more offspring, less song

As more and more birds appear, there is less and less song. The adult birds, papa included, are too busy with their emerging young and generally one or both adults start a feeding route accompanied by some of their offspring. The kids, although fledged and flying, still beg for food but, little by little, they learn how to find nourishment for themselves. Seeing the fluttering young being fed by their parents is pretty good evidence of nesting in the area. The birds that are still singing -- mainly Robins and House Wrens at this point -- are either renesting or simply didn't make it the first time around.

Heard all four local woodpeckers calling this morning. The Northern Flickers seem to be most active right now. It has been suggested that earlier in the spring they are in competition with the Red-bellied Woodpeckers but it is equally likely that various species of ants -- the Flicker's favorite food -- are proliferating right now.

There was a big uproar of jays in the woods and I fearlessly plunged into the shrubbery hoping to find the object of their derision. Oddly enough, it was a crow sitting on the ground -- probably trying to sneak up on a jay's nest to grab the eggs or chicks. The jays didn't succeed in chasing it off but it took off when I approached.

The male Ruby-throated Hummingbird was on his dead branch this morning at the head of the marsh. This spot is near the cottages on Randall Lane and they mostly have flower gardens so he is either guarding his extended patch against intruders or looking for available females; his high perch gives a good view of the whole neighborhood.

The first Lactarius volemus (or Lactifluus volemus) -- sometimes called the Tawny Milkcap for its cap color and white droplets -- appeared in the woods this morning; this is one of my favorite local edibles. Another of my local favorites, the Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius, also known as the girolle) is starting to appear but just a few small ones at a time. It all needs more rain!
  
Eric Salzman