Tuesday, February 17, 2009

More Snowy Feeder Scenes

Tuesday, February 17, 2009
3 comments

Carolina wrens don't do well in winters that have long cold spells and lots of snow and ice.

"The recent unpleasantness" is how many Southerners would refer to The Civil War in the decades following the war's end. Unpleasant is a word that thoroughly applies to our winter thus far in southeastern Ohio. We've had several tenacious snows, a smattering of ice storms, and enough "snow days" off school to make us feel like we're home schooling our kids.

One of the few benefits of the harsh winter weather is that it keeps the feeders hopping, as long as we keep them full. We get visits from most of our backyard birds.

A nice three-fer: Eastern bluebird, tufted titmouse, dark-eyed junco.

The flying pigs attack! European starlings gobble up the suet dough.

The bluebirds often pose for their portrait between feeding bouts.

An over-wintering field sparrow has become a suet dough regular.


This winter reminds me of the winters of 1977 and 1978 when we had lots of snow and ice that stuck around. As a high-school-aged bird watcher, I remember those winters for their evening grosbeaks and common redpolls that came to my parents' feeders. And I remember those years as killing off most of SE Ohio's eastern screech-owls and Carolina wrens. I'm hoping this winter does not do the same.

3 comments:

On February 17, 2009 at 12:47 PM MaineBirder said...

That suet dough is a popular food for your birds. Love the images!

And winter will continue for sometime to come. Here in Maine we are expecting two snowstorms this week. The first, on Thursday, could dump up to 15".

We are getting the feeders ready and filled for the storm.

On February 18, 2009 at 6:28 PM RuthieJ said...

I noticed during the GBBC last weekend, that the numbers of birds at my backyard feeders were much lower then earlier in the winter when everything was still covered with snow.
Love that male bluebird picture!

On February 22, 2009 at 6:38 PM Mary said...

I've been kind to the Starlings and House Sparrows also - only when the ground freezes. Otherwise...

Your photos wow me every time I visit.


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