A female Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) at the old garden gate, watching all the action.
Five days with nine inches of snow on the ground. Temperatures so cold that there is no melting. And now as I sit here writing this post there is another snow event happening.
During these snowy days I’ve upped the amount of things I’m putting out for the birds. For the past several months I’ve only had one suet feeder out on a post. Nothing more. But the morning of the first snowfall I put out a second feeder with suet in it, and I scattered hulled sunflower seeds and whole peanuts.
What a change in my bird community. I’ve counted 17 bird species. No unusual species. It’s just unusual to see them all at once, nearly all the time.
Pure pleasure for me.
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2 responses to “Seventeen Species And Counting”
We’ve been putting out feed for the first time. We’re so excited to see the customers at the Dubas Cafe! We get some species every day and a Mourning Dove and Red Bellied Woodpecker have made solo appearances. Regulars here: Dark Eyed Junco, Cardinals (a pair), Blue Jays, Carolina Wren, White Throated Sparrow, Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, Chicadee, Nuthatch, Downey Woodpecker. We have always left the seed heads for them in our native plant gardens so they should have plenty to eat. The creek is nearby too.
Hi Ann! Isn’t it wonderful to feed the birds. I had not been putting out anything but suet (which comes from the butcher counter at the grocery store or from a favorite farmer at the farmers market) since a bear destroyed my bird feeder stand. But now the birds get hulled sunflower seeds and whole peanuts on the ground. I’m hoping one of these days to get a new pole to mount the feeders on but living in bear territory is always a worry with bird feeders! GOOD FOR YOU for letting those seedheads stay in your gardens. I do that too, and never never rake up leaves.
My 3rd snow arrived last night and only 1 inch. That makes 10 inches so far. I love it! Though, my husband and I both said, “Hooray!” when we got back to the garage after driving down the mountain to see how the trip would be going into town. VDOT takes great care of us!
Stay warm and enjoy those precious birds AND thank you for reading my posts!
Bren