That Lewis's!

I don't seem to have discouraged the Lewis's Woodpecker who has been visiting for a month or so now. While he doesn't seem to be trying to boss everybody around as much as he was...he still shows up every day.

Perhaps part of the reason is that (for awhile) I quit putting out kibble for the Magpies. In spite of occasionally seeing the woodpecker at the suet cage, I continued to offer the 'fat-worms' I cut from lengths of meat trimmings and peanuts in the shell because he seems to ignore those and quit visiting that particular feeder. I'm happy to say, the number of Blue Jays in my yard has increased.

Today, because of the snow, I went ahead and offered up a cup of kibble. And sure enough, the Lewis's Woodpecker arrived immediately to that feeder. Wild...

My friend Dave called this morning to ask "It's snowing, are the Rosies there?" Of course they were, so he dropped by. I warned him that, like many birds, these guys show up for a couple hours and then disappear; sometimes to return a but later. Not only did they cooperate by the hundreds, but so did the Lewis's, the Sharpy and a single American Robin.

Dave lives outside of town and a bit higher than I do and has Robins by the hundreds and regularly hosts Steller's and Scrub Jays...but he doesn't often get Blue Jays. The guys who hang around my feeders these days were a real treat for him.

In addition to the Rosies, 30 or more Evening Grosbeaks, a couple Cassin's Finches, one or two Song Sparrows, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk that buzzes through every now and then. Oh...and with all the 'regulars' is that single White-winged Dove.

I mentioned how odd I find it that when the Rosies are here...the Evening Grosbeaks are not. True to form, we didn't see the Grosbeaks while the pink-butts were in the yard.

However, now that the Rosies have moved away...the Evening Grosbeaks are back. Odd, and unfortunate too. While 200 Rosy-Finches can wheel in and out of my yard, sometimes feeding just a few feet from the windows, and they've never hit a window. However, the Evening Grosbeaks just don't seem able to avoid window-strikes from time to time. In spite of the bird netting that keeps most others from hitting the window, every season takes one or two of the Grosbeaks...and today was the day.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk made a pass just now, scattering birds as he flew through. Unfortunately now, an Evening Grosbeak recuperates (hopefully) in a box. I've done this before; put cotton-toweling on the floor of the box and set the shocky-bird on top; quickly closing the lid.

Hopefully he will regain his senses and fly free in an hour or two. I suppose it's cruel to steal his meal, but I can't imagine the hawk coming so close to the window to get his meal. If the bird doesn't make it, I'll put it out where he can find it later. I do the same with mice I catch in traps...

Here he is on first attempt to freedom; he didn't fly. I took him back inside for awhile longer and tried again. He wasted no time leaving the
box the second time. I do hope that is not a broken beak!