This poor cardinal was hiding on the backside of the bird feeder to get out the wind and to try to get some seed which wasn’t buried from the falling snow.
Hiding Cardinal
Picture of the Day for February 8, 2023
There was some melting today as it made it to 44 degrees this afternoon so it would have been a great day to enjoy the outdoors except the wind made it feel like barely freezing. But out of the wind, maybe a little sunbathing could happen like this Great Blue Heron positioning its wings to catch the sun rays. And while the technique may help to warm the bird, the sunbathing is also used to get rid of parasites living on their skin and feathers since just ten minutes in the sun rays can heat the wings to 140 to 160 degrees which is hot enough to kill lice.
Sunbathing Heron
Picture of the Day for January 9, 2023
This Downy Woodpecker was playing possum when I went out to fill the bird feeders and I waited for him to leave but he remained still until I scared him off when finally walked past him.
Woodpecker Playing Possum
Picture of the Day for January 5, 2023
It looks like this chickadee is praying that the snow would stop since the bird feeders keep getting covered with that white stuff which hides the bird seed.
Chickadee Praying
Picture of the Day for December 5, 2022
The male northern cardinal is easier to spot against the white snow, but I rather see him hidden in the green grass of warmer days instead.
Cardinal in the Green
Picture of the Day for September 29, 2022
Most of the summer birds made their retreat south before the freezing temperatures this week, but the year-around birds are still hunting for food like this Downy Woodpecker checking out the holes in the tree for sap and insects trapped in the sap.
Looking for Food
Picture of the Day for September 23, 2022
A group of immature Horned Larks were scattered on a playground lawn earlier this week. I didn’t spot an adult male to see the hornlike feathers that gives the bird its name.
Horned Lark
Picture of the Day for September 9, 2022
Birds, including some migrating ones, also seem to enjoy the beaches on the shores of Lake Superior looking for snack.
Bird on Beach
Picture of the Day for September 2, 2022
Earlier this week, the winds were in the right direction for bird migration and an estimated 8.1 million birds cross over my county in one night. And while those birds flying at an average of 46 mph at 2,700 feet were from farther north, my summer birds are leaving too. And since I didn’t scare away my green heron out of my pond when I mowed this week, the tadpoles may be safe from the hungry heron if it migrated south. One afternoon, I watched the green heron snatch a dozen tadpoles so I don’t know if it was going to feed some young chicks or it was just a big snack getting ready for the migration.
Green Heron Hunting
Picture of the Day for August 25, 2022
The bird has a big kernel of corn in its beak and I watched it for a while so I wonder if the kernel was wedged in.
Kernel in Beak
