| Expanded Information |
| Red-Winged Blackbirds |
| I spotted the first 2004 Red-Winged Blackbirds in my birdfeeding area, groundfeeding on seeds uncovered by the snowmelt, on March 1st. First the adult males arrived and within a day or two I was also seeing juvies. It was 2-3 days until the first arriving RWB were displaying their yellow bordered, red epaulets. The females did not arrive until March 17. The RWB are picking out their nesting territories in my managed meadow, the males perched atop tall grasses in the typical Red-winged Blackbird pose, singing away and displayign their colors. The RWB will have to compete with the Eastern Meadowlarks that also nest in my meadow. And, I am happy to say that I am also seeing some Bobolinks coming back into the area. Further into the nesting season, the Blackbirds will start harrassing and mobbing the American Crows, who in turn will be mobbing the nesting pair of resident Red-tailed hawks, who hunt over my meadow and nest at the edge of my old woods where it borders a clearing. |