Brown-headed Cowbirds

On 24 April 2016, I took and posted a photo of this same small, bare-branched tree/shrub with about 50 Tree Swallows perched on the branches. On 15 May 2016, I was back at the same spot and saw several of these Brown-headed Cowbirds perched there instead. Four of the birds (male and female) were doing what Cowbirds do - stand with their heads pointed upwards. I have added an old, previously-posted photo of a small Clay-coloured Sparrow feeding/raising a large baby Brown-headed Cowbird, in a comment box below. An article from 10 September 2015 states that research shows that female Cowbirds "return to take a look-see. This way the female cowbirds can assess which host nests were most successful, and avoid laying future eggs in those that failed." From NatureWorldNews.

www.natureworldnews.com/articles/16586/20150910/female-co...

"'Brood parasitic' means that it lays its eggs in the nests of other small passerines (perching birds), particularly those that build cup-like nests. The Brown-headed Cowbird eggs have been documented in nests of at least 220 host species, including hummingbirds and raptors. The young cowbird is fed by the host parents at the expense of their own young. Brown-headed Cowbird females can lay 36 eggs in a season. More than 140 different species of birds are known to have raised young cowbirds."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown-headed_Cowbird

Will add the report and final list of 63 species, compiled by our leader, Howard Heffler. As usual, I didn't see some of the species, as I don't use binoculars and most birds were very, very distant. Thanks so much for a great day, Howard, and thanks so much for the ride, Andrew! Both much appreciated.

"Fourteen participants showed up by 8:30 AM at Anderson LRT and we car pooled in four vehicles to Basin #1 at Frank Lake. From the entrance parking lot we had good views of two Short-eared Owls hunting over the marsh. They are such beautiful flyers. We drove to the outfall and walked to the blind and back. We then drove to Basin #2 where we lucked into a couple of distant White-winged Scoters. An Eastern Kingbird was a first-of-year for me. Next was Brant Lake where the highlight was Black-bellied Plovers. It was (relatively) warm and sunny all day with a bit of wind in the afternoon. Thanks to the regulars and to the newbies for coming out. And thanks to Andrew Hart for eBird listing.

Snow Goose 1
Canada Goose 195
Trumpeter Swan 1
Tundra Swan 4
Gadwall 144
American Wigeon 6
Mallard 300
Blue-winged Teal 4
Cinnamon Teal 3
Northern Shoveler 267
Canvasback 1
Redhead 24
Ring-necked Duck 2
Lesser Scaup 140
White-winged Scoter 2
Bufflehead 8
Ruddy Duck 290
Red-necked Grebe 4
Eared Grebe 230
Western Grebe 17
Double-crested Cormorant 25
American White Pelican 64
Great Blue Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 5
White-faced Ibis 13
Northern Harrier 2
Swainson's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Sora 2
American Coot 500
Black-necked Stilt 1
American Avocet 16
Black-bellied Plover 2
Killdeer 3
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Willet 10
Marbled Godwit 8
Wilson's Snipe 2
Wilson's Phalarope 1
Franklin's Gull 1022
California Gull 185
Black Tern 1
Common Tern 3
Forster's Tern 16
Rock Pigeon 2
Short-eared Owl 3
Merlin 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Black-billed Magpie 4
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 20
Marsh Wren 1
European Starling 10
American Pipit 2
Clay-colored Sparrow 4
Vesper Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 16
Red-winged Blackbird 72
Western Meadowlark 4
Yellow-headed Blackbird 280
Brewer's Blackbird 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 9
House Sparrow 1

Howard Heffler"