A delightful surprise awaited me this morning when a dainty, bright
yellow bird with black wings and black markings on his head and tail
joined the usual crowd of breakfast feeders at the pile of seeds I leave
for the birds on the little patio near the back door of my home.
Eastern Goldfinch
Image courtesy/Pinterest
The reason I toss the seeds in a neat pile on the cement is due to the fact
that I have yet to buy a hanging feeder that is 100% squirrel proof!
I have actually caught these ornery critters with their chubby fur bodies flung out
across the top of the seed pile to try and prevent other birds or other hungry animals,
like the patient little brown rabbits, from getting anything to eat. However, it is the pesky,
but pretty, blue and white feathered Blue Jays whom often present the greedy squirrels
with a formidable challenge, launching relentless dive-bomb attacks from the air.
Showdown!
Blue Jay vs. Squirrel
Image courtesy/Reddit
It is also the mischievous Jays who like to sound the alarm whenever
new seeds are added to the pile. They seem to like luring the other birds
in my backyard with their familiar shrilling and then, buzzing at,
and trying to scare them away from the seed pile too.
Of course, the beautiful red male Northern Cardinals and their yellow-red mates
do not seem to scare easy, and often make it to feed at the edge of the pile of seeds.
In addition to Robins and Mourning Doves coming to feed too, there are small flocks
of little birds which I cannot identify, however, I think the brown-feathered feasters
might be called House Finches. After the blizzard this past January, one of these
little brown birds somehow got inside our house. Fortunately, we were able to
chase the little fellow back outside again before the cat got a hold of him!
I am also occasionally treated to the appearance of a red-headed Woodpecker,
with striking black and white zebra-like plumage, whom I think resides in
the large tree in the side yard next to my house. Sometimes, when I go out
to water my flowers in the early mornings at sunrise, I hear him
busy at his mysterious work, hidden high up in the tree tops.
Although I have spotted them in the area where I live,
I have never seen a Goldfinch this close up before today.
The Eastern Yellow Goldfinch holds the distinguished title of being
the official State Bird of New Jersey. Two other states also claim
the little yellow bird as their own: Iowa, and Washington State,
where it is called the Willow Goldfinch.
