Birds

[brucefan]

The last couple of days the birds in my yard have been going crazy chasing each other.Anyone know whats going on?

[XemaSab]

1. What kind of birds?

:shrug:

[brucefan]

3. Not sure

They are black speckled birds.I live in Philadelphia and they are very prevalent in the fall months

[XemaSab]

7. Probably starlings

Is it like one bird chasing another bird, or groups of birds moving around?

If it's the first, they're probably arguing over food.

If it's the second, they're probably grouping up after the breeding season.

[haikugal]

2. Last Week

Robins were aggressively chasing each other and Jays were working over the Mocking Birds. One Mocker hid between flower pots on the deck until it was safe. I was surprised to see the Robins this late. Our Cat birds are migrating...and I saw a late Monarch butterfly the other day. Odd. I have no idea if it means anything, just things I noticed.

[horseshoecrab]

4. Question... and possible answer

brucefan,

Do you or any nearby neighbors have a grapevine?

My next door neighbor has one and this is the time of year when grapes still left on the vine are fermenting. Plenty of bird arguments out there for the past couple of weeks now. Birds arriving in large groups, getting trashed, squawking and chasing each other. They love their "wine" and get very clingy about their spot on the vine!

If not a grapevine, then something like a holly tree with its red berries might make them act that way, especially if the berries are in short supply.


horseshoecrab

[LiberalEsto]

5. Pokeberries

fermenting pokeberries make them crazy

[horseshoecrab]

9. That makes sense too

Don't have pokeberries near me that I know about, but that definitely makes sense. Any berry that can ferment is fair game for birdie white lightnin' this time of year.


horseshoecrab

[brucefan]

6. That must be it!

They are plastered.Theres's a grapevine growing on a fence near a new shopping center.(excuse me I have to tell some puzzled neighbors)

[horseshoecrab]

8. Cool...

My neighbor and I sat outside one late afternoon recently, watching them. While we had a beer the birds went nuts for their vino. Sparrows, Robins, Blue Jays, Starlings, and Mockingbirds. Quite a show. Loved it!

Enjoy it! It seems like Ma Nature's way of thanking the birds for eating insects and all the other cool things they do.

:toast:


horseshoecrab