Over the weekend, I spent some time in the backyard teaching myself the
intricacies of digiscoping.  There was a  flurry of hummingbird activity
throughout the yard, attracted to the butterfly bushes, cardinal flowers,
honeysuckle vines now in full bloom, as well as the feeder.  I noted that
hummers appear to expend more energy chasing each other than pursuing
nectar.  I was able to get a decent picture of a male perched in the tree
with its ruby-red throat prominently displayed.

I also observed a Song Sparrow with sweat dripping from its crown.  The poor
overworked bird was frantically flying about in search of  insects in a
desperate attempt to appease the voracious appetites of two fledgling
cowbirds in tow.  This is my second experience this year locally with
cowbird nest predation.  The first was earlier this summer when I observed
an oversized cowbird chick in a nest being fed by a diminutive Yellow
Warbler.  I hope these two episodes are not an indication of an expanding
problem in this area.    

Tom Marko
Olney, MD
Montgomery Bird Club (MOS)
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