bird feeder garden

The veggie plot converts to a bird feeder garden in winter.  The edible crops have been harvested.  The perennials reach down to overwinter, and the herbs offer up their stems and seed heads for the birds. The feeders beckon the birds; we deter the squirrels from the bird food with a toy "slinky" hung on each slippery pole. 

April - more signs of Spring . . .

The maple trees are blooming, magnolia blossoms burgeoning . . .  but today, a hesitation while it snows in a last attempt at winter.

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.

Fox Sparrows

Among the Juncos and Chickadees, today there were two Red Fox Sparrows searching for seeds on the ground at the edge of the woods.  They find insects, larvae, and scale insects in leaf litter with a hop forward and an immediate hop back, during which they simultaneously scratch both feet backwards. Several inches of snow this week may be delaying migration of these and others birds who go back up north to nest and raise their young.

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)

dogwood in January

Two varieties of dogwood brighten the edge of the wild wild woods.  Cornus alba 'Ivory Halo' displays dark rich red twigs in the winter.  Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' glows with bright crimson bark, quite brilliant in the sunlight against the snow.  They both provide a fine tangle for the red feathered birds (Cardinals, House Finches, Redpolls) to hide in plain sight.

snowy woods

Although the 14 inches of snow that fell here on December 8 and 9 made the bird feeders more difficult to get to, the Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, and Red-bellied Woodpecker were able to find their way through to seed, suet, and bugs in tree bark.

FeederWatch

After several inches of snow overnight, the feeder stations are all more difficult for the birds to use with their usual carefree twittering.  The chickadees were the first to start burrowing through the snow shelf covering the seed spouts on each station.  The seed in the tray was totally snow covered.

I put a chunk of suet on the tray but
it soon became covered with snow. 
The intrepid Juncos made little tunnels to reach in and nibble the suet.  They are ground feeders, preferring to walk and kick loose the seeds they can find among grass and leaves.  I also put some fresh seed in a pot turn on its side in the tray, so they could get sunflower seeds there even though the snow is coming down more heavily.




The birds' water bowl is heated just enough to keep it open for them to drink. 

the mushroom tree

First snow for this season; an inch of fluff last night and more on the way.  This tree, viewed from along the path through the woods, is the fallen elm that supports an assortment of fungi (including the one below).

bird tracks: snow angel

Near sunset.


We admired the bird tracks
in the snow zig-zagging
beneath the feeder.


I wonder what maneuver
made the wings on this
snow angel?

early snow

October, and we've had 3 snowfalls already. It melted quickly since the ground and foliage are still warm, but a rude awakening for the birds who have yet to migrate southward.

cardinal - last snow

The male cardinal was emphatically singing this morning, despite the few inches of heavy wet snow we got overnight. He sat for quite a while outside my office window, stretching out his neck and erecting the crest feathers atop his head while turning side to side. Yes, there is snow on the ground but it is Springtime!