[RP TownTalk] backyard birds

[Sue Collins]

I guess that weather can play a part in whether a lot of birds are around or not; before we get a big storm I notice that my birds disappear.  Too, I HAVE seen hawks around on occasion, and the birds "lie low".  (yes, I realize hawks have to eat too, however, I really would prefer that they didn't view my birds as a buffet!) Picnics in the park?  Entirely possible!   I remember walking past the little park beside the elementary school the other year, early in the morning, and seeing a groundhog sitting ON the bench at one of the tables, for all the world looking like it was waiting for someone to bring it a plate!  (and other people saw it, too, so I know I wasn't hallucinating!).   Also used to see bald eagles flying around the parks, just a few years ago.   And of course when we got all that snow in 2010, I had FLOCKS of all different kinds of birds I didn't usually see that were looking for food.  (Do you get a lot of cardinals?  They're
 very plentiful this year)


From: Dwight Holmes <dwightrholmes at gmail.com>
To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org> 
Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 1:20 PM
Subject: [RP TownTalk] backyard birds


Michelle & I have just this winter taken to feeding the birds and enjoying the spectacular show that results in our back yard.  But I have a question that perhaps some of you who may have been birdwatchers/feeders for a longer period of time can answer. 

I'm puzzled by the seeming random nature of feeding times and density.  Some days it seems like there's somebody on one of the feeders just about every minute of the day (btw sunrise and sunset, obviously).  But other days - like today - you wouldn't know there were any birds in our area. I literally haven't seen a single one today. Where do they go? Do they practice groupthink? Is there some cosmic cyclical calendar that drives this that we're unaware of?

(Of course, they must have heard me typing. Looking at now I see that suddenly the downy woodpecker, house finches, doves, and cardinals are all out there now!)

We were wondering if they have Sunday morning picnics over in the park somewhere, maybe worshiping in the church or temple of their choice??  
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