The Returning Grosbeak

by Donna
(northeast Indiana)

I had watched migrating male grosbeaks since 2005. They would come to my feeder every early May, then disappear in one day. This year I saw a male and a female stop the first week of May. Then to my surprise, I saw them the next day. Then about a week later I saw the female on the feeder but not the male. I have now seen them both about every other day on my feeders. I only put out sunflower seeds for all my other birds. They feed just like a cardinal. I have not, however, seen the male feed the female as a cardinal does. I sure hope they return and stay next year. I will watch and see this fall when they migrate south, since they have never stayed past one day in the past.