WINGSCAPES

The Mystery of the Nuthatch

Another of the autumn birds increasing in visibility at the suet feeders in preparation for winter is the Red-breasted Nuthatch. One of the easiest to recognize and most beloved species of North American feeder-visiting birds, the nuthatch is readily identifiable by its odd head-down vertical posture. The reason for this unusual perching position is not fully understood, however it may have something to do with the nuthatch’s habit of wedging seeds in the crevices of tree bark and hacking them open with its beak. A head down posture may give it increased striking force on the seed.

Suet Brings in the Birds of Autumn

With the autumn progressing, the colder days are increasing the popularity of suet among many of the feeder-visiting birds. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the Western Scrub-jays are becoming quite regular visitors to the feeders after their usual summer absence during which they forage far and wide among the lowland fields. However the plentiful and quick calories provided from suet is simply irresistible, not only to the Scrub-jays but to all the bird species that will spend the winter enduring the wet, cold northwest winter.

Surprise Discovery

One of the great joys of having a Wingscapes BirdCam monitoring your feeders is the remarkable discoveries you can make about the variety of bird species that visit while you’re not watching. Take, for example, this covey of California Quail that was recorded browsing the seeds on the ground beneath one of the main sunflower seed-dispensing feeders we keep stocked on our property in Scappoose, Oregon. In all the years we’ve owned the property, not a single quail has been seen anywhere near our home; however downloading the SD card from the BirdCam proved beyond a doubt that they’re here.