When spring comes, I will be OK
Some of the blogs I have read today have to do with people seeing the birds coming back to their area. Two of my favorite writers, Cro,of Magnon's Meanderings and Joanne, of Cup on the Bus wrote about their sightings of Cranes and Blue Herons. Any sign of the promise of the coming spring brings great joy to us who have been beaten up with the storms and solitude of this wretched winter.
Due to the oversupply of bird feeders in my yard, we have become "destination point" for many species of the northeastern American continent. One lovely thing about the snow (yes, I said lovely) is that it is a wonderful backdrop for the colors that these birds bring. We have hundreds of Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Red-Winged Black Birds and I am always in awe of the beauty that these creatures add to the landscape.
In December of 2012, I was awakened by my husband in the morning and told to look out the window. Sitting in the tree closest to my house sat Turkey Vultures that appeared to be looking in my window contemplating dinner. That was not exactly a happy greeting to start the day. I wrote about it in a post then and included was this picture.
Not an encouraging sight.
This year, though, they have been replaced by more pleasant looking Pheasants. Yes, we do see them in many of the fields and farms in my area, but never have I spotted them in my yard. First we saw the rooster.
and if you have noticed my header picture, you will see his hens in the background.
He walked among the brush towards the creek which flows through our wooded area. The ladies stuck together, I supposed discussing the merits or not of their chosen one.
I tried to follow them with my camera, but once deeper in the trees and the bushes, their color was morphed into the background.
Hopefully the scenes from my backyard will change soon and instead of the above, I will look out to this.
Looking forward to a season change and the sight of many Goldfinches.
Right now, though, I wish I was surrounded by Flamingos and sipping a yummy tropical drink.
Spring is on the way, never fear. We feed the song birds year round and buy them fancy seed, fruit and nut mixes. They love it and empty the feeders fast, so then I refill them. I also have a Nyger seed hanging mesh feeder for tiny birds like yellow warblers and up to six of them eat at once.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your bird food bill is like mine - expensive!
ReplyDeleteSo true, you and I have big bird feed bills. I feel that the birds entertain us, plus we are taking over their habitat so it is only right to help them out.
DeleteDear Arleen, like you, I'm ready for spring even though the winter here has not been at all like the ones I experienced in MInnesota when I lived there for 38 years. Still, the cold here is such a wet cold that I can feel it in my bones and so with that cold and with the lower wind chill factor, I haven't been walking for six weeks and I'm not sleeping as well because of that. So I, too, am ready for spring!!!! Peace.
ReplyDeleteIt has been one of the hardest winters here also. I think many people are suffering from SAD but we have to look at the sunny days and make the most of them. Take care, dear Dee, it Willet better.
DeleteDear Arleen, it is better . . . the sun is shining and the six inches of snow we had on Sunday has been shoveled and looks beautiful and I haven't had a headache in three days!!!!!!!! So I'm feeling "dandy, like sugar candy"! Peace.
DeleteHello Arleen,
ReplyDeleteIt is truly wonderful that your garden attracts so many bird species. That is a great tribute to your caring for them and providing them with their needs. They must make a glorious sight when visiting.
Here in Budapest we are in the heart of the city and so bird life is much more limited. However, as the days lengthen the sound of birds coming home to roost in the eaves of buildings or trees of local parks is such a happiness.
Yes, Spring has pretty much sprung!
Yes, Jane and Lance, hearing and seeing the birds does lift the spirit. I also know that under that foot of snow we have now, there are seeds and bulbs, that with some warmth, will bloom beautifully in a month or two. A gardener always has hope.
DeleteI had been doing good with Winter this year . Last week as you can see by the post we got a huge storm , and we have had more snow this year than a long time. Just this week though I have started getting cabin fever and have to say I too am so longing for spring and my garden . Soon come lets hope ! Hang in there:)
ReplyDeleteWe are all more than ready, Willow. I read that even someplace in Hawaii got hit with snow this year.
DeleteLove, and envy, the feathered enchantment your garden (and feeders) attract.
ReplyDeleteWatching the birds is a time consuming activity isn't it? But sooo rewarding.
I feel he same way when you post pictures of your magnificent birds, EC. It is expensive to care for all this wildlife (there are other species we care for also), but we enjoy it so.
DeleteI love to hear the birds singing too. They herald the coming of Spring as much as the green shoots breaking through. I hope you have sunshine soon and greenery everywhere you look.
ReplyDeleteWe had sunshine for the past three days and it has been glorious. Tomorrow is more snow.
DeleteI have never seen a pheasant in person...thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteThe male is a beautiful bird, Delores, and I am so happy that he and his harem are stopping by daily.
DeleteI'm on day three of a winter storm, only been as far as the barn in that time.
ReplyDeleteThe birds are very quiet, huddled in the hedge. How lucky you are to have a backyard filled with them.
I feel your pain, Susan. Right now I wish I had a barn to go to.
DeleteThey're worth every penny; I'm even loving the starlings lately. But that damn squirrel who has mastered one of the original "folk art" feeders that got us started down this slippery slope won't find that feeder next winter!
ReplyDeleteWe have a few squirrels also and they are even able to get into the feeders that are squirrel-proof. Then there are the raccoons.......
DeleteHi Arleen...my birds (wild and free ones) have been serenading me all morning out at the front of my cabin. They get the meat trimmings every afternoon when I'm cutting up my two cats' meat....so they thank me throughout the day for their tidbits...they get whatever the cats don't eat, too. Sometimes, Remy and Shama put themselves on diets and there will be meat left in their dishes...so the birds get that. I love hearing them...they keep a watch out for me. I think they all wear watches, too...as they turn up at the same time every afternoon....expecting....
