If you sit quietly they will come...

When I look out the windows of my home I see a flurry of activity in my garden as the birds flutter around at all the feeders. But as soon as I step outside they retreat to the trees at the perimeter of the garden. Watching and waiting...

 Cardinal (female) and Hairy Woodpecker (female)

Cardinal (female)

Cardinal (male)

Downy Woodpecker (female)

But if I sit quietly they soon decide that the intruder (me) won't cause them any harm and they soon return to foraging.

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Downy Woodpecker (male)

American Goldfinch (female)

An unusual sighting was this yellow-bellied sapsucker (male). The photo isn't sharp as I was a good 40 feet away but I wanted to show it since it is highly migratory and not one of the birds I see regularly.

 

The Great Backyard Bird Count is next weekend, February 17-20. Click here to get your tally sheet with a list of birds you are most likely to see in your garden in February. You can observe birds at any location for as little as 15 minutes for one day. Or all day, each day. Be sure to submit your findings on line at the GBBC website.