molting feathers

Another sign of Spring . . . 
the male Goldfinches Spinus tristis are beginning to molt into their bright yellow feathers, a few at a time, so they will be handsome for mating and nesting season in the coming summer.

water for birds

A pair of Red-Bellied Woodpeckers Melanerpes carolinus occasionally come out of the woods to eat suet and drink at the water bowl.  The female has less red on her head than this male, but the female has more red feathers apparent on her belly.

Cedar Waxwings

Flocks of Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla cedrorum wander together to find berries, their main food year around.  They typically feed while perched on a twig, but they’re also good at grabbing berries while hovering briefly just below a bunch.

These seven announced themselves mid-morning with high whistles and sat up in the elm trees to rest a while.  When no berries are available, they'll do acrobatics in the air to catch and eat flying insects.  Here, they may have been finding insects or larvae among the tree buds.

According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's allaboutbirds.org, the Cedar Waxwing’s name comes from their appetite for cedar berries in winter.

nest boxes

When the time is right, birds in the wild woods will choose a spot to build a nest. 

We hope the species that like enclosed places (Chickadee, Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Wren, or Bluebird) will choose one of our nest boxes. 

Tiny cameras in the boxes will let us see the nests without disturbing the birds.

wintery Spring

Away for all of February, we returned thinking Spring would be extremely evident in the wild woods.  Not so, this year!  Late March already, and the snow keeps coming. 

The birds are still spending most of their energy each day seeking seeds and insects, even if they have to sift through the snow for food.  Courtship and nesting will have to wait.


(left) Common Redpoll

Dark-eyed Junco (right)