26
Jan

Is there anybody out there who is not freezing the moment they step outside?

Is it cold or what!  No matter where people live – be it Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Kansas, North Carolina, Alabama, or even California – most people are cold the moment they step

Our feeders during the snowstorm.

outside.  Temperatures just about everywhere are colder than normal. We here in central Illinois always have about 5-7 nights of below 0 in January, but this year it is going to be about 14 days – that is a big difference!

I do want to take time to tell you about the kindness of our neighbors.  I think this is important because of all the news – and cell phone videos – we are seeing from Minneapolis and elsewhere.  Anger, hurt, and devastation to lives seems to be ruling the day.  It does not have to be this way and I know all of you reading this know that.

We have a new neighbor – a younger man.  The snowplow blocked our driveway with big chunks – and does that not happen every time there is a good amount of snow and the snowplow comes?  Our neighbor has a good-sized tractor with a snowplow, and he immediately came over and removed all those big blocks of snow and ice.  And then Miles – who you often see at our bird feeders – and his dad who live just up the street came with their snow blower and cleaned off our long driveway, walk, and front porch.  It was so bitter cold they took turns sitting in their truck every two passes.  Now that is being neighborly.  And I cannot tell you how much Cleon and I appreciated all three.  We are still a nation of good and kind people.  People who are honest and fair.  So, thank you Jack!  And thank you Miles and Rob!

The nearby ‘waiting bushes’ – those birds either patiently waiting their turn or who are quietly digesting. These shrubs are deciduous Azaleas – Northern Light series and are favorite roosts for birds wintering in our yard. The birds who use them every day: House Finches, White-throated Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows, Juncos, and occasionally a Blue Jay or two.  These two shrubs are generally full of birds all day long.

This is one of those times that I do not follow my own rules about feeder and birdbath cleanliness.  Cleon and I do keep everything clean – we do this about once every week.  If you are wondering how, here is a link: Bird Feeders and Bird Baths.  Scroll down through the information on bird feeders and you will find the information on cleaning and maintaining bird baths.  But right now, when it is so cold, I just put seed in the feeders, on the ground, and top off the birdbath with water.  And yes, when you have seen me outside bundled up from head to toe, it is because it is not only cold, but the blowing wind makes it almost intolerable.  I am doing the bare minimum to keep the birds fed with some water available.  It looks like about next Tuesday, it will be sunny with the daytime temperatures in the low 30’s.  That will be a good day for all the feeders and the birdbath to be cleaned and disinfected/bleached.  The last thing Cleon and I want to do is to harbor Avian flu.  But we also do not want to get frostbite.  It is a delicate balance!  Also, in another week, Cleon should be healed enough that he will be able to help – which greatly helps me.  If you have been watching me when I have been filling the feeders, I need a stool!  And a stool or stepladder on icy/snowy ground – is that not an accident waiting to happen?  We have enough broken ribs in this household!

If you have been watching the livestream, you will see that right now, most of the time, the feeders and under the feeders are filled with birds.  Some are also drinking from the birdbath.  And everyone gets along!  Not much pushing and shoving, bill snapping, or wing flicking.  It is like they all know they must eat to survive – especially to get through these frigid nights of below zero weather and bitterly cold wind.  Click on this link of the video I shot only a few minutes ago – everyone getting along except two feisty Juncos!  4:15 PM:  A cold late afternoon at the feeders ….. 

These are the birds you are regularly seeing on our livestream:

Blue Jay                                          House Finch                                         Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker                      Red-bellied Woodpecker                   Dark-eyed Junco

White-breasted Nuthatch            Mourning Dove                                   Northern Cardinal

Eurasian Tree Sparrow                 American Goldfinch

 

And the ones you will see from time to time:  (Note:  House Finches and Purple Finches are hard to tell apart.  I have included a link for explanation.)

White-throated Sparrow              European Starling                              Fox Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow                House Sparrow                                 Eastern Bluebird (birdbath)

Northern Flicker                             Purple Finch:  Purple Finches and House Finches – how to tell them apart

 

And these are the ones I have been looking for, I have yet to see, and we are never sure they will be around from winter to winter:  Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin.  And be careful – these birds both resemble House Finches.  And we have a lot of House Finches at the feeders right now.  To be sure which bird you are seeing, you have to look at each and every finch you see on the screen.  There is also a bit of resemblance to the American Goldfinch – also in good numbers right now at the feeders and birdbath.  I will include photos of all 4 birds.

Common Redpoll. Black around the beak and a small red patch above the beak.  Otherwise, streaky brown with a pale breast. By Aleksi Partanen on Unsplash.
Common Redpoll. Possibly a female. In winter, the male could – but not always – have a slight pink tinge to its upper breast. The female never does. Photo by Patrice Bouchard on Unsplash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pine Siskin. Looks very similar to a female House Finch – all that brown streaking. But there should be some yellow on the folded wings. The amount and where it is varies. Photo by Jim Oettel.
The Pine Siskin is on the left – when in flight. more of the yellow shows. The male House Finch is on the right. Remember – Pine Siskins have a bit of yellow – never any red. Male House Finches have a good amount of red, rarely/never any yellow. Female House Finches are just streaky brown – never any yellow or red – see the photo below. Photo by Jim Oettel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male House Finch. His rump will also be red. Photo by Jeremy Stanley on Unsplash.
Female House Finch. She is streaky brown. No red as on the male House Finch. No yellow as on Pine Siskins. Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird on top is an American Goldfinch. Males and females look alike in winter. The males may have some gold tints here and there, but you have to look closely to see them. No streaking.  The middle bird on the right is a male House Finch, and the lower bird on the left is a female House Finch. Notice both House Finches are streaky brown. The Goldfinch has no streaks anywhere, but its folded wings are dark with 2 prominent wing-bars. Photo by Jody Confer on Unsplash.