What's going on, Albuquerque?

Feathered Friend

For the past couple of weeks, I have had the pleasure of being entertained every morning and afternoon by a little red finch. He comes up to my office window and goes through a chaotic ritual of pecking the window, fluttering about and chirping his heart out. Not only has he provided amusement for me but, my coworkers come by to check on him and watch his antics. He has been a welcome respite in an otherwise high stress work environment. More intriguing is that he has brought people together who normally would not meet in the typical day to day routine of work.

A quick Google search yielded the probable cause of my little friends harried activity. It is nesting season and finch are among some of the most territorial birds. These little guys are the bird equivalent of the chihuahua. He most likely sees his reflection in the window and does his best to rid his territory of that other, pesky red finch. So everyday we look forward to this guy and his espresso level activity and simply enjoy his company. Someday, nesting season will end and we will have to look for some other form of work place amusement.

Tags: birds

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Comment by mombat on April 3, 2009 at 10:24am: If you add a feeder full of thistle your finch buddy will hang longer. I love the ones in our yard.

Comment by Tricross on April 3, 2009 at 10:34am: Unfortunately the grounds management won't let us hang feeders or anything like that. Thanks for the tip though.

Comment by Tricross on April 3, 2009 at 1:40pm: Oh yea... his name. Of course being IT geeks, we named him "Nano".

Comment by pete on April 3, 2009 at 2:56pm: Here's a guide to your little red finches: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/finchIDtable.html In ABQ you most likely have yourself a proper House Finch there.

Comment by once banned twice shy on April 3, 2009 at 3:04pm: Why don't you put up a decal on your window so the poor bird doesn't go crazy pecking at its reflection? I don't really find watching a bird drive itself crazy amusing, but that's just me, I guess. Same goes for Carrie.

Comment by Tricross on April 3, 2009 at 3:44pm: A couple of folks who have come by to see Nano are avid birders. They don't see any harm in him doing what he is doing. But thanks for your concern, OBTS.

Comment by cathyray on April 3, 2009 at 5:52pm: It's cool. Not like you are luring him in with some beta fish mentality. This is something going on outside the window that makes the old grind a little sunnier. no harm. no foul. The bird is not harming itself.

As for the branch sawing sons a guns, I say point the venom at them!

Comment by AM on April 3, 2009 at 11:42pm: I have a small birdfeeder which attracts lots of beautiful finches. They definitely do squawk at each other a lot and try to monopolize the feeder.

Comment by Ben Moffett on April 4, 2009 at 9:27am: That's a beautiful photo (what great depth of field) with the bird and the natural area in the background. I think it would be interesting to spread black oil sunflower seeds around the base of those two decidious trees (the bosses wouldn't know), bring two or three sets of binoculars into your office to pass around, and watch it feed. You might sneak a plant pot saucer full of water out there, too.

Comment by Adobe Nido Bed & Breakfast on April 4, 2009 at 6:31pm: I think he is afraid his reflection is competition for the girls! When he gets a girlfriend, he'll leave you flat!