There are a number of rather common birds that frequent the shrubbery, bushes and brushy areas around towns and busy neighborhoods. These are the same birds that piqued my interest in birds when I was about 7 or 8 years old. After all, they were easier for me to see because they were “about eye level” with this youngster. It was the catbirds, cardinals, and sparrows that were easiest for me to see because they weren’t tree top “specks” that required binoculars to identify.

Every bird species, as you know, builds its characteristic nest and chooses similar locations to build them. Eastern, and even mountain bluebirds, will nest in cavities. Cardinals, maybe our most welcome feeder visitors, like to skulk in the shadows of low, thick vegetation. In fact, they are very crepuscular, most active shortly before dark and in the first light of morning. Not only do they hide and feed in low shrubs, etc., they almost always choose the same areas to build their nests. When multiflora rose was first introduced as a great wildlife food (now considered an invasive plant) the cardinal populations increased. The thick, twisted thorny branches were ideal areas to hide and conceal a nest. The rose hips also provided a readily available food source.

Another bird that took advantage of these roses was the mockingbird. It too nests in these low shrubs and other low, dense bushes. I seldom find either a cardinal or a mockingbird nest higher than 7 or 8 feet from the ground. Mockingbirds were a southern bird species. With our less harsh winters and our plantings of holly bushes (trees) and multiflora roses, they were able to adapt rather well to areas north of their normal breeding range.

In my childhood along Main Road in East Weissport, my neighbor had a very large blue spruce tree. I used to watch catbirds fly in and out of the lower limbs, and carefully, when I felt that the adults were feeding, I would search for the nest. A pair of catbirds nested in the same tree and I found their nest at almost the same location each year. Unfortunately, quite a few catbirds fall victim to cars since they are flitting across the roads at only a few feet above the pavement. They live their lives in the understory of forests and woodlots.

Song sparrows, which spend the entire year in our region, are these “low” birds as well. They feed on the ground, in winter, scratching for seeds scattered on the frozen ground. In summer, you can find them in the same surroundings but gobbling down insects. Their nests are carefully concealed and since they are so low to the ground they need to be. Some snakes, and nest raiders such as raccoons are looking for their eggs or their young.

As winter approaches, all of the above mentioned birds will remain, except the catbird. Mockingbirds will seek out small dried fruits to eat, while cardinals’ and song sparrows’ diets become almost all seeds. As the leaves drop from the shrubs and bushes, look for their nests, low in the tangles and you’ll be surprised that you never knew they were close by all summer.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: ______ sparrows will be arriving in our region shortly to spend the winter here, after breeding in regions to our north. A. chipping B. Savannah C. white-throated D. swamp

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Unfortunately, about 50 percent of bird eggs and young fill the bellies of chipmunks and squirrels.

Nature hint: Since great horned owls begin egg laying in January, start listening for their calls about mid-October. They are most vocal just before dark and before dawn. Their calling is to attract mates and allow them to pair bond in anticipation of nesting time.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.