Friday, December 21, 2012

A Blizzard of Birds

The forecasted 6-10" never happened, just about 4" or so. But we finally stopped our record of days between snows at 305 or 310ish. After the "storm" we had dozens of birds -- folks, this is why you leave the garden up in winter and provide a source of water (and food if you want to maintain the feeders). Tons of birds dashing in and out of bent indian grass and joe pye stalks, hopping over drifts, diving from tree to tree.

First the robin came to drink melting snow. Then a bluebird. Then another.
Starlings jockey for the small hole a 60 watt heater makes.
The water brings in every kind of bird. A robin even dunked its head all the way in.
I want to be a bird for just ten minutes. As long as a sharp-shinned hawk doesn't get me.
Go snow. Stratify those prairie seeds in the 20 pots of soil. Nice insulation for 0 degree low, too.


Merry Christmas. Here's our tree.

4 comments:

Sandy Longhorn said...

Lovely images.

I esp. love how the bluebirds are lined up neatly at the "water fountain" waiting for the robin to finish.

Also, kudos on an AWESOME tree. :)

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Happy Christmas.

(Hope your tree gets a bit bushier over the season.)

Lucy

Donna@Gardens Eye View said...

The birds are happy...love that tree...ours is ceramic with lights...easy up and down! Merry Christmas

Benjamin Vogt said...

Sandy--that tree was expensive....:-)
Lucy--it's a water hog.
Donna--that's REALLY cheating.