Bird Watching: ID help please: Resin..., 1 by 2dCousinDave

2dCousinDave wrote:
Yes, GP, these are the adults and the three fledglings from the last clutch, which fledged on August 1. Some friends of mine report that they have all the juveniles from all three of this season's nestings hanging around all winter, which gives them as many as 15 to enjoy (and feed). I had eight or nine one winter. But of late, with the house sparrows causing such problems, Papa chases the juveniles away as soon as they are weaned. And, with my second clutch, a new female entered the picture and she made it plain she didn't want step-children hanging around.

Papa probably thinks it's for their own good. He becomes very busy with the nestlings as they approach fledge day and doesn't have time to protect youngsters that are following him around and seem constantly under foot.

So now, since he doesn't have new babies to worry about, he allows the last brood to stay around. Or you might say he ignores them. He and his mate travel together, and without the juveniles. And he still insists on eating first and alone. Mama and the kids, if they are present, wait impatiently until he finishes. The picture I posted earlier in this thread is a rarity. Notice all of them are watching Papa. He chased them all away a few seconds after it was taken.

Lately the adults have re-claimed the nest box and they come every morning to inspect it. They have a little ritual I don't fully understand. She will gather a small beakful of grass and take it into the box. He will fly into the box, stay a while, then come out with a single blade of grass in his beak. I assume they are announcing to any other birds who might be interested, that this property is taken.