Crows are exceedingly smart, timberdoodles are back and cardinals just may be nesting already. Those are some of the interesting email topics I have received recently.

Don from Laconia wrote to say he has observed some interesting behavior from crows that hang around his yard. When the crows find a piece of food that is too big or hard, they carry the food to a nearby puddle and dip the food into the water to soften it and make it more manageable.

It has long been known that crows and other corvids, such as ravens and blue jays, have a high degree of intelligence. There is a video on YouTube with close to 10 million views that shows an experiment with a crow figuring out how to access food from tubes using water displacement. The pieces of food are floating on water in a tube just out of reach of the crow’s beak. In a series of tests, the crow has to figure out how to raise the level of water enough to reach the food. The crow eventually aces all of the tests and gets to the food each time.

Robert from Sullivan wrote to say that his first timberdoodles arrived on March 9, which is earlier than in previous years. Timberdoodles, of course, are another word for American woodcock, a small “shorebird” found in the New England woods. Woodcock usually arrive in mid-March and may be seen at dusk performing their aerial displays in fields with the hopes of attracting a mate. It is one of the highlights of the March birding calendar in New England.

Robert’s email referring to timberdoodles got me thinking about some other birds with interesting nicknames: baldpate for American wigeon, Jenny wren for house wren, marsh hawk for northern harrier, great northern diver for common loon, and Indian hen for pileated woodpecker. Which ones am I missing? Send me an email and let me know. 

Robert, as well as Patti from Westmoreland, wrote in about eastern bluebirds. Patti was happy to see them at her feeders, and Robert wrote that he “loves the color blue in nature.” I agree with that for sure. Every once in a while, I’ll find a bluebird that really pops in the landscape.

Susan wrote in asking about cardinals and when it is safe to prune hedges, clear brush or otherwise work in areas known to be home to a cardinal nest. Depending on the individual cardinal pair, the birds may start nesting anywhere from early March to April. The breeding season, which usually includes two broods, can go into late August or even early September. After mid-March, it is always a good idea to be certain that there is not an active cardinal nest before doing pruning or trimming for the spring.

Cardinals rarely reuse nests from previous years. Just because there is a nest present doesn’t necessarily mean it is a new or active nest. Keep an eye on the area for cardinals going in and out of the brush to determine whether it is safe to do the pruning. 

Thanks to all who wrote in. Thought-provoking banter about birds is always a good thing.