Typically I wouldn't expect to see a lot in this hot weather but the past two days even though I didn't see many birds I was blessed to be able to observe adult birds feeding their fledglings. Friday night I took a walk through Wallace Swamp Creek Park. As slow as it was I took a close look at every rustle of a tree branch I heard, most often it was Black Capped Chickadees, but on one occasion I could see that there were 3 birds in one tree and although there was lots of moving around they all stayed in the one tree. Patience paid off and I was finally able to view a Warbling Vireo feeding two fledglings.
I've read so many reports from the Kent Ponds I've wanted to check them out for a long time so when I was in Kent on Saturday, despite the less than favorable conditions I decided to stop for a look. Once again it was pretty slow going I only saw 8 species; Osprey, Common Yellowthroats, Savannah Sparrows, GBH, Mallards, Cedar Waxwings, American Crows and a male American Goldfinch, I watched as he flew in landing high in a tree and made short flights lower and lower into the thick foliage of the tree, until he finally stopped and was met by a begging juvenile, Which he fed. In both instances I noticed that the young birds fluttered their wings as part of their begging behavior. Does anyone out there know why they do this? I considered that it could be to catch their balance but in the case of the vireos, they hopped/flew gracefully from branch to branch then would stop flutter and cry until fed, then resume flying about.
Do all young birds flutter their wings like that?
Linda Phillips
Kenmore 98026-2616
linda_phillips1252 at msn.com<mailto:linda_phillips1252 at msn.com>