Birdly Optimism

[chathamgardener]

I doubt most will dispute that this winter season has been more harsh than ones of our recent past. I’m not talking so much about the frozen precipitation as I am about the prolonged far-below-normal temperatures and the seemingly unending gray skies. It’s easy to start believing that spring has forsaken me this year.

But then I see the birds and hope returns. The finches – house, purple, and gold varieties—are already showing brightening plumage as their spring courting colors replace their drab winter garb. The cardinals have begun prolonged renditions of their territorial melodies, vocally staking their claims to what they deem to be prime real estate. The woodpeckers have been hammering on hollow objects for several weeks, their way of claiming territory. And the red-shouldered hawk pair has been soaring and calling to each other over the tall pine that they’ve nested in for the last several years.

But today, the most hopeful birdly sign of spring yet greeted me as I dumped frozen water out of a birdbath so that I could fill it with the liquid form. That birdbath is about 100 yards from the very full creek that borders our property. As the crash of the dumped ice echoed in the morning light, up rose a pair of wood ducks, who had been loitering out of my sight in a deep spot on the creek. The female shrieks quite hysterically when disturbed, and as her high voice faded as she flapped into the deeper woods, I knew for certain that spring has not forsaken my cold, brown landscape.

[natvrabit]

The birds around my home were ready to shake off the snow, cold and cloudy days. Sun popped out and so did they, just singing up a storm! Flitting around amongst the trees, "discussing" nesting sites and plans for a family. That is the sort of population explosion I am looking forward to!
There were so many lovely songs being sung out there with the rising sun, I couldn't keep up with all the species chatter!

[belle]

a beautiful, young female cardinal on my porch today was glowing, fluffed, but absolutely glowing. I looked around, under the heavy cloud layer. where was the glow coming from? she glowed.

then she moved to the feeder. the young male, her new beau,  moved up behind her, while she visited for a snack, then they both flew over the roof. they were courting!

up till now, all winter, the male and female cardinals flocked by sex apart, not  together. today I saw these two, flirting, not a week before Valentine's day. isn't that what it is all about?

she was so gorgeous.

[wilsonmusic]

Spring can't be far off. I saw 2 crows mating today while riding through the country. Either they know that spring is near or they just couldn't wait any longer to "get it on"!!! Probably teenage crows!!

[belle]

Spring can't be far off. I saw 2 crows mating today while riding through the country. Either they know that spring is near or they just couldn't wait any longer to "get it on"!!! Probably teenage crows!!

ha! crows in the countryside, cardinals in the suburbs. same thing.

you do know that is how Valentines Day got started? this is the 'season' for birds to start paring off.

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