A New Big Baby Winner

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ATTENTION

Our eyes and ears should be open and alert to the natural wonders that surround us every day. Take time to look out our windows to see the birds that visit us and open our windows to hear them. Walk around whatever space we have to enjoy the birds in nature. Every day, work on improving our powers of observation.

ACCEPTANCE

Nature happens. We cannot MAKE natural things happen (or NOT happen). We can create habitats to encourage natural things to happen around us, but there are no guarantees.

RESPONSIBILITY

Birdfeeding comes with responsibilities to the birds and the environment we share with them. If you are unwilling to accept these responsibilities, you shouldn’t feed the birds. We also have a responsibility to share these natural wonders with the next generation.

August 20, 2012

I used to think that Blue Jay young were the biggest Big Babies! They dwarf other young birds like the chickadees and nuthatches, coming out of the nest big and noisy and so needy!

Young Blue Jay

But this summer, I've had a family of Common Grackles in the yard, and their big whiny young are the new winners of my Big Baby Award!

They follow their parents around begging for food and crying and crying and crying. The high-pitched squawking can go on for 10 minutes at a time. The parents ignore them, as if saying "if you're big enough to follow me around like this, you're big enough to get your own food! Now bug off, junior!"

Congratulations to the young grackles on their new award. Better luck next time, baby jays!

Posted at 10:05 AM in Attention, Feeder Birds, Young Birds | Permalink

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Ellen and Barbara, thanks for stopping by. Interestingly, the grackles have already moved on!

Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | August 23, 2012 at 04:42 PM

Oh this is so familiar Nancy - I've laughed and laughed at the competition for biggest baby here in Ontario, jays and grackles... they are hilarious.

Great photos!

Posted by: Barbara | August 21, 2012 at 08:43 AM

Great pictures! We didn't have any nesting grackles here this year, but I remember having them at our old house. Yes, the grackle fledglings can be pretty obnoxious...

Posted by: Ellen | August 20, 2012 at 10:51 AM

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