments later for more. So, in a sea of people in the downtown area, I think it's nice to still have some sort of interaction with nature.

I am sure it is only a matter of time until they return... but their lack of appearance here has not gone un-noticed.

They are not migratory birds so they do not fly south for the winter.

Please note that I did not take the photo below of the House Sparrow at the bird bath. Someone sent it to me and I thought it was an amazing shot of such a common little bird. The above photo I believe is an American Tree Sparrow. There are so many species of Sparrows and I am still early on in the learning how to identify many of them. I am also attaching the photo of Misfit out there with the House Sparrows... something I will never forget.

They HAve Returned!

I am happy to announce the return of my pair of Downy Woodpeckers (should I say "our" Ang?).

Tuesday evening I got a text from Angie saying that she saw both of them on the suet feeder. Through the next morning I too saw the both of them at different times buzzing back and forth for a meal. I guess they were busy building/preparing a home for a batch of babies?

I just realized that I don't have many photos of them taken with my digital camera... I better get
working on that! This shot was taken a few springs ago at the Royal Botanical Gardens out in Burlington, Ontario. It's a male Downy feeding from my hand (see the red on the back of his head?)

Old reliables, where are thou?

I'd say since the first few months of actually doing this whole backyard bird feeding that we have had a pair of Downy Woodpeckers visiting the property. A couple suet feeders have been hung in the trees right out back of the kitchen window. I can honestly say this too... that I can count on my two hands the number of days where they have NOT been seen right outside the kitchen window. Well, that is up until about two weeks ago.

Where have they gone? I am almost certain of them not disappearing at this time last year or years before... as I know many birds are pairing up, building nests, etc. They spend more time building a home for the young and are seen less during this time. I've been going back and checking my old calendars from the last few years (I jot down the species to visit each day).

They were fondly named "The Downys". Mr Downy and Mrs Downy. Mister has a red spot on the back of his head and Misses does not. I also called them "Old Reliables" because they were just that; you could count on them showing everyday and many times a day, all year round.

Quiet birds minus some small peeps. Gentle birds and rather brave (or just used to us). When feeding, one could easily walk right under them and not upset them.

A peaceful and simple pleasure to us; watching them as we had our morning coffee. A small addition to the soundtrack that is the backyard.

I hope it's just that they are busy getting ready for the coming of the young. There is an increase in the population of European Starlings the last few years and they are notorious for kicking Downy Woodpeckers out of their homes which can be harmful to the Woodpecker population.

I will wait for them and keep the suet out regardless in hopes of their safe return.

Spring is here, no matter what your calendar says!

Well, spring is here! I don't care what any calendar says... Saturday March 14th, 2009 is MY first day of spring.

Why? As those who know me and have had this discussion with me... today I saw my first Red Winged Black Birds of 2009. These are males in the photos.

For the last week or so, Angie and I have talked about when they might show up. I did some searches on-line and discovered that others in Ontario had begun seeing them as early as March 5th. I was all set to go out and find my sign of Spring today; but before I was able to go out the door and do so... one lonely male Red Wing showed up in the backyard.

I didn't have to find Spring. Spring found me.

A number of hours later, I was out to a local hot spot for migratory returners, with camera and food in hand and got these shots. A number of Common Grackles were in the mix as well. I don't care what anybody says about Grackles, I like them! I know how much of a pain they can be in large flocks, dominating an area (I have similar problems with European Starlings)... but Grackles aren't here all year long. I also love the look of them, jet black bodies and a blue/green head. They have a fierce look about them with piercing yellow eyes.

Welcome home guys!!!!!

Off they go!

Hey All... it's Friday... woo hoo! Enjoy the weekend and please be kind to our animal friends... feed a bird, pat a dog or cat, make a donation or contribution to your local animal rescue or pick up a piece of trash in the park... whatever!

I just wanted to inform everyone that the kittens are off to a new home. Someone took them together which makes me and everyone else involved very happy. The black and white one has been named "Checkers" and the other is yet to be named.

Now, mommy still needs a home. Anyone know of a responsible person who may be interested in taking in a 10 month old female black cat who is spayed... please get contact me. She has a very nice loving personality and seems to get along well with other animals.

Don't Point that Thing at Me!

So, the past couple weeks I have been hit with a number of animal stories. Unfortunately they have all been real downers. Grim realities for sure and nothing I really want to get too into at this moment.

Spring is coming, the flowers will be blooming before we know it. So, with the flowers comes the bees.

I've had my share of Bee adventures since living in this old house. Cracks in the walls and they find them, start building their hives. Luckily I haven't been stung in many years.

I do remember my first time I got stung. Do you remember your's? Mine definitely could have been a lot worse than what it turned out to be and to this day I am still thankful how it didn't happen. There is a lesson to this, something one should think about in similar situations in the future.

When we lived up in Bradford, Ontario 25 years ago... we spent a lot of our summers at the public pool. When we got home, we'd hang our swim trunks out on the clothes line to dry off. So, one day, I am thinking about going up to the pool. I bring my swim suit in from outside, take it upstairs to my bedroom to get changed. The trunks are turned inside out and I set them right, pull them up my legs and... you know, get dressed... just trying to emphasize that this is a bit of a travel with the swim trunks from outside, through the house, up to my bedroom, and then put them on only after I turn them rightside out. I am thinking some of you know where I may be going with this one... yes, there was a Bee resting on the swim suit. Now, I did not know this yet, not even when I had my trunks on, tied up too.

A short moment after tying them around my waist, I felt this sharp pain on my rear end. I pulled the legging bit up to see what it was. All I see is this little black thing sticking in my skin. I am thinking, "Hmmm, this little piece of stick hurt that much?" I then pulled it out. The spot began to swell really fast... and then, in the corner of my eye, I see a Bumble Bee, lying dead on the floor of my bedroom. I was 12 but I freaked out like a 6 year old.

I ended up going swimming a little later on anyways and the swelling went down in a day or two.

To this day, whenever I think about that incident, I can only imagine in horror if that Bee had been resting on the front side of my swim suit. I cringe and want to cross my legs in terror. Anytime now, when I have clothes hanging out on the line, I still shake them *violently* for lack of a better word at the moment...

Me and My Shadow...

So, I've been battling this cold for 8 days now and am finally feeling better. I know Meadow can sense my "unwellness" but lately she's been even more of an affectionate cling-on. She is my shadow.

If I am on the couch, Meadow is on the couch. If I go to bed, Meadow goes to bed. I am in the shower, Meadow is outside the shower. Funny how when it's your pet, you really don't mind all that much.

My neighbor has been fighting a virus of her own. She's complained to me about one of her animals being a shadow as well in her two plus weeks of illness. I guess an 11 LB cat is okay compared to a 90 LB dog full of mega slobbering bouncing love and joy. He's a unique fellow and his name is "Herman". He went to obedience school and probably failed miserably... but he's such a happy dog. I learned that Herman is a sack puppy. Can you even imagine what that is? Someone got a sack and filled it with a litter of pups, went for a drive, and threw the tied up sack out on a busy street.

I've thought about working for Animal Rescue or the Humane Society but I think I'd probably end up on manslaughter charges against some of these malicious sick $#@%!

I've not done much for many days now, just watch the backyard from my kitchen window.

I went at this blog pretty hard and heavy for the first couple months, spinning out some of my most memorable tales over the years. Am I tapped out, not just yet... but I do hope, with the arrival of spring in a few weeks, that more stories come about.

Well, my shadow has just jumped on my chest... I think it's time for my meds and start my day. See you all in a few.