I witnessed a kind of musical territorial battle between two species of wrens this morning. House Wrens were going in and out of a cavity where they undoubtedly have a nest and nestlings while the local Carolina Wren protested vigorously -- but vocally and without any attempt to go near the nest. The male House Wren invariably responded with his bubbly song, holding his own against the bigger and louder Carolina. I don't know if the latter has a nest in the area but this is one of only two or three spots where the Carolina calls regularly this year; I suspect that the Carolinas, which are resident birds, were hit hard by the cold winter this year.
Downy Woodpeckers show their annoyance but refuse to leave the premises when I approach a dead tree stump full of holes -- one of which undoubtedly contains a nest with nestlings. Hopefully, another fledge about to happen.
Yellow Warbler has reappeared after a week or more. What is the meaning of its disappearance? Is this the same male as before or a new one trying his luck? Or did the old bird, like many other species, simply shut up when there were eggs or nestlings to be guarded?
Our other breeding warblers, Common Yellowthroat and Pine Warbler, let us know that they are still around by singing persistently.
Eric Salzman
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment