May 4, 2021: “No… I am your Father…”
Yesterday there was an unusual visit from some brown-headed cowbirds. I've been seeing and hearing them in the neighborhood and canopy lately, but the adults don't usually come down out of the treetops and into the yard proper. These birds lay their eggs in other species' nests and thereby trick others into raising their young. So, I suppose the visit portends a repeat of last summer, when I had several parasitic cowbird babies harassing their beleaguered junco foster moms. I don't really care to have them around too much, but you've got to admit they have a certain elegance, both in terms of appearance and--from an evolutionary standpoint--even behavior. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. Brown-headed cowbird, backyard Olympia.
May 4, 2021: “No… I am your Father…”
Yesterday there was an unusual visit from some brown-headed cowbirds. I've been seeing and hearing them in the neighborhood and canopy lately, but the adults don't usually come down out of the treetops and into the yard proper. These birds lay their eggs in other species' nests and thereby trick others into raising their young. So, I suppose the visit portends a repeat of last summer, when I had several parasitic cowbird babies harassing their beleaguered junco foster moms. I don't really care to have them around too much, but you've got to admit they have a certain elegance, both in terms of appearance and--from an evolutionary standpoint--even behavior. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. Brown-headed cowbird, backyard Olympia.