My hand-tamed Catbird has returned for the third year. I stepped out on the
balcony for my morning squirrel-chase and the C-bird was perched on his
favorite spot observing. As soon as the squirrel departed C-bird headed
straight for me. Didn't eat from my hand on the first try but took the food
(dried grubs) from a few inches away. Second visit though he ate contentedly
from my hand just like last year. Date of return last year: May 13. I
suppose he could have shown up yesterday since I wasn't here to notice.

Speaking of hand-feeding, if you want the experience but don't have the
patience, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens near Toronto. The Arboretum is
great for birding and hiking and the B.C. Chickadees will mug you. I wasn't
aware of this on my visit last month and all I had with me was some Nature
Valley peanut bars. Some of the Chickadees accepted this, others pecked at
it and flew off. One though, looked up at me (not easy to know if you've
made eye contact with a Chickadee), pecked at the stuff a couple of times,
walked to the end of my little finger, looked up at me again, pinched my
middle finger, and flew off. Hard not to anthropomorphize this into a
comment on the cuisine.

A bit later I encountered a Downy Woodpecker couple. The male flew right to
my hand. Fortunately the bird was very considerate and didn't start
hammering, but carefully broke off a chunk and flew off with it.

fdp

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Fred Pierce (DNRC)- 
Mid-Atlantic Aviation on the Web - http://www.avialantic.com
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