Project FeederWatch: The Personality Beneath the Feathers
BY MARINA DELUCA, GROUP FOR THE EAST END ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATE
Downy woodpecker at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue, photo by Rob DeLuca
Do animals have personalities? This question has been asked by humans for centuries and has received countless answers throughout time. Most pet owners or individuals who work with animals will give a resounding yes when this question is posed, while others are not so sure. Some believe pets have more personality than wild animals or livestock, and some believe that most animals don’t have much personality at all. As someone who has grown up around animals, I would tell you that they all have distinctive personalities; but even so while observing birds for Project FeederWatch, I have been continuously surprised by just how much personality each bird seems to have.
The black-capped chickadees are the fearless scouts, they are curious and engaged. They are often the first birds to appear or reappear after something startles them. They will come land on a feeder even if I am only inches away from it. They don’t have a great deal of bluster but their willingness to be the first bird to fly into a situation shows this humble courage.
Downy female, photo by Rob DeLuca
The downy woodpeckers are the troublemakers, the smart alecks, always looking for someone to mix it up with. Their favorite sparring partners are fellow downy woodpeckers, and always seem to seek each other out, arguing over who has the best perch or whose turn it is on the suet feeder. These feisty creatures are always up to something.
Tufted titmouse, photo by Rob DeLuca
The northern cardinals and house finches have more in common than you might think, they are social, conversational, and bossy. They flit about one another and take over feeders as a group rather than flying in on their own. Each type of sparrow has their own personality as well. The song sparrows are perky and energetic, the white-throated sparrows are chill and joyful, and the elusive fox sparrow is shy and nervous. The white-breasted nuthatch is independent and curious and the tufted titmouse is demanding.
With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping us distant from our friends and family spending time in nature has been such a solace. Take some time in your day to go and sit with the birds, see if you can find their personalities as well. If you enjoy this you can take part in Project FeederWatch, a citizen science program that is run through Cornell Lab of Ornithology and you can do it in your own back yard! You can find more information here.
Check out some real time data collected by Groupies!
