Including a female that I’ll call “footicapped”.
Two days ago I visited a local park right at sunrise to see what birds I might find.
The most excitement was provided by multiple female Brewer’s Blackbirds collecting nesting material.
At least a half-dozen different females seemed to be taking turns flying down from the trees and gathering dried bits of grass and other materials in their beaks and then flying back to the trees with their booty.
The biggest trouble I had was getting light in their eyes. With the sun so low they were often in shade and when they did have light on them, they were in side light. I rarely got light on their entire bodies, like I did here.
Other times they had so much ‘stuff’ in their bills I couldn’t see much of their face, including their eye.
This female picked up a hitchhiker. I’m not sure what it is but to me it looks like it might be a dark egg mass of some kind. That’s only a guess but it does appear to be “sticky”.
Their gathering activities can best be described as “frenetic”. They were rushing in every direction, picking up what appealed to them, and then looking for more. At times the stuff in their bills blocked their vision, so they occasionally stumbled around like blind birds.
Many male blackbirds were nearby but they never helped with the task at hand. In Brewer’s Blackbirds, nest construction is done almost exclusively by females.
I tried to get takeoff shots I liked but in that light it wasn’t easy.
This female was completely missing her left foot, with only a knobby stump in its place.
It didn’t slow her down though. She was just as efficient in her task as all the other females. Her gathering activities looked so normal to me, I didn’t even notice her handicap (footicap?) until I looked at my photos at home.
These blackbird nesting activities weren’t the only signs of spring I saw that morning. On one occasion, when I finally looked up from my viewfinder, I saw…
an entire family of Canada Geese across the pond from me. They were in the shade and often obstructed but it was still fun to see them.
And speaking of blackbirds and spring, last evening I had a very welcome visitor in my back yard. I was sitting in a chair next to my feeder, trying to keep warm in the last spot of sunshine, when on old, feathered friend landed on the feeder less than 10′ away from me. It was the very distinctive leucistic male Red-winged Blackbird that has been coming to my yard occasionally for at least three years now.
He’s much more skittish than the other blackbirds so I knew that if I blinked he’d be gone, so I just watched him. He’s strikingly beautiful with all those bright white flight feathers in his left wing.
No photos of course. I didn’t have my camera gear with me and besides, I was much too close. Maybe next time.
Ron
Always love to hear about Mr. Leucistic! I’ve been seeing numerous goose & gosling families strolling around here too. Spring has sprung.
Well, an interesting “synchronicity” here, your foot-i-capped blackbird and my own literal hand-i-cap — she’s a stronger woman than I! Took a fall/slider on a sidewalk Easter Sunday, EMT “rescue” and 4 hrs in ER for CT and X-rays … no broken bones, no concussion, but I tell ya, this currently well-wrapped & useless hand is proving to be my undoing. A good thing the survival of my species doesn’t depend on me, as hers does on her! Anyway, more power to her — and to your beautiful leucistic friend — long may they both persevere!
Oh, and very cute goslings, of course! ❤️
Dang, you took quite a tumble Chris. I’m sure glad it wasn’t worse, but it sounds like it was plenty bad enough.
I’m very careful about falling but a few days ago I had to climb up on my roof to cut back my Trumpet Vine that had climbed all the way up my fireplace. That stuff was about to do some damage to my siding. When I was younger I didn’t give a trip to my roof a second thought but these days it’s terrifying, or close to it. Thankfully, no disasters this time.
❤️ And thankfully you did not take a tumble! At a certain point, it’s just time to hire someone (or ask a younger neighbor) for that kind of work. Now, walking along a sidewalk, that’s a different story, and I just need to be more attentive, recognizing I’m not quite as nimble as I used to be! 😑
Remarkable Ron the work birds can accomplish with no hands.
Nice shots.
Thank you, Everett.
On my FIFTH attempt your photos finally loaded. Hiss and spit. I am so glad I persevered.
Love that the bird doesn’t let a small thing like no foot get in her way. It puts me to shame.
Good luck with your gardening.
Thanks, EC. Sorry you’re having those issues with my blog again.
That black item in picture 4 sure looks like a mulberry to me, but maybe that’s just because my mulberry tree here in Florida is fruiting.
Always something interesting – and always good, GOOD, shots. When I was in Snowflake – there was a low spot near the back corner of the property that held water – and the swallows were busily building mud nests up in the eaves. Eventually babies appeared and my great grands loved to watch them and check on them every time they came. They were SO CUTE!. The moms (or maybe the dads) would come and feed them. I had a series of photos over the season – but they didn’t move here with me.
the bird with the missing foot reminded me of many friends I have – who also have missing parts – but do whatever they have to do – and accomplish amazing things. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
Judy, we have those mud nest-building swallows here, both species. Perhaps you’ll see some of them, or their nests, if you keep your eye open. And thanks for the kind words.
What a delight to see all the signs of spring. The goslings are adorable. As for the Brewer’s lady missing her foot, a great reminder that those with limb differences are as worthy and capable as everyone else. 💜
Looking forward to your tomato tales — with accompanying shots, of course. 😃
And I’m looking forward to BLTs, Marty. Store bought tomatoes are close to worthless.
My mouth is already watering in vicarious anticipation!
Nice! Glad “footicapped” is doing fine – the critters DO adapt. 🙂 Also glad the leucistic blackbird showed up – suspect they struggle some with their unusual coloring. My leucistic Grey Crowned Rosy finch didn’t return this year.
No female “blackbirds” of any sorts here so far.
Sharpshinned Hawk made a tactical error coming in the yard a couple of days ago near the Magpie nest. He escaped when I went to see what the ruckus was. MOST unhappy rousing once he made his escape across the creek! 😉 Couple of single crows have made similar errors this past week also.
Thanks, Judy.
“Tactical error” indeed. Don’t mess with nesting magpies, even if you’re a hungry, marauding hawk.
A fine celebration of the New Year ( to MY way of thinking, SPRING
is the new year )—new nest-building, a new parade of fuzzy goslings
–how can they be anything but a “new year ” ? Like Michael, I’m
in awe of your ‘footicapped” little female blackbird–she’s an
inspiration to me, and puts my tweaked back of this morning in
true perspective– thanks !
Thanks, Kris. I’m sorry to say that I share your “tweaked back” this morning. Bad timing, I’ve got to get my garden prepared for planting tomatoes.
But on the bright side, neither of us is missing a foot.
Really enjoyed your shots of the female Brewer’s Blackbirds. That one with the “footicap” is an intrepid soul. You just got to love that spirit. One of those photos of her would make for a fine inspirational poster.
Can relate to the sighting of that skittish old friend in the yard. Yesterday I spotted a Black-headed Grosbeak bathing in the backyard fountain. Very uncommon visitor, and very skittish. As you did, I had to freeze and watch unblinkingly to enjoy the sighting.
“As you did, I had to freeze and watch unblinkingly to enjoy the sighting.”
Michael, I can only guess why he’s so much more skittish than the other blackbirds. Maybe it’s because all those bright white feathers make him stand out to predators, so he’s had a few close calls. That would make any bird skittish.
Makes sense.