Friday, February 1, 2013

Winter Birds

The birds appear to be doing well despite the fluctuations in weather.  I've seen only one sick bird near the bird feeders, a female Pine Grosbeak.  Whenever the temperature dips, we get more visits from the finches, mostly, Common Redpolls.  During these cold snaps, there are so many in and around the feeders that the chickadees find it very difficult to come close enough to take a sunflower seed.  At these times I usually put some seeds in places unfamiliar to the other birds with the hope that the chickadees will get there first.   The nuthatch, on the other hand, is more aggressive, and the finches will often give way when he flies down for a seed.

Currently, we are experiencing mild conditions which we all appreciate.
       
White-breasted Nuthatch on Poplar branch

White-breasted Nuthatch with a morsel