Brats will be brats

  If I do not get to the garden by ten minutes past sunrise, I get a rude scolding.  A pair of blackbirds start shrieking for me to come fill the feeders.  These are two of the most impatient birds to ever visit the gardens,  Most birds will politely call or even sing until their breakfast is served but these rascals literally shriek.  They will both perch themselves in the dead black gum tree, shriek at the top of the voices and then hop from limb to limb.  If I still do not come, the male will venture into the porch arbor and yell at the door.  That shriek is deafening under the canvas top and I think he realizes that it can be heard all the way to the kitchen!  Once I fill the feeder and toss a bit on the ground, this pair eats and then flies back out to the marsh.  

  The redwing blackbirds often hang purely in the marsh but this pair has gotten brave.  They spend a good bit of time at the feeders and will often stake it as their territory.  Then, no other birds are allowed to feed.  Beside being extremely rude, they are bossy!  How unlike the other blackbirds and the other birds, in general.  I am not sure why these are so rude but it has now become quite humorous for me and I have a tendency to even venture out without their breakfast from time to time.  Their reaction is one of disbelief!  I think they belong to this "me" generation...you know, the ones who think everything should be handed to them.  In the human world, these are the ones who never got their butt beat because parents were afraid to be parents. Perhaps the same thing happened in the avian world.  Brats will be brats.

Meanderings, Baby Birds and Commonsense...

  While out in the gardens or roaming the marsh lines, I observe.  It seems that is what I do best. I am a watcher of sorts.  I investigate everything...plants, critters, weather...whatever catches my eye.  Mostly, I watch critters.  The animals around the Bayou have not flourished as they have by being stupid or ignorant.  (And, yes, there is a difference.  Look it up.)  People of the world should take note.  Animals are smart. They know how to take care of themselves and don't go whining about their lot in life.  The tiniest mouse has just as good of a life as the huge alligator.  Neither are up in arms about the other.  People are not so smart.

  Today as I piddled in the gardens, I could hear a family of blackbirds as they came up from the marsh to get a bite to eat at the feeders.  I was pondering why it took them so long to make the 300 ft flight but then I realized that they were coaxing their young along the route.  The parent birds were not only encouraging their young to fly but were teaching them where they could find a free meal at times.  The mama blackbird would fly to a tree and call to the little ones.  Once they made it to the tree, she would do a short flight to another branch.  Never did she let them actually reach her until they were finally at the feeder.  Then, she and the papa bird pecked furiously at the seeds.  The little ones peeped, fluttered their wings and begged to be fed.  Mama and Papa pretended not to hear but kept pecking at the seeds.  It was only a short time before the little ones got the idea and tried to mimic their parents.  The lessons were a success.  Baby birds only have a couple of weeks to learn the ropes to being an adult bird.  Flying, finding food, finding shelter are all lessons that need to be mastered before the mama bird takes to the nest again.  It is this way with most critters. Very few spend more than a couple of weeks or, at best, a few months caring for their young.  It seems that humans and elephants are just about the only ones who baby their young for any length of time.  

  It got me to pondering a lot of things watching the birds today.  It has not been that long ago that human kids were put to work at an early age.  Families depended upon it.  If you were able to toddle at all, chores were assigned and were expected to be completed.  Maybe that's what is wrong with society today.  Kids are mollycoddled too much for too long.  They become dependent, lazy and have a "me" attitude.  They expect to have everything handed to them or they pitch a fit just like the little birds at the feeder.  Gimme!  Gimme!  Gimme!  Thankfully, those parents had commonsense.  They led their brood to the feeders and expected them to start feeding themselves.  No more handouts!  That, my friends, is commonsense teaching.  That, my friends, is what is lacking nowadays.  No one thinks for themselves anymore.  'Nuff said. 

A sign of respect!

  Several weeks ago, I pulled a big wad of algae out of the wallow near the pier.  Mark's skiff had been lodged in the only inlet into the pool making it nigh on impossible for a good flow of water.  Usually the change of tides pulls enough of the stagnant water out and pushes fresh in so that the algae does not have a chance to grow.  The stuff was already creating such a mess that the bull minnows were gasping for air.  Instead of hauling the heavy stuff up a hundred foot or so to the shore, I just plopped it onto the pier.  There, it could sundry and then I could lift it with no problem.  I had good intentions of using the stuff in the garden since it is a good fertilizer for most plants.

