It’s dark around here at 6AM. Starting to lighten by 6:30, dog-walk time. Today was single-digit cold. Like “one.” The ultimate single digit. Leafless trees stood jagged against a silver-gray dawn. Their silhouettes looked strong.
Back home, we loaded the backyard feeder with seeds. Hands freezing. Quickly, cold birds came. We watched from the kitchen window. We don’t kid ourselves: this is not “birdwatching.” Just feeder watching.
The birds are cold. Puffed up. The parka worn during our dog-walk comes to mind. Puffed up. Feathers in there somewhere.
Birds crowd around out there. Word spreads. They are quick and busy. They have natural parkas. And our seeds. December is always cold here. No problem.
There are sparrows and juncos. Chickadees and nuthatches. A couple of woodpeckers. A blue jay. A shock-red cardinal.
They’re scarfing free seeds on a new day in another season. They do this every year. A one-degree morning is just another day on the job. They’d make it through the winter even without our seeds.
They’re Chicagoans. Tough guys.
Reply to Jim K.
Bet it actually was a hawk. Take a look at the recent post, “Wingman,” in our Daily Sighting column. Sounds like your experience.
Ha, Chicagoan’s are tough but also NICE, for giving out free seeds. Enjoy the view!
My comment: apt and appreciated.
I was driving down our street late yesterday afternoon and a bird flew overhead–large, brown body and wings. Didn’t think it was a hawk. What could it be?