Permanent Resident Birds in our Neighborhood

     I've noted ten kinds of adaptable, permanent resident birds living in about six acres of our neighborhood.  Some thicket species, including northern cardinals, song sparrows, Carolina wrens and northern mockingbirds, are here because of shrubbery to shelter in, especially at night.  Woodland species, such as blue jays, Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatches and downy woodpeckers are here because of larger trees in the neighborhood.  All these species, except the jays, seek cover for protection and nesting in tree hollows.  All these species of small birds are native to the area, except the one hundred or more house sparrows living here because of shrubs, buildings and bird feeders.  House sparrows raise young in crevices in buildings and shelter at night in shrubbery.  And all these species visit bird feeders, including wrens and mockers on occasion. 
     Our neighborhood is not a wildlife sanctuary, but it does have its wildlife that I know intimately on an almost daily basis.  And the birds here are as interesting as those anywhere.  They have been here for years, but mostly as a pair of each kind, except the house sparrow flock.
     Being brown or gray in plumage, most of these birds are difficult to see because they blend into their surroundings.  Exceptions to that are the red male cardinals, and the blue jays.  Camouflage helps protect creatures from predation.
     All these birds have natural foods in our neighborhood, which is why they are here in the first place.  They all eat invertebrates during the warmer months and feed the same food to their young in their nurseries.  Nuthatches get much invertebrate food from crevices in tree bark, while downies chip into dead wood under bark to get that same sustenance.  Mockingbirds ingest berries during winter, while cardinals, song sparrows and house sparrows consume weed and grass seeds.  And blue jays eat pin oak acorns, as well as seeds, berries and whatever invertebrates they find.  Since each kind of bird has its own food choices, competition for food is reduced among the species.     
     Sometimes a Cooper's hawk or free-roaming house cat stalks these birds, particularly at feeders.  The hawks hide in nearby evergreen trees until a bird is vulnerable.  The cats creep along or crouch on the ground, using shrubbery to hide their movements.  The hawks occasionally catch a small bird, but I've never seen a cat get one in our yard, though house cats can be bad news to small wildlife.
     Male northern cardinals, tufted titmice, song sparrows, northern mockingbirds, Carolina wrens and white-breasted nuthatches are notable for singing in local woods and suburbs on warm days in February.  Downy woodpeckers drum on hollow limbs and roofs, which, for them, is equivalent to song.  Longer periods of daylight each succeeding day and warming temperatures stir the birds' hormones and prepare them for breeding and nesting.  People weary of winter are glad to hear those first songs of nature close to home.         
     These permanent resident birds add much beauty and intrigue to lawns here, as other bird species do throughout the world.  Anyone can see wildlife around home: Just watch for it.