The Titmouse Dimension

This weekend has been full of excitement. Not only were we without power for 5 hours on Friday due to an exploding manhole but on Saturday we were viciously oppressed by the heat and humidity.

Luckily, we were forewarned of the impending oppression by the NBC weatherman and we were able to avoid the worst of it by staying in our air conditioned apartment.

I'm so glad we did because we were able to witness our first avian visitors -- three juvenile tufted titmice.

I have to say that the Tufted Titmouse is one of my favorite birds -- not least of all because of it's absurd name. They are cheeky little birds who aren't afraid to mob owls or pluck dog hair for their nests. According to The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, they are one of the most loyal feeder birds. It also mentions that the oldest titmouse lived to the age of 13 years and 3 months.

I was rather pleased to learn that our first visitors were such loyal blokes and was determined to greet them with an affable "Titmouse!" on their return visits. If they ever decide to make any return visits, that is.

We have purchased another feeder to be filled with a delectable blend of sunflower seeds -- a favorite of theirs according to Sibley. Hopefully, the gazebo styling of the new feeder will bring them back. Who can resist a green awning?

As of now, we own five bird feeding devices and we've seen a grand total of three birds. Although the spider on our window is enjoying all the insects that the hummingbird feeder attracts.

*Update: Monday was a good day for birds. The titmice lived up to their reputation and visited several times. Although greeting them with cheers kind of makes them fly away. Oh well, I'll have to do my cheering on the inside.

Sadly, George, the titmouse's name has a rather mundane explanation. According to Stan Tekiela in Birds of Oklahoma: Field Guide the "[p]refix 'Tit' comes from a Scandinavian word meaning 'little.' Suffix 'mouse' is derived from the Old English word mase, meaning 'bird.' Simply translated, it is 'a small bird'" (pg. 185).