Snow has fallen all over the country and winter is officially only a few weeks old. We have had an unusual amount of snow bringing down power lines and phone lines. Our phone service was restored quickly but it was days before we had power back at home. Our home is on a well so when the power goes out so does the water supply as well as the oil furnace heating system. Candle light creates a nice soft and cozy light so much nicer than harsh electric lights. But I sure missed having a shower and a working toilet.
The deer wallow through the snow up to their bellies. In the mornings I see many deer tracks leading to the edge of the house and the garage where the deer have taken shelter under the edge of the roof at night. Several feet of snow has turned all of my bird feeders into bird, squirrel and chipmunk magnets. It is impossible to get an accurate backyard bird count because there is so much activity back and forth between the forest and the feeders in the yard. Blackcap Chickadees, Chestnut back Chickadees, Oregon Juncos, Spotted Towhees, Stellar Jays, Fox sparrows, Flickers, Pine Siskins. Varied Thrushes and Nuthatches all on parade. When there is a break in the parade a Red Squirrel or the much larger gray Squirrel will run up the feeder pole and fill his checks with sunflower seeds. The UPS driver cannot yet get up our quarter mile long driveway although the weather is improving. He wraps our parcels in plastic bags and leaves the delivery on the snow pile at the beginning of the drive.
Happy Birding in 2009 and remember it is always a good time to go birding!
Bill@birdingguide.com
