[TN-Bird] Great horned owl + Christmas Eve day birds
- From: Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 13:34:57 EST
Hello TN-birders.
On a rainy day here in Charlotte Park, West Nashville, Davidson County, a
few blocks east of the Cumberland River across from Bell's Bend, my deck and
feeders are filled with some very hungry, wet birds. My mockingbirds,
chickadees, titmice and at least one male cardinal are filling up on peanut
butter.
Robins are slurping grape jelly from inside the "dish" made from the hull of
half an orange and eating the fruit from another half that is still all
orange. Juncos, white-throated sparrows, 14 cardinals, 7 or 8 blue jays, 20+
mourning doves, a song sparrow, two field sparrows and the very handsome
white-crowned sparrow are all gorging on the bird seed which the chickadees
and
titmice also eat between their trips for peanut butter. I have not seen my
Carolina wrens or the goldfinches today. One yellow-rumped warbler is
present, but
it does not partake of the "Smorgabird" like the one I had for three
seasons that ate peanut butter. Of course, starlings, house finches, house
sparrows
& rock pigeons, along with a never ending supply of squirrels and mice, all
get more than their share. An opossum still comes at night and finishes off
the left over grape jelly and any fruit of the half orange thus creating a
new orange hull "dish" for the next day's jelly supply. At night, the great
horned owl(s), an occasional screech owl plus a couple of neighbor's cats are
trying to "control" the mouse population. With a peregrine chasing the rock
doves and the Cooper's hawks eating mourning doves along with rare visits
from red-tailed hawks, sharp-shinned hawks and kestrels, the feeder visitors
are
kept somewhat on their toes. As of last week, I have had a total of 80 yard
species either on or seen from my little plot of ground in Charlotte Park!
Early this morning before the rain set it, a great horned owl was in a
neighbor's tree about three houses down from my kitchen window. About 60
common
crows saw it, and they set up a harassment session that seemed to last
forever. Many of the crows kept converging on the ground below the owl, so I
wonder
if it had dropped something which they found to be "tasty." The place on
the ground was behind a still-leafy shrub, so I could not see what the
enticement was. The owl was still there when I left to do last minute errands
this
morning, but had gone when I returned an hour later.
Speaking of owls, a friend sent me a 2006 "Hooter's Calendar"--owl photos,
not waitresses. If any of you would like a copy who doesn't already have it,
please contact me directly, and I'll send it to you. It's one that downloads
right inside the E-mail, so you don't have to fool with attachments. I've
printed mine out.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all whatever your
personal celebration may be. May 2006 bring us all peace, happiness, health,
prosperity and every good bird we've ever wanted to see! May all you yearly
and
state listers get more birds in 2006 than you ever dreamed of seeing in a
year or in the state for which you are listing! For all of us, bring on the
lifers!
Cheers, prayers & blessings,
Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN
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