…Time For Us To Play Host Again

Most of the birds that migrate south during winter have come back. The Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) came back before everyone else. They swooped around looking for their old houses that I had removed for the winter. They checked out the Bluebirds nest box and were chased off by the occupants.  As soon as I put the box back up where it was used by them last year, they took ownership with in minutes.  Another pair took one nest box in the front but was harassed relentlessly by the House sparrows.  I hope that it doesn’t deter the Swallows from staying with us.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) also came back to the feeder.  I have seen just the males, no females in sight yet.  Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerine), Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) are back as well.  The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) settled for the suet as many of the fruit trees around here haven’t blossom yet.

I haven’t seen the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) yet this year.  But the spring is still young and very cold.  Hopefully they’ll filter in with the warmth.