We had a new visitor to our feeder today ~ A Chipping Sparrow
The bird population at our 'Bird Seed Cafe' is growing!!
We've had lots of new visitors and I've been trying to snap photos of them so that the kids and I can study them and find them in our bird books. This little fellow is a Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina). They are one of the smallest sparrows and quite often nest in ornamental evergreens which we have tons of right around our feeders! They tend to nest at eye level so you can easily observe their breeding and nesting habits. We're definitely going to have to have a peek around and see if we can spot a nest without touching of course *grin*
You can help these little guys build their nests by leaving clumps of your pet hair after you brush them or even the hair from your own hair brush near your feeder and in places around your backyard. They will pick up the bits and use them as they build their nests :)
Want to hear what their call sounds like? Listen to a clip of it HERE. I have heard this exact song quite often outside the door where I sit at my desk, now I know who it belongs to :)
Here's another nature blog you might be interested in checking out. It's written by a homeschooling family in Newfoundland - the other side of the country! http://ournaturestudy.blogspot.com/ . I'm really enjoying watching both of your blogs and seeing the nature in opposite sides of the country.
..On Blogger of the Week. I'm SO thrilled to learn about your blog. We will LOVE visiting here - it's so interesting. Thank you for posting the great pictures.
I think we may have has this bird at our feeder too! I can never get a good shot with my camera though. I'll have to tell my dd about leaving hair for them. Ever since we read "The Secret Garden", she's felt 'one with the birds'!
