AvianActs: Birds in the 'patch'

On a typical cold winter morning in early January, I wake up before sunrise and keep an eye on the sky as I settle down with a cup of coffee. Soon I hear the honking of the Canada Geese as they fly eastward past my house. It may be just a pair, a skein of fifty, or multiple skeins of different lengths flying in a "V" pattern, sometimes honking and sometimes in silence. When there is open water in the pond, I see a small flock of geese swim by or feed on the grass. American Crows fly past my house in search of food as they leave the roosting areas in the city.

On sunny days, American Robins and European Starlings briefly assemble to survey the area at sunrise on the top branches of the tallest trees by the pond. The flocks are smaller than in late fall when there is plenty of fruit on the Bradford pear trees. A Red-tailed Hawk may perch on a pole or a tall tree, sometimes alone and sometimes with its mate close by. He may stay in this position for an hour or two occasionally moving its head to inspect the surroundings.

Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows emerge from under the leaf piles and tangled shrubs in my neighbor's yard. House Finches and a Northern Cardinal pair may join the party. A Northern Mockingbird has been a winter resident here for three years. It guards its territory, a large shrub covered with bittersweet vine and the flowering trees nearby. It can tackle two or three Blue Jays even though they are larger in size. American Robins are given a nudge and Eastern Bluebirds are gently chased away but it tolerates sparrows, juncos, and finches.

A Carolina Wren sings in the woods, loud and clear. Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice and a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches hop from branch to branch. Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers go up the branches of dead or live trees. Northern Flicker and Pileated Woodpeckers make an appearance on some mornings, probing for insects in rotting logs that are placed at the edge of the woods.

I keep an eye on my patch from my desk or through the kitchen window all morning while working on the computer or doing household chores. A Blue Heron, a Bald Eagle or a Ring-billed Gull may fly by. A Song Sparrow may be in the flock of juncos or an American Goldfinch with House Finches. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper and Golden Crowned Kinglet may be in the woods; these rare sightings are exhilarating. The activity dies down by mid-morning but occasionally it picks up just before sunset or during the day for reasons unknown. Once a Barred Owl was roosting on a tree all day in direct view of a window.

In February, as the days lengthen and the sun is higher in the sky, Turkey Vultures return after being away for almost two months. By late February or early March, Mourning Doves perch on the power line in the morning, often in pairs. Common Grackles return in early March. Small flocks of blackbirds perch on tops of trees as they move north or disperse in areas nearby. A male Red-winged Blackbird's call 'kon-ka-reeee' resonates as he shows off the bright red stripe on his black wings. The spring chorus begins even before sunrise, with Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, House Finches and American Robins taking lead positions.

House Finches start pairing early, and two years in a row they built a nest on the gutter in front of my house. The location is too exposed, and the nest is robbed, perhaps by House Sparrows or European Starlings. Each year, American Robins build a nest under the deck and manage to successfully raise one or two broods. The nest is tucked away, safe from predators but in full view of my cameras to photograph.

By mid-April, the early summer arrivals are staking out their territories. Chipping Sparrow, House Wren, Eastern Phoebe sing all morning, soon to be joined by Gray Catbird. Brown-headed Cowbirds are on the lookout for small songbirds to raise their young; Chipping Sparrows are likely targets. White-crowned Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher and Hermit Thrush may stop briefly and move on to more suitable breeding habitats.

Soon the loud whistle 'PEEaweee' of Eastern Wood-pewee; the 'wheeeep' of Great Crested Flycatcher and the melodious fluting 'eh-oh-lay' of Wood Thrush are heard in the woods. A male Baltimore Oriole is on the watch while his partner builds a nest in a tall tree.

Palm Warblers are the first to stopover in the warbler family. By May, many other warblers and vireos are coming through. A small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers stays for two-to-three weeks. Other warblers are at the top of oak trees, constantly on the move in search of insects. I strain my neck to see Nashville, Tennessee, and Yellow Warblers and Northern Parula. American Redstart, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler and Prairie Warbler sightings are sparser. Warbling Vireo sings loud enough to be noticed, and the white spectacles of the Blue-headed Vireo is distinctive.

By late May and early June, the planting beds are full of greenery, some perennials in bloom, others to follow if not eaten by deer, rabbits, and woodchucks. The breeding season is in full swing for the summer residents. There is good supply of dry grass and twigs for building nests. The males are on guard duty during incubation and may chip in to feed the hatchlings.

I have only found nests of American Robins, Chipping Sparrows and Red-tailed Hawks in my patch. Other nests are hidden away. Eastern Bluebirds and flycatchers perch on dead tree limbs, vine supports and my neighbor's clothesline, hunting for insects to feed the hatchlings. When the chicks leave the nest, I see fledglings begging for food and immature birds following a parent, taking shelter under the shrubs as they learn to forage. A red fox hunts for rabbits and woodchucks in this miniature tropical jungle.

In July, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are regular visitors to honeysuckle vines and monarda blossoms side by side with hummingbird moths. The garden is buzzing with pretty butterflies, bees, wasps, and other insects, some loaded with poisonous stings. Having been stung several times, I avoid working in the garden in August. Weeds may grow and some plants may die from lack of water, but it is too risky to step out.

In late summer, the power line is a favorite place for both adult and juvenile birds. I place the spotting scope on the deck to see families of Eastern Bluebirds, House Finches, Eastern Kingbirds, and Barn, Tree, and Cliff Swallows. On a rare occasion a female Purple Martin was among the swallows!

In summer and early fall, many birds change their diet of insects to berries of bush honeysuckle, black cherry, jetbead, maple-leaf viburnum, and pokeberry. American Goldfinches feed on coneflower heads. Scarlet Tanagers in patchy red and yellow or all yellow plumage in preparation for migration are attracted by the berry crop in my 'patch'.

By August, the native flowering dogwood berries are turning red. The berry feast on these trees usually begins in mid-September and may last for several weeks as the berries turn soft. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers, American Robins, House Finches and another twenty or so species of birds come to feed on these berries sharing the bounty with chipmunks and gray squirrels. The trees are only 50 feet from the windows in the back of the house, and it is my favorite time to photograph the parade of birds and the feeding frenzy. Birds with different size beaks tackle the berries in different ways, and there appears to be no contention for the food supply.

Blue Jays focus on the acorn crop, competing with gray squirrels for this source of winter food. In the years when the acorns are abundant, these jays are seen flying away with a cache of acorns all day long, storing a winter supply in secret locations. Chipping Sparrows and American Robins form small flocks of 10 to 50, ready for migration.

My neighbors have several Bradford pear trees. Once popular as a landscaping tree, it has fallen out of favor because of its soft wood and weak trunk and branches. These trees are a pretty sight in spring and are loaded with fruit providing ample food supply for American Robins, European Starlings, Cedar Waxwings, House Finches, and other birds from mid-November to the end of the year. The birds congregate on these trees, taking turns to feed and perch on other tall trees nearby to rest.

The habitat and its offerings change from year to year, and avian and other wildlife populations respond to these changes. Trees and plants grow or die at a rate influenced by weather and other factors. As an example, in the year 2020, early frost killed buds, the berry crop suffered and the bird population in winter declined. Even in this small patch, careful observations reveal the impact of habitat on birds, animals and insects and their interdependencies. There is an added benefit of 'working from home' on this study in a 'safe' environment during these pandemic years.