Kingbird Combat

You can’t truly appreciate a bird’s behavioral characteristics until you witness them personally. The Eastern Kingbird is known for its aggressive territorial behaviors, but I had never digested this fact before witnessing two males—on three separate occasions—slugging it out, always in close proximity to me.

The breeding season began serenely enough, with numerous sightings of a mated pair of kingbirds. Since the kingbird is not dimorphic (sexes different in appearance), I presumed these two to be a male and female. And every time I saw this handsome pair, I felt graced by their gentle presence. Then the mood changed.

About a week ago, I was out in the yard when I heard a ruckus of squawks and beating wings above me. One kingbird was attempting to “mount” the other in mid-air! I hasten to clarify that by “mount,” I don’t mean “mate”-- more like a fighter jumping on his opponent’s back. This wasn’t far from my side door and the two combatants flew into a nearby small grove of hemlock. Interesting, right?

Things got more interesting still, when moments later, these two were at it again--and again somewhat over my head, though I was now a couple hundred feet away, on the other side of the pond. Somehow I felt involved.

Fast forward to a couple days ago. I was enjoying a serene evening, sitting on a chaise lounge, watching the tree and barn swallows playing over the pond. Softly twittering, the swallows dove and glided, dragging their feet over its surface. Then an intrusive shrieking filled the air as I watched two kingbirds, descending from above, wrestle in the air before me, about twenty feet away. A duo of furious flapping wings, they spun, descending through the air like a tiny tornado until one dropped, falling six or seven feet into the tall, thick bank grasses. Mesmerized I watched as the fallen kingbird flopped and flapped within the grass while my black lab Bridget rushed to investigate. “No, Bridget!” I demanded, my tone giving her reason to pause as the kingbird found its bearings and lifted into the air, flying toward a towering Norway Spruce.

As I ponder these incidents, I can’t help but wonder why I was privileged to witness their territorial bouts, almost like I was the referee. And I wonder if the mated male was defending this territory from the same would-be intruder. Possibly because I appreciate the specialness of this piece of “real estate.” After all what more could a kingbird want than lots of pasture and a pond? Here’s hoping that both males find the space they need.

p.s. This season I've taken many photos of the mated kingbirds, but I'm posting a photo taken last year because I think it captures the heart of the warrior.

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Eastern Meadowlark

Last time I posted a blurry photo of the Bobolink, so let's continue this time with another pasture bird (and more blurry photos--sorry!) of the Eastern Meadowlark. To my ear's, the meadowlark's plaintive song holds an element of longing. (To hear his song and to see a crisp image, visit the link below to All About Birds:)


http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Meadowlark/id

Whenever I hear the meadowlark singing on the pasture above my home, I think of his ever-shrinking habitat and ever-declining numbers. Like the Bobolink and other pasture birds, the Eastern Meadowlark's numbers have declined precipitously as country pastures fall victim to development. It's sad but true.

If you should be lucky enough to own a few acres, consider converting some to pasture. The Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, and Grasshopper Sparrows--to name just a few--will thank you. And your world will become more richly beautiful with the "bubbly" songs of Bobolinks, the plaintive songs of Meadowlarks, and the "buzzy" notes of the Grasshopper Sparrow.

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart (and on your property)!

Georgia Anne

Bubbling Bobolinks Up on the Pasture

Bobolinks, whose numbers are in rapid decline due to earlier mowing of fields (Bobolinks build ground nests), are a delight to hear. A common modifier for their singing is "bubbling," which works great for my title but doesn't do justice to this pasture bird's song. In book 2 of my trilogy Of the Wing, I include a scene with Bobolinks and describe their singing thus:

" . . . a meadow bird whose song was a contraption of whistles, brassy slides, jangles, bells, and chatter—cheerful music that seemed to percolate up through the grass itself."

(Please excuse my laziness in reusing a prior description but it's not easy trying to describe this bird's surprising sounds. You can hear at least one rendition (below) at the web site hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology): While there, you'll want to read all about this amazing bird. And if you happen to be a farmer, consider postponing the mowing of your hayfield until well into July. It may make the difference between this bird's continued existence or eventual extinction.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bobolink/id

Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart.

Georgia Anne