A relatively slow time for my garden birds, at this time of writing, gave me some time to replace my original two home-built pedestal feeders in the front garden, ready for the upcoming colder and damper Autumn (Fall) and Winter weather. So far, the birds haven’t been rushing to use them, there being still plenty of natural food for them to forage for in the trees and on the ground. Our regulars are here, however, especially the ever-lively Chickadees and our Gold Finches, who favour the hanging feeders rather than my new ones. Of course, the Chipmunks and Squirrels have found them and are busy filling themselves with the “freebies” that they offer, why wouldn’t they!?
I haven’t seen any more of the “Anting” behavior witnessed previously, when watching the Cardinals, so am thinking myself very lucky at having seen it happen at all. With the weather starting to get a bit cooler and damper, the need for this type of activity is probably not so necessary for the birds’ bodily comfort requirements, so I’ll just have to wait until next year to see if it will happen again.
Soon the sky will be filled with skeins of Canada Geese on their migratory flights, to the warmer climates offered “Down South”. There have been a few already passing this way in their well disciplined “Vee” formation flights, with the odd straggler being seen flying feverishly in pursuit, invariably in the wrong direction, trying to catch up! I know how that feels!
My pictures this week highlight the distinguishing difference between the two Nuthatches, both of which we get at our feeders. Apart from their obvious names being very descriptive, their other notable difference to look for is whether or not it has an eye-bar. The White-breasted doesn’t have one, but the Red-breasted one does. Stay safe and well,
Cheers,
John Baldwin
