Day-before-the-holiday restlessness

I am soooooo geeked up right now: it's a three-day holiday weekend, we're going to Maryland to see Kat's best friend and her family, AND we're going to see the Chesapeake Bay!

"Restlessness" hardly covers what I'm feeling now, as my legs bounce up and down on my toes at uncontrollable speeds, I'm mainlining coffee (not a good idea, but what the hell), and I'm trying to get all my work done.

While perusing a little "hot all-bird action" over at Birdchick's blog, I found out about something that all beginning birders should strive for: the Bird Author Pose™, inspired by Pete Dunne, gamely copied by Birdchick herself, and unintentionally (and kinda poorly) done by yours truly in Cape May! Thanks to Laura at SomewhereinNJ for taking this photo of the beginning birder:


Note the wind-blown locks, the dorky ID access tag, and the crappy scope and meh-tripod. Beginning to bird indeed! I didn't even do the profile/over-the-shoulder pose, dangit!

I sure hope we get to see some good birds down in Maryland. I'll be sure to take pictures (no, really!).

Baby bird UPDATE!

This afternoon in the courtyard, little robin baby Seymour (Niki named him) was hopping around (didn't see Albert the house sparrow--again, Niki named him too), and I was wondering if he might have been abandoned. Lo and behold, Mama Robin Helen (again, Niki's work) swooped in with a mouthful of earthwormy goodness! How I wish I could've gotten a photo or even video on my phonecam, but it all happened so fast!

Here's another picture of Seymour:

I love that stubby butt!

UPDATE to the UPDATE! For some great photos of baby robins and their speckley breasts, see Birdchick's blog!

See yesterday's adventures with baby birds.

Baby birdies all around!

Niki and I were out in the courtyard at work yesterday afternoon, on break (which of course we stringently and religiously limit to 15 minutes! Really!) (ed. note: well, not really), and we kept hearing this sharp "chip!" sound. It sounded a little high, almost shriek-like, for a cardinal, so I walked around in the direction of the sound.

Here's what I found:
OHMYGODHE'SSOCUTEWILLYOUJUSTLOOKATHIMHE'SPRECIOUS!

Little guy was tiny--probably three inches from tip of the beak to his stubby little bottom. He flew a bit at first, afraid of me, but he landed on one of the tables and sat for me.

SO--as it happens, just this morning I read a post on Julie Zickefoose's blog about what she did when she found a little lonely fledgling, peeping for his mother or father to come find him. I then did what she did, pulling out my Walkman BirdJam and playing a Chipping Sparrow's trilly call. I wasn't sure what kind of bird this was--other than sparrow--so I guess chippy because we had some in the courtyard last year too.

So I played the call--no response. I walked around, blasting the chippy trills at full volume. Nothing.

I was worried. Note that I should've realized at this point that maybe it wasn't a chipping sparrow, but it never occurred to me to question my shaky ID. Go figure.

Suddenly, an adult sparrow appeared on the roof at the edge of the courtyard. I looked up.

HOUSE SPARROW.

DAMMIT!

By now, the cute little baby was chipping away again in his little "mommy help me!" voice.

House sparrow baby? How could you be a house sparrow?!

My loud "Dammit it's a house sparrow!" frightened Daddy HOSP away, but I'm sure he'll come back for Junior. Dammit. I played the house sparrow call for a bit, just in case.

In the meantime, as I walked back to the table where we were snacking (on hummus and fresh carrots and green peppers! And keeping it to fifteen minutes! Really!) (ed. note: yes, the veggies and hummus part is true, but the break has now lasted at least 25 minutes), and there, near the table, is a baby American Robin!

You can't see it in the photo but I love the way their little not-yet-red breasts are colored. Those speckles are so nice; do you suppose they are colored that way so that they mix in with the leaves and the nest better? And will ya look at that stubby little butt?

I love baby birds!

PS--I bet a lot of you recognized that the baby sparrow was a HOSP right off the bat, didn't you?