Feeder Watch and other notes

Our results from the last week of February were just average with nothing new or exciting showing up, but scroll down for more exciting observation from this weekend:

Checklist for FeederWatch Ontario Birds

Cooper's Hawk	1
Red-tailed Hawk	2
Mourning Dove	33
Red-bellied Woodpecker	1
Downy Woodpecker	4
Hairy Woodpecker	2
Blue Jay	10
American Crow	2
Black-capped Chickadee	4
Red-breasted Nuthatch	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	2
European Starling	8
American Tree Sparrow	4
Dark-eyed Junco	8
Northern Cardinal	11
Brown-headed Cowbird	13
House Finch	2
American Goldfinch	23
House Sparrow	22

HOWEVER, this past weekend there were some exciting things going on out at the feeders. On Sunday, Britt and I observed TWO male Red-bellied Woodpeckers. One male was making repeated and very loud calls, which got our attention. I saw him chasing another bird and assumed it was the female. I grabbed the camera and B to be my witness when I realized that it was actually a second male RB out front! That's a first for us to see more than one male, so it was pretty exciting!!


Another interesting observation happened Sunday morning as well. Dave and I were looking out front and I asked him; "What do you think we'll see first this season- Grackle or Red-Winged Blackbird?" Dave answered "Red-Winged Blackbird" and at that VERY moment, a male RWBB flew through the front yard to the feeder! First of the season!! It was pretty exciting and one of those interesting moments that just happens in life. So this is a sign that spring is in the air and we will soon have our spring migrants working our way through the yards, and the summer birds will return and take up their nesting. We have to clean out the nesting boxes soon. Some Starlings and House Sparrows are starting to make themselves comfortable so they will be getting an eviction notice shortly!



Here are this week's Project Feeder Watch tallies:

Checklist for FeederWatch Ontario Birds

Red-tailed Hawk	1
Mourning Dove	24
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2
Downy Woodpecker	2
Hairy Woodpecker	2
Blue Jay	7
American Crow	2
Black-capped Chickadee	3
Red-breasted Nuthatch	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	2
European Starling	17
American Tree Sparrow	1
Dark-eyed Junco	7
Northern Cardinal	5
Red-winged Blackbird	1
Brown-headed Cowbird	9
House Finch	4
American Goldfinch	11
House Sparrow	7