Tuesday, 11 July 2023

Re: [cobirds] Re: A Goldfinch challenge for David Leatherman

Nothing on the surface of the bricks, but limestone (calcium carbonate) is the chief ingredient of mortar.  There is also sand.
Thanks to all who suggested answers!  

On Monday, July 10, 2023 at 6:31:41 PM UTC-6 Courtney R wrote:
Are there possibly calcium deposits in or
on the bricks? I just read a relevant question in Sibley's bird trivia game today regarding why birds eat paint chips off of buildings, and wonder if the same thing is happening here and that they are doing it to obtain calcium. See below:
image0.jpeg



Thank you,
Courtney (Lafayette, CO) 

Courtney Rella, PhD

On Jul 6, 2023, at 15:19, Steve B <stevebo...@gmail.com> wrote:


I think Paula and Dave are right, but primarily the birds are consuming grit, tiny bits of sand to help digest seeds and the chitinous shells of insects.   I've often seen hummingbirds go to ground, sometimes standing on the surface of the sidewalk or gravel driveway to collect sand with their tongues.  I first saw this long ago at the hummingbird aviary at the Desert Museum in Tucson where the closed environment makes it easy to see this behavior throughout the day.

Steve Bouricius
Peaceful Valley

On Tue, Jul 4, 2023 at 4:32 PM Dave <daleat...@msn.com> wrote:
David et al,
Paula might be right.  Other possibilities are small ants, spider hatchlings, clover mites, other tiny arthropods.  Let us know if you figure it out.

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins (currently in Lamar)

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 4, 2023, at 9:35 AM, Paula Hansley <plha...@gmail.com> wrote:


What about getting little pieces of grit from the mortar or brick for their gizzards??? !!!

Paula Hansley 
Louisville 

On Tue, Jul 4, 2023 at 9:04 AM dgulb...@gmail.com <dgulb...@gmail.com> wrote:
Why would a Goldfinch cling to a brick wall for a minute and a half?
At 7 AM when I walked into my garden I was treated to a brilliant Amer.
Goldfinch male who flew directly from my Bachelor Button patch to the
side of my yellow-brick garage.  The brick has an extremely rough texture,
so it was easy to cling to.  Although there were lots of "gnats" in the air,
there weren't any near the wall, which is protected by a 3' overhang.  I expected
the bird to immediately move on, but he lingered and lingered, making little
pecking movements at the brick and perhaps at the mortar.  It came to mind
that Amazon parrots peck up clay, but it seems unlikely that 80-year-old mortar
would be digestible.  Maybe a small spider or spider eggs?  After the bird left,
I examined the wall but could see absolutely nothing. If it was a small spider, how
extraordinary that the bird saw it in the shade from 25 yards away.
P.S. to gardeners: Bachelor Buttons are incredibly easy to grow, and they self-sow,
so there's almost no work involved in having a patch.  Bees, including some native
bees, love it, and American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, and House Finches
will come to it from time to time for the developing seeds.
David Gulbenkian, Crown Hill area, Jeffco

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