Looking for a Mate

Success
Originally uploaded by makeupanid.

Finally I have a good shot of the Pileated even if I do say so myself!

She's gorgeous isn't she, don't you think she will be able to attract a mate and raise a family in the Park, we're keeping our fingers crossed.

That and getting the chance to band her of course :D

Click on the photo to look at it larger and see a couple of others

The Deep Freeze

Everyone was waiting for Winter to arrive and now it has with a vengeance. Last week while at the Park I saw a flock of twenty American Robins, down by the south duck pond. They are looked puffed up and cold and were pecking at berries that were surely frozen! I am going to report this sighting to Journey North an online tracking database for Robins, you can report any sightings of yours there as well.




When I arrive at the Park I call the chickadees to come and usually the first bird to arrive is a female Downy. She has landed on my camera and then looked up at me as if the say "Can I eat it? Where are the peanuts?" Then the Juncos, Chickadees, White and Red Breasted Nuthatches, more Downies, and anywhere from one to four Hairy's arrive. Yesterday there were also four White Throated Sparrows and a Carolina Wren. The Wren has been coming for awhile now. The Red Bellied Woodpecker usually appears to look things over and once she took some food. We are hoping both she and the Pileated will attract a passing mate and raise a family in the Park, and then maybe we will get to band all of them!



The White Throats look like tennis balls with tails!