Big birds don’t scare littler birds away

Grackles

Large birds like crows and grackles often get blamed for driving away more desirable birds.  However, that’s rarely the case, unless they’re after the same things. For example, crows foraging in a field for insects such as grasshoppers are no threat whatsoever to seed-eating Cardinals or Goldfinches.

 

Seen a Prothonotary Warbler?    The Prothonotary Warbler (seen here, though he’s shy) has an interesting name – probably stemming from a notary or scribe in the Roman Catholic Church. It’s almost certainly derived from the Latin word “protonotarius” – a Catholic official who wears a yellow hood. (The bird has a yellowish head and chest).

Prothonotary Warbler

 

 

OWEN YOST, in addition to being a blogger, is a licensed Landscape Architect emeritus who has lived and worked in north Texas for over 30 years. He is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Federation of Landscape Architects, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. His office is at Yost87@charter.net in Denton.