Super Snowy
This is a Snowy Owl - he definitely fits right in here. I will have to learn about him and pass it on to you
I love the snow, and that’s a good thing right now. We have gobs of it and more on the way. Yesterday’s storm was the biggest one we have seen since we lived here. We got the driveway cleared so I could go to work yesterday, and today we cleared the sidewalks. It’s the law here that they be cleared within 24 hours of a storm.
Something posessed me before we walked out the door to grab the binoculars. I am always seeing things out in the front of the house and wishing for them. Most of my birdwatching at home is spent in the back of the house, but there is a lot going on in the front that I rarely have the opportunity to see. Well, the effort of carrying the binoculars was not wasted. I got to watch 2 bluebirds sitting high in a tree, and the treat of all treats which gave me hope for the days to come - a robin! According to Paxatawny Phil, the famous Pennsylvania groundhog, we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. Someone forgot to let the robin in on that little tidbit of news!!
First In, Last Out
Getting up early and taking inventory of the different birds who are dining at the bird feeders and suet feeder in my back yard has its advantages. With the huge amount of snow we have on the ground, we are inundated with my happy birds, the dark eyed juncos otherwise known as snow birds. They like every feeder - not picky at all.
The advantage in getting up early is seeing the first in. The cardinals are always here very early. I think they always travel in pairs too, and when you see the female, the male cardinal is always close by. This morning was no exception, only there were 3 pairs just after dawn. They were on and under the platform feeder and the heated bird bath is the best investment I have made in years.
Cardinals do not seem to like the tube feeders. They seem to like something solid under their feet. They love the safflower seed that I scattered on the snow for them. We got about 16 inches of snow and it is so much fun to watch them. From an inventory point of view they should be the last ones here this evening too and I can’t wait. The splash of color on the white is a true picture to behold.
Follow The Geese
That’s what I thought about doing yesterday. There were hundreds of them in V-formations, and they weren’t flying south this time. They were flying north-northwest. I should have known something was up. It’s called a blizzard, and I didn’t get away. It’s here and so am I.
I put the platform bird feeder on the ground just a few minutes ago and if the predictions are accurate, it will be covered with a foot of snow or more by morning. It’s where I can get to it easily so it can be uncovered and I can fill it with fresh food. The birds will be looking for food for a few long days - I knew I should have followed those geese. Oh, I am not complaining. There are some areas south of us that are getting a couple of feet of the stuff or more. We are at the northern edge. The good news is, the water in the bird bath won’t freeze because the heater is working just great.
I am longing for the day that I can put out the oriole feeder and fill it with sweet nectar.
The Comforts Of Home
Birds need places to get out of the wind and snow to stay warm. Shrubby growth and evergreens like junipers and pines are great at providing this cover. It can be enhanced by leaving your nest boxes up over the winter. Whether they are decorative bird houses or wooden bird houses like wren or bluebird houses, they house slumber parties with the birds huddling together to stay warm.
Be sure to position your bird feeders and baths close to the shelter you have provided for them, and you will have birds all winter long.
Mirrors Of The Mind
How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrows of the mind. They reflect thinking. David J. Schwartz, Trainer & Author
Have you looked at the All-weather bird feeder yet? It is available in both 4 and 6 quart. As bird feeders go, it is super at this time of year because of the large capacity. It functions as a tube bird feeder, but it does not require frequent filling.
And, it can satisfy a lot of your backyard friends in one sitting.
A Snow Scene
It it an incredible beautiful morning. There is snow outlining every branch of every tree. It is pure white from the newly fallen snow we had overnight. I just love mornings like this, when the coffee seems to taste better because I can see the beauty in the day.
There is a mourning dove on the stoop in front of me staring up at the window bird feeder where two purple finches are dining. I hope you enjoy your day as much as I am going to enjoy mine.
Special Wishes
Today is February 1st. It’s my sister’s birthday and since she is a constant great friend, the best sister in the world and my soul mate, I must say “Happy Birthday, Sis!”
She loves nature and though, I don’t think her love of the birds is quite as passionate as mine, she did make an investment in a Yankee Flipper bird feeder. It is one of the most effective squirell proof feeders made. It has also served as a great source of entertainment for my sister and her husband and any guests they may have. They live on a very wooded lot in Greenville, SC. The squirells outnumber the birds sometimes, and you really can’t help but laugh out loud when the squirrels attempt to hop on board the Yankee Flipper only to get flipped. It does not hurt the squirell in any way, and they will often just try over and over again.
She says it is one of the best investments she ever made. It has a life-time guarantee too.
Inspiration
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” Lanston Hughes
What an awesome thought. And the best part is we can choose to hold on to them. So next chance you get, grab your binoculars and focus on the birds in flight around you, and follow them into your dreams.
Ordinary With A Twist
I love comical surprises. The day started out like just an ordinary day. A little laundry, a couple of cat boxes to clean, and breakfast, and breakfast dishes before scurring out the door to work, and all the while trying to keep my eye out the windows to see if I had any special visitors at the bird feeders. Right before Bob left for work, he asked me to take a look at the strange bird sitting in the tree outside the door. I looked out to see not a single bird around except a sharp-shinned hawk that was ready to take off over the hill.
Right after he left the back yard was bustling with my happy snow birds at the -window feeder, a couple of siskins and other finches and mourning doves. So, off I went to finish folding the laundry. When I returned to my place at the table with my coffee and yogurt, the back yard was once again empty. The doves had left the platform bird feeder, the snow birds were nowhere to be seen.
They had all decided that they didn’t want to be breakfast for the two sharop-shinned hawk that were stalking over the entire area. Sharp-shinned hawks and cooper’s hawks are often mistaken for one another, but the sharp-shinned is smaller. They are year round residents here, though it was the first I had seen one in the yard. They may be small for a hawk, but a fierce predator.
One sat atop the shepherd’s hook on the hill and one on the heated bird bath. So that’s the twist and very out of the ordinary. It was quite a thrill, and something I may only see once in this lifetime, so I had to pass it on.
Just A Thought
“Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live, the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.” Charles Swindoll, Author & Pastor
So, with that thought, choose to make it a joyful weekend. Take a walk in the park, the woods or just around the block. Fill all of you bird feeders and don’t forget to check the suet supply and the water in the heated bird bath.
Have an awesome weekend!