Pam Webb

a writer's journey as a reader

Archive for the tag “Juncos”

20 May 2026
6 Comments

From Dearth to Birth


As dedicated bird and squirrel (by default) fans we enjoy the variety of feathered (and furry) friends that visit our yard.

Juncos, chickadees, doves, nuthatches, sparrows, robins are stock characters while seasonal guest visitors such as warblers, flickers, jays, goldfinches, hummingbirds, grosbeaks, and siskins drop in, adding both drama and entertainment to the landscape.

Sometimes, right around the beginning of May our bird activity suddenly vanishes. So distressing! Well, we know why when suddenly we see moments like in this video:

Snack time!

The birds have been busy at home!

I’m amused how mom bird pulls away for a few seconds to get a couple of bites in before her “toddlers” cue for a handout. I noticed her fledglings are quite capable of feeding themselves but pester her anyway.

Reminds me of my long ago days of my own fledgling feeding times.

Any springtime feathery episodes to share?

Posted in Animals, birds, Family, humor, reflections, Seasons and tagged , , , ,
17 Jul 2023
2 Comments

My Not So Big Year: Junco Journal


Junco Journal

The junco is a common bird, true; however, it has plenty of personality. We learned about juncos this winter when we took to tossing out birdseed under the living room window to avoid trudging in the snow to fill the feeder. Daily a troop of birds ranging from sparrows to doves to juncos would pop by. The consistent crew was a group we referred to as the Jolly Juncos. They would merrily hop about foraging for food in their somber dark hoods and grey suits. They were determined and undeterred in their daily sweep for seed. They helped break the monotony of winter.

In spring we were delighted to find a junco had created a nest in one of my hanging flower baskets.

Leave for a long weekend and surprise!
Quite an artful rendering
Yes, the eggs are tiny
Four eggs!
Mama bird settling in for sitting
Hatchling!
Feed me!
Feed me two!
Dad bird shows up with groceries
Mama bird takes a nest stretch

Unfortunately the birds flew the coop early, no doubt due to the fact that they nested in our patio area and we go through there multiple times a day. I felt terrible until I read about a ornithologist who runs into the same problem when studying juncos. The extra attention needed to band them for tracking can force fledglings to leave the nest early, but the good news is that the survival rate is high. This (I told myself) is what probably happened with our four little nestlings. Mama did return once or twice to the empty nest then disappeared.

I miss having our little junco family as neighbors and wonder if they will return next year.

Posted in Animals, birds, Nature, reflections, summer and tagged ,

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