Dennis Forsyth writes:
Just recorded our first American Goldfinch of the season at our feeder.
This is shaping up as a special spring I think. We have always had quite a few birds nesting in our yard and close environs. All the usuals, Robins, Chickadees, Siskins, Purple and House Finches, Towhees, Juncos, Brewer’s Blackbirds etc. And because we have a small, mature coniferous forest partly on our property and extending into the vacant lot next door we get a lot of less common nesters, Nuthatches, Sapsuckers, Goldfinches, Hummingbirds among them.
My nest boxes have in the past attracted a single pair of Violet-greens each year and are sometimes used by Chickadees. This year the nest count may be expanding. We seem to have two pairs of Violet-greens interested in two separate boxes. This would be unusual I think as this species tends to be more territorial than most of the other Swallows.
We also have a pair of mature Bald Eagles, obviously male and female, who spend much time in a perch tree on the vacant lot. This tree would, I think, support a nest, but I see no sign of building yet and this would be pretty late. In the meantime, we do have a pair of Crows who are building in a fir tree. Not sure how pleased I will be with that considering the numerous other small birds who are open nesting in the vicinity.
And finally, once again, a pair of Collared Doves are looking seriously like a mated pair and making frequent trips into the understory. We are looking forward to a summer full of babies. Dennis