  After a couple of days, I noticed that I was not the only one interested in the dried algae.  Two Redwinged Blackbirds were taking turns at the mound.  They would tug at the strands until a nice sized chunk was dislodged then away the birds would fly.  One headed west while the other went east.  Both were males.  (I do believe that the larger and more dominant of the two was the "General" as his wingbars were much more prominent!  He has been around for a few years now and, more or less, rules all of the others.  He eats at the feeders when he wants, drinks from the birdbath whenever he pleases and roosts where he wants with no interference from any of the younger males.  At the algae wad, the same courtesy was given to him as at the other places. The younger bird patiently waited his turn. The General rules.  

  As near as I can tell, the blackbirds were using the dried algae as nesting materials.  The General only went a few feet west of the pier with his shreds.  Mrs. General must have been waiting in the shrubs for her partner to bring material home for her to line the nest.  He made more trips than the other, younger male.  So he was able to choose the finest of the algae.  

  I watched for a while and then decided to inspect the algae.  Sure enough, the stuff had dried but was downy soft making it perfect as nest lining.  Good job, General!  And thank you for sharing with your subordinates!  I am sure the youngsters appreciate your tutelage on nest-building!

Bird Watching

  Ms. Ez and I often take strolls down near the pier.  It is a peaceful place where the old dog and I can relax and take in the charms of the world.  She loves to watch the critters of the marsh just about as much as I do.  We both patiently sit while critters go about their scavenging for food.  Sometimes I think this is a bit odd for a dog since most would be chasing any critters that dare to wander to close.  Not Ms. Ez!  She only chases things when I give her permission.  Otherwise, she just watches...like me.   Occasionally, we notice that the critters watch us as well.

  Near the place where the pier meets the shore, a small shrub stands just a few feet away from the boards.  In this shrub, there is a now-empty bird nest.  Earlier in the spring, a pair of Redwinged Blackbirds raised their brood in this spot. Each day, the old dog and I would check the progress of the eggs and later the hatchlings.  We were elated when we heard the first peeps of the baby birds.  We were saddened when a marauding Bluejay devoured two little ones.  We watched with anticipation when the remaining little tyke took its first flight.  That first flight was more of a leap to the ground and Ms. Ez found great pleasure in nosing the little guy while Mama and Daddy Bird panicked.  They needn't had since Ms. Ez loves baby birds.  Still, the old dog was bombarded and she soon backed to a safer position.  The little one hip-hopped its way among the branches until it was hidden from our sight. Several times after that, the bird family could be seen busily teaching the little one to catch critters.  

  Now the nest sits empty.  It is a reminder of what was and hope of what will come.  Next spring, like the past four springs, undoubtedly, a new pair of birds will nest here.  I cannot say for sure if it has been the same birds or not but the shrub is always occupied by the Redwinged Blackbirds and always, Ms. Ez and I keep tabs on the little family.  We are the watchers.

Backing away..

Sometimes you just have to back away and leave things to nature.  I headed down the pier to catch the sunset this evening.  With a slight cloud cover, it promised to be another lovely day's end.  No sooner had I stepped on the pier than I heard a loud chattering in the oak tree that overhangs the marsh.  Uh oh..something was bothering the Redwinged Blackbird mama.  I pondered if some critter was getting a bit too close to her nest.  I peered up into the tree.  I could see her but could not tell just what had her so upset.  Shrugging my shoulders, I continued my hike.  The sun was setting fast and if I was to get any pictures at all, I had better hurry on my way.

Just three steps further and I heard another bit of chattering.  Daddy Blackbird had joined the ruckus!  The "General", who sat high in the dead pine tree, joined in also by giving orders to young Mama and Daddy Bird.  If need be, he would join in the assault on whatever marauding critter was raiding the nest.  Once again, I stared at the birds trying to figure out where the nest was.  Surely, I could chase off any critter that was aggravating my birds..but I could find nothing out of the ordinary.

