Eurasian Tree Sparrow - "Double Chirp"

Whilst cutting a video from the live stream of the 25th of March, I noticed two other types of chirping of the Sparrow. I thus once again examined the frequencies using audacity. The results, I find, are quite interesting.

The plots below depict the frequencies for what I call the "double chirp" and the "single low tone chirp". The video below will help you understand what I mean. At the beginning while the Sparrow is in the nest you can hear the single low tone chirp and afterwards while it is perched in the hole, you can heat three double chirps.



These single and double chirps can also be seen in the image below.



The plot below depicts the difference the frequencies of a double chirp (green line) and a single low tone chirp (blue line).




The plot below depicts the difference the frequencies of a double chirp (blue line) and the cumulative frequencies of the video above.



The plot below depicts the frequencies obtained by examining a single double chirp (blue line) and three double chirps (green line).


Finally, the plot below depicts the difference between the frequencies obtained from three double chirps (red line), the single low tone chirp (blue line) and the frequencies obtained from other chirps in the past (17.03 and 12.03).

The Usual Suspects Visiting Nesting Box #2

After a second Kamin day (the technicians never finished installing the stove on the first Kamin day, and despite a second day will have to come back again) during which there was much human movement in the garden, the bird did not come to visit for two days.

Now things seem to have gone back to normal, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow went back to its nest in the first box and birds paid the second box a number of visits. This morning the list of usual suspects has gone up from 1 (Blue Tit) to 3 bird species...

Here below snapshots recorded by the video server.

At 8:14:15 (at 1 second intervals):




At 8:15:19 (at 1 second intervals):

Interesting Fact of the Week #1

The fluttering of the Tree Sparrow gave rise to a traditional Japanese dance, the Suzume Odori, which was depicted by artists such as Hokusai.


(Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Suzume_Odori.jpg)

(In order not to loose old "interesting fact of the week" postings, I have decided to post them, which I am aware is not an elegant solution. The advantage:...when you see such a post, you know that I have gotten around making the weeks pass in my blog...which so far has not really followed any calender known to man!...i.e. a new interesting fact is posted under the assigned section)

Reduced Visibility!

Unfortunately the visibility in nesting box #1 has decreased dramatically over the last day. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow has been indeed extremely diligent and has (as perhaps expected) added twigs to the upper section of the nest.

Although I am extremely happy that the birds have picked the box as nesting location, I am bit worried as to future visibility conditions.

With some luck, the second nesting box will also have guests...of another species!

I will post a video of the nest progress later today or in the coming days.

Morning Activity

This morning, whilst getting ready for work, I noticed much commotion in the garden which to my surprise came only from one little bird. Normally 4-6 birds sit on each tree in the garden and thus contribute to the general pleasant "chirpy atmosphere".

Three Eurasian Tree Sparrows were perched on the tree and on the wooden fence (1 on the tree, 2 on the fence) in the vicinity of the nesting box. One of these was chirping non-stop. Then one flew to the hole without entering the box though, and then flew to the tree again. It was difficult to keep track of who was chirpy and who was not, but at any rate, a one point one of the Sparrow started chasing another one around in the tree whilst the third was still perched on the fence next to the box in a fluffed-up posture.

??? It did not look like a male chasing a male but rather a male chasing a female, but then again...what was the other bird doing then perched next to the box waiting ??? I am, to say the least confused.

Yesterday, no "internal" visits where paid to the nesting box, only "external" ones, I wonder if what I witness are territorial disputes or rather displays. I must read up more to understand. I will let you know if I discover anything worth mentioning and which resolves my current mystery!

First Visitors in Nestin Box #2!

...I had been warned that the colour camera was not really going to give colour images in the nesting box...but I wanted to give it a go anyway!....and I did not want to have a nesting box sitting in my basememt getting bored...

So here are snapshots (low quality) of the very first visitor: a Blue Tit...










The motion detection feature is really quite neat!!

What has happened so far in Nesting Box #1

Nest building was engaged with much vigor during the last week.



I had the impression that in addition to the standard diligent Sparrow which has been working on the nest, another Sparrow examined the nest a couple of time. As already posted on the 19th of March, I believed it to be a female, but I am not so sure anymore...

Yesterday it rained quite heavily. Strangely enough, the nesting box is not visited as much on weekends. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow did pay one visit though despite it being a Saturday, and despite the heavy rain. In the video below (in which I believe the Sparrow is giving another display), one can tell that the bird is quite wet.