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Yesterday I saw the first Brown Headed Cowbird of the season in our little court. I doubt that we get more than one pair per season, which then hang out all season, and that is good, if true. I'll explain a bit below the squiggle
The brown headed cowbird is a brood parasite. It lays its eggs in the nests of others and then abandons them. The eggs are usually hatched by the unwitting foster parents, and because they grow faster and larger, feed them preferentially. The nest owner's own hatchlings suffer and even die as a result.
They originally were birds of the plains which followed bison herds around, so this was a perfect "nesting strategy" for them because they were nomadic. Unfortunately, European settlers cleared a lot of land and introduced horses and cattle damn near everywhere, which facilitated the expansion of the cowbirds' range to include damn near everywhere as well. Because it was native to the continent and simply spread, it is protected in a great many areas even though it puts many other species at risk.
So, what is happening in your neck of the woods, and just where is that? Post your observations in the comments. I'll be in and out all day, so I might not get to the comments right away, but I will get to them.