Tuesday, February 16, 2010
light returns again with bird report
I can get very excited this time of year, at least for a little while, about the brightness, the longer days. and the energy it brings me. I can already see some buds getting a little fatter. Birds begin to sing a different song: titmice and chickadees notably, sing spring notes that have not been heard for many months.
The white throated sparrow still had his little squeaky “old sam peabody, peabody” in a snow storm or two this year. and a few weeks ago there were a dozen red-winged black birds at my feeder. I thought they left for the winter, but they were unmistakable of course. Half were females, seldom seen in the spring when they busy themselves with domestic topics.
The hens are laying up a storm, but also are antsy to get out and roam as the warming days promise thawed earth for dust bathing and scratching. Hawks notice and visit with fair regularity. We have what I’m becoming more sure is a Cooper’s hawk as well as a red-tail who’re regular customers. the spitzhauben chickens are not as well equipped to see a hawk coming.......
