This morning I heard a Flicker singing loudly from the top of my telephone pole and in a few minutes three other Flickers gathered. The males were courting a female and it was the most amusing sight. The males spread their tails and boxed first in one direction and then in another before the popular lady and the made the funniest, softest little noise that sounded like they were saying “talky, talky, talky, talky, talky, talky” rather fast and over and over. I watched them thru my field glasses for fully half an hour. They were so much in earnest and their movements were mechanical and awkward.

 

It was fascinating to watch them.  While they were noisily making love, twelve Blue Jays came and “lit” in the same tree, above them, as though attracted by the commotion and it did not take them long to drown out the sounds with their own piercing voices.  However, the Flickers paid no attention to them and were still at their antics long after the Blue Jays went screaming on their way.  A little later in the morning a flock of about 25 Cedar Waxwings came to the yard.  They have been such daily visitors lately that I have grown very much attached to them and their gentle ways.  The Cardinals, Song Sparrows, White throated sparrows, Juncos, Myrtle Warblers, Chickadees and the Robin were also here.