Oven Bird

Oven Bird Earl Plato


I witnessed in the 1990’s an unusual bird performance deep in both Willoughby Marsh and Marcy Woods while with naturalist Ernie Giles . Henry David Thoreau witnessed the same performance that we saw. His entry in his journal, dated June 7, 1853, provided then some of the first observations of the unusual antics of the ovenbird. He wrote the following, ”… runs from her covered nest so close to the ground under the lowest twigs and leaves, like a mouse, hat I can not get a fair view of her. She does not fly at all. Is it to attract me, or partly to protect herself?” It was deep in Willoughby Marsh that we saw this distinctive trait. Natute writer Teale tells us that this performance of the ovenbird is one of innumerable distraction displays - such as the killdeer’s broken wing diversionary performance - that birds employ to draw away danger from the vicinity of their nests.
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My huge book - The Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS - says that more than 200 species of North American birds utilize some form of feigning to divert attention to themselves and away from their eggs and young in times of peril. Great mothers.
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My interest in this subject has me share the following: A wood thrush on one occasion was observed holding the interest of a blacksnake heading for its nest by engaging in a broken-wing display on a low lying branch. We are told loons will display this same injured wing show if their nest
And the occupants are in danger. Have you seen this? Some small birds flutter like butterflies in front of a predator. I read about “False feeding” where some warblers, woodpeckers and killdeers have been seen
carrying food to places where their nests were not while a predator observed them.
***
I walked the steps at Marcy Woods last week all alone. Something on the Upper Trail was a concern. A large maple had fallen across the trail bringing down three sections of the trail railings. Knowing the owners, Dino DiCienzo and family it will be removed. Fall is a beautiful time in Marcy Woods. I have just completed my power point presentation on the Woods. Contact me at 905-894-2417 or e-mail
Plato1@cogeco.ca if your group is interested.


Oven Bird Earl Plato


I witnessed in the 1990’s an unusual bird performance deep in both Willoughby Marsh and Marcy Woods while with naturalist Ernie Giles . Henry David Thoreau witnessed the same performance that we saw. His entry in his journal, dated June 7, 1853, provided then some of the first observations of the unusual antics of the ovenbird. He wrote the following, ”… runs from her covered nest so close to the ground under the lowest twigs and leaves, like a mouse, hat I can not get a fair view of her. She does not fly at all. Is it to attract me, or partly to protect herself?” It was deep in Willoughby Marsh that we saw this distinctive trait. Natute writer Teale tells us that this performance of the ovenbird is one of innumerable distraction displays - such as the killdeer’s broken wing diversionary performance - that birds employ to draw away danger from the vicinity of their nests.
***
My huge book - The Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS - says that more than 200 species of North American birds utilize some form of feigning to divert attention to themselves and away from their eggs and young in times of peril. Great mothers.
***
My interest in this subject has me share the following: A wood thrush on one occasion was observed holding the interest of a blacksnake heading for its nest by engaging in a broken-wing display on a low lying branch. We are told loons will display this same injured wing show if their nest
And the occupants are in danger. Have you seen this? Some small birds flutter like butterflies in front of a predator. I read about “False feeding” where some warblers, woodpeckers and killdeers have been seen
carrying food to places where their nests were not while a predator observed them.
***
I walked the steps at Marcy Woods last week all alone. Something on the Upper Trail was a concern. A large maple had fallen across the trail bringing down three sections of the trail railings. Knowing the owners, Dino DiCienzo and family it will be removed. Fall is a beautiful time in Marcy Woods. I have just completed my power point presentation on the Woods.