Black-headed Grosbeaks have been nesting on our tree farm for a number
of years, and their numbers have been increasing every year. They found
the feeders full of black oil sunflower seeds and chips, and have been
steady customers along with our resident birds. Once they discovered the
suet-tallow/peanutbutter/cereal cake that we hang in a wire basket out our
kitchen window, they were really hooked. We don't have any idea how many
families of grosbeaks were raised this year, but there has been a steady
stream of male, female and young grosbeaks at the banquet all day, all
summer long. Youngsters, quite capable of feeding themselves, would do
their fluttering act whenever an adult was present. This year, it appeared
that two broods were raised by the parents. It has been a three-ring
circus as the mild-mannered Black-headed Grosbeaks willingly shared the
suet cake with Black-capped and Chestunut-backed chickadees, Red-breasted
Nuthatches, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, Northern Flickers and of course
the boisterous Steller's Jay.
May 5 was the first sighting of the Grosbeaks on our property for Y2K,
and we had been idly wondering if they would even think of leaving when
the food supply was so generous and available. But just in case they would
leave (we knew they would), we kept a running list of dates they were here
in late summer.
On Monday, August 28, the day dawned clear and cold, temperature in the
forties. The feeders were especially busy that morning, the birds seeming
to take the weather as a warning of things to come. The next day, August
29, the grosbeaks were gone. We have not seen them since: no stragglers,
no hangers-on, zip! Truly amazing; we miss them!

Bill and Erin Woods Woods Tree Farm Redmond, WA U.S.A.
<wwwbike at halcyon.com>