Photo by T.Hache/The Echo
Female and Immature Red Winged Blackbirds on platform feeder

Young birds are growing at an amazing rate.  Most of them are the same size as the adults now, no matter the species, and at a glance, you can't really tell them apart.  If you watch and listen for a few minutes though, you will quickly figure out who the young ones are.  Many of them still have the begging cries and some are still being fed by a parent even though they are perfectly capable of feeding themselves now.  Their landing skills are still somewhat awkward.  Their colors and markings are still a little different.

It's been so much fun this year, watching the young birds coming to my yard.  Watching closely, I noticed that the Evening Grosbeak, Hairy Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker, who have all been coming to the platform feeder or hanging seed bells the past couple of weeks, each have two young ones with them ... not just one.  They are very busy!  At one point this week, I looked out into the backyard for all of 5 minutes and counted 7 woodpeckers:  3 Hairies, 3 Downies and 1 Flicker! 

Purple Finches now have many young ones to look after.  Yesterday, I watched my neighbour's birch tree and saw at least 25 juvenile Purple Finches in it.  I haven't seen any male young yet, just female so far.  Even Black Capped Chickadees brought a young one to my yard this year.  I'm thrilled with that as it almost never happens. 

The past couple of days, the blackbirds have returned with their young, likely getting ready to migrate.  Grackles, Starlings and Red Winged Blackbirds have been filling my yard this week.  Young Grackles and Starlings are brown pretty much from top to bottom and they run after their parents constantly, begging for food even though they are feeding themselves at the same time.  I haven't seen any young male Red Winged Blackbirds yet, just female.  A large flock of them moved through the backyard this week, easily 30 or so in the flock.  Very interesting to watch.
Also moving through the neighbourhood this week are Cedar Waxwings.  They are here now for whatever berries and fruit are ripe.  In my area, it's Pin Cherries that they are after along with Birch seeds.  As soon as they are ripe, Waxwings will be going after Mountain Ash berries too.  These birds have a very quiet but very high pitched call and they chatter almost constantly.  They are absolutely beautiful birds with their smooth, sleek feathers, lovely colors and head crest.  Watch for them in birch and fruit/berry trees.

Hummingbirds have been busy in the yard.  Their favourite flower, the Monarda or Bee Balm, is on the verge of blooming but I've also been seeing them at my Lilies.  A male has been guarding the front feeder and doesn't like anyone else using it.  I saw a beautiful female hummer this week, checking out the flower beds and everything that's blooming.  Lots to keep them fed right now.  Believe it or not, the males have already begun migrating so they are feeding very heavily right now.  The females stay behind to raise their young.  They will begin migrating by September and the young ones will migrate right through October.

Hope you are all enjoying this lovely summer.
Happy Sightings!
tammie@theecho.ca  
  826-4561

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