Burr. It’s cold in my
yard. Some winters we see just a dusting
of snow and a few frosts. Some winters,
like now, we get a cold snap that brings birds to our feeders in droves. It was 22 degrees this morning – mild by
standards in much of the country, but not here where the grass is green all
winter and we are hosts to a couple of hummingbirds. We’ve had snow on the ground since yesterday
and it should stay a few more days.
Yesterday a couple of robins flew in to see if any of my
hawthorn berries were left. He grabbed
one and tossed it aside, then swallowed one, and tossed the third aside. There
are only about a dozen berries left, but he didn’t bother checking them
all. Maybe he didn’t like swallowing frozen
hardballs.
When it gets this cold we make a point of getting up at
first light and rehanging the humming bird feeder. Two hours later it was starting to freeze and
I switched it for one I was warming in the living room. In the early morning the hummer is so eager
he sips before I get the feeder properly hung.
This morning one hummer was waiting for me. She sits fluffed like an exaggerated cotton-ball.
I cannot believe how cold it's been. I too have tons of birds coming and doing the same with the sugar water, but have not seen the robins. Must not have the right bushes for them and my chickens and the wild turkeys are getting all the worms. Nice work here. Stay warm. Burr
ReplyDeleteHow I love reading of your interactions with your friends in nature! And of course I love the images you create to record your journey. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful paintings! Was marveling yesterday at numbers of backyard birds. Hubby has been replenishing multiple feeders 1-2 times a day. Not feeding hummers, but friend at the coast rescued one dangling from her feeder a few days ago. She feared it was dead, but she nestled it in a warm cloth and blew warm breath onto it. Shortly, it blinked a few times. She kept it indoors for a couple hours and frequently put a feeder up to it to eat. When it flew behind a curtain, she gently picked it up with the cloth and took it outside where it has stayed by the feeder in a bush when not eating. It stays there when she goes out to change frozen feeders. Somehow they must know human helpers have their backs.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elva.