Jazzy Reech

There has been a positive side effect that comes along with our slow start to get things planted on the farm.  Well, actually, it is a positive side effect that is a result of our using a smaller area of our farm to grow veggies and raise poultry.  We have more area that is welcoming to wild birds at the Genuine Faux Farm. 

One of our returning friends had a strong presence at our farm in 2020.  We had multiple pairs of Dickcissels on the farm that year:

"One of our pleasant surprises this year has been the contingent of Dickcissels that have decided our farm is a good place to nest this year.  We realize that we have had Dickcissels other years on the farm.  But, unlike many birds, Dickcissels do not go back to the same nesting sites year after year.  Depending on weather and available food, they may opt for one site over another each season.

We call Dickcissels "Ree-chard" on our farm, for all of the silly reasons that we play with words and names here.  This year, we have at least one bird we have decided that we will name "Jazzy Reech."  

Maybe that requires some explanation.

Jazzy Reech on top of the pear tree

Jazzy Reech is just like all of the other Reechards.  He is not terribly shy, but he does like his physical distancing!  We have identified at least two male Dickcissels that reside on the farm this year and they love to find the tallest part of our younger trees or bushes so they can make their song heard.  The Youtube video below provides you with the song we hear most of the time when they find these prominent perches.

Once a Dickcissel starts to sing during the warmer months, it seems like they never shut up.  They start early in the day once the sun is up good and proper and the continue until the sun starts to go down.  And, up until Jazzy Reech's appearance, their song has followed the triple pattern you hear in the video: three "dicks" (at least that's what the video calls it) followed by three "cheeps" (the video calls them "ciss").  

Jazzy Reech, on the other hand, seems to like a little more freestyle than his counterparts.  J.R., as we like to call him when we're feeling like using initials, mixes things up by stopping at TWO sometimes and then will pull out all the stops and bring out the stored extra cheep and do FOUR of them during one of his iterations.

Be yourself J.R. !  And you are welcome at the Genuine Faux Farm.

If you go to the Audubon Online Field Guide for the Dickcissel, you will find that they provide a quick sample of each of the several songs our friend(s) named Reechard will sing for us.  Just take the link I have provided and scroll down and look at the bottom left where it says "songs and calls."  Song #1 is what we hear most of the time.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, as always, has additional information for bird identification, including photos and videos.  If you would like to learn more about any bird, we highly recommend their site.  Allow yourself to dig around a bit and I think you'll be surprised by how much you find there. 

And, just another note regarding our friends named Reechard.  We continue to take note when these birds stop singing in the middle of the day.  Usually, some stormy weather is approaching and they rarely seem to sing if lightning is in the area. We're pretty good at recognizing when the weather is going to turn, but they just might have a leg up on us.