Birds of a feather

It's that time of year when the birds are out in full force hitting the bird feeders in the yard and on the deck.  It is so interesting to watch them early in the morning as dawn breaks and the darkness fades to a warm glow on the horizon.  The birds will start chirping at first light but do not start actively moving around until actual sunrise. How they know it is sunrise baffles me since it changes daily but the birds stay tranquil until then each morning.  Once daybreak hits it becomes a busy time on the deck as the fifty or sixty birds start coming to the deck feeder and to the sunflower seeds I have placed on the handrails and deck surface.  The yard feeder also comes alive with birds hitting it as the squirrels gather the seed or peanuts I’ve thrown out each day.  It is so enjoyable to watch them even on rainy days as they gather and perch under the handrail staying out of the rain coming down.

There are probably about thirty or more different species flying in for food, many I have identified: golden finches, yellow-rumped warbler, hermit thrush, eastern bluebird, blue jay, American robin, brown thrasher, red winged black bird, house finch, kinglet, Northern cardinal, sparrow, brown headed cowbird, kingfisher, waxwing, tufted titmouse, rose-breasted grosbeak, yellow-throated warbler, and red headed woodpeckers.

The woodpeckers are out pecking on trees and telephone poles.  I always wondered why they like phone poles since there can't be any bugs to dig out; certainly they would taste foul from years of soaking in creosote.

Turns out the birds use the poles and trees for the same thing humans do — communication.

Woodpeckers don't use the wires, just the poles. The dried wood makes a satisfying sound that can be heard by other birds for blocks around.  Most of the telephone-pole communicators are males advertising for mates. In that regard they are remarkably like humans.

I learned Morse code many years ago at the Army's Rotary Wing Flight Training School in Alabama at Fort Rucker and realized recently that woodpecker code is similar to the old Morse classic — and the birds use their own version of text messaging.  Whether it is pecking a tree or singing a song they communicate with each other.

The other day, one in the woods here was sending out a signal saying, "Macho male w/big bill and great plumage seeks female w/strong nesting instinct, for serious mating.  Available immediately!"

I've also learned that woodpeckers in most neighborhoods send their signal several times and sign off with a jaunty, "Shave & a haircut, two bits."  Most of you in the younger generation probably won’t remember that one.  Those bird brains near retail areas often pick up the local jargon and substitute, "Thank u have a nice day."

Welcome springtime, we enjoy the warmth, the light, and the coming of summer.

Ice