Connect with Nature!
Connect with Nature!
It’s 6:00 in the morning, and today is no different from other recent mornings. A male Song Sparrow has perched on our bedroom window sill and is scratching around and peering in. In a minute he'll sing at the top of his lungs, and then resume his constant flight right into the window!
It’s 6:00 in the morning, and today is no different from other recent mornings. A male Song Sparrow has perched on our bedroom window sill and is scratching around and peering in. Loudly he sings a melodious solo, and then flies forward and thumps against the window. Then he does it again, and again, and again! Finally he flies to a high branch in our backyard, and sings another solo!
The window strikes must be harmless because he’s done it at least two weeks straight. This little guy mistakes his reflection for another male song sparrow – a competitor for the attention of a female. He’s singing to signal his territorial boundaries. He flies against our window to frighten away the “other male” he sees in the reflection. American Robins are notorious for this behavior, too. The good news is that when nesting season is over, the males seem to settle down substantially.
As for our Song Sparrow, this is his third season of being a first-class alarm clock, and a very entertaining one at that.
Our Song Sparrow’s antics are just one of many spring experiences customers like you notice and talk about in our stores. In this newsletter we’ll discuss common concerns and offer a few tips to make this spring a great one for enjoying the wildlife if your backyard.