My Little RBG

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • May 17, 2021

Yeah, no, not Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Sorry.


This is actually one of my favorite birds – a Rose Breasted Grosbeak (which basically means “big nose”). Cardinals – my favorite – are grosbeaks as well.


But in any case, I have not seen a RBG yet this spring. For quite a few years, I believe the same one showed up at my feeder at home like clockwork every May 7th or 8th until he didn’t anymore. That was really sad as I figured he was likely gone. But on May 10th, I was walking into the backyard of the Mitchell House. The sun was finally out after being cold and rainy and I saw something flutter from the ground and grab the side of the Solomon’s Seal where it paused. I figured that it was a robin – they are building nests back here – but realized it was smaller. I looked more closely and there was the RBG in all his scarlet/pink glory.   


If you have not seen one before, they are stunners. He looks like someone shot him in the neck – it’s a large splotch of color with a line (like a drip) running down his breast. I have never seen one on Vestal Street so I am still rather excited. I took a photograph – it’s pretty far as I didn’t want to scare him. He seemed to be eating bugs or taking water off the Money Plant (the purple flowers) and then doing the same to the Lily of the Valley. Initially he flew off over the fence into the neighbors but after a few minutes he came back and continued to peck and hunt about on the ground for quite a while. I am hoping this was not just a weigh station and that perhaps he and the Missus have a nest. I’d love to be an auntie. Each spring we have multiple nests and babies in the Mitchell House backyard. It’s fun to watch them albeit at times a bit stressful!


It was a banner bird day for me that day. When I got home later that evening, I was happy to see a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at my hummingbird feeder and then, the next morning, a Baltimore Oriole on my oriole feeder!


Spring IS here!


P.S. About May 12th, baby Robins fledged from the nest in the Mitchell House yard so I am an auntie, I guess.


JNLF

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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • September 14, 2026
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