Birds: Pigeon & Mockingbird
Our observations of this week's bird, the pigeon, happened while we were driving so we don't have any pictures. We frequently see flocks of them in the farm fields as we pass, and they can always be seen on the underpasses as we are waiting for a light or driving underneath.
And now . . . for the drama of our neighborhood. The birds who nest in our neighborhood had to be on their toes yesterday! In the morning we had a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks soaring overhead-- everyone was hidden away and very quiet. In the afternoon a pair of Crows ventured into the neighborhood and they were ganged up on and noisily driven off.
Our observations of this week's bird, the pigeon, happened while we were driving so we don't have any pictures. We frequently see flocks of them in the farm fields as we pass, and they can always be seen on the underpasses as we are waiting for a light or driving underneath.
This past weekend we went to visit the grandparents, and a favorite activity is going to the river to feed the birds. We always see ducks, geese, seagulls, and many other varieties. 
And now . . . for the drama of our neighborhood. The birds who nest in our neighborhood had to be on their toes yesterday! In the morning we had a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks soaring overhead-- everyone was hidden away and very quiet. In the afternoon a pair of Crows ventured into the neighborhood and they were ganged up on and noisily driven off.
In the evening, we had another threat- a neighborhood cat looking for a snack.
On our neighbor's deck there is a Say's Phoebe couple who recently had their eggs hatch. The presence of the cat created some interesting behavior- While making an injured call, the male fluttered above the cat, and then would land in the empty lot behind us, a short distance from the cat- trying to lure the cat away from the house. This continued the whole time the cat was hanging around.
Male Say's Phoebe (sitting on fire pit)
The Female ventured off the nest for a minute to check on the situation (sitting on railing). The nest is located on a ledge around the upper, outer edge of the deck.
After hearing this call for some time a number of other birds decided they needed to know what was happening. We were able to watch Robins, House Finches, Starlings, and Meadowlarks land nearby, assess the situation, and continue on their way. The cat continued to slink through the yard- hiding in bushes and laying in the grass- while the birds managed to stay out of his reach. The cat didn't realize there IS a Mourning Dove nest nearby in the weeds of the empty lot, but they were smart and didn't come out to see what was happening.
On our neighbor's deck there is a Say's Phoebe couple who recently had their eggs hatch. The presence of the cat created some interesting behavior- While making an injured call, the male fluttered above the cat, and then would land in the empty lot behind us, a short distance from the cat- trying to lure the cat away from the house. This continued the whole time the cat was hanging around.Male Say's Phoebe (sitting on fire pit)
The Female ventured off the nest for a minute to check on the situation (sitting on railing). The nest is located on a ledge around the upper, outer edge of the deck.
After hearing this call for some time a number of other birds decided they needed to know what was happening. We were able to watch Robins, House Finches, Starlings, and Meadowlarks land nearby, assess the situation, and continue on their way. The cat continued to slink through the yard- hiding in bushes and laying in the grass- while the birds managed to stay out of his reach. The cat didn't realize there IS a Mourning Dove nest nearby in the weeds of the empty lot, but they were smart and didn't come out to see what was happening.
Such drama this week in your neighborhood. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the photos from the river...those geese are so big!
Thanks for sharing your link.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom