Sharpie and the phoebes

[Scott Jackson-Ricketts]

Yep,

One would assume by this headline that herein lies a related story,
alas not. Unless one considers that all birds observed are relative
to our interest.
A beautiful day, as everyone knows, tempts the birding part of the
brain, wherever that lies, to not clean the gutters but rather explore
the branches, grasses and sky.

Alright, enough of that.

While having my tea this morning, outside on the deck, and looking in
another direction, the jays' collective screams turned my attention to
the feeder area where, indeed, I found the source of fear expressed.
A sharpie had swooped through, landed in the plum tree without
breakfast, and soon moved on.
An hour later, the first V of Canada geese I have observed for some
time, passed over, 19 strong.
But, in terms of behavior, I was surprised to hear two phoebes calling
mid-day, just like it was spring. Deciding to walk toward this phoebe
conversation, I chanced to see the two collide in mid air,
transforming themselves into a ball of fury, one thing out of two.
The question that arises from the shift changing observed is: What
use is the expense of this energy outside of breeding season?

Scott