3:02 AM – More excitement at the mealworm feeder. This Mockingbird doesn’t like to share. The Bluebird lands, and takes off again fast. Once that’s accomplished, Mockingbird goes back to eating worms.
Doves are getting numerous around the feeders again. Here’s one drinking, and another keeping some Cardinals at bay in the feeder.
3:43 AM – The Mourning Doves aren’t around as much as when the platform feeder was up, but they’re still here. This one wades right into the water for a bath.
Here’s a fat brown Cardinal having lunch. Maybe not fat, just puffed up. I’m assuming this is a young bird who hasn’t got his adult colors yet.
3:10 AM – More from the new Birdbath Cam. A series of birds, and a squirrel, at the watering hole. They are a Bluebird, Chickadee, Mourning Dove and Squirrel, in that order. The dove is different than the other birds – he doesn’t get water in his beak and tilt his head up so it rolls down his throat. He just sticks his beak in like a straw.
Bluebirds have been all over the place the last few days, chasing each other in and out of the trees. We don’t have video of that, but here’s a couple at the birdbath.
2:34 AM – As planned we took down the platform feeder on the deck and focused the camera on the birdbath. The number of doves decreased dramatically, once they were convinced the food was gone. Here’s a couple looking for the feeder.
In this video, a couple of our first customers at the new setup – a Cardinal and Bluebird. At the beginning, one Bluebird chases another away, before settling down for a drink.
3:24 AM – The title of this video is “Dove Bathing”, but it ought to be “These Mourning Doves are Getting Out of Hand.” There are six or seven on the clip, and more out of camera range. We’re going to pull the platform feeder for a day or so, and aim the camera at the birdbath. All the other birds use the Squirrel Buster or mealworm feeder. Only the doves stick to the platform. Maybe this will encourage them to find another back yard to pollute.
Here’s a Cardinal flapping/quivering and eating at the same time. We don’t know what that means.
4:27 AM – A video from a few days back – Cardinal finding no seed after the doves have ravaged the feeder. This version is with an original soundtrack.
The on-going story – Mourning Dove tries to discourage another bird, in this case a Bluebird, from getting a drink of water. It doesn’t work this time.
The Bluebirds are showing up at the platform feeder more frequently the last few weeks. Here’s some eating and drinking, and living it up.
4:00 AM – Just a couple of Bluebirds, at the mealworm feeder. These guys are all over the place, several of them.
Maybe it’s the increase in the Dove population that’s making them more aggressive (crowding causes irritability in humans and birds). Here’s another Dove fight video. I hate to say it, but it’s really the only interesting thing about them. Otherwise, they’re pretty drab.
2:26 AM – The One-eared Squirrel is still around. We’re always glad to see him, though we’d like it if he ate dinner somewhere else.
There are a lot of doves around. Too many, really. They’re packing the feeder, squabbling and pecking, forcing out the other birds – even the Jays.
1:08 AM – Mourning Dove and Blue Jay at the platform feeder. The Jay approaches, and the Dove puffs himself up to send a message. Must have worked, the Jay didn’t try to get into the feeder.
Bluebirds hanging around the platform feeder and birdbath.
12:17 AM – Cardinal and Mourning Dove, getting along for the moment. The dove seems a little more comfortable than the Cardinal, who’s watchful and alert.
Nice clear video of a Bluebird eating mealworms.