A few more steps and I was nearly binged by the young male bird!  He swooped from the oak limb to just inches above my head.  When I looked up, both adult birds were swooping at ME!  I WAS THE PREDATOR!  Oops!  Somewhere near a little bird must be crouching..hiding from the human monster that was traipsing in the wrong area!  I stopped in my tracks!  Aha!  There just three feet from me was the little tyke.  It was clinging to the marsh grass all the while trying its best to be stone-still.  With the two birds still attacking from above, I took two pictures of Little Squirt and then eased back a bit.  I had no intention of startling the little fellow any more than I already had.

Mama and Daddy Blackbird stopped their swooping and sat back on the oak limbs.  Their scolding did not cease until I had backed a good twenty feet away from the little bird.  From his perch in the oak tree, General let out a high screech to let everyone know that the danger had passed and all was well on the Bayou once again. For me, it was good to see that the little one was trying to learn to fly.  By tomorrow, he should be well on his way to flitting about the hillside with his mama.  Life goes on as long as we learn to let it.  Sometimes we just have to back away and let nature take its course.  There will be other sunsets.

The General!

When the General gives orders, everyone on the Hill better listen up and obey! He rules the roost so to speak. He can clear the mess hall in seconds and can bring order to squabbles with just a flash of his epaulets. I have named one of the Red-winged Blackbirds as the General. He is quite the magnificent bird..so much larger than the other male Blackbirds that inhabit the marshes. His wing bars are glorious..the brightest red with a slight bit of gold peeking out from beneath the band. The black feathers that make up the rest of his uniform are the sleekest, shiniest of all the birds. He is gorgeous and I do believe he revels in this grandeur.

The General sits either in the top of a dead pine tree or on the highest limb of a Blackgum Tree that is right on the edge of the marsh near the pier. From this perch, he has full view of the entire area and can keep order of the fifty or so birds that make up his merl. (A merl being a group of Red-winged Blackbirds!) And what a job it must be to keep order! The young males are forever battling over territory! This seems to be more a practice aggression that helps them to defend their nests against all sorts of predators. They are known to attack birds of prey that are much, much larger than themselves and often work in groups to defend the nesting area. The General leads the attack..he is brave..he is valiant. He leads his troops with fairness..he chastises them all!

I have noticed that when the General comes to the feeders or birdbath..all others leave. The other Blackbirds respectfully depart to the edge of the marsh until he is finished with his meal and bath. He flies back to his post atop the dead pine and only then do they dare to make their way back to the feeders. Their ruckus evidently irritates him to no end as he will sometimes merely swoop over them with a screech as if to call them to attention. They mustn't forget that he is boss! Actually, most other birds leave the feeders as well..save for the woodpeckers and of all things the tiny Brown-headed Nuthatch. The General..always keeping peace on the Bayou!

Guard Duty

The most amusing thing happens on the Bayou at dawn each day. I meander out to my favorite chair and watch a curious occurrence that has been happening for the past month. I only wish that I had pictures to show the unusual actions of a Redwinged Blackbird. Like I said, it always happens at dawn..I have never witnessed it at any other time of day. If I look toward the east, way up in the top of a dead pine tree sits this bird. This is not so rare..as he sits there most of the day and a lot of birds sit in trees..or actually most birds sit in trees..with the exception of maybe ostriches or emus. This would just be plumb silly as that would have to be a very large tree and how in the world they would get up there is beyond me, but this bird sits in the dead pine. I know he will be there each morning. I suppose he is guarding his territory from any intruders and he has the ultimate view of all surroundings from this high point. The unusual part is that at daybreak this bird will fly up what appears to be about ten feet into the South wind, make a circle and land back on the same branch. He does this relentlessly..for almost an hour. Why? Who knows..perhaps he is bored with guard duty and has found a way to amuse himself. This action would be about the same as if we were bored and decided to play with a yoyo. Wind up the string, drop the yoyo, pull back on the string..throw down the yoyo..pull up on the string...anyway..it is the repetition that I find so hilarious. Fly up into the wind, make a circle,land...fly up into the wind, make a circle , land..over and over again.

