nit-picker hawk

This Sharp-shinned Hawk appeared again near the edge of the wild woods.  He perched for a while on the top of the feeder poles, grooming feathers and stretching a bit.  At one point he dropped a leg and let it hang, relaxed, as he picked nits around his neckline.

winter berries

At the edge of the woods, I found some raspberries that did not ripen before frost.  These berries are evidently too dessicated for the birds to enjoy, but the fruits on nearby black chokeberry and dogwood are nearly gone.

180 degree swivel

Cold, sub-zero windy day.  In the sun against dark tree bark was a safe place for this female Red-bellied Woodpecker to rest for a while.  Fluffed into a ball of feathery down, claws dug in and red belly against the bark, she was able to bask in the sun as long as she kept watch for predators  . . .  hence the head swiveled around over her back!

too many non-native HOSP

FeederWatch, the citizen science project with Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is one way to learn birding.  Along with learning the habits and characteristics of native species, I'm learning how and why these non-native House Sparrows Passer domesticus became very successful residents across this country.  They are messy, bully other birds at feeders, and harass other birds out of their nests.  Unfortunately, the flock in my neighborhood seems to number 25 to 30.

snow and rose

Now that snow cover is complete, the House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus are more visible . . . rosey red against the white of winter.  They are hardy little finches that nest early in the Spring here.  Their bright color is a joy on the sunny winter landscape.

suet choices

We have several types of suet feeders to accommodate different sizes of birds.  The male (red moustache) of our Pileated Dryocopus pileatus Woodpecker pair hangs onto the cage for big birds but leans over to taste the suet flavor in the offering next door.

winter water

 
A heated water bowl at the edge of the woods has been our bird oasis through several cold winters.  It keeps water available for the birds, even when the rim accumulates a crust of snow and long icicles around the perimeter.  It is close to the "woody tree" where many roosting holes provide avian accommodations on cold nights.

Northern Flicker