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David, I wonder if you've already read this:
What the Robin Knows, by Jon Young.
I got it for Christmas one year; very interesting read.
A. Woolaver (no relation to the pond)
________________________________
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on beha=
lf of David Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>
Sent: May 20, 2020 5:13 PM
To: Naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Subject: [NatureNS] Birding ethics
Dear All,
I saw a comment recently on naturens traffic to the effect that
even sitting quietly in the woods may adversely affect birds. And it got
buried in subsequent traffic.
This puzzles me because if you are really quiet then you become in
effect an unusually shaped rock or burl. I have had e.g. a Chicadee land
within a few inches of my nose (at most 3" away) and peer this way and
that way; no hint of concern just curious. When very slowly crossing a
knee-high windfall I once had a Squirrel walk between my legs without
indicating awareness. When sitting a foot away from a tiny Spruce (~1"
diam. at soil) at dusk I once had a small Mouse slowly climb up the tree
saying ek ek ek as nonchalant as could be. And one day while passing
time, while I fished nearby, my wife waded out to a small rocky "island"
in a brook took both rubber boots off and a few minutes later a Muskrat
joined her, smelled the inside of both boots, smelled and crossed her
bare legs and then leisurely left the island and proceeded up stream.
Twice when sitting in Spruce I had a Kinglet land and hop about within
inches apparently unaware I was there. Grey Jays are the exception-
they find you; especially when they smell a fire because that may mean a
welcome change from a dull diet.
Sometimes it seems birds welcome company. One summer I spent many
hours thinning an area of woods which was clearly overstocked; cutting
and let lie or cutting and trimming for firewood. Regardless where I was
working in this ~10 acre area a Robin would eventually show up,
apparently unconcerned, and follow me around as I moved. Shortly after
I bought the woodlot I would trigger a flyby of one or several Pileated
Woodpeckers shortly after I started the chainsaw. One or more would fly
in, circle me several times calling (Yak, Yak, Yak....) and then fly
away. The woods then had been clear cut only about 30 years
previously so Pileated food may have been in short supply and perhaps
they wanted a fix on possible exposed food. They are less common now
but still often come near where I am cutting and stick around until I
pause and look up to e.g. try to take a picture.
Sometimes simply by being friendly you see things unexpectedly. One
day while eating at a large Cortland apple and splitting wood in a light
rain a Squirrel seemed interested so I put a small slice out of my
reach. After he ate that I continued feeding him slim slices. When it
started to rain quite hard he perched in full view on a Spruce branch
with tail up over his back and with the tail end flared out, fan like
and serving as an unbrella, protecting his head and front feet from rain.
Yellow Jackets naturally get annoyed if you damage their nest but
once, while slicing and eating an apple in the yard, a Yellow Jacket
flew within a few feet and paused in mid air which I took to mean "May I
land on your hand" so I slowly extended my hand to say "welcome" and it
landed and proceeded to make good use of the apple juice on my hand. In
like fashion, some beetles have come near when having tea in the yard
and had a good drink. I don't recall details but I somehow improvised a
feeding tube consisting of two flat and pointed slivers of wood. They
would fly to the table for 2 or 3 slips, retreat and then come for more.
In such interactions one must move but a key factor is to avoid rapid or
unexpected motion.
Also sitting quietly near sunny warm areas where one might see a
snake out hunting will often lead to a snake seen.
Enough DW, Kentville
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David, I wonder if you've already read this:</div>
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<br>
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What the Robin Knows, by Jon Young.</div>
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I got it for Christmas one year; very interesting read.</div>
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A. Woolaver (no relation to the pond)</div>
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<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" co=
lor=3D"#000000" style=3D"font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> naturens-owner@chebuc=
to.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on behalf of David Webster &=
lt;dwebster@glinx.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> May 20, 2020 5:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [NatureNS] Birding ethics</font>
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<div class=3D"PlainText">Dear All,<br>
<