patrickg
Veteran Member
Open area away from trees, especially trees taller than the bird house helps. High helps too. Of course there are always exceptions to the "rule" (since the birds don't read the rule books) but following the ornithological straight and narrow works best. Side note: Of course some folks will have success with the worst preparation. Some folks walk across the street without looking in either direction but it isn't the best practice.
Bird related observation: A week or so ago we got some snow and single digit temps after mostly mild weather for weeks. Some of the birds we have been feeding all winter, mostly redwing blackbirds and goldfinches, showed up the morning after the snow in droves double in numbers from typical turnout. We had 150-200 redwings and maybe 100-150 goldfinches. We have two sunflower seed feeders shared by finches and blackbirds and two thistle seed feeders which are 99% used by finches (one of these requires the bird to hang inverted to get at the seeds). After the snow it was a veritable feeding frenzy. I observed two blackbirds hanging upside down eating thistle seed (never saw this before or since). There was a lot of activity at the feeders but not a lot of feeding. As soon as one bird would land on a perch another would replace him or the bird on the perch is so concerned with proximity of other birds flying by that they are on guard and not eating.
As we have a few visits by cardinals I was at the window with a camera and saw the following. A blackbird standing on a finch in the final few pecks of pecking it to death. I summoned my mom and wife to see it as I thought it unusual behavior but before they could get to the window the blackbird flew off carrying the finch in its feet. I know that maybe a minute before there was no finch on the snow at that spot so it wasn't "road kill", the redwing blackbird killed it and flew off with it. I got a picture of it before it flew off but as it was a "grab shot" I didn't have time to fuss with the controls and as the camera was on automatic the predominately white snow background edged the exposure lower so the birds don't show full detail. Nevertheless they are clear enough to tell who is doing what to whom.
Anyone ever seen the like of this event? I never heard of a redwing blackbird killing an adult bird of any species before. Perhaps this was a behavior brought on by the "feeding frenzy" like demeanor of the birds that morning. Possibly some survival mode triggered by the sudden harsh weather.
Patrick
Bird related observation: A week or so ago we got some snow and single digit temps after mostly mild weather for weeks. Some of the birds we have been feeding all winter, mostly redwing blackbirds and goldfinches, showed up the morning after the snow in droves double in numbers from typical turnout. We had 150-200 redwings and maybe 100-150 goldfinches. We have two sunflower seed feeders shared by finches and blackbirds and two thistle seed feeders which are 99% used by finches (one of these requires the bird to hang inverted to get at the seeds). After the snow it was a veritable feeding frenzy. I observed two blackbirds hanging upside down eating thistle seed (never saw this before or since). There was a lot of activity at the feeders but not a lot of feeding. As soon as one bird would land on a perch another would replace him or the bird on the perch is so concerned with proximity of other birds flying by that they are on guard and not eating.
As we have a few visits by cardinals I was at the window with a camera and saw the following. A blackbird standing on a finch in the final few pecks of pecking it to death. I summoned my mom and wife to see it as I thought it unusual behavior but before they could get to the window the blackbird flew off carrying the finch in its feet. I know that maybe a minute before there was no finch on the snow at that spot so it wasn't "road kill", the redwing blackbird killed it and flew off with it. I got a picture of it before it flew off but as it was a "grab shot" I didn't have time to fuss with the controls and as the camera was on automatic the predominately white snow background edged the exposure lower so the birds don't show full detail. Nevertheless they are clear enough to tell who is doing what to whom.
Anyone ever seen the like of this event? I never heard of a redwing blackbird killing an adult bird of any species before. Perhaps this was a behavior brought on by the "feeding frenzy" like demeanor of the birds that morning. Possibly some survival mode triggered by the sudden harsh weather.
Patrick
