[Tweeters] Burlington - Continuing Black-Headed Grosbeaks - and more ...

[jimbetz at jimbetz.com]

Tweets to you!

   The BHGs continue to visit our back yard seed feeder.  I've seen as
many as 4 at once and frequently see 2 or even 3.  They are pretty
much "hanging out at/around the feeder" and there are a couple that
I've been able to identify as "repeat visitors".

   Had a bit of Flicker drama today.  There was a male "digging up the
lawn" in search of ____.  I had been watching it work its way around
the yard when another bird flew in and landed about 2 feet away and
immediately hopped to about a foot away and walked about half of that.
   The two of them "took a pose" - sort of standing with their heads
raised and each one turned to the right and looking over their bill
at the other and dodging their head every once in a while.  Then the
first one just stood stock still and leered and the second for about
30 seconds or so ... a quick 'lunge' chased off the 2nd one who
flew first about 10 feet, hopped around for a bit but didn't dig in
the yard at all, and then flew off.  The first one went back to
searching for ____ by listening and poking the grass ... seemingly
unaware that the second had ever showed up.  It all -seemed- to be
about territorial rights.
   A few minutes later the first one flew up to the feeder and even
landed on it - chasing away all the other birds that were there in
the process.  I thought that was a greedy thing to do so I went and
stood close to the window until it saw me and flew off.  Less than
3 minutes later the 'regulars' returned to the feeder as thought
the Flicker had never been there.
                                                         - Jim