BABY ALERT! Update - A New Baby Scapper
Early last evening I noticed the feeder required a refill. Knowing there was still plenty of seed on the ground I decided to wait until morning. Before going out though, I always take a look through the window to check the goings on outside. I don't want to unnecessarily disturb anyone. Well, -- there's ANOTHER new guest; among the breakfast crowd anyway. I hung the feeder late last Falll and wondered when the bunnies would show up. One sat there this morning, quietly nibbling away at the clover blossoms. But, -- when a male Grackle flew up to join in, it hopped off and took cover under the taxus bushes. Shortly after, a neighbor--out for his morning walk--startled everyone away. I took that as my cue to go out and fill the feeder.
Once back inside and upstairs, I heard one of a baby Grackle and went to sit at the window to watch. When the male Redwing appeared, it and mama took immediate flight. I sat there for a while and watched as two female House Finches squabbled over the bottom perch of the thisthle feeder when in flew mama Starling and her fledgling and landed among the ground feeders. I reached quick for the binoculars. The big baby scrapper looked a dark, rather brown black color and is a long way from spots yet. It's small dull yellow beak still has some growing to do and though his wing and tail feathers look fully formed, his body is still quite fluffy. It also has the cutest tufts of whispy feathers jetting up around the back -- more to the top of its head.
It cried continually in a low rasphy 'cha-at' and followed right behind mama as she searched for seed. She turned and gave her little darling the cracked seed, then waddled off away from the pine tree. It rushed after her--in a hoppy kind of step--crying its rasphy chatter all the way.
