For the Birds: Babies to the left of me, babies to the right...

Song Sparrow fledgling begging for food
Photo by Christine Southwick

By Christine Southwick

Babies to the left of me—Babies to the right of me-Babies over my head!

Finally, a sunny weekend allowed me to see the following baby birds:

• A newly fledged Spotted Towhee in its dark camouflage;
• A juvie Oregon Junco wearing its striped suit;
• A fledgling Song Sparrow learning to bathe (and still begging for food);

Three, hours-old, fledgling Black-capped Chickadees, wings a-flittering were squeaking for food. These came this morning from the nest box in my blue spruce. Both parents are yard-residents. I know this because they were both color-banded in my yard for a local study being done by the Puget Sound Bird Observatory.

Oregon junco father feeding his two striped off-spring
Photo by Christine Southwick

A little group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees, probably as young as the Black-capped Chickadees, were also fluttering their wings, and begging. These were being fed suet by one dutiful parent who was color-banded.

One of my banded Red-breasted Nuthatches was feeding suet to two freshly fledged babies. Suet is such a quick source of healthy protein, and makes the job of feeding a brood much easier for the parents.

Fledgling Chestnut-backed Chickadee -learning to use feeder
Photo by Christine Southwick

And a Bewick’s Wren has built a second nest. The first one was in a nest box — this one is on an under-eave wall-divider near the nest box. The jury is still out as to whether this is for a second brood, or is a replacement brood. I can’t check the nest box until she is done with this nesting.

What joy making my yard a “Certified Wildlife Habitat”  has brought me!

By supplying the four essentials: food; water; space; and a place to raise young; and by not poisoning the bugs they eat; I have created an oasis that is beneficial to wildlife and uplifting me.

Juvie Red-breasted Nuthatch--Now, where is the food?
Photo by Christine Southwick

Did you know that Shoreline is a National Wildlife Certified Community Wildlife Habitat? We became one in 2010. In order to maintain our certification, the community needs to earn 40 NWF points a year. We earn these points through educating local groups, environmental work parties, and staffing booths at local events. We encourage home/apartment owners (one point each), workplaces, and places of worship (three points each), and schools (five points each) to become certified wildlife habitats. 

I may not be able to save all the birds in the world, but I can make a difference in my part of the world. I choose to do so—will you join me?

Christine Southwick is a Board member of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She has completed the 40-hour class to become a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward.

For previous For the Birds columns, click the link under the Features section on the main webpage.