[TN-Bird] more about the cowbirds....

From: Bonnie Mattheus <bmattheu@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:49:18 -0400
In the patio area, the bluebirds and robins are back to their old 
nesting area.
At the feeder, I have my regulars: cardinals, chipping sparrows, tufted 
titmouse, mourning dove, occasional gold finch and purple finch, 
occasional blue jay, occasional purple grackle .

But today a pair of cowbirds showed up.  Well that is bad news for my 
regular bird population I understand.
  These look like the ones on the left side of this Wikipedia page, not 
the right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowbird

They are not a loved bird.  But I am going to have to change my opinion, 
I guess.

So they were coming to the feeder and I was trying to scare them off.  
After several times, the male was getting used to me and wouldn't fly 
away for my banging on the window near him.
So I opened the front door and went out to scare him off, clapping my hands.
Reluctantly he flew to the dogwood tree and sat on the branch eying me.  
Then the cocky fellow threw back his head and began to sing to me.
I couldn't believe it so I started to talk to him.  He listened hopped 
on the branch closer to me and sang several more times hopping closer to 
me each time.  "You can't resist me.  I am such a nice fellow. I really 
am, I am!"  (sing, sing, sing)  It was really amazing.  I sat on the 
steps and talked to him. He acts like people have talked to him before 
and people are things he likes. He flew towards me and came to about 5 
feet from me on the ground at the foot of the feeder.

He is a brown headed cowbird and such a character. What an unusual 
behavior!  Very effective in making friends!

Now, if I find cowbird eggs in the robin and bluebird nests, what should 
I do?
Do I let the cowbird survive and the robins and bluebirds die?  Or do I 
take the cowbird egg out so it won't hatch?
Tomorrow I will get up on a ladder and look in all the nests that I can 
easily get to. I am sure I have mocking bird, cat bird and titmouse 
nests around the end of the house.

  That male cowbird was so amazing just sitting there on the branch 
hopping towards me and singing his heart out to me in an incredibly 
winsome manner.  Surely someone somewhere has befriended this little fellow.
If it was you, know he is a courageous and clever fellow and will do 
well in the world.

And that is today's epistle.

Bonnie Mattheus
Hamilton County
Ooltewah, TN
-- 
*Bonnie Mattheus, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.C.C., President
*PO Box 1038, Collegedale, TN 37315
Phone 423-238-7467



http://www.bonherbals.com
"Home of *Immune Ammunition*,"  a five-herb blend to fight bacteria, 
virus and fungus.


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[TN-Bird] more about the cowbirds....

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