Feathered Friends
Now that the weather is a bit warmer, we’ve been getting lots of action at my new bird feeder! This seemed a bit backwards to me, because I figured that when it was cold, the birds need to eat more to stay warm. But my new theory is that when it is really cold (single digits), that they huddle somewhere for warmth and don’t go out looking for food.
Now, just in case you are wondering why there is so much snow in that picture, just ignore it. It is actually all melted today. I took those on the 30th.
How many birds did you see in that pic?
Did you see the three on the railing?
Usually there are many more when I grab my camera, but the ones who are camera shy fly away as I approach the window.
“Beeeeeeg skeeeery black thing!”
Then there are the little guys I can see out the kitchen window, waiting their turn on a different tree.
And the Girlie-girl watches and watches and occasionally makes these little “Meeorph! Meeerph.” sounds that are quite adorable.
In fact, here is an up to the minute pic of us, with many notes (click the pic and move your mouse/pointer over it to read them)
I’d better turn the heat up though, the natives are getting restless.
LadyBug says:
It cracks me up that you mention the temperatures getting warmer, along with a picture of snow everywhere. I guess “warmer” is a matter of perspective. It’s been in the 70s and 80s here lately.
We did have a cool front come through last night, though. It’s only supposed to get up to about 65 today. Brrrr.
Danielle says:
*claps hands over eyes* I can’t hear you, I can’t heeeeear you!
Yeah, must be rough having a high of 65. Why in the world HB’s company had to choose Mnpls for their headquarters grumble grumble….
Why couldn’t they be somewhere nice and warrrrrm? hmmm? silly people.
Actually when I would call Texas Seestor around Christmas to talk to everyone (my parents went there for the holiday), I would hear how my mom was wearing shorts and a tank top and sitting outside and it was in the 70s.
ack! Ack!
Trainwreck says:
Think we set a record yesterday, actually. It was around 86, I think. Anyway, no sign of snow in the near future
.
Also, I suppose those cute little sounds Girlie-girl makes really mean ‘boy, you look like a good snack’.
Danielle says:
Now trainwreck, I know you know how our family feels about food. We don’t tease each other about getting excited over food you know.
*grin*
Amber says:
When we came back from Indiana, we noticed the snow was melting. hooray for warmer temperatures!
Actually, it was about 50 in Indiana when we left. It felt warm.
And I’m jellus, Ladybug, that you AND my father are sitting in the warm weather. He called me just the other day, “Yeah, we are out here on the porch sitting in some shorts and just enjoying the sunlight.”
Psh.
Indeed.
Danielle, we need to lobby for our husband’s companies to move somewhere warm…say Texas, or perhaps, Hawaii.
Now for the birds:
Awww. I love the pictures of them waiting around to eat on the tree.
Amber says:
Err…I mean “waiting around on the tree to eat”
Ern says:
I LOVE when cats make that chattery noise while watching birds. It cracks me up.
Looks like you are getting some great activity at your feeder! I see some lovely house finches and a dark-eyed junco. Am I missing any?
Squirl says:
Juncos and house finches. Sounds good to me. In that picture of Girlie-girl she looks like a puddle of cat.
I was hoping you’d get some bird pictures.
Danielle says:
Amber, I knew exactly what you meant. I laugh at your correction.
And yes, somewhere temperate, definitely.
Ern, isn’t that sound so funny. And they only make it when watching prey-like stuff. Odd.
Squirl – so you were hoping…. does that mean these don’t quite qualify?
Jes teasin, I know what you mean.
Puddle of cat. Yes. Somedays I look at her, and she looks like a really flat oval, and I think about these artistic renditions of cats that look like pears when they lay down and I think, Yep, looks like her.
I emailed Ern already, but I’ll put this here so you can all read it:
Yes, juncos, house finches in these pics, chickadees in others. There is also this odd flock of piggy-birds that I haven’t yet identified – but I have TWO, 2! books that HB got me for Christmas to help me with that. They come in like a big herd of hogs, and pig out, but are very skittish.
I’ve seen huge crows.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand (saving the best for last)
a Woodpecker! it was very very brief. Makes me want to get a hanging suet feeder though. And one where I can get pictures…. i’ve seen ones that have one way glass, that you can put on a glass window, but I don’t know how that works for cameras.
I’ve also heard, but not seen, an owl one night while I was trying to sleep. That was really cool.
But the owl needs to leave Irma alone (the resident rabbit who I’ve named and have given cheerios to).
Squirl says:
Tee hee.
What kind of woodpecker? Is it a downy or a hairy? Or pilleated, or I don’t know what kind of woodpeckers live there. I’m just spouting off ones that I know from West Michigan.
And I love the chickadees. They’re so little, but so bold.
victoria winters says:
Cute snow birds! I’ve got to get a feeder for Cambridge and Neville to enjoy! I keep forgetting.
Danielle says:
Squirl, the woodpecker was very very brief and it was before I had my books, so I’m not entirely sure if it was a downy or a hairy. My book says that the downy is more ‘confident’ and is comfortable hanging out with chickadees. The book also says that sunflower seeds can attract downies.
So, my educated guess would be a downy.
I also figured out that those flocks of birds I see are:
Pine Siskins, they are in the finch family.
Not only does the picture look right, but the book says “Party booking: Pine siskins are frequent visitors to feeders, often arriving in large flocks”
And I looked up the finches, and the house finch territory doesn’t reach into Wisconsin and MN… so, those finches are probably some other kind of finch that has the colors lightened for winter. Unless the maps have changed. The book does talk about territories changing with time.
“The Audobon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens” by Robert Burton and Stephen W. Kress