The robins have been acting like it was spring - all winter. We had an earthworm crawling across the road a few weeks ago. We had a little snow this week, but that melted away in hours.
Yesterday the cold was setting in and a mist began to fall in the late afternoon. By 3 AM, they tell me, the mist was freezing. When I walked Sassy this morning the frozen drops on the bushes looked like tears ready to fall.
Birds know all about weather changes, so they load up on food before the heavy rains, snow, or sleet storms arrive. If they feed during a storm, I figure the storm will be lasting. Normally they want to stay in their shelter with their feathers fluffed out for holding in the body heat.
Sleet is especially difficult for birds eating, because they count on bark holding insect eggs and pulpae.
I scoop the sunflower seeds onto the platform feeder, paste peanut butter onto the window ledge, and scatter corn around the yard. The message is - This is a place to build a nest and have some children. When the babies start crying for food, I will have an ample supply of toxin free creatures to feed them. Birds can feed their children and get their supplements from my continuous bird-food stations.
Blue jays are notorious for attacking anyone near their nests. In Bella Vista, we had a blue jay nest just outside our window, perched in a bush. Team Jackson enjoyed watching them grow up , trying their wings, then disappear. I made a point of taking piles of sunflower seed to the parents. They watched me and never attacked, even when I got close to their nest. They were glad to get the spare food, thankful to their Creator, just as we should be. They sounded their beautiful bell-like calls to show their joy.
Bird Scouts
All summer long, your resident birds are assessing and re-assessing their options for the fall and winter. They are learning where feeders are and scouting out locations to roost on cold winter nights. Since those decisions are being made months before the first snow flies, it’s best that you help them along. Start training these birds now! Set up your feeders in a safe location and keep them full so those birds recognize your yard as a reliable source of food.
