Category Archives: Backyard Birds

Been a bit under the weather, this month, hence the lack of birdy delight. It’s hard to follow birds around, when you’re cooped up indoors. But I did get to watch Loudenstein’s Clorox-white summer feathers moult away, to reveal his grubby winter cap:

Loudenstein’s looking awfully mucky, these days. C’mere, boy. Let me wipe your head.

Poor Loudenstein. The feeder was empty, when these pictures were taken. That’s the best way to make him pose for portraits: come up to the window, as if I mean to feed him, then snap away to my heart’s content. He’ll wait pretty much indefinitely, as he knows the food’s coming…at some point.

I think he was getting a bit annoyed, here. A moment later, he puffed himself up, and shook tiny water droplets and feather particles all over my camera.

I hate to say it, but I’ve become fond of Loudenstein. He’s a very irritating bird. He comes here ALL THE TIME, eats ALL MY BIRDSEED, and pecks ALL MY CROWS. He wakes me up first thing in the morning, begging for food. Sometimes, he takes a nap in my planter, and makes funny noises in his sleep. But he’s not entirely dreadful. He stays out of my bedroom, unlike certain sparrows I could mention. He doesn’t (usually) shit on my deckchair. And if I say “Shut up, Loudenstein,” he usually shuts up, at least for a moment. If I talk to him, he stays and listens. Not, of course, that I have much to say to him. I say “Have you been a good bird?”, sometimes, and “Don’t bawk; Breaking Bad‘s about to start” — well, I suppose I’ve had all the use I’ll get, out of that one. That’s over and done. But something else’ll be along, and I won’t want him bawking during that, either. Oh, and once, I told him about a tasty-looking recipe I’d just found online, and speculated aloud that it might taste better than birdseed. I went on to inform him, a little superciliously, that he wouldn’t be finding out. He stared, and made a weird little yip, in his throat.

Gulls live a long time — well, thirty years, or so. I wonder how old Loudenstein is? I hope he’s not set to knock off, soon. I’ll miss him, when he’s gone. (Unless, of course, I knock off first, or move away. Then, he’ll…well, I can’t imagine he’ll miss me, but he’ll have to find somewhere else to eat.)

The wee gulls are growing more independent, by the day, though I’m not seeing much sign of intelligence, in either one. Loudenstein’s been trying to whistle them up to my balcony, to enjoy the feeder, but they don’t understand. He shrieks; they peep back. He squeals; they peep some more. He runs up and down the railing, flapping his wings; they cock their heads at him, and run around in circles. He stamps his feet; they flap off over the water. I say “That’s fine, Loudenstein; more food for you.” Loudenstein doesn’t understand. I wonder if my voice annoys him as much as his annoys me….

These gulls are not being affectionate, rubbing their beaks together. Rather, the young gull is trying to trigger a regurgitation reflex, by poking the red spot on its father’s beak, so it can get a free meal. Charming, eh?

I call this the “buh” face, when gulls point their beaks straight at me. They look so dim, so gormless, I almost expect to see a question mark materialise over their heads, like on a cartoon. The effect is even more pronounced, when they cock their heads to one side.

Buh:

Gulls always look extra-stupid, from this angle. I think it’s the positioning of their eyes: it makes them look cross-eyed, and eternally perplexed.

And a sparrow, because who doesn’t love a good sparrow?

This sparrow looks like it’s listening for something…. Maybe it is. Soon, the house sparrows will go away, for the winter. I’ll miss their chirpy song, but my birdseed costs will be cut nearly in half.