Red wing black bird

[havalotta]

The female stays on the nest until I'm about 6 feet away as she's usually facing in the opposite direction. Eventually she must hear me and she flushes. She does not go far....Just a few feet up into the nearby nectarine and starts to voice her opinion which in turn draws the male in to chime in. I step in, raise the camera and quickly take a shot or two then move out of the area...She's quick to return.

I think he must sit off in the distance by the bay in the Phragmites or up in the tall evergreen as I really do not see him much besides hitting the feeder. He's easily recognizable as one of his wing or body feathers is bent upwards. It's been that way for three-four years now so I'm guessing he must have a damaged shaft.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

He's easily recognizable as one of his wing or body feathers is bent upwards. It's been that way for three-four years now so I'm guessing he must have a damaged shaft.

How cool that you can be sure it is the same male each year.

[havalotta]

Wonder how long they live?

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

Wonder how long they live?

Not sure, but I bet an internet search might help. Me too tired to do it though!

Good night.

[havalotta]

[havalotta]

The oldest wild red-winged blackbird on record lived almost 16 years; the average lifespan of this bird is a little over 2 years.

Red-winged Blackbird

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

Red-winged Blackbird

Great link.

I was thrilled to see that they live so long...until I came to the end of the sentence saying average is just over 2 years. Your bird has already made it past that, so let's hope he is a survivor. Then again, wasn't it Sara Stein that said "it is the species and not the individual" that we need to focus on... or something like that?

I found this interesting to me:

Diet:
They feed on plant matter, such as seeds and grain, and have also been known to feed on eggs, carrion, worms, snails and frogs (bold and italics added).

...and for you:

Interesting Facts:
Males are very aggressive during the breeding season, and have been known to attack people that encroach on their territory.

[havalotta]

Thanks for the heads UP!
Their territory and nests are USUALLY along the bay in the Phragmites. I was surprised to find the nest so far inland....

My son found the morning dove nest in an evergreen I've checked MANY times before.
I just knew there had to be one nearby as I see young ones sitting in the brush on the ground quite frequently.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by havalotta

Thanks for the heads UP!
Their territory and nests are USUALLY along the bay in the Phragmites. I was surprised to find the nest so far inland....

My son found the morning dove nest in an evergreen I've checked MANY times before.
I just knew there had to be one nearby as I see young ones sitting in the brush on the ground quite frequently.

No problem...it would seem that they haven't bothered you.

Congratulations on yet another nest (the mourning doves).

[havalotta]

The morning dove nest is however above may head so I'll be passing on dragging a ladder out daily to view the family.
(The red wing nest was about eye height.) The dove must have either eggs or young ones because she's sitting upon it regularly.
HER nest is within a few feet of the two wasp nests my son had also found! They don't seem to bother her any.