January 29, 2010 - 1
Still finding good in adversity, here's the latest benefit found in this backyard. Since our usual birdseed store has recently closed, I had to find a new one. As it turned out, there's a place that I drive by each week anyway and they've got black-oiled sunflower for less than the other store was charging. How lucky is that? And fortune smiled on me again a few weeks later when I realized that our stock of peanuts was getting low and would need refilling very soon. I went back to the new feed store and they had what they called peanut splits. Well, let me tell you, the birds just love 'em! Maybe it's because the peanuts are easier to eat when they're already split in half. I don't know, but I spotted the red-bellied woodpecker together with a bright red male cardinal and a blue-jay on the big peanut feeder just yesterday in the snow. A rare sighting, it was delightful to see such beautiful birds sharing their favorite food. The new peanut splits are so much of a hit that even the finicky, peanut throwing nuthatch only threw a few of them to the ground before holding one out to show it to me then flying away. -- Meanwhile, the nights are getting shorter and the days are growing longer. Sunrise occurred in the backyard this morning at 7:13. Sunset will arrive at 5:14 this afternoon. Having gained another thirteen minutes this week, we've broken through the next time barrier and we're now up to 10 hours and 1 minute of wonderful sunlight each day! It's just 50 days 'til Spring!Backyard Tip of the week: A mid-season reminder that leftover bread scraps are great when put out for your feathered friends. Stay away from any meats or perishables, but do feel free to leave any breads and certain dry goods. Try it, you and the birds are sure to love it!
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, European starlings, mourning doves, crows, skunks, bunnies, squirrels, a couple of local hawks and a flock of geese that was heard during yesterday's snowstorm, but not seen as they flew high above the backyard.
Continued on next page...
January 29, 2010 Part 2 - Cool Sightings
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