Eastern Bluebirds
We are at the time of year where Eastern Bluebirds are already teaching their first brood of fledglings the ins and outs of every day life outside of the nest box. The young bird on the post here looked almost self-sufficient at this point, and its parents may be having another family soon enough. The female with her bill filled was making a food run back to the box on a gray day, with the tiny peeps of a second brood calling in the background. Thankfully there does not seem to be any lack of food this year! How have the bluebirds in your boxes been doing?
Read MoreBrown-headed Cowbird Pair
Last week I saw my first Brown-headed Cowbirds of the year, one of the blackbird species well known for making their way north in March. Here you can see a pair feeding in grasslands with the female on the left and the male, sporting his brown head, on the right. The species is a brood parasite, laying their eggs in the nests of other species, with familiar backyard birds like the Yellow Warbler being a common victim. I have seen them feeding the comically enormous fledglings quite often! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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