Has San Jose cowbird turned into a peeping Tom?
DEAR JOAN: Im not sure I ever expected to be writing you, but this is a little perplexing. For the second summer in a row, a brown-headed cowbird has taken up residence in our backyard and, from dawn to dusk, sits on the top of the bird feeder attached to our picture window. He stares into our family room all day long and watches our comings and goings. If we enter the room, he clearly notices and taps on the window with his beak. His mate is nearby every day, but isnt interactive like the male. Weve read quite a bit about these birds and their parasitic parenting habits (not cool). He emits a hilarious, computer-sounding chirp with every big stretch. We were intrigued enough that I placed a camera next to the bird feeder to observe him up close. Its been fun to watch. I posted a clip on our YouTube channel if you want to take a peek: https://youtu.be/Fbvxd6EK7e0  It seems strange that he is so intent on spending his summer days with us in this manner, not to mention that this is the second summer a cowbird has appeared  we dont know if its the same guy or not. Dave, San Jose  DEAR DAVE: Im afraid that you are being spied on by the CIA  the Cowbird Intelligence Agency. Heaven knows what its collected on you. While the cowbirds actions are entertaining, there is nothing playful about them. The bowing, poking and posturing that is shown on your video are classic cowbird signs of aggression. In other words, Mr. Cowbird thinks hes seeing another cowbird in the reflection of the glass, and hes trying his darnedest to chase the interloper away. This cowbird has claimed your yard and the feeder as his territory, and he doesnt want to share it with another cowbird. And if you find this hypocritical on the cowbirds part, given that the species is notorious for laying eggs in other birds nests and letting them raise the cowbird children, then you arent alone. Even though it appears the bird is spying on you, taking note of your comings and goings, it likely isnt seeing you at all, just changes in the reflection. While there is only a slight chance the cowbird might injure itself tapping on the glass, his attempts to engage his reflection is distracting him from his other birdly duties, which might not be a bad thing, but you might want to move the feeder or reduce the reflectiveness of the window. Save the video, though. For more wildlife, garden and backyard topics, sign up for our new, free Flora+Fauna newsletter. Tony, Lexington, North Carolina  DEAR TONY: There is some evidence that hummingbirds, which have perhaps the best memory of any bird and certainly better than mine, recognize the humans that feed them. Thats not to say they recognize our faces, but they might know our general form and shape. Hummers remember a lot of things, including what flowers theyve visited and how long it will take for those flowers to restock their supply of nectar. They also remember the location of every yard with a feeder and other food. I find that amazing. Use this form to submit questions. Photos should be mailed separately to jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.