The Little Ones..........

Do you wonder how the small birds survive when the weather is so cold. Here in Northern Michigan it has been in the minus degrees this past week. Wind chills bring it further down. I didnt see birds at my feeders for about 3 days and not often in the surrounding days. Then the temperatures went up a bit, the sun came out and all my birds were back. We have 2 pair of Cardinals this year. Both females reappeared. So how do they survive?

The small birds have an easier time because they flock together. There are often gangs of little ones all together at my feeders. Nuthatch, Tufted Titmice, Chickadees and Buntings. I even saw some finches today. (Pictures of those another day)
So how do they do it.? A birds body is a wonderful creation. OK I know a lot do not believe in God. I do. I see this as a master plan. Birds have a higher body temperature than we do. They make use of the sun by turning their back to the sun, it heats a larger area that way (clever aye?) they can fluff feathers to trap warmth in them and heat their inner core. Their feet have scales so that helps them to lower the temperature on them to a different temperature to the body and the scales minimize heat loss.

At nighttime the flocks of small birds will find a place to roost. They like pine trees, up close to the trunk, better yet if its been in the sun during the day. Those places retain some warmth and they can snuggle up together. I wonder who chooses who is on the outside? My son Jason has a bush near his bedroom and the Sparrows roost in it. What a noise at sunup and sundown as they quarrel and chatter getting settled in or getting up.

They can fluff up and sit on one leg so as to warm the other, or put a head under a wing all to keep warm. Bigger birds do the same tricks. I just happen to love the small ones. I feel so bad for them when its so icy and cold. The Chickadees always seem so happy. They call and chat to each other and generally make a racket. They are not afraid either. Unlike the bigger birds they don't scare easy.

Starlings are always being chased off and so I imagine that's why they are so scared easy. I like them. Pretty birds and so boisterous . They have to eat too and they will eat the meat and bread and scraps that the small ones will not.

Still these cocky small fella's win my heart

You can be a big part in the survival of the birds in winter. If its possible have water that does not freeze. Put out food for different kinds of birds. Even meat scraps will feed Crows and Starlings while the sunflower seed are loved by most. Small seeds for tiny birds and corn for squirrels. They will often use old bird houses for shelter and bushes, old wood piles and stacks of twigs. Make your garden a sanctuary and encourage all living things to survive. Besides it fun to watch them all.

January 2014........

My garden is full of snow. I mean it, its up to the fences. Last year at this time we had I think they said 16 inches. This year 84 inches. Something like that, in any case. Here is the back garden.

We confine the poodles to the deck (now its the poop deck haha)else they could walk right over the fences. They would too. It's been so cold they have not wanted to stay out more than a few moments. Bodicea really likes going out and burying her face in the snow.

Isn't she cute?

Apart from poodles, the birds and squirrels still come around. We have two sets of Cardinals who are regulars. Here we have a confrontations.


The lady was also around, there are two of the girls too.

As cold as it has been, I am surprised that we have just the regular birds come around. Blue Jays, Chickadees and the small birds we always get with them. Nothing new and I have not even seen some of the usual ones. I am putting out all kinds of treats. The Cardinals are enjoying the apples rotting on the tree out front. It was sunny this morning and I got this shot.

This is a rather boring post, but really nothing is going on. Nothing...........hope I get some visitors soon or I will have to begin thinking of other things to post.

Berries for the Birds...........

If the number of berries this year is any indication then I am thinking it might be a harsh and maybe long winter. I sure hope not. I am not ready for winter.

The Robins love the Mountain Ash and there must be a lot this year because we still have a lot on our tree, the Robins must have loads to choose from.

The Holly is full of berries, I am not sure who likes to eat those but the small birds love the Deadly Nightshade, hmmmm I wonder why it does not harm them?

The the Rose Hips and Haws.........those can make great tea and other good things.

The birds really have not been too busy at the feeders yet .....must be loads of food out there for them at right now. Won't be long though. I have filled up the feeders, I know they will soon need the seeds and other foods. Once they begin to come back I will put out suet and other goodies but not yet.

Garden yesterday, April 24th................

We finally spent a day outside. Woo hoooooo........it was wonderful. My ex son in law bought us a load of mulch and helped my husband pull out all the shrubs under our front window. This year I want to redo the whole of the front yard. Well, we got the mulch down. I moved the bird feeders to under the apple tree. I am going to buy some chairs to sit out there and take pictures. I need to do all the trimming next, cut off all the dead stuff. The daffodils are budding and maybe today, if the sun comes out, they will open up. We had snow again last night. It will melt though once the sun decides to stay out.
Meanwhile a surprise...........I was taking a picture of my fish. I had two........well I have three. For the longest time we only saw the two and was so happy to see they made it through winter. What a lovely surprise to find we have one more. They are growing nicely too.

Look how big they are


The boy fountain is just going to be a birdbath this year. He splashes and drys out to quickly. The birds still love him anyway and the Cardinal was enjoying a drink.

The other birds continue to enjoy the feeder. I have also got some plates that my friend found at a garage sale for free............I am using those as bird baths. One I put on the table next to the feeders and the other on a stand.

I will paint the stand and it makes a great bird bath don't you think?

I had a rather unusual visitor last evening. I have never seen a small red squirrel here in town before. How cute he is. Will have to be sure that one does not get in the attic.

He is either a baby grey squirrel or a red squirrel who are smaller.........time will tell. I have never seen a grey with so much red on it.

