From the Contact Station: Four and Twenty Blackbirds All Over the Place

Well, our contact station is still shuttered. We miss everyone, but we are thankful for the thoughtful consideration the staff at Ridgefield is giving to provide a safe place for all. Meanwhile, like you, we are visiting the refuge now that the auto tour is open. Things are jumping, literally and figuratively. I took a morning and an evening tour one day recently. There was a lot more singing in the morning but, with far less traffic, I had a rabbit on the road in the later evening.

Usually, by the end of March into the first of April, I start listening to for Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, (YHBL) to arrive. This year, because of the closure, I missed that event, but I was absolutely thrilled on my first visit to find five males perched up on the cattails around #3 on the Auto Tour, “singing” like crazy. YHBL start vocalizing even before hatching. When first hatched, they produce weak, high-pitched Food Calls which become louder and deeper with age. It takes a while for a young YNBL to develop its songs and it is not until its second spring that the males will have perfected their songs for breeding season. Songs are generally restricted to birds on territories during the breeding season. The males have two different song types and six calls while the female produces one song and four calls. All the songs and calls have a function. For instance, the Scream Call of the female is given in response to predators or to disturbed nestlings. The Check Call is a loud single note used during feeding and in flight. But the Chuck-uck flight call is used during sexual chasing and when establishing territories by the male. There is also a Hawk Alarm Call which is a harsh, raucous rattle given by males. They also use it in territorial disputes and during nest-site displays. Males deliver songs about 1/minute during breeding season. It is a noisy place out there in the wetlands. They are building their nests in the deeper part of the lakes. Males arrive first to set up territories. Nest building starts after the female selects a breeding site within a male’s territory. Here in WA, probably based on the eastern WA population, the mean date for egg laying is May 18 and can continue for about a month. Chicks will hatch about 12-14 days after the first egg is laid.

Meanwhile, our Red-winged Blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, (RWBL) are busy around the edges of the Yellow-headed Blackbird territory. This abundant blackbird easily nests in proximity to the YHBL but does like a bit shallower water. However, they will nest almost anywhere, picking wetland, upland, parks, suburban habitats and using a wide variety of substrates depending on what is available. The vocal repertoire of the RWBL is extensive. Males and females have an array of calls, a few used by only one or the other. The males sing the familiar Konk-la-ree, while the females sing with various interpretations, but I like the Chit-chit-chit-chit-teer-teer. Suffice to say, they add to the chorus. There are a variety of male and female courtship calls. The male courtship call can be highly directional which allows him to focus on a particularly interesting female. A female’s chit song often immediately responds to a male song, causing an overlap, called dueting. Chits from the female will also lessen male harassment when entering a territory or encourage nest guarding. The Hawk Alarm Call is described as Cheer but can be given whenever a predator comes by including racoons or crows. The highest-pitched, thinnest versions are given for hawks only, especially for Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks. The array of calls includes Check, Chuck, Chick, Chonk, Chink and Peet plus Chatters and Screams from females. There has been a lot of study of Red-winged Blackbirds and their vocalizations. There is a whole conversation happening out there. Migrating males usually arrive mid-February, although we have overwintering populations, followed by the females. Eastern WA nest building starts in late March. That activity takes about 3 days on average. Females can delay egg laying but once done, incubation averages 12 days. Likewise, nesting lasts about 12 days with the last young leaving the nest around late June.

Do stop and sit a while around the auto tour #3. See if you can hear the different songs and calls of both these blackbirds. If you are lucky enough to get a Red-tailed Hawk come through, listen for how the conversation changes.

-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer & Photos