The normal first signs of spring have been delayed this year, not least because of the hard winter. That said, one of the first signs that I heard rather than saw, was a Chaffinch that was singing to attract a mate in February, on valentines day to be exact. Who says romance is dead.
Then about a week latter, I started to notice that the Red Kites were hunting for food in pairs. Now this may just be that they are more successful finding food this way, but it may be that they were pairing up ready for spring.
As Jackdaws use the chimneys as nesting sites and the trees that fringe the village as winter roosts, they are the most numerous birds closest to my home. Thus it is the Jackdaws, that I have noticed most starting to make pair bonds. As they often seem to take to the air just to enjoy the freedom of flight, it is not unusual to see them just flying about in loose flocks. However at this time of year, it is possible to see pairs flying together, even within the flock, that stay in close formation flight, as they build pair bonds.
Today I noticed one pair that was gathering nesting material and adding to a nest that would have been in use for years now. As when the village fifteen years ago first had gas piped to the community, the village changed from using coal for heating. This suddenly provided nesting opportunities for the Jackdaws in particular. Therefore many of these nests have been built up over the intervening years. The change in the way that this village heats its homes has enabled numbers of Jackdaws to increase, as simply there are now many more nesting sites.
Two other promising signs is that the House Sparrows are returning to the feeders in the yard in numbers and in pairs. Also the regular blackbird and his mate have returned. As he has patches of white feathers on his head that make him easy to identify, it is great to see him back. Not least because of the hard winter.
Then about a week latter, I started to notice that the Red Kites were hunting for food in pairs. Now this may just be that they are more successful finding food this way, but it may be that they were pairing up ready for spring.
As Jackdaws use the chimneys as nesting sites and the trees that fringe the village as winter roosts, they are the most numerous birds closest to my home. Thus it is the Jackdaws, that I have noticed most starting to make pair bonds. As they often seem to take to the air just to enjoy the freedom of flight, it is not unusual to see them just flying about in loose flocks. However at this time of year, it is possible to see pairs flying together, even within the flock, that stay in close formation flight, as they build pair bonds.
Today I noticed one pair that was gathering nesting material and adding to a nest that would have been in use for years now. As when the village fifteen years ago first had gas piped to the community, the village changed from using coal for heating. This suddenly provided nesting opportunities for the Jackdaws in particular. Therefore many of these nests have been built up over the intervening years. The change in the way that this village heats its homes has enabled numbers of Jackdaws to increase, as simply there are now many more nesting sites.
Two other promising signs is that the House Sparrows are returning to the feeders in the yard in numbers and in pairs. Also the regular blackbird and his mate have returned. As he has patches of white feathers on his head that make him easy to identify, it is great to see him back. Not least because of the hard winter.
Posts
1 comment:
great pic!
Post a Comment