Dunkin’ crows, hungry bluebirds offer backyard entertainment

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 28 January 2010 14:51

Linda Maggs of Ridgefield saw an odd sight recently.

“Included in our winter bird feeding program are containers of suet,” she writes. “Two things have happened. Yesterday I noticed a crow walking about with one of these containers in his beak.

Later, we found two of the containers in the heated bird bath. Again, this morning, another suet container was in the bird bath. Are crows reasoning that the suet will soften in the heated bird bath?”

That’s exactly what they are reasoning, but probably not because the bird bath was warm.

Crows, members of the corvid clan, are among the smartest of the many families of birds. News stories in recent years have widely publicized the corvids’ ability to use tools and even recognize faces of human beings.

They also know that water softens many things. Over the years, I have tossed out a lot of stale bread and crackers for the crows and watched as they landed, investigated the gift, picked it up, and flew to the bird bath. There, they dunked the food in the water for a few moments, and then consumed it.

How can they instinctively know that a cracker dipped in water will go down the throat more smoothly than a dry, hard cracker? It’s one of those mysteries of nature.

In the case of the suet container, the bird may have been hoping that the water would make the hard suet softer and more flexible as it does with other substances. If suet included plastic casing, well, the crows will have wait an awfully long time for softness.

Burst of color

“We’ve started out the New Year with a burst of color!” reports Jamie Chang of Ridgefield. “On Saturday, Jan 2, I spotted a bluebird in the tree right outside my kitchen window, and right on Main Street! The bird was beautiful with bright blue on its back and peachy color on its breast. He seemed to really like my shelled sunflower seeds in the feeder on that tree, and ignored the thistle feeder. I then noticed a female. I watched them throughout the day and then noticed them on Sunday as well, in the same tree, except this time there were at least two or three females.

“I was wondering why they hadn’t found the feeders in my backyard, which have the same seed. Then this morning, Monday, Jan 4, I spotted one on the heated birdbath right on my deck! As I ran for the camera to take a closer picture he flew away...but only to a large tree in my backyard. That’s where I noticed one male and five or six females! It was amazing.”

Bluebirds in winter always seem surprising. However, like robins, many live here all winter (while many others head south). They feed mostly on berries, but as Jamie has discovered, they also love sunflower seed hearts. The seeds have to be shelled, probably because the bluebirds’ beaks are not able to easily open shells on larger seeds like sunflowers.

The only times we have ever seen bluebirds at our feeder were in January or early February, and only if hulled sunflower seed hearts were available. So if you want to attract bluebirds in winter, try this pricey but effective food.

Sightings

Ron Tetelman of Oscaleta Road in South Salem reports, “We have a pair or of Red-shouldered Hawks that visit us during the winter. They perch themselves on a nearby hemlock over the bird feeding grounds. They will hunt once or twice during the day, picking off the birds feeding below.”

Coming Up

Owl Moon Night Hike, live presentation plus hike with campfire, Saturday, Jan. 30, 5 to 6:30 p.m., $8, New Canaan Nature Center, 144 Oenoke Ridge, NewCanaanNature.org, info @ newcanaannature.org, 203-966-9577

“The Great Hudson River Excursion” with Bedford Audubon’s Walter Fowler and Peter Becker, Saturday, Feb. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Carpool from Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Goldens Bridge, reserve jebecker @ bedfordaudubon.org or 914-232-4806. bedfordaudubon.org

Field Trip to Greenwich Point Park, Old Greenwich, with Bedford Audubon Naturalist Tait Johansson, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., reserve jebecker @ bedfordaudubon.org or 914-232-4806. bedfordaudubon.org

Great Backyard Bird Count, open to all ages and skills, Feb. 12 to 15, www. birdcount.org

Great Backyard Bird Count training session, with Ted Gilman, including walk, Saturday, Feb. 13, 1 to 2:30, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, 203- 869-5272 x230, Greenwich.audubon.org.

Field Trip to Edith Read Sanctuary (Playland) and Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, with Bedford Audubon Naturalist Tait Johansson, Thursday, Feb. 25, 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., reserve jebecker @ bedfordaudubon.org or 914-232-4806. bedfordaudubon.org

Saturday Morning Bird Walks with Luke Tiller, Jan. 30, Big January Roundup (free); Feb. 13, Westport Hotspots; Feb. 20, Stamford/Greenwich Hotspots, Feb. 27,Stratford/Milford Tour; to register, sunrisebirding.com/walks.htm; 203- 453-6724, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

First Sundays, birding at Greenwich Point with Meredith Sampson of Wild Wings, and other guides, 203-637-9822.

Copyright (c) 2010 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.

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