Wood ducks and Golden-crowned sparrows
mail to: joyesm at gorge.net

Howdy Tweeters;
A remarkable sight this morning was seeing a European starling attack a
female Wood duck in our pond. The Wood duck was standing in the hole of
the northern nesting box checking things out when a starling flew onto
its back and started pecking at it. The Wood duck dropped down to the
water and swam away but I?m sure it will be back to try again. Another
female duck flew almost straight up from the waters surface to peer into
the southern most nesting box. She also tapped with her bill the base
(trunk) of the steel irrigation pipe that holds the box above the pond.
Its interesting how they check out all the details of potential nesting
sites.

Also interesting was watching a Golden-crowned sparrow eating Dandelion
seed in my natural lawn/meadow. We Americans are so brain washed to
think Dandelions are bad. Several times I have weakened and have looked
at the label on a Weed and Feed- bag only to be repelled by the poison
it contains and the sickening smell. Thankfully I have resisted and
learned to accept this ?weed?. Now I actually enjoy seeing its bright
yellow flowers all around. To counter the TV propaganda just keep
telling yourself ?I love Dandelions?, ?I love Dandelions? because the
Golden-crowned sparrows and other birds do too.

Joy Stickney-Markgraf
Husum, WA.