Join the Birds for a Snow Day
Our first snow fall of this winter season arrived on the heals of our recent ice storm. When snow falls and temperatures hover around freezing the birds know it is time to get busy at the feeders to keep their energy levels up. And boy are they busy. Filling the feeders up twice a day.
The birds are always cautious. It's in their nature after all. Cardinals, Titmice and Finches perch in the neighboring trees. Hopping from branch to branch, making their way closer and closer to the feeder. Birds like the Carolina Chickadee and Nuthatch shimmy down the trunk of the trees gaining more courage the closer they get to the feeder.
When the coast is clear they make lift off and in one fell swoop land safely on the feeder. Hastily grab their one seed and off they go to the shelter of the tree branches to devour their take.
We rarely see pine warblers visiting the feeders. Days like today bring them down from the pines searching for additional seeds. They are a burst of color on a dreary snow day.
One of our most popular feeders frequented by the tufted titmouse is the one with raw peanuts. They are also big fans of sunflower seeds and suet cakes.
This morning I happen to spill some peanuts on the edge of one of the raised beds in the kitchen garden and it wasn't long before the seeds were discovered.
These smallish birds are full of personality. They communicate frequently with their friends, bringing in more and more titmice. The adjacent tree was filled with 5 to 10 birds at a time eagerly waiting their turn to swoosh down and grab a nut. It was a little like Atlanta's airport with take off and landings happening every 30 seconds.
The ground feeding birds like the mourning dove walked about the snow pecking at the seeds that were accidentally dropped on the ground. They marked their path as they wobbled along leaving interesting patterns in the snow.
Snow days are fun days and have to be embraced because tomorrow all that white will be gone and it'll be back to the tired brown landscape until spring arrives.
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| Carolina Chickadee |
The birds are always cautious. It's in their nature after all. Cardinals, Titmice and Finches perch in the neighboring trees. Hopping from branch to branch, making their way closer and closer to the feeder. Birds like the Carolina Chickadee and Nuthatch shimmy down the trunk of the trees gaining more courage the closer they get to the feeder.
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| White-breasted Nuthatch |
When the coast is clear they make lift off and in one fell swoop land safely on the feeder. Hastily grab their one seed and off they go to the shelter of the tree branches to devour their take.
We rarely see pine warblers visiting the feeders. Days like today bring them down from the pines searching for additional seeds. They are a burst of color on a dreary snow day.
 |
| Pine Warbler |
One of our most popular feeders frequented by the tufted titmouse is the one with raw peanuts. They are also big fans of sunflower seeds and suet cakes.
 |
| Tufted Titmouse |
This morning I happen to spill some peanuts on the edge of one of the raised beds in the kitchen garden and it wasn't long before the seeds were discovered.
These smallish birds are full of personality. They communicate frequently with their friends, bringing in more and more titmice. The adjacent tree was filled with 5 to 10 birds at a time eagerly waiting their turn to swoosh down and grab a nut. It was a little like Atlanta's airport with take off and landings happening every 30 seconds.
The ground feeding birds like the mourning dove walked about the snow pecking at the seeds that were accidentally dropped on the ground. They marked their path as they wobbled along leaving interesting patterns in the snow.
Snow days are fun days and have to be embraced because tomorrow all that white will be gone and it'll be back to the tired brown landscape until spring arrives.
