Male Red-winged BlackbirdThe Red-winged Blackbird is one of the commonest birds in North America and one of the earliest to arrive here in early spring. I usually see or hear them in the first few days of March, about ten days or so before Robins return.
The Becka phoned me at work to say she heard a RW Blackbird today. (she says she is not interested in birding!) So we took the dog out to the field at the end of our street and sure enough, two males were calling back and forth. One of them posed nicely right in front of me while he belted out his call...conk-a-reeeeeeeee!
The Becka phoned me at work to say she heard a RW Blackbird today. (she says she is not interested in birding!) So we took the dog out to the field at the end of our street and sure enough, two males were calling back and forth. One of them posed nicely right in front of me while he belted out his call...conk-a-reeeeeeeee!
Sad to say, this may be the last year the birds return to this old landfill site. A section of the park is now a sledding and biking hill, and the field above is to be developed further this year. Two soccer fields, a parking lot, picnic area and splash pad will be constructed.
Frogs sing and breed in the vernal ponds, Red-tailed hawks and Kestrels hunt for small rodents, ducks, Kildeer and blackbirds nest in the cattails and grass. Many other birds and animals are at home here in the middle of a subdivision. Thirty-five years ago this area was on the edge of the city and undeveloped but houses and malls now sprawl several kilometers beyond this point.
and the squeeze continues...
It is sad to see development take over the wild places.If only more people would appreciate God's creation and seek to protect it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
I agree, it is sad to see development wipe out natural habitats.
ReplyDeleteHere, in our own locality, our lakes are receding so fast that it is affecting habitat - the reeds and bulrushes don't have time to grow to provide cover and food.
Yesterday, we saw and heard two killdeer -- weheard them first!!
Oh yes, you can always hear them when they arrive... lol! So sad they'll lost more habitat.
ReplyDeleteI have been on the look out for the RWB and thought I saw one yesterday (flew away to fast). Good to see them here!
ReplyDeleteThere is always so much talk about "going green", "perserve our land", "protect the wildlife" etc. It's so shameful and sad that they don't "practice what they preach" Our wildlife and their habitats are never consider in these developments. Where are they suppose to go? gggrrrrrr
It happens here too although we have a lot of semi-natural land, so I suppose there's plenty of room. Still, we're very anthropocentric when we think of needs and land uses.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, the red-winged blackbirds seem to adapt to different habitats, but so many other birds and animals have a hard time dealing with habitat loss. Sorry to hear about that development Ruth.
ReplyDeleteI'm still not interested in birding. Seriously...
ReplyDeleteIt bothers me when I see new developments.I wish that we could make more efficient use of space.There are places where I used to look forward to seeing wildlife that is now gone for good.
ReplyDelete