A Walk Through the Habitat: Downy Woodpecker

So as I continued my walk in the Colvin Run Habitat, I ran into this downy woodpecker. I first found him in the dogwood tree where all of the woodpeckers first perch before visiting the suet feeders. Click on the photo and get an enlarged view - take a look at his eyes.
It wasn't long before he left the dogwood perch and flew to the feeder. As discussed previously, the woodpeckers have a flight segment where the wings are completely brought in to the body. This little guy really doesn't look like a bird in flight - perhaps he looks more like a chubby bullet.
As I continued my walk, the downy woodpecker seemed to follow me to the other side of the yard, where he took up a more classic woodpecker pose on the side of this large branch. Within two weeks this photo would not be possible. The maples are in the early stages of leaving. When the leaves are fully out, the birds will have the protection of a cover of leaves.
The downy finally found the end of this broken-off branch where he (a male, note the red on the back of the head) began looking for insects. Apparently, this broken-off branch is a favorite of the woodpeckers.

A Walk Through the Habitat: 9 Different Bird Types in 30 Minutes

Yesterday afternoon, I got home early enough to take some photos in full sunlight. So I took the opportunity to take a walk through the Colvin Run Habitat.
The result was the observation of nine different types of birds in 30 minutes:
>House Finch
>Carolina Wren
>American Robin
>Common Grackle
>Morning Dove
>Northern Cardinal
>Tufted titmice
>Eastern Bluebird
>Downy Woodpecker
>White-Throated Sparrow

The first photo shows the Northern cardinal (female) that is so common and numerous in the Habitat. The second photo shows the cardinal and a Carolina wren eating at the sunflower seed feeder. Note the seed in the cardinal mouth.
In the the third photo, I captured a house finch. Two years ago, the finches were nearly as common as the cardinals, but now I observe only 2-3 finches per month.
The fourth photo shows a morning dove, another bird whose numbers have decreased in the Habitat in the last year. The presence of a pair this spring is a good sign.
Number five is a poor quality photo of a common grackle.
Number six is a photo of one of the tufted titmice, one of the Habitat's birds whose numbers has slowly decreased over the last two years. Currently, the titmice numbers may be increasing.
And the last photo is an American robin - one of our birds whose numbers has increased during the last two seasons.

In the next three posts, I'll show the bluebirds, sparrows, and woodpeckers that 'played' with me as I walked the Habitat.

Update: Fox with Mange

amanda in the city asked in a comment last week, 'Whatever happened to the sick fox?'
When I last observed the sick fox, I had begun to put food out each night. The food disappeared; whether eaten by the fox or some other animal, I never knew. However unable to make contact with a previously mentioned wildlife recovery group, I had no strategy for treatment other than providing food.

After a few nights, the food was no longer eaten. Given a reading that a fox with mange seldom lives longer than 4 months and that I have not see the fox again, I assume that this fox died.

Since that time, I have found a rescue center in upstate New York offering a treatment strategy. If another fox with mange appears in the Colvin Run Habitat, I will employ the recommended strategy.

In the meantime, we await the arrival of a new fox, or two, or even a family.

The photo in this post is the signature Colvin Run Habitat fox - not the fox observed sick with mange.

Goldfinches (Wild Canaries) Confirm Arrival of Spring

These photos are for my colleague who mentioned that she noticed the goldfinches were changing colors.
I noticed yesterday that someone visited the Colvin Run Habitat Blog looking for pictures of wild canaries. Just a reminder that 'wild canary' is a name many times given to American goldfinches in their summer plumage. I previously posted photos showing the change of color in goldfinches.
In the Colvin Run Habitat, yesterday was the first time this season that a male goldfinch (sorry, the females stay in a dull, olive plumage) was observed in this 'wild canary' plumage. Like the arrival of the Bradford pear tree flowers, the bright yellow goldfinches are a sure sign that spring has really arrived.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

This spring a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers have been observed at least once a day in the Colvin Run Habitat. A few hours of sunshine allowed some reasonable photo taking, here are the results.
This is the male (continuous patch of red on the head; no gray on head). I'll post a photo of the female as soon as I get a current (and good) photo.
Given the presence of a male and female pair, I assume that they have a 'nest' nearby. Red-bellied woodpecker nest in hole in dead tree or dead limb. Eggs are laid on wood chips left from woodpecker's excavation of the nesting hole.
Unfortunately, the red-bellied woodpeckers compete with European starlings for nest locations. The starlings will nest anywhere including holes excavated by woodpeckers. Perhaps this is why the red-bellied woodpeckers and the starlings are not goof friends at the feeders.

Eastern Bluebird: Nest Built

I previously mentioned a few days ago that, unlike last year (May 12, May 19, Jun 19, and Jul 29), the bluebirds were active around the bluebird box (Mar 29 and Mar 31)this spring. I finally took a minute to quickly look at the inside of the box. This photo shows what I found. I did not keep the box open for long, nor did I disturb the nest, but no eggs were observed.

As you can see in the photo below, I did not even need to open the box to see that a nest had been built - not the grass coming out of the box door.

Revisited: April 1st: Strange Happenings in the Habitat

Significant rain fell during the night. And sunrise yielded a never before seen animal in the Colvin Run Habitat. This never before seen animal has left me, well, speechless. Take a look at the first photo.

Yes, an American alligator right between the birth bath and the bird feeders. When the sun finally dried out the soggy lawn and the gator headed south.

LuLu paid a visit today as well. In a surprise display of courage, the little white dog from Texas took on the red tailed fox in an attempt to protect the squirrels when the fox made a charge. See the second photo.

After LuLu straightened the fox out, the two became best of buddies. See the third photo.

Oh, did I mentioned that it is April Fool's Day. Hope you enjoyed the fun!