December 18, 2009 - 1
The skies have been predominantly grey during this, our final week of the fall season. That's OK though, because we'll have longer days to look forward to as the winter draws nearer and our daily sunlight allowance begins to increase again. It's a gradual change at first to be sure, but the longer, more sun-filled days of winter somehow bring forgiveness for the extended period of cold weather in our area. ---- Meanwhile, the white-throated sparrow has returned to the backyard for the winter. A small and seemingly fun-spirited little bird, this sparrow can often be seen kicking and jumping backward on the ground in search of food. Watching the white-throated sparrow hopping along the ground with the juncos doing the same thing is almost like watching a little backyard party.Backyard Tip of the week:
We've reached the time of the year when overnight temps may cause you to consider some type of a heater for your outside water feature. A low wattage plug in heater just large enough to keep the water flowing is a perfect way to keep your backyard friends happy through the cold weather. I've noticed that temperatures in the 20s are usually not cold enough to freeze the flowing water unless very windy, but the water will freeze if unheated when temps fall into the teens. A simple solution of leaving fresh warm water in a dish each day may be sufficient for your needs. Or try a plug-in timer, for nighttime only use of your electric heater as a way to conserve energy. Go ahead and try it, having a fresh water source through the winter months is something that your backyard friends are sure to love!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Including northern cardinals, dark-eyed juncos, blue-jays, brown creepers, song sparrows, tree sparrows, white-throated sparrows. Carolina wrens, Carolina chickadees, catbirds, mockingbirds, house finches, goldfinches, purple finches. Red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Northern flickers, white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, mourning doves, crows, grey squirrels, red squirrels, skunks, bunnies, white-tailed deer, and a neighborhood red-tailed hawk was spotted making it's backyard fly-by on at least two occasions this past week.
Continued on next page...
December 18, 2009 Part 2 - Cool Sightings
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