Red-winged Blackbirds and Cowbirds have returned to New Paltz, NY.

[In_The_Wind]

[CrispyQ]

1. Why did they leave?

I'm in Boulder, CO & in 2004 the West Nile virus decimated the corvid population in this area. Our backyard didn't have any Blue Jays, Magpies & crows for many years. The jays returned first, about 6 years ago, then the crows about 3 years after that & this year we've finally had Magpies in our backyard again.

[Lindsay]

2. Not yet here

in western North Carolina. We had very few red-wings last year.

[HoneyBadger]

3. NY considers them undesirable

And endorses "taking" them.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/81531.html

[In_The_Wind]

6. I don't discriminate against or kill wild birds. I just put out extra food for all the birds.

[shenmue]

4. Yay!

[2naSalit]

5. They show up here a little earlier each year around here.

[Nitram]

7. Cowbirds kill thousands of songbirds by tossing their young...

...out of the nest. They are pernicious parasites.

[In_The_Wind]

8. So do Blue Jays.

Those guys are always here.

[Nitram]

9. Blue Jays don't lay their eggs in another birds nest to be fed at the expense of the bird's own

hatchlings.

[Nitram]

10. An oft-cited study in the early 1900s found traces of eggs and young in only six of 530 blue jay

stomachs, even though, as the researcher noted, “special search was made for every possible trace of such material.” Mainly, the omnivorous blue jays feast on insects, nuts, berries, seeds, and now and then small animals like deer mice, bats, lizards, and tree frogs.

[femmocrat]

11. They are my favorite sign of spring!

I haven't seen any in western PA yet though.

I moved my feeder back towards the woods so I get a lot of birds, including a gorgeous pheasant, back there. Problem is that I can't see them from the house. I'll have to be on the lookout!

[In_The_Wind]

12. Pick up an inexpensive pair of binoculars. You'll wonder why you waited so long.

You'll see more butterflies too.

[femmocrat]

13. I actually have a good pair.

It is pretty woodsy back there but the birds love the cover. That is where I am hearing the "tweet tweet tweet" bird!

I have a finch feeder near the house and they are ignoring those expensive thistle seeds.

We are a long way from butterfly season but I'm already planning my flower beds! I was in Walmart last week and there was a small group of people looking at the newly-installed seeds displays. I said to another lady, "We can't wait!" She laughed and we had a nice conversation about starting perennials from seeds. It won't be long now!

[In_The_Wind]

14. The Finch can be a silly little bird. They seem to love thistle socks better than feeders.

I hang socks in a dry spot well away from the outside edge of my porch.

With all this snow none of the birds are acting fussy. Finches join the others eating whatever seed offered.

Enjoy your summer dreams until the snow melts.