What’s Black and White and Cute All Over?

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Migration season is mostly done and in my garden, it was a meh event this spring. I observed very few of the usual suspects either around my pond or in the garden proper. Those who showed up, Summer Tanagers, Lincoln Sparrows, Common Yellowthroats, and Clay-colored Sparrows, were brief in their visits. Absent were the Painted Buntings, Nashville Warblers, White-crowned Sparrows, and Orioles. I didn’t see any of those and I miss them. I enjoyed a quick look at a Canada Warbler, which I haven’t seen in a few years.

My pond has always been the draw for weary migratory birds, but the front garden is in full bloom and seed production with quite a bit of bird activity, and that’s the place to be if you’re a bird or a birder. The front garden is also a much more challenging area in which to watch birds; there’s no window for me to hide behind and no good place to plant myself where I won’t disturb my feathery friends. I also suspect that the wet spring in Texas has allowed for plenty of water and food sources for the migrants, so fewer dipped into urban gardens.

During an outing at Travis County Audubon’s Baker Sanctuary, I was privileged for the first time to observe some endangered Golden-cheeked Warblers. Males, females, and fledglings put on a nice show for excited birders, the birds swooping around native trees, cameras and binoculars pointed upward to catch the winged things. I knew I wouldn’t be quick enough with my camera, so chose to observe and appreciate this rare sight. Central Texas is the only place where Golden-cheek warblers breed and their breeding areas are in very specific habitats. These are not common birds in backyard settings.

In recent weeks, my backyard birding has been focused on watching hungry, often noisy, fledglings who are out of the nest, but still learning from their parents. Most are in trees, squeaking, squawking, and flapping their wings, foliage obscuring baby birdie meal time. Occasionally, parent and chick visit the feeders together, like this mama and fledgling Downie Woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens, pair.

Baby is at the left of the photo, hanging on to the pole that holds the feeder. It looks like she’s already had some food, as she forgot to wipe her beak. As an aside, I’ve seen her land at the pole, then slide down, fluttering up to hold on to the pole, unable to maintain her grip. Learning where the food is and practicing methods for proficiently obtaining that food is all part of her learning process.

The young one flit to the feeder, where mama was ready with a peanut.

I watched these two for several days, then noticed the fledgling visiting the feeder on her own. She was reticent initially to land on the feeder, but eventually gained confidence–and peanuts–as she became successful in feeding herself. I’ve seen young Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Black-crested Titmice, and Carolina Chickadees in similar situations. It’s much harder to observe the fledglings while they’re in trees, but as they learn to feed at the feeders, it’s enjoyable to watch and cheer their learning progress.

I’ve heard and seen our fledgling Eastern Screech Owls, but only rarely. I think they’re still around, but their territory will widen as their hunting skills improve. Summer backyard birding will be watching the neighborhood birds, seeing the fledglings molt to their adult plumage, and anticipating the fall migratory birds.

17 thoughts on “What’s Black and White and Cute All Over?”

  1. It’s always disappointing when the expected migrants don’t show themselves where we expect them, especially since they are highly anticipated each spring. What a beauty the Golden-cheeked Warblers are, what a treat to be able to watch them for a while.

    I hope your resident birds will continue to delight and surprise you through the coming months. Rarities are great, but if it weren’t for our regulars, our gardens would be quiet and sad places.

    Happy June,

    Tanja

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  2. It’s good that you got to see the endangered bird, something I’ve never done.

    Your conjecture that our spring rains satisfied birds in many places and therefore reduced the traffic in your yard is plausible. Have you heard the same from any other local gardeners?

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    • I’d heard a Golden-cheek, but never actually laid eyes on one. This was a whole crew! The male perched for about 30 seconds atop a small tree–so beautiful!

      I don’t really know if others have noticed that there weren’t the same numbers of migratory birds in Austin. I’m on the FB ‘Birds of Texas’ and there didn’t seem to be a shortage of sightings along the coast or north of here.

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  3. I have not had many migrating birds in the last ten years. Your Downies are cute. I was surprised to see them at a feeder, but I never use peanuts. I’ve had baby Bluejays, which always make their presence known, and Carolina Wrens.

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    • The Downies really are very cute birds. I usually see both mom and dad teaching the youngster, but, come to think, I haven’t seen the male Downy in a while.

      I only put the peanuts out morning and evening, otherwise the blankety-blank starlings will eat them all!

      Yes, the Blue Jays and Carolina wrens are real noise-makers!

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    • I imagine we have some of the same birds, although I only see American goldfinches in later winter. The Lesser goldfinches come and go throughout the year.

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  7. Sweet. We had kind of a “meh” bird migration at our house this spring, too. I think the early warmth opened the tree foliage early, so the birds that like open areas were scarce here. But the regulars are plentiful and they seem vocal and happy. Happy almost summer!

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    • I miss seeing the rare ones, but as Tanja mentioned, our back yard birds are joyous additions to the garden. Happy almost summer to you, Beth!

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  8. When I read your title, the first black-and-white-and-cute-all-over birds that came to mind were the black-necked stilts I saw at Brazoria last weekend. I also think you’re right about the rains and widespread sheet water affecting the migration. It certainly has affected the number of wading birds that are accessible at the refuges. The water is so deep in the ponds and sloughs that it doesn’t suit them, so they move deeper into the refuge, or into surrounding agricultural fields.

    I have young bluejays coming to my feeders now. I’ve been expecting them, thanks to the incessant back-and-forthing of the parents; I figured they were feeding nestlings. Now the kids are learning to fend for themselves, and they’ve learned that if they scream loudly enough, a human will show up just like their parents did — peanuts in hand!

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