Happy New Year From BirdOculars
I hope this post finds all of you in good health and looking forward to another year of enjoying your backyard birds. It’s been unseasonably cold here in TN for the past week or so and I’ve been extra busy making sure all my birds have enough to eat and drink. Because I don’t have a birdbath heater (bath sits too far at the back of yard and solar seem a bit pricey and not foolproof) I go out twice a day with my rubber mallet to break up the ice and refill with room temperature water. I also make sure they have enough seeds and my home made peanut butter suet to keep them warm. It’s a little bit more work than usual but I don’t mind because they repay me tenfold with the enjoyment I get from watching them.
How are things going in your neck of the woods? Any particular challenges? From what I gather, we are not the only part of the country being hard frozen so far this winter. How has your winter birdfeeding routine been changed? What novel ways have you found to keep your little guys fed and happy?
Leave me a quick comment below so we can all learn from your experience.
Since the weather has turned colder at night I’ve had this sneaky suspicion I’m being watched every morning. As usual, my chihuahua/yorkie mix, Maggie and I go out before 6 AM. The last few mornings, however, I’ve felt there were eyes on us. I looked around and saw nothing. Then, I looked at my closest bluebird box and I spotted him. The little black and white head with the red spot on top gave him away. I had an overnight tenant. It was one of my downy woodpecker backyard residents. I had seen him looking around before and had actually put some nesting materials in the box to help him out. Apparently, he really appreciated the gesture because I’ve noticed he’s put them to good use plugging up the drafty corners on the floor of the nestbox.
