Feed the birds in winter, on return, they will feed your soul with the look of gratitude. – Mehmet Murat ildan, Turkish playwright & novelist (1965- )
Cardinals seek shelter in the dense branches of conifer trees, fir, cedar, and pine not far from their home breeding grounds and do not migrate during winter. – Birdfact.com
Last week was indeed a wonder due to the cold temperatures. Any temperature below 32 degrees means a lot of preparation for keeping the house warm. Blinds were closed to stop the transfer of cold. The house became darker than normal, so we gathered close to the fireplace. There’s heat in the house also but the fireplace is cozier. Outside the faucets were covered. Inside the faucets were set on a slow drip. Nearby were blankets. Oddly there was no snow or ice around the house and fields. However, lakes, ditches with standing water, the birds’ water trays and birdbaths were frozen. From dawn to dusk birds of all kinds swamped the bird feeders and the fallen seed below.
While a flock of blue jays visited early last year they had disappeared. Two blue jays showed up at the feeders last week. They are beautiful birds, large with a long beak. Blue jays don’t particularly like bird feeders or seeds. They did like the suet I nailed to a tree. When the suet was gone, so were the blue jays.
Our bird friends that stay here all winter were quite busy feeding from bird feeder to bird feeder. One feeder with a small cage design attracts the tufted titmouse and the chickadee. These might be two of my favorites. The feeder hangs from a metal shepherds hook and close to the sunroom window. As I write this I can lean over and watch the birds through the window snatch the seed, drop to the ground, and peck away his meal.
The sparrows stay with us most of the year. They are also out foraging for food. The sun is shining on the sparrow as he pecks on the fallen seed. His pattern and colors are rich, and he doesn’t seem afraid. Cardinals swooped in using both feeders and the fallen seed. The male’s color is brilliant in the sun.
Earlier in the day a flock of mourning doves arrived; a flock also called a bevy, a cote, a dule or a flight. They covered the entire area of ground under the feeders. Doves mostly forage on seeds, they are ground feeders, which is probably a good thing as they are quite heavy birds.
Typically, bluebirds migrate south for winter while some stay behind. I hadn’t noticed any bluebirds here until the weather turned so cold. Bluebirds were going in and out of the bluebird boxes where they usually settle in warm weather. Bluebirds eat berries, fruits, mealworms and fortunately seed and suet. Time to get more suet.
Just now a dark-eyed junco rooted around where the chickadees dropped seed on the ground below. The juncos migrate to Mississippi in search of warmth, believing it will be warmer than Alaska and Canada. Who can truly predict the weather?
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