Perhaps it is his fitness regime and he gets an early start. Spread the wings..fly up...back...extend the legs..drop down...repeat! He wants to keep fit and healthy so he does his early morning workout before he gets sidetrack by trivialities such as eating. No..he must keep slim and trim! How else will he be able to protect his territory? Fly up into the wind, make a circle, land..fly up into the wind, make a circle, land. Yep..he can feel the burn! He will be fit! Then again maybe it is some sort of courtship dance..his ladylove is probably setting on a nest and he just cannot contain his happiness. The mere thought of babies causes him to exuberantly leap for joy! He is one proud daddy! He thinks to himself.."I am having babies!!! I am so happy I could fly! Fly up into the wind, make a circle, land! Wait a minute..I am a bird..I can fly! Let me do that again! Fly up into the wind, make a circle, land! I am so happy!"

Whatever it is, he repeats this action for almost an hour and then settles down to preen his feathers. Every morning it is the same ritual..every morning he performs his antics and every morning I watch. Oh my..perhaps he is just seeing how many days in a row he can lure me out at the crack of dawn to watch him. He is saying to his buddies.."Hey, watch this! She will sit and watch this for a whole hour! Fly up into the wind, make a circle, land! See, I told you she would sit there and watch!"

Nevermore!

Ok, so Edgar Allan Poe was writing about the lost love of Lenore and was supposedly talking to a raven but the word rather fit the photographs of today. Maybe not though, since this was redwing blackbirds, not ravens and there was not a dearly departed Lenore. But somehow, the scene reminded me of Poe's poem..odd? Yes, but the fact remains that it did and I have been reciting the poem in my head since this morning..

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary. Over many quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore. While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping. As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. 'Tis some visitor', I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door-only this and nothing more.' "

This has been going through my head all day..I do not ever remember actually having to learn the poem..it is just one of those weird things that pops in the head and is impossible to shake out! I do know that it is not exactly a poem that I would recite at Christmastime..Halloween, maybe..but Christmas?

I had just filled the feeders for the birds this morning and set a few pans of seed on the ground for the doves, when I heard the fluttering of wings. I was happy to think that the doves were already settling in for breakfast before I had even reached the house. I turned to look at the feeders...whoa! Not doves but blackbirds.. redwinged blackbirds.. everywhere! There was probably a good twenty-five or thirty of the ebony birds happily devouring every seed in sight. I stood watching them, snapping a few pictures.. so that is who has been stealing the birdseed before my doves could eat! A never-ending stream of blackbirds was fluttering out of the marsh.. all straight for my feeders. Then suddenly.. none.. they had made a hasty retreat to the oak trees. Confused by this behavior, I watched. What had happened? They were eating so happily one minute and the next they were sitting silently in the branches. Thinking maybe Ms Put had made an appearance or perhaps a raccoon wandered in, I peered through the rose bushes. I saw nothing..still the birds did not return. Then the shadow..ahh..that question was

answered! Just above the trees, a hawk circled round and round the feeders. It was hunting breakfast, too! The buffet had been set with blackbirds for a few minutes but was now bare. I stood admiring the hawk until it soared off over the Bayou searching for some other prey. It had missed its chance at the "Blackbird Buffet". As soon as it was "All Clear" the blackbirds were back with a vengeance! They stayed until all the feeders were empty and then back to the marsh! My poor doves had waited patiently but to their disappointment, nothing was left for them. I hastily refilled the feeders and pans and scooted back indoors as I was quickly getting chilled.

It was cold this morning, I have to admit that. The trek to the pier was one of frost and ice. All along the marsh edge was a thin layer of ice. Again, the north wind had pushed the tide out well past the pier leaving little frozen tide pools on the mudflats. Out on the flats, searching for their breakfast were several Killdeers. These small birds were running about screeching at each other and any other intruder..me! I have been hearing them at night doing the same screeching..it seems they never sleep! (Nor do they want me to sleep!) I like these little birds but I do wonder about their name..Killdeer. Hopefully, they are named after some guy that discovered them and not for some bizarre habit they have of going around killing hapless deer! Some cold, rainy day, that might be a good research project..find out how they got their names! Killdeer...hmmph!