Leaving the Nest

Adult and Juvenile Brown Thrashers--"I know the food is right under my feet, but I'm HUNGRY!!! Feed me!"

For the past couple of weeks I have observed a steady increase in the amount of bird food necessary to keep our bird feeders full. We're going through 20 pound bags of seed in no time at all. Suet blocks disappear seemingly overnight (and it's not due to squirrels!). A batch of hummingbird nectar a few weeks ago would last for weeks, but now I need to make more every few days. There is a quadruple batch cooling on the counter as I type. So what's causing this feeding frenzy? As it turns out, we have a yard full of fledglings and juvenile birds that are still learning to take care of themselves and they are really hungry! When the baby birds first hatch they are helpless and featherless and their parents bring food to them in the nest. But when they grow some feathers and fledge from the nest, the parents hide them in the bushes and trees and bring food to them. Soon the adults bring them to the food and feed them while teaching them skills like how to forage for themselves and how to watch for predators. And eventually, the juveniles are on their own. The young birds and their parents know that our feeders are a quick and easy source of nourishment. In a perfect world, there would be plenty of naturally occurring seed, fruit, nectar and insects for the birds to eat. But as human activity such as building and pesticide use decreases the available natural habitats and food sources, backyard feeders and wildlife gardens provide an important supplement during this vulnerable period in their lives. The young birds need to eat as much as they can so they are strong enough to survive the cold winter and, in many cases, such as with the hummingbirds, migrate. The adults need to fatten up for winter, as well, while also gathering enough to feed their young. It all adds up to a lot of bird food.

Adult and juvenile American Goldfinches

You can't help but smile when you watch the young birds. They're kind of goofy looking and easy to spot. They are often unsteady flyers with scruffy, incomplete feather growth, big, bright (often light colored) eyes, and wide, sometimes yellow mouths, fluttering their wings and noisily calling for their parents feed them. They keep up the flapping and begging well after they know better. Many times I'll watch young birds that are completely able to fly and forage for themselves, flap and beg to no one in particular as they eat alone.

Fledgling Brown Thrasher--Young, scruffy and pretty helpless

Slightly older Brown Thrasher Juvenile, awkwardly teetering on the perch

Juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker that hasn't quite grown its pretty red head feathers

Juvenile Northern Cardinal begging to be fed

Same Cardinal 30 seconds later--"oh yeah, I guess I get it"

This Juvenile Eastern Bluebird is easy to peg as a youngster, with its big eyes, wide yellow mouth and dotted chest feathers

It's a rough world out there. The young hummingbirds are constantly chased away from the feeder by the older and dominant birds, and later by their siblings. Sometimes I wonder how they can ever eat enough to supply all the calories they burn just in the chasing. Juvenile jays and towhees are chased out of the flat feeder by the pushy grackles and mourning doves. Wary Carolina wren and catbird parents make loud alarm calls to warn the young when predators (like me) are in the vicinity, but fluffs of feathers from the mockingbirds or cardinals that didn't see the hawk are a reminder that this adulting stuff is hard. But chances are good that the hawk is a juvenile working on its skills, too.

A Juvenile Barred Owl tried to fly away from me as I walked by, but screeched so much that I couldn't help but see it!

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk being buzzed by angry Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. The hawk was just perching when they got started to attack.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds preparing a feeding truce. They're probably hungry after chasing each other around the yard.

Juvenile Blue Jay hides in the bushes after being chased off of the feeder by Mourning Doves

At this time of year, from the vantage of my yard that is literally across the street from the university, I can't help but make the comparison between the birds I am observing at home and the students next door who are preparing to embark on the college journey. Move-in day took place this past weekend and the street was buzzing with the new arrivals and their parents as they unloaded clothes, computers, lamps, bikes and other "necessities" from their cars and trailers. When the parents drove away, leaving their youngster to make their way, I'm sure they felt some anxiety, hoping their young adults would be ok. I remember those feelings, well, and I have family and friends who will be experiencing this soon. My hearts go out to you all, but it will be ok! This morning I watched groups of giddy young people walking to the bus stop, maps in hand, as they figured out their new surroundings. Like the young birds, the young students are easy to pick out and fun to watch. They are a little loud, a little unsure, eager to impress their friends, but so full of excitement and energy. They also have a big job ahead of them. Like the birds, they need to figure out how to take care of themselves in their new semi-independent life. They need to learn how to feed themselves but they also have to figure out how to budget their finances and time, find their classes, pick a major, make friends, learn where everything is, figure out the rules (yes, you DO need to stop for pedestrians at the flashing crosswalks), study, and hopefully come away from it all with a path to a good career. As with the birds, the students face dangers--driving, drinking, sexual assault, and stress, to name just a few. But they have been preparing to be independent adults their whole lives and with luck the lessons they have been given along the way will have sunk in when the crucial time comes.

Yes, it is time for the next batch of young ones to leave the nest and enter the world. Here's to a successful and happy year.

Juvenile Eastern Bluebird, just a little more experienced

Juvenile Northern Mockingbird--"I can do this!"

Young Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird resting on the Fennel after a busy day