ML118053741
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult Male - X
- Sounds
- Call
- Playback
- Not specified
Observation details
This is Clark, a completely wild male wbnu that grew accustomed to me near feeders and (after much exposure and patience) regularly grabbed peanuts out of my hand last winter (began when ground was completely covered in snow). As time went on, he began to appear anywhere I was walking within a quarter mile or more of where the initial feeder was. At times, he would land nearby while I was warming up my car. I began to carry peanuts with me constantly as he would linger nearby and chirp for a minute or more if I did not promptly hold my hand out with his treats. One day I had only sunflower seeds and he landed and tossed them about, taking none before flying off (though he regularly eats them out of feeder). The last time he ate out of my hand was in June 2018, and occasionally his mate or children were nearby. As far as i can tell, it is only this single nuthatch that has taken peanuts from my hand, even though the others are very close and watching. As spring progressed, Clark continued to visit the feeders near the house and often landed nearby me in the woods and chirped at me over the summer, but he would not quite take the leap of faith to land in my hand or grab one from it again until today. When he first appeared today, at least 2 other wb nuthatches and a rbnu were nearby... same trees or within 20 feet. When he lands nearby and obviously wants peanuts, he will chirp repeatedly and also respond to any other wbnu calls in the distance. Often walks up and down tree in an effort to get as close to my hand as possible before a short flight, snags a peanut quick as he can, and then takes off... may initially land within a few feet before flying off into forest to stow his nut. He is very cautious and anything "new" to him, like a watch, or holding the camera too close, he is very hesitant and may fly off rather than expose himself to percieved risk.
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 143.44 KB