With this heat wave on I’ve been drinking a lot more water, so too, I believe, are the birds who visit the puddle. Have you ever considered how difficult drinking would be with a beak instead of lips? Here is what I’ve learned about how birds manage to drink. “Different birds each have their own method for […]
Consider the Robin
As I walk down the path towards the puddle, I disturb a small flock of Robins. I have been thinking a lot about Robins lately. It started when I tried to sketch a Robin from memory. I chose the most familiar bird I knew, but as I began, I realized I had very little idea of what Robins […]
Who am I?
In the last post I focused on young Starlings and Robins, but they aren’t the only babies I’ve seen at the puddle. Can you guess who is nesting in the hollow log? (Press on the photo to make it bigger) Hint: It’s not a bird. Watch this video to find out. (If you’re not able to see […]
Rockin’ Robin vs Sassy Starling
Here is a video of an interaction today between a juvenile Starling and a juvenile Robin. It is a fascinating mix of behaviors– curiosity, aggression, mimicry, and befuddlement. I think this would have been a totally different encounter had it been adults. Press the post’s title, “Rockin’ Robin…” if you can’t see the video. Since we are on the […]
Noisy Starlings
Today I was struck by the noise a flock of European Starlings was making in the treetops around the puddle. It didn’t stop once for the whole hour I sat there. I recorded their calls on this video. (If the video does not show up in your email just press the title- Noisy Starlings) You have to […]
An Unusual Visitor
Things felt kind of quiet. Yes, a Sparrow came to bathe. But mostly I sat watching an empty puddle. Just as I was deciding whether to check my email or start an online game of scrabble, a woman with two shopping bags walked deliberately up to the fence next to the water. She reached into […]
And the Winner is…
In the last post I queried why Commom Grackles puffed themselves up the way they did (video post 6/26/15) And the reason is…wait for it… we have two winners…#1 aggression and #2 chirping (also attracting a mate, but here it was the other two). The answer to the Bonus Question- “From what part of the […]
Common Grackle
There are a lot of Common Grackles in Central Park, and it is a frequent puddle visitor. The male is an aggressive bully. Today I saw him do something unusual. Watch the video and see if you can guess why he is puffing up like an angry black balloon. I’ve given you three choices. As you watch, […]
MY PUDDLE
To be totally frank, it’s not a puddle but it’s not much bigger either. It’s a watering hole, not in Africa, but in Central Park near the West Side entrance on 81st street. Park designers created this spot, surrounded by a tangle of shrubs and trees, to attract urban wildlife for a drink or a dip. They […]
A View From My Puddle 