Love at the feeder

So this looks like a typical 'Sunday-morning with the Sparrow Mafia' picture.  But it ain't.  Let me explain.

That morning as me (somewhat) and my stuffed guys (Chocolate Moose and Farty Hippo, to a vastly lesser extent) woke up, I looked down from the window to the back porch.  I saw Chip nibbling up seeds and near him were what I thought typical residents of the Mafia- a male and female sparrow.  I watched them seem to kiss, and thought, "Well, that's certainly one for the books"- but it wasn't QUITE what they were doing, as I found out later.

As you look at the picture above, you notice three "hogs at the trough" and the one sitting on the gate.  That is the female in question.  For whatever reason, she would not go to the feeder...

...even though, as you see here, other females did.  But as I watched, there was one male fighting his way into the group...

Here's a shot of him landing on the fence...

But what he would do is, get a mouthful, fly away, and then land on the fence...

And when he landed, his mate would come up...

...and he was FEEDING her.


This was what they had been doing on the ground as well!  I have no idea what it is that makes her in need of feeding, but I certainly saw that he was willing to fight for a spot on the feeder to get her some.  After weeks of watching Chip, Red, and Stubby NOT getting along, this was a sweet story that makes it all worthwhile.


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UPDATE:  More Sunday pics.

While having lunch on the patio, I heard scratching on the neighboring paper birch.  Two little Woodys making a snack.

Meanwhile, during an ill-advised walk (though not as ill-advised as Saturday- a story for another time), Mr Monarch trailed me through the Swamp.

Beating the heat, taking a nap

Yep, scared another heron.  Sorry, Heather...

Quite a bit of "foresting going on lately... But you HAD to take the 'secret' from the entrance to the ravine trail?  Really?

New English drama- "Rabbits of Ground Hog Road"

And a quick snap of Stubby, so he don't get his wittle feelings hurt...