Poppy and CC's Corner: January 2018

   Folks seem to be amazed that we have so many birds who stick around during the winter. While it is true that many species fly south, it is surprising how many hang around. We have a little patch of yard adjacent to a few wooded acres with a large pond. During Spring and Summer, one can't see past the first trees, but in late fall and winter, we can see the backs of the houses on the other side of the lake. Where the birds live during the cold seasons, we don't know but I suspect that they find thick brushy bushes and holes in trees and wherever else they can find them.
   I have wrens who try to nest in my garage or in discarded items left under the deck . I have a broken umbrella on the deck which snapped during our first snow this year and I propped up against the deck rail., Just before the last snow, I discovered two wrens nesting in the folds of the umbrella. We have Carolina wrens all year round.
   We see bluebirds, cardinals, house finches, goldfinches, Carolina chickadees, robins, sparrows, warblers, nut hatches, downy woodpeckers, blue jays and other birds all year round. Maybe it's because there is a source of food in our yard at our feeders all year round. Maybe they are just lazy and don't want to migrate. That's not true because the hummingbirds leave in early October and don't return until May. It's a long way to Central America and back and it's a lot warmer.
Whatever the reason, we are thankful that we are privileged to view these beautiful and delicate little creatures of God's creation and hope that you will enjoy them too.

Bitter cold week of January 10th- temps in the teens at night and mid-twenties during the day.