Friday, January 20, 2012

A new view from my window to the world.

 This winter I’m getting a larger variety of birds, at the bird feeders outside my window to the world. Until this winter it’s mostly been a variety of Swallows, Sparrows with only a few House Finch and Wren. This year now includes a larger variety of birds getting more of the wary, timid and nervous ones like a variety of woodpeckers, warblers, indigo bunting and more…
          The most fun have been the woodpeckers, maybe it’s because I’m learning more about them, that if having seen it myself not sure I would have believed it, as a red-bellied woodpecker put a seed into a spot of the tree bark. Not once but many times going back and forth from seed cake feeder to the tree. Her mate didn’t do this he came eat his fill and left, like some not all of men I known.
          Since all the new kinds of birds have come, I've been trying to get pictures of them that so far I haven’t had much luck they're such wary and nervous bird's they fly away or maybe their camera shy either way, here are the only two shots that have worked so far.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Female

Hairy Woodpecker
Male

The squirrels on the other hand are posing for me and if the seed cake feeders are empty they sit on top making noise letting me know it! As for cleaning up the ground when the birds and squirrels are gone one crow comes by and takes care of that. Haven’t seen a hawk for a while, however have seen the unmistakable evidence that it’s been by for a snack.


Now these two are on different feeders, all three are from the last litter of squirrels born in the first part of October. Really didn't think these little guys' would make it. Thank goodness for a very mild winter and my feeding them, all have a nice layer of fat to keep them warm


They each have their own personality and still chase each other around the tree. The birds and squirrels put on a pretty good show, on the corner there is a movie theater and people will stop and watch I've heard some of the children ask if they can pet the squirrels a few parents, said sure if they'll let you! First step on the grass and away they all go squirrels up the tree and birds fly to the roof. It's all just good fun for everyone. 
Have been told that I shouldn't feed the squirrels! I tell them why not do you want the hawk's to eat your cat? The squirrel population is well controlled, by the hawk's that winter here. In spring when the eagles and hawk's start moving north it's all as it should be in the end. So we end up with more eagle's and hawk's then squirrel's.

So all is right with my little spot in the world.

6 comments:

Karen said...

Oh lucky you...woodpeckers! I am only getting sparrows and chickadees, oh, and one junco. I feed the squirrels, I figure they have to eat too! Great photos!

Mary Mennenga said...

Thanks Karen, Without the birds and squirrels I do think I would go mad well nuts anyway. Have you tried raisins or fruit? small bits of apples or squash the squirrels like them too.mkm

Rhapsody Phoenix said...

Blessings
I enjoyed watching your visitors. great shots

Mary Mennenga said...

Rhapsody B.
Thank you, getting better at taking picture through my window to the world. have a wonderful week!

kmilyun said...

Great photos. You have quite a lot of visitors.

Mary Mennenga said...

Yes I do ten different squirrels one rabbit, and now many different types of birds. Thanks for stopping by;-)