We typically have several Gray Catbirds around the yard, but they tend to be pretty secretive and I think they nest in our red cedars. I have most often seen them feeding on arrowwood viburnum and beautyberry berries. I don’t know how many are in the yard, but I suspect several pairs.
However, this year we have a pair that’s hanging around a clump of 3 dense winterberry bushes about 20 ft from the patio, seemingly unbothered by our presence. From the bushes, they go back and forth to a nearby small water fountain for a drink and quite regularly to a nearby grape jelly feeder. They seem to spend most of their time in a relatively small area, close to the patio, which is unusual.
I understand that they often nest in dense bushes, relatively close to the ground. Maybe they’ll nest in the winterberry clump!
Other regular visitors to the grape jelly/orange feeder include; baltimore oriole, red-bellied woodpecker (quite often), house finch, and occasionally a rose-breasted grosbeak or blue jay. Robins have not been visiting, although in the past they have.
I opened up my Great Crested Flycatcher nest box, as the starlings seem to have lost interest, and the flycatchers are calling nearby. We’ll see how things develop.
I’m waiting for the next big push of warblers, maybe early next week.
Dan Getman, Kirksville, northeast MO
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