Sweet Little Nuthatch

 

About a year ago I slowly beckoned little birds to come to my hand for seed. This spring nesting season arrived & they took to the trees to nest and feast on insects, (all but three birds that is). Now that nesting season is over my little flock is slowly growing. 

I think this sweet little female nuthatch was born this year, her feathers are all in place, where as some of the older birds have been molting for a month and look like they need their feathers combed ;-). 

This one fluttered about me for two weeks before she landed, before she felt safe. Now she flies to me more than all the rest.

They take a seed and fly off to eat it, or more often they hide it in the bark of a tree for later. Yesterday I saw her tuck a seed under bark and break off a tiny bit of bark to cover it. I had never seen that done before, clever. 

They are so cute hanging upside down in trees or my roof, short little tail, long beak, fast as can be, top of the pecking order, i am guessing because their beaks are twice as long as the others. Meaning the chickadees usually let the nuthatches get a seed first and the nuthatches make sure of that by chasing them off.

Female because her crown is gray, the males crown is black. There is a male that comes to me. He is still cautious about taking a seed. Interesting to find that he is above her on the pecking order and she waits and quivers until he finally takes a seed.

I love learning about them up close. Things i would never know from watching them in the trees or even at a feeder. 

I have experienced that going outside, whether on my porch, lawn or forest, many times a day, standing like a tree, arm and hand outstretched, waiting for the little birds to take seed, brings alignment to the energy in my body with a mix of peace and joy.
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