Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Weather: overcast at the moment; expecting snow/sleet later tonight and tomorrow.
Birds: Didn't see a single bird all day today until well after noon. Something must have spooked them again. They are back now, and the mockingbirds are doing something funny. Either mating or fighting, I'm not sure which. This is the second time in a couple of weeks that I've seen this behavior. Two birds face each other on the ground, and they each hop around suggestively, or threateningly, then they get bored and go get something to eat. They don't appear aggressive or hostile towards each other during the hopping bit, so I am guessing that it is a courtship ritual. But it seems rather early in the year to be doing that. Maybe these are preliminary negotiations. I have not heard them singing at all, and in the spring they usually sing in the middle of the night in the holly tree just outside our bedroom window. Sibley's Guide to Bird Life and Behavior doesn't shed much light on this, although I like the part where the male builds several nests and the female chooses the one she likes and then furnishes the interior. Just found an interesting web site that contradicts that though - it says that both male and female construct the nest. It also mention the hopping behavior, which some believe is courting and some believe is defending territory. Now that I read that I am inclined to think it is a territorial thing, not courtship.
2 Comments:
Was scanning for garden blogs and saw yours first. I really enjoyed the pix. Keep 'em coming please
A Arkie waiting for spring!
The weather has turned cold and un-springlike here, but I hope to have some more pictures next week. Glad you liked them!
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