Anyway. Today as soon as the snow is melted its back out to work out the front.Set up the fountain and do some trimming and clean up. I should have some pictures later.

Aharing with Adorned from above, always a great party.

also with Lavender Cottage Garden party.

My Garden Today.............

In my garden today, even though tomorrow is the first day of Spring, it was SNOWING. Well, I keep saying ...it is only March. It's just been a very long and very snowy winter. The sun came out for a few moments though and I got a shot of the Silver Maple in the back garden. The sky was so blue and the buds stood out. They have grown bigger. Some trees bud in the Fall after the leaves have all fallen, just little noblets. Now they look as though they may be ready to pop if only it would warm up a bit. Maybe next week.


Soon after the snow came in heavy. The small birds were at the feeders. I filled the front feeders as well as the back. I usually watch the back. The small birds love the grapevines, it gives them some great shelter while they wait for their turn, or while they shell their prize.



Today though I happened to look out the front after filling them up. There were two Chickadees in the vines on the porch, they were drinking from the icicles that were dripping. So cute. I love those little birds they are like little pom poms. The Junco's were back today.


Finches were here today, the yellow ones. Not the bright yellow ones though


Meanwhile out front, where it was not so crowded we have a Nuthatch


Of course the Cardinal can't miss a meal.



Tristen went out to enjoy the snow for a short time, he came in quicker than he did yesterday. Notice the Chickadee was not interrupted he carried on regardless.



Tristen didn't stay long, he forgot his gloves and didn't want them. Of course that didn't last long and in he came for some hot soup and bread and butter, he went on to play Batman instead. He said "It vebby cold out der"




Linking this post up with





Also with A dedicated House and Make it Blue Friday
Thanks also to Whistle and Ivy

Starlings.............

I have been trying to encourage the Starlings to come in and feed. Finally got a flock that has come two days in a row. They should, I have put out good stuff for them.
Why don't people like them? They are pretty birds and gregarious, squabbling and chattering. They are sort of mean to each other though...........certainly will fight for the best portion of food.
{Starlings have diverse and complex vocalizations, and have been known to embed sounds from their surroundings into their own calls, including car alarms, and human speech patterns. The birds can recognize particular individuals by their calls, and are currently the subject of research into the evolution of human language.} That quote is from Wikipedia and I include that because I did not know that. I knew that Magpies and Crows did immitations but not Starlings.
Waiting for dinner..............


The Starling has wonderful patterns on his feathers. Take a close up look....


Every feather is tipped or edged with a contrast colour



When one finds something special he can not keep it to himself to enjoy...........his flock mates barge in and take what they can



Other birds seem to stay out of the way of the Starlings. So I put their food on the floor so the small birds can still get to the feeders. Sometimes it works. Chickadees will take on a Blue Jay so these don't bother those feisty little things.


The poor things were so cold. I can not imagine how their poor feet must feel.

I am linking up with My Romantic Home, show and tell Friday......

A few more nice days..............then?

The Bee's are still busy. It has been raining on and off the last couple of days. I have left my house plants outside to get a last good water from real rain water. I think the house water is not so good for them. They are destined to come inside on this coming weekend.
Meanwhile there is not really a whole lot going on in the garden that we can see. Bit by bit it's making itself ready for winter. That's not far off for us now. The snow is falling in the Upper Peninsula, but so far we have only had some thick rain. The Asters are still looking good.






The birds are eating as much as they can, I hope they get fat and sassy for winter. There will always be food for them here. The little house finches are coming back. I have not seen them all summer


The squirrels are double checking their hiding places.

Chickadee's raise their family here and so do the Bluejays and Cardinals. They stick around all year. Another frequent visitor is the Mourning Dove. This Chickadee kept it's back to me so would not pose.



These yellow beauties I found down the alley when Tristen and me went for a walk. I will have to get some if they do this well for so long.

Another thing in our alley left over from another time



This shed, being used as a garage is left over from the days when they had horses in town. there are still quite a few around. I should take some time and go out and picture them while they are still here.

September Garden............

I have been working on the garden the last several days. The weather has been so beautiful,cool and sunny. I have got a lot done.
One thing I have noticed that the birds are moulting. They look terrible and have for a month or so.


The Mountain Ash was so full this year. It's now berry less. A whole flock of Robins have been stuffing their faces and its all but bare now. This Robin is looking a bit better than it was but the Blue Jays and Cardinals have not replaced their feathers yet. They have bald heads. At first I thought there was something wrong but I don't think so now. I think they are just getting their winter coats.



These little birds, Tufted Titmouse are looking as cute as ever though.

There's not a lot to show in the garden now, but I got the patio stones filled in. Still not looking its best but its cleaned up at least.

It seems bigger though

I have my garden broken down into rooms. The Patio is one. The deck another. The deck is more private because of the shrubs around it.


For some reason people do not seem to like the Grakel but look how beautiful they are.


Then the Squirrels are extra busy collecting nuts and burying them. My neighbour Bud is on the warpath and is after my Skunk.


The Asters are blooming. I have brought the remaining Geraniums around to the back so we can enjoy the colours for a little longer.


I have pink Asters and White Asters and have a deep purple one as well.



The pond is also doing well and I still have 3 fish.

The little corner with St Francis is growing in this year. I am trying to use things that spread and it would look just so much better if we could put in a real fence


The Morning Glory did so well when we put it in the ground and I just wish it would come up again next year. We shall see but if it doesn't I will get another.

So as summer winds down and Fall is just around the corner. I must start to plan for next year.