On Tuesday evening, I saw a strange "family" drama on my back patio.  A Song Sparrow was feeding niger seeds from my feeder to a large, very round, grayish songbird with almost no tail-- a newly fledged Brown-headed Cowbird.  No young Song Sparrows were in evidence.  This was interesting but sad.  I enjoy having Song Sparrows in my yard, but I would prefer to see them nurturing young birds of their own species!

               Peter Lev
               Baltimore Bird Club