As I have done all too infrequently of late I spent almost an hour yesterday at Forest Park’s waterhole where intrepid Queens birders feed the birds all winter long. Because I have a two-year-old and a job in New Jersey I have not been one of those making sure the birds get their servings of suet and sunflower seeds this year which also means that I have gotten to the park in winter less this year than I have since I moved to New York City four years ago. Fortunately, it is such a mild winter that the birds probably haven’t missed my ministrations though the welcoming committee of chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches that greeted Desi and me made me wonder.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Regardless of if they missed me or not I had missed them and Desi and I had a great time watching the birds. Though Desi mostly liked yelling “Woodpecker!” and then throwing sunflower seeds. To each their own I guess…
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens (above and below)
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
And though it didn’t work for us this time, Desi did calm down quite a bit when we tried to get Black-capped Chickadees in close for sunflower seeds. How close? Well, let’s take a look at a shot that I took with my iPhone on our last visit, shall we? Please forgive the lousy focus: I am still learning how to get good images out of my iPhone’s camera.
Black-capped Chickadee in the hand
We’ll be back at Forest Park as soon as we are able!
…
I have always wanted to hand feed a chickadee. Thinking I have to do it in Queens, the chickadees here are too skittish.
I know I shouldn’t, but hey, I feel I deserve SOME reward for shlepping up there several times a week to keep those birds in the seeds to which they have become accustomed. And it is quite a thrill to feel those little feet land on your hand while they select their seed.
@Mom: You and dad need to start acclimating those upstate birds!
@Jean: It is pretty darn awesome.