{"id":486,"date":"2012-10-22T21:06:17","date_gmt":"2012-10-23T01:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=486"},"modified":"2025-05-13T20:59:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T00:59:01","slug":"cowbirds-in-chipping-sparrow-nests-and-goldenrod-seed-eaters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/cowbirds-in-chipping-sparrow-nests-and-goldenrod-seed-eaters\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on Cowbirds and Chipping Sparrows and Goldenrod Seed Feeders"},"content":{"rendered":"

In two recent posts, 3 Steps to Identifying an Empty Bird\u2019s Nest from a Crabapple Tree <\/a><\/strong>and Identifying Eggshells from an Empty Nest: The Second Mystery! <\/a><\/strong> I said that I thought a cowbird may have laid an egg in a chipping sparrow nest in my crabapple tree.<\/p>\n

A few days later, while reading the archives at Toronto and Southern Ontario Birding, I read a series of posts which describe a pair of chipping sparrows raising their own two chicks and a cowbird chick.<\/strong> I consider this supporting evidence for my theory. Of course, you\u2019re welcome to leave a comment with alternate theories!<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>And in another recent post, Goldfinch on Goldenrod: Both Can Beautify a Natural Shade Garden<\/a><\/strong> I said I wasn\u2019t sure that the goldfinches were eating the goldenrod seeds. Whether they were or not, the juncos certainly are eating them! I watched three feeding on some goldenrod heads I had cut off but left on the grass. There even was a minor squabble when two juncos flew in a chased away three other juncos before settling down to feed. So goldenrod can help provide natural food for our native birds.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n