The strangest part was how skittish every critter was once they did show up. Sure they are like that at first but in no time at all they are used to me and don't fly off quickly. The ducks usually are the quickest to adjust. Not this year. Sister and i have talked about this quite a bit, but without conclusion.
First thought would of course being hawks. But until the other day I have not seen even ONE hawk. Highly unusual. During snow and extreme cold, it wasn't unheard of for me to look out my bedroom window and find myself staring at a hawk in the tree a few feet away. And the crows?? Rare. I miss them. That might be one of the problems for the others. The crows have always been the early warning system for them, cawing at first sight of a hawk.
We did have unusually warm weather in late November and the first of December, but that quickly changed. We've had several snows but the southern states have gotten more then we have! (That isn't a complaint!) My friends to the east and north have gotten much more snow, we seem to be sitting in this spot that the traditional winter nor'easter are avoiding. (again not a complaint!) You would think that would be a plus to the birds.
When the cold started, so started the mice invading my home in numbers too much to ignore. While I felt guilty doing it, I set the traps, killing them. never to waste anything if I can help it, I'd place the little carcasses outside on a rock and eventually it would disappear. One day I looked out just in time to see a crow pick one up and carry it off. the next day the crow was out there looking around for another. Poor guy...seems word got out to the mice and I haven't tapped or killed one since. I did have one live trap, but only caught one in it before they stopped coming around. I suspect he passed on some horror stories to the others. Since then the crows have been scarce.
As the cold temps persisted the number of goldfinch and ducks increased. A few titmice and black capped chickadees, though not as many as previous winters. One day I looked out and did a double take when I thought I saw a chipping sparrow, a summer bird. A quick look at my bird book showed me it was an American Tree sparrow. I don't think I'd ever noticed one here before this year. That was the only sighting.
The number of junco's have increased. But they have been extremely shy and difficult to get a good photo. Even taking photos from inside the house still spooks a lot of the birds, and when some of the male mallards notice me, they waddle quickly away too.
There's two Carolina wrens that are regular to the seed bells, suet, and peanut butter feeder. A pair of white throated sparrow make irregular visits.
The downy woodpecker is here often, not quite as much as what I'd consider normal. I did see a hairy woodpecker once. I'm never prepared for seeing one. I always first think, wow that Downy's big...then it's like duh...look at the beak and see it's more sharp...and there you have it, it's a hairy not a downy. Of course once that little reality sets in, he's gone and no chance at a photo.
Cardinal numbers are definitely lower this winter. The most males I've seen at once is 3, and only one or two females.
While the pine siskins didn't come back, I have a large number of song sparrows with their pretty streaks and telltale dark spot in the middle of their chest.
My odd colored duck is gone. He started out the winter here, but hasn't been back since December. Not sure if he ended up on someones dinner table, or if he went looking elsewhere since his partner, white duck, never came back. I would have been surprised if she did since she's been here several years already.
The blue eyed mallard is here again. He's one of the biggest duck of the flock. I can't help but think ...ahhh there's my big boy! LOL Anyhow, I have plenty of duck photos to share. Now that the weather has gotten even colder here (-2F the other morning) the ducks become more entertaining. It's about survival now. They are excited when I get home from work. They were a bit confused (as I was) when the offshoot from the stream began to freeze over. That normally doesn't happen. So they get stuck almost out of sight. But I call them and they come running, across the thin ice, often breaking through, until someone gets smart and decides to fly. Once one flies the rest will follow suit.
The ducks have now taken to raiding all the bird seed. Because the song sparrows prefer to stay low, I've been putting seed on the ground, and in the flower pots sitting around. They easily find all the hiding spots...and so have the ducks. Once they knew I was doing this, they inspect everything once they eat their morning cracked corn every day. They've taken over the tables too.
Speaking of bird seed, I've only been putting out black oil and striped sunflower seeds, cracked corn, seed bells, suet and peanut butter. Not putting out the mixes has kept the starlings away and even the house sparrows visits are infrequent.
Recently while talking to sister on the phone one morning, I looked out at the stream, which was still only frozen around the edges at that point and was surprised to see a raccoon. I was too dumbfounded to grab the camera, and a little concerned. On the news that morning they had just talked about a rabid kitten they found only 2 streets away. So we agree I should report this...just in case. Amazingly this isn't easy to accomplish. Called the township, they transferred me, then gave me a number, which lead me to another number...which lead me through a lot of prompts and options.
I watched the raccoon, as he went through the icy water, then wondered around a bit then climbed over the fence back across the stream into the salvage yard, out of sight.
Anyhow I finally got a person on the phone that actually wanted to know what my call was about. Turns out he was ok. Once I described it's actions, the woman from the game commission explained that they do some times come out in the day like that, especially in very cold weather, looking for food. He seemed to walk fine and with purpose. If he walked like a drunk, and in circles, then there would be concern. Poor thing was just hungry. Haven't seen him since.
Not long ago I looked out my kitchen window and saw a larger bird out there. At least compared to the sparrows, junco, goldfinch, titmouse and chickadees. It was very curious, landing around the porch and looking up and down, left and right. Really scouting things out. My first photos didn't come out, once in awhile my camera now refuses to focus. It flew off but it came back the next day.
Here's the mockingbird that has been visiting almost daily. Seems it really loves peanut butter.
It's been snowing much of the day today. Most of the usual birds have made at least an appearance. The goldfinch seem to be the toughest of the bunch, regardless of weather or temp. They stay the longest, aren't as quick to fly off, and if they do fly off, they are the first to get back to the business of eating. I'm just glad they like the black oil sunflower seeds as much as more expensive nyjer seed
The cardinals
Have you noticed the one thing missing? The squirrels. One more thing I can't figure out. There's two that obviously weren't here this summer because they freak out and run for their lives every time they see me, even if I'm offering peanuts. They don't stick around long enough to see them anyhow. They take off and not just up the tree but over the stream, or across my roof and gone among the trees. They make me wonder if I smell bad! Plus they are not here every day. Normally I would have to put a fresh ear of dry corn on their feeder every day. Now one lasts several days! The ducks miss them, since they love to stand at the base of the tree while a squirrel eats, waiting for them to drop the part of the kernel they don't eat. After an absence of some length the momma squirrel has been coming back, but only sporadically. I only know it is her because she's missing a chunk of fur on her tail, plus she doesn't run when I open the door to throw out some peanuts. I think the other two squirrels being here does prevent her from visiting more often.
I've looked around close by and don't see more feeders then I normally would. so I know it's not that they are getting better or more feed elsewhere. It's not just the feed but the overall behavior too. Bunch of nervous Nellie's they all are! LOL
I think that's about it for now. Oh I did have a blue heron stop by the other day. Coincidentally I saw it at the moment every creature was taking off because of a hawk flying by. I'm sure the heron was disappointed at how frozen the stream was. I didn't see what kind of hawk it was. He perched on one of the poles from the airport, too far for me to see, though it looked a bit bedraggled, with a few feathers sticking out. He didn't seem overly large either. I suspect a coopers hawk. Hopefully I'll see him a little more often.
Right now it's snowing, and I leave for work in 2 hours...so that means little time for a nap, and to clean off the car again. Soon I'll have to post some pics of the ducks and some video.
I'll leave one duck photo from last week, before everything totally froze over.
