[NatureNS] Birds in White Point, Queens

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:48:18 -0300
From: "Margaret E.Millard" <mmillard@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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Good morning. It was another busy weekend at the feeder in White Point, 
Queens. I keep waiting for things to slow down and sty slow for a bit but so 
far....it hasn't for any length of time.
There are more than 40 new and apparently very healthy young Starlings in 
our immediate neighbourhood. all very, very hungry and learning fast where 
and what to go after. I see some slimming down rather quickly as Momma 
spends less and less time with them.
At one point, Friday, I think, there were that many, all with beak agape 
begging from all the birds, not just momma. All birds were just shoving food 
into open mouths no matter whose it was as the bedlam got worse.  Would have 
made a really funny cartoon. No one will ever make me believe again, that 
one bird will feed only their own chicks. I have seen differently.
We still are feeding all the starlings, sparrows (song) and their young, 
juncos, a couple chickadees, Blue Jays , Red winged black birds, male and 
female, grackles, mourning doves, both several families of Hairy and Downy 
woodpeckers. The Hairy woodpecker young is almost tame so I am trying to get 
it to be more cautious by every now and again by startling him. I don't know 
if this is a good thing or not but it has figured I have seed cake and was 
following me about, squawking at me as I try to do a bit of gardening. This 
morning as I hung out the seed cake (we take food in at night now as the 
raccoons are back)  it landed on my shoulder and scared the dickens out of 
me. Those long claws at sharp!!
Aside from that we have now three nursing squirrels and finally one of our 
little chipmunks is back, full of scars and minus a tail.
Early this morning, just coming 4 am,  I heard an owl calling fairly close 
by and from the sounds I would suggest maybe it got a cat. I do need to work 
on my owl calls again. First I thought I had a cat calling then really 
serious screams and then shortly after the owl hooting. No reply though, 
that I heard.
There is a fair bit of activity now with the hummingbirds. I know there are 
three males and at least two females, one on a nest I think, and a lot of 
fighting and rolling in the dirt of the driveway. Those creatures are very 
fierce!!Today again there is lots of swooping and such, maybe a nest lost or 
mate change?
The swallows who built in the worst possible place are still there and 
trading off the sitting. Male sits in doorway while female is gone and yells 
at her every couple minutes. I love to watch the shift change. Have my 
fingers crossed they get a successful nesting. I don't hear any young yet 
but should soon.
I wonder if anybody around here has built a chimney swift tower? I have 
found  plans but am wondering about locating it. We have a piece of woodland 
we use for firewood and it is away from homes so far. Any suggestions?
Marg Millard
 White Point, Queens



http://margmillard.ca 

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