ReplyDeleteI do believe all animals can tell time and also gossip and tell each other where to find the food.
DeleteVULTURES? My goodness. Nothing as exotic here, but the Cranes are still passing by. You've reminded me, I must re-fill my feeders.
ReplyDeleteVultures last year, prettier pheasants this year. Things are looking up.
DeleteWhat wonderful pictures. I'd love to live in an area where you can see nature all around you. Looks like you're going to get spring soon. And you've got a nice size garden to sit in with a glass of chilled wine. Your evenings during the summer must be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe are hoping that spring will come soon, but we are now facing another polar weather situation along with three more snowstorms predicted. But yes, sooner than later, I will be out in my gardens again and will be one happy lady.
DeleteMay the sun shine on your part of the world.
Your photos look they came straight out of a magazine. Although, the vultures were more suited for an Edgar Allen Poe story. Looking forward to more spring photos of your beautiful garden!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Thank you Julie. The winter scenes are always pretty, however nasty the season has been.
DeleteLove watching the birds in winter. We have a ton of bluejays and chickadees...they're the most fun to watch. Your pictures are great! I'm with you on the flamingos and a tropical drink. Oh hell.....the drink will do just fine!!
ReplyDeleteTropical drinks are so tasty that after a few you might see Flamingos whether they are there or not.
DeleteLoved your comment, Linda.
Oh, honey. :-) This Minneapolis woman knows EXACTLY where you are coming from. It was six below at the bus stop this morning. Our third polar vortex week in a winter, when there isn't even one every 40 years or so.
ReplyDeleteI deserve something big. :-)
Get yourself something, too. ;-)
Pearl
What is with this Polar Vortex that the weather people keep saying over and over and over. They used to call them Arctic Blasts. That sounds like so much more fun.
DeleteI remember the cardinals in winter, the contrast with the snow. This winter we've only had ravens, a few hawks, sparrows, and the occasional scrub jay. But other little birds are arriving, twittering away, as if to say that spring is here. Which it is not, at least not by the calendar. We'll see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a beautiful and healthy spring, Inger
DeleteMe too, certainly.
ReplyDeleteBut what do you feed flamingos on?
Anything they want.
DeleteTurkey vultures--one of the ugliest birds I've seen.
ReplyDeleteNow, the cardinals and the pheasants--beautiful!
Nature was not kind to vultures. However, they do their job well.
DeleteThe snow is indeed a wonderful backdrop for colorful birds. Unfortunately there aren't many colorful birds here in the wilds of west Texas. There are plenty of turkey buzzards - and they are creepy!
ReplyDeleteYou can always purchase some plastic pink Flamingos, Jon.
DeleteWe have Cardinals, Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Blue Birds, Yellow finches, Black Jack Chickadees, Doves, and more but I have never seen a pheasant in my yard. I have seen owls, birds of prey, wild turkeys and wild ducks though. Pheasants have such wonderful colors. Our snow is gone now and I am not sure if we’ll get more this year, or next.
ReplyDeleteThe words I long to hear are "no more snow". However, we are in for another destructive big one this weekend and a probable one following it.
DeleteI never thought I would want to move south, but right now sunny Florida is calling out to me.
Pheasants? How wonderful. (And MUCH more pleasant symbolically than the vultures.)
ReplyDeleteAfter having some delightfully open-window kinda warm days here, winter is back for (hopefully) its last gasp. Spring's coming. Really. Lots of flowers and trees in bloom here to prove it. But it sure doesn't FEEL like it this morning.
Happy weekend!
We are going to be hit again on Sunday and Monday with more snow and ice and it is predicted to be the biggest and most destructive one this year. Can I move in with you, Susan?
DeleteAww...those birds are so cute! I didn't realize pheasants had roosters and hens. I hope you get to see green grass and flowers in your lovely backyard soon. :)
ReplyDeleteThe male is a beautiful bird, the female, like many of our feathered friends, is rather plain. Seeing this family in my yard most days has been a bright spot in this winter. My lovely backyard has been decimated by these ice storms and my beautiful Willow is probably destroyed. We will get through it though and maybe we will have some baby Pheasants in the spring.
DeleteNice pictures! We've only had a few birds hang around through the winter, and one of them is the cardinal. The two warm days we had last week tricked them into mating season. I woke up and heard a male cardinal singing his heart out just outside the window. I think he knows now it was too early.
ReplyDeleteCardinals are such a beautiful sight and I enjoy them all year round. However, I am ready for Robbins.
DeleteWhat I enjoy about, like you, living the temperate zones is the ever-changing flow of seasons. We don't get a lot of snow in London but it does make the Spring very welcome when it arrives.
ReplyDeleteCLICK HERE for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Although I love all the seasons, Bazza, this winter has lasted too long and has been very destructive in our part of the world.
DeleteIsn't spring the best? We have a pond behind our house, so we never know what will be back there. That's one of the best things about living on the water.
ReplyDeleteThe robins arrived here a few weeks ago...I posted a picture of them. It always excites me to see them because I know warmer days are just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteMy birds come...then they go. We had to remove the bird feeders as we were being visited by an unsavory critter. I am all for living and let live...just nit so near my house. We will have to see what spring brings. I am so afraid I have lost so many of my favorite plants. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful for you to get all that feathered livestock! Hope your spring is a wonderful time. And the birds don't eat you out of house and home.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!