The General is back!

I am happy to report that, once again, the "General" has returned to rule the Bayou.  In and among the reeds of the marshes, the avian world has its all-important ruler to bring order and peace.  The "General" being one Red-winged Blackbird who has, for the past few years, reigned as boss over all of the younger male blackbirds of the area.  He is a gorgeous bird with the largest and showiest "epaulets".  His red and gold wing bars are, by far, the largest of any of the other males that visit the feeders.  I have come to believe this is a mark of his authority. Most of the other blackbirds have smaller wing bars and seem to be under  his rule.  Not that any of them seem to mind as I have yet to see any contenders vying for his spot.  He  is just the boss and they accept that.

I watched as the General flashed his epaulets and preened his feathers.  This seemed to attract a number of love-stricken females to his side.  As with other dominate male blackbirds, the General has his harem of wives. Each female will make a nest in the marsh just a few feet above the high tide line.  There, she will lay three to five greenish eggs that have purplish streaks on them.  The mother bird will incubate the eggs for the next few weeks.  The dominate male does well in his job of protecting them from intruders. The mother's mottled coloring makes it nigh on impossible to see her while she is on the nest but sometimes a predator will find her.  It is then that the male will send up his alarm.  He and all of his underlings will attack the intruder. Blackbirds from other territories will even join in the attack.  More oft than not, the nest will be protected.  Soon the eggs hatch and the mother must work hard to feed her young.  Occasionally (but not often), the male bird will help with the raising of the little ones.  Most of the time, he simply perches himself high on the dead pine tree and keeps watch.  The General does well with this job.  He sits well.

I was reading where most Red-winged Blackbirds in the wild only have a lifespan of a couple of years. A few live much longer but that is not the norm.  It seems life is harsh with hawks and other predators constantly on the prowl. The General has been flitting about the Bayou for the past four years now.  I am in hopes that he will be around much longer!  I enjoy his presence.