Yard birds

Winter seems to be trying to get here

Lynn E. BarberLeave a comment

While we do not seem to be getting quite as much snow as was forecast, it definitely has been snowing for hours and hasn’t yet stopped. No new winter birds have yet arrived in our yard. Maybe they are waiting for more snow. Mostly it’s American Goldfinches and Mourning Doves for now. The goldfinches (often over 30 of them) have been crowding around the feeders.

The doves (sometimes over 40) hustle around ground, or perch in the spruce tree, waiting for the snow to stop.

Waiting, waiting…

Right now, however, everybody has departed from our yard, spooked completely by a Cooper’s Hawk that barreled through the yard in hot pursuit of one of the doves.

Increasing Bird Colors – Maybe It’s Spring?

Lynn E. BarberLeave a comment

Most of winter’s birds (at least in our central Wisconsin yard and except for Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals) are rather drab.

Slowly, however, bits of color are arriving. The grass is beginning to green, although the deciduous trees at best have buds. No green leaves on them yet. The male American Goldfinches that have been around all winter now are splotchily becoming more yellow.

Today a pair of Purple Finches were very briefly at our feeding area.. The male ate seeds below her and then they both flitted off.

While not a bird, and not as colorful, it is fun to watch the chipmunks, which have emerged from wherever they winter, zip over to the feeders. I don’t begrudge them the seeds they stuff into their cheeks. And I really don’t mind the much more numerous squirrels, most of the time.