Baby bird extravaganza

[Peggy Page]

I am sitting on my deck in Cape Elizabeth watching a feeding frenzy of fledglings in the red pines. At least fifteen young titmice and chickadees, and even a couple of families of Black-and-White Warblers. There is begging and chattering and chasing galore. One little chickadee just missed his intended perch and fell into the grass. No prob, up he got and off he went, with a parent by his side. Amazing! Every youngster is doing its best to figure out how to find their own food.

One poignant note - a juvenile cowbird is chasing his/her adoptive B&W Warbler mother, begging incessantly. She has fed him/her several times and ignored the two B&W juveniles begging behind her. Of course, he/she is twice the size of the warbler.


Sent from my iPad

[Cathie Murray]

Same here in Hallowell! The whole week has been full of fledgling chatter and practice. Re; cowbirds, all spring we have had a trio of cardinals hanging together (two males and a female) and this week the two males were shepherding 3 cowbird juveniles, showing them the ropes. I haven't seen any cardinal fledglings yet. Maybe the trio will try again!. 

And Doug, I will enter at least some of the frenzy into the breeding bird atlas :)