Hot to Trot
As in some past years, a scouting band of male Red-winged Blackbirds arrived in the park in mid-January and began occupying fennel tops and displaying their flaming epaulets, ready for the mating season. But it’s all in vain, as the females haven’t arrived yet, and may not arrive until March. I counted at least a dozen males, all quite active and noisy. At this time they showed no hostility to one another, and even perched sometimes three or four to a bush, as if they were finches. Chances are that these males will leave after a few days, and then visit again periodically to scout if the females have arrived, and keep this up until the females are truly there. And then the fun begins! In a good year, the whole northwestern quadrant of the park, with its ample fennel forests, turns into a noisy blackbird party and nursery until the Summer Solstice.
More about them: Wikipedia Audubon Cornell In Chavez Park
Pingback: Checking