Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sparrows and squirrels

Girls! Girls! You're making a huge mess! These are the female house sparrows doing what they do best, taking a bath and splashing everything within three feet, top to bottom. This is just a small fraction of them; the others are waiting until they see an opening. Meanwhile, the guys are bellying up to the bar, making short work of the sunflower seeds in the feeder.
When I began this post I was thinking about how difficult I find these sparrows to be. They crowd out the other birds and pretty much take over in some cases. Their young have now fledged, and there seem to be hundreds on my front porch sometimes. I have put them on a diet, not filling the feeder too quickly and only three times a day (it's clean within minutes). I also have a vertical feeder with sunflower seeds, but they prefer this feeder with shelled seeds in order to take their meal as quickly as possible. When it's empty, over to the other one they go.

The sparrows are also flockers: when one comes, they all come, and when one takes off, the flurry of wings can be heard throughout the apartment. The goldfinch are not as numerous, but they have also fledged and I now have more than 30, I think. When the sparrows come to the vertical feeder, they knock sunflower seeds to the porch, and this attracts the other bane of my existence: these guys (no offense, SquirrelQueen).
I wouldn't mind if there were just one, or two. But they also have had their young, and when the teenagers come onto the porch looking for a quick meal, they tend to pass along the word to the others (hey, if you get there quick you might find some seeds!). Say hello to the youngster above. The adult squirrels are so well fed they actually waddle!

I try to sweep the porch at least three times a day, and now the goldfinch are beginning to eat us out of house and home! I fill the sock and their upside-down feeder twice a day, spending way too much at the Wild Bird Chalet.
You can see the new ones; they are softly colored and sort of fuzzy (click to enlarge). I think all of them except the central one here are new babies. The sparrows are not interested in this sock filled with thistle, so they leave it alone. I love these guys, the goldfinch and the chickadees are so much better mannered than the sparrows. They don't make such messes, and they don't crowd the others out. Chickadees zip up to the feeder and look for a seed, zoom off to the tree and eat the seed, then come back for more.

I love watching the birds, but sometimes I wonder if I am doing the right thing. In nature, most of these fledglings wouldn't make it. I found out that the feed is helping the young to get enough to eat, but when they migrate (the goldfinch will move to California when it gets cold), I won't be able to pack them a lunch, will I? Is it the right thing to do?
:-}

16 comments:

  1. We have BlueJays and Grackles right now doing the same thing...gosh are they little piggies and messy, too! I think that there will be birdfeeders all along their route to California as they migrate of folks just like you and I, so they will make it there just fine. I took down my thistle after the spring rush, so your blogpost reminded me to fill it and hang it back up to feed the goldfinch that will be flocking together here to head south soon, too.
    I have gotten wonderful bird pictures this time of year when the flocks are once again regathering and heading south.

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  2. After twenty years, I finally have one tree tall and sturdy enough to support a feeder. Reading your blog today reminds me to get one the next time I'm in Austin. It was a delightful read.

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  3. Great photos of your little feathered friends. Birds will instinctively find food where ever they go, so keep feeding and enjoy!

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  4. I have the same mixed feelings about the feeders. I took mine down this spring to build my veggie garden and I haven't found a new place for them yet. I tend to feed in winter and during more nasty late spring ice storms. I decided that we've developed enough of the bird's forage land that hanging a feeder isn't messing with evolution too much :)

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  5. It can get quite expensive feeding all those birds... and this coming from one who has horses! I used to feed the finches, but I only filled the feeder once a day. I do throw out a bit now and then if the ground gets covered with ice for a long period. I'm sure it's not enough to make a difference. Somehow God planned for ice.

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  6. I know how frustrating it is to clean up the mess. I have done it for years. And it is expensive too. I only feed from October to May. I went one winter without feeding the birds and although I did not have the mess, it was sort of lonely without them. I know the sparrows are hogs but in order for me to see lovely cardinals, downy woodpeckers, blue jay, and chickadees I have to tolerate the brown crowd.

    I guess you have to ask yourself if you are willing to sacrifice having nature up close in order to have a clean porch. And your feedings have saved some fledglings. I guess for me the answer would be yes you are doing the right thing.

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  7. I have two bird feeders on my back deck and yes, it is messy all the time so I'm always sweeping. I feed them all year because I love the beautiful birds I get and I miss seeing them during the day. I only feed them once in the morning. If I leave too much seed out overnight I get racoons. I have my dogs trained to chase away the chipmunks and squirrels during the day.

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  8. I love your photos and even though the birds make a mess, I'm sure they bring you joy. Just seeing them is delightful for me.

    And yes, keep feeding the birds...right or wrong! I've even seen bird feeders in parks...probably to help out the bird watchers.

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  9. It’s true that it gets expensive buying all those seeds. We have 4 feeders in the backyard and one plate like feeder for the squirrels. The squirrels though will jump on the bird feeders when theirs is empty. The seeds get on the ground and the chipmunks run all around with their cheeks full of seeds. We can stay a long time at the windows watching all of them.

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  10. It must bring you a lot of joy watching your feathered friends visit the bird feeders everyday. It appears that you are surrounded my nature's wee beauties. Your photos are wonderful. I truly enjoy watching them through your eyes. Beautiful captures!

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  11. They are so sweet. I have to admit, we asked ourselves the same question when we were buying five different kinds of seeds - some in 50lb sacks! We were also feeding hundreds of quail. I loved our greedy little visitors. The allowed for hours of bird watching. I almost put it in my seller's agreement that the buyer had to feed my birds. But since then we have been a little reluctant to start doing it again. I have a new feeder sitting in the closet. Maybe just a few sunflower seeds??

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  12. Ooops the feeder! I remember you have posted about it, a few blogs ago, and until now I haven't done it. There are lots of birds in the mango tree and they're multiplying very fast! I don't buy bird seeds they are feasting on leftover rice, which I put on a paper, they don't make a mess really but the idea of the feeder is to make them safe from my cats.

    AL

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  13. Sparrows can be very messy.I have alot of these on my front porch,they take over and make a mess of the floor/railings....

    I also have doves and pigeons,and as fast as i clean it gets dirty again.I too have the same question ,but when they sit looking into my room and tweet I go and feed them.These days with trees being cut everywhere, I guess they depend on us humans to help them out.Maybe you could hang that sock on a tree nearby.Good luck.

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  14. You can't go wrong feeding the birds. Unless your porch turns into a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie or something. Or they start demanding delights like chocolate covered sunflower seeds.

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  15. Hello D-Jan, I know what you mean about doing the right thing? I feed the birds in my garden too, but I also have a cat and it worries me that I may be bringing the birds to their doom. However, the cat catches mice and seems to prefer those to birds; either that or she is too slow.
    Blessings, Star

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  16. I've noticed we are getting more house sparrows right now...messing all over the open porch, and using the bird baths everyday, having a whale of a time.
    I only fill the feeders in the winter, since the squirrels tend to take over otherwise. I have seen what damage they can do, if they make their way inside an attic, worse than mice.
    Your sparrows seem to be having a jolly good time, it's fun to watch !

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