Redwing Nesting Grounds
April 24th, 2009
Found this lady in a reed bed by the Deschenes Rapids, inspecting potential nesting grounds.
1680x1050 wallpaper
I have a big soft spot for female Redwings. There are three reasons for this. One if that I find them quite handsome, and I like the gentle expression of their faces.
Two is that they, like their mates, are gutsy when it comes to protecting their young. If you wander into Redwing nesting territory when there are eggs about, beware. Those birds fluttering in your face are not attempting to give you a friendly greeting.
And three is that when I first saw one of these, a couple years ago, I thought it was something much rarer than it was. It's not commonly known that female Red-Winged Blackbirds are neither black nor red-winged.
In the migration news, Pine Warblers have arrived and colonized the tall pines at Mud Lake, as they do each spring. This is the first warbler species of the year, at least for me--several dozen more yet to come! I also saw my first Brown Thrasher today. I have high hopes of showing off a good thrasher pic someday, Pine Warblers not so much. They spend nearly all their time in the canopy.
April 24th, 2009
Found this lady in a reed bed by the Deschenes Rapids, inspecting potential nesting grounds.
1680x1050 wallpaper
I have a big soft spot for female Redwings. There are three reasons for this. One if that I find them quite handsome, and I like the gentle expression of their faces.
Two is that they, like their mates, are gutsy when it comes to protecting their young. If you wander into Redwing nesting territory when there are eggs about, beware. Those birds fluttering in your face are not attempting to give you a friendly greeting.
And three is that when I first saw one of these, a couple years ago, I thought it was something much rarer than it was. It's not commonly known that female Red-Winged Blackbirds are neither black nor red-winged.
In the migration news, Pine Warblers have arrived and colonized the tall pines at Mud Lake, as they do each spring. This is the first warbler species of the year, at least for me--several dozen more yet to come! I also saw my first Brown Thrasher today. I have high hopes of showing off a good thrasher pic someday, Pine Warblers not so much. They spend nearly all their time in the canopy